Artist Training Workshops

The bluegrass music world lost two important icons in 2011 in the persons of Hazel Dickens and Carlton Haney. In their memory, the Foundation for Bluegrass Music will be funding grants and/or scholarships this year and has set August 15, 2011 as the deadline to apply for these resources.

A one-time fund of $10,000 has been earmarked with the following guidelines for applicants: up to $5,000 in memory of Dickens to fund public projects and/or education scholarships that foster "artistic" development involving deserving young people, and up to $5,000 in memory of Haney to fund public projects and/or education scholarships that foster bluegrass music "business" development involving deserving young people.

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BLUEGRASS IN THE SCHOOLS

Bluegrass in the Schools Are you in a touring or local band who is interested in sharing bluegrass with young people? Foundation for Bluegrass Music offers half-day trainings located in various regions of thew U.S., usually affiliated with major festivals or bluegrass association meetings—where artists will already be in attendance. Event producers and association leaders interested in helping to develop bluegrass programs for local students are also welcome at these workshops.

There is no fee for the training, other than having a festival ticket for that day. Entire bands or individual musicians representing local or touring bands are welcome.

Course content includes the following:

A live demonstration of a bluegrass program for students, from an experienced band, with a Q & A session.
Info on current Foundation for Bluegrass Music tools available, including the Discover Bluegrass DVD & lesson plans, Mini-Grant application info, regional teacher workshops, the online Bluegrass in the Schools Implementation Manual and more.
A “tip sheet” for artists that includes ideas on how to develop and present educational bluegrass programs for students, based on a survey of 20 bands who are currently doing a good job at this already.
Information on how to pitch Bluegrass in the Schools programs to local schools, and also ideas about how to fund them.

For information on hosting a Bluegrass in the Schools training in conjunction with your festival or event, call Nancy Cardwell at 888-438-4262, 615-256-3222, or email nancyc@ibma.org.

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