Application  Tips  

Throughout  your  career,  you  will  no  doubt  encounter  a  number  of  opportunities  to  help  get  
your  music  made,  played,  and  heard.  Whether  they’re  fellowships,  grant  programs,  residencies,  
competitions,  or  other  types  of  programs,  nearly  all  of  them  will  involve  an  application  process.  
Each  application  will  have  different  components  and  requirements,  but  here  are  some  basic  
hints  that  should  be  helpful  as  you  navigate  through  the  application  process.  

1. Read  the  application  guidelines  and  eligibility  requirements  carefully.  Virtually  all  will  
contain  a  description  of  the  opportunity,  a  statement  defining  who’s  eligible  to  apply,  and  
an  explanation  of  how  to  apply.  Then  ask  yourself  two  questions:  Is  this  something  I’m  
seriously  interested  in  pursuing—(in  other  words,  is  it  a  good  fit  for  me);  and  do  I  meet  the  
eligibility  guidelines  for  the  program—(am  I  a  good  fit  with  what  they’re  looking  for)?  
2. If  you  decide  to  apply,  make  a  schedule  for  yourself  that  allows  adequate  time  for  you  to  
complete  all  of  the  steps  of  the  application  process.  Make  sure  it’s  realistic  and  includes  
contingencies  for  unexpected  events  that  might  impact  your  work.  
3. Keep  your  résumé,  biography,  and  work  lists  up-­‐to-­‐date.  This  will  help  ease  the  amount  of  
time  you  spend  on  the  application  process.  
4. As  you  begin  writing  the  various  elements  of  your  proposal,  be  clear,  concise,  and  don’t  be  
afraid  to  let  your  personality—and  your  passion—show  through.  Try  to  view  your  proposal  
through  the  panelist’s  eyes.  Remember  they  will  probably  be  reading  a  large  number  of  
applications,  so  do  whatever  you  can  to  make  yours  stand  out.  
5. Again  with  the  panelists  in  mind,  consider  how  “user  friendly”  your  proposal  is.  Evaluate  the  
amount  of  copy  on  each  page,  whether  you’ve  chosen  a  font  that’s  easy  to  read,  if  the  
material  on  the  page  is  organized  and  clearly  laid-­‐out—make  your  proposal  inviting  and  
easy  on  the  eyes.    
6. Run  your  proposal  by  a  friend  to  get  their  feedback.  Make  sure  that  what  you’re  saying  is  
clear  to  an  independent  reader.  
7. As  you’re  assembling  your  written  application  materials:  
• Include  the  application  form  and  make  sure  it’s  completely  filled  out  with  your  current  
contact  information.      
• Use  plain  white  paper  for  your  written  materials.    The  panelists  only  see  photocopies  of  
the  original  materials,  so  using  heavyweight  or  colored  paper  is  a  waste  of  your  
resources.  
• Clip  your  written  materials  together  with  a  paper  clip  or  binder  clip  –  don’t  staple  or  
bind  materials.    All  materials  are  photocopied  before  the  panelists  see  them,  so  all  
binding  and  staples  need  to  be  dissembled.    
• If  you  want  your  material  returned,  enclose  a  check  sufficient  to  cover  postage.  Do  not  
enclose  a  stamped,  self-­‐addressed  envelope—we  no  longer  accept  them.    

In  addition  to  your  written  materials,  you  will  usually  be  asked  to  provide  work  samples—often  
recordings  and  scores.  Here  are  some  things  to  remember:  

8. Include  the  date  of  composition  on  your  work  samples  so  the  panel  can  hear  how  your  work  
is  developing.  
9. Prepare  a  Work  Sample  Sheet  listing  the  track  numbers  on  your  recording  and  the  titles,  
composition  dates,  duration,  performers  and  any  other  pertinent  information  you  feel  
would  be  helpful  for  the  panelists  to  know.    If  the  work  is  an  improvisation,  clearly  state  the  
role  you  played  in  the  creative  process  (  i.e.  if  you  provided  charts  or  sketches,  how  much  
the  performers  were  instructed,  etc.).  
10. Send  multiple  work  samples,  but  remember  that  quality  should  take  precedence  over  
quantity.  Send  samples  that  showcase  the  total  range  of  your  work.    It  is  preferred,  but  not  
required,  that  the  scores  you  submit  match  your  recorded  samples.  If  you  would  like  
panelists  to  see  a  certain  section  in  the  score,  mark  it  with  tabs  so  the  panelists  can  find  the  
correct  place  quickly.      
11. Submit  attention-­‐grabbing  evidence  of  your  own  personal  voice.    Do  not  try  to  second  guess  
or  please  the  panel  by  covering  all  possible  bases.    Include  work  that  only  you  could  have  
done  –  derivative  work  is  easily  dismissed  by  the  panelists.    
12. For  project  grants  such  as  JFund  (Jerome  Fund  for  New  Music)  select  work  samples  that  
demonstrate  your  ability  to  accomplish  the  proposed  piece  but  that  do  not  show  that  you  
have  done  an  identical  project  before.  Panelists  prefer  to  award  risk  takers  (within  reason)  
rather  than  fund  a  composer’s  twenty  third  string  quartet.  
13. Take  time  to  test  your  recording  on  several  playback  options  to  make  sure  it  works.    
 
Some  Other  Things  to  Keep  in  Mind  
14. Remember  that  the  dynamics  of  every  panel  are  different  –  exactly  the  same  application  
will  generate  different  responses  from  different  panels.    Do  not  take  success  or  failure  as  
objective  proof  of  your  worth  or  ability.  
15. Foundations  are  restricted  in  the  kinds  of  support  they  are  able  to  provide.    Consequently,  
ACF  passes  on  those  restrictions  to  applicants  (e.g.  career  level,  geographical  limitations,  
project  focus)  via  the  grant  guidelines.    While  we  strive  to  offer  all  programs  equally,  some  
people  may  be  ineligible  or  may  have  more  difficulty  applying  than  others,  depending  on  
the  program.  
16. Applicants  are  welcome  to  contact  ACF  program  staff  members  before  they  begin  the  
application  process,  while  they  are  preparing  their  application,  and/or  after  the  results  have  
been  announced.  We’ll  do  our  best  to  answer  your  questions  about  the  program  or  your  
application,  and—for  several  of  our  larger  grant  programs—will  provide  panelist  feedback  
about  your  proposal.