10 Summer Music Camps for Middle School Students
If you’re passionate about music, there are several opportunities available for middle school students that you might want to check out. Summer music camps, for one, offer hands-on experiences, allowing you to improve your technique, explore new instruments, and engage with music in an advanced environment.
Many of these programs are held on university campuses, giving you a taste of college life and access to their facilities, helping you plan your high school and college trajectory better. You will also be mentored by experienced musicians and educators, who can aid you in both your personal and academic growth, and give you solid letters of recommendation for programs and internships in high school.
Whether you’re a fledgling beginner or working on gaining advanced skills, we’ve compiled a list of 10 summer music camps for middle school students.
Location: Valley Forge Military Academy and College, Wayne, PA
Cost: $2000-$5000 program fee; depending on the camp and whether you are a residential camper.
Program Dates: Camps are held for one or two weeks. The camp dates for this year are: June 15 - June 28, 2024 | July 13 – July 26, 2024
Application Deadline: Accepting applications until seats are full.
Eligibility: Children aged 11-19.
The Philadelphia International Music Festival (PIMF) offers student musicians the opportunity to immerse themselves in music education and performance training with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Programs include private lessons, master classes, and daily orchestra, ensemble, and chamber music rehearsals.
The festival offers six program options: Symphony Orchestra, Solo Performance Preparation, Piano Studies, Chamber Music Intensive, College Audition Preparation, and a new Viola Intensive Program. Student musicians from around the world have participated in the program and have gone on to study at various prestigious institutions.
Location: Baylor University, Waco, TX
Cost: $650 for residential students; $460 for commuter students.
Program Dates: June 16-22, 2024; Similar dates are expected for next year as well.
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; applications are accepted only until May 30.
Eligibility: Open to students entering grades 7-9 with at least one year of experience with their respective instrument.
This one-week camp offers intense training from the faculty of Baylor School Of Music and Texas musicians, performers, and conductors. The program caters to students who play a variety of instruments.
Students participate in large ensemble rehearsals, sectional rehearsals, and group lessons. These lessons will cover the technical skills pertinent to each instrument. Aside from their lessons, residential students will provided meals and can enjoy daily recreational activities and sports over the week.
Location: Webster University, Webster Groves, MO
Cost: $125-$460 program fee depending on the camp; some camps offer scholarships.
Program Dates: Programs typically last for 5 days. Specific dates vary.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by camp.
Eligibility: Camps have various eligibility criteria; you can find them here
Webster Univeristy’s Community Music School’s summer programs offer various music camps for different ages and skill levels. These are five-day camps where students will be tutored by professional musicians and instructors on various aspects of musical skills. Camps include Flute Camp, String Orchestra, Band, Saxophone Intensive, Chamber Music Encounter, and individual lessons. Webster University also offers camps on other aspects of music such as composition and songwriting.
These camps were designed for both beginners and advanced musicians, providing comprehensive training and individual lessons. Regardless of your level of expertise in music, this is a great opportunity to refine your skills and meet other like-minded musicians.
Location: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Cost: $553 for overnight campers; $355 for day campers.
Program Dates: 7 days in the first week of July.
Application Deadline: Applications are open from January to May and are considered on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: Students must have at least 6 months of school instruction on their instrument. Students completing the 6th-8th grade before the camp are eligible to live on-campus.
The Middle School Band Camp organized by FSU’s College of Music offers an intensive week of training culminating in a concert performance. The program focuses on enhancing students’ musical skills through personalized instruction and ensemble practice.
Campers will play in a concert band twice per day, attend sectionals, and participate in masterclasses. They will also get to select two daily elective classes from choices such as musicianship, conducting, steel pans, and percussion ensemble. You will also have a chance to unwind during the evening activities planned for every day of the camp.
Location: University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
Cost: $675 for overnight campers; $450 for daytime campers; financial aid is available.
Program Dates: Typically 1 week in late June.
Application Deadline: Rolling basis until mid-May.
Eligibility: Open to graduates of grades 6-8 enrolled in a school band and/or orchestra class.
University of Colorado’s Middle School Summer Music Academy is a week-long camp that offers theoretical and technical training to budding musicians wishing to sharpen their musical skills. Band and orchestra participants will be placed into a concert band or string orchestra with a nationally renowned conductor.
Students will also have a chance to interact with the University’s music professor as well as undergraduate students who will act as supporting mentors to the campers. This will give you an idea of how studying music in college may look, both in the classroom and through social activities in the evenings.
Location: University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD
Cost:
Early Bird Registration:
Resident Campers - $500
Commuter Campers - $375
Regular Registration:
Resident Campers - $525
Commuter Campers - $400
Scholarships are available.
Program Dates: July 14-19, 2024; Camp lasts for 6 days in July.
Application Deadline: The early registration deadline is 21st June, 2024. Applications are considered on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: Students who have completed grades 5-12.
The 6-day Summer Music Camp at the University of South Dakota focuses on vocal and instrumental ensembles. Students will be attending sectionals, rehearsals, and classes during the program and will also have the chance to attend concerts and other events hosted on campus.
To display their talents, the camp also organizes 2 concerts at the end of the program — These include the: Jazz Bands, Show Choirs, Percussion Ensembles, Concert Bands, Concert Choirs, and String Orchestra.
Location: Perlman Music Program campus, Shelter Island, NY
Cost: $8200 program fee; financial aid is available.
Program Dates: June 22 - August 12, 2024. The program lasts for 7 weeks in the summer.
Application Deadline: Applications are open from November to January each year.
Eligibility: Open to students aged 12-18 who play the violin, viola, or cello.
Perlman’s Summer Music School provides high-level training to those who play the violin, viola, and cello. The program is extremely competitive and rigorous; only admitting around 30-35 students annually. The program offers training from world-class maestros and distinguished music conductors.
The school offers multiple avenues of playing such as orchestras, chorus, and chamber music, with opportunities to perform in concerts and engage with peers and mentors. A typical day at camp starts with morning exercise and breakfast, followed by 4 hours of rehearsal in your own practice room. After lunch, you’ll follow the program’s curriculum of private lessons, studio classes, and chamber music coaching. This all culminates in a chorus and orchestra rehearsal to close out the day.
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: $1,500 - $2,999 program fee.
Program Dates: 2 weeks in the summer.
Application Deadline: Unspecified. Information will be updated on the website for the 2025 iteration.
Eligibility: Open to students aged 12 and above.
The NYU SummerStrings offers intensive training for string musicians, including private lessons, masterclasses, and seminars. Students will be challenged to develop their musical voice and perform in front of peers and the renowned faculty. You will have two private lessons per week as well as daily masterclasses and seminars.
The goal of the program is to better prepare students for auditions, performances, and competitions — promoting collaboration and performance skills.
Location: Various locations in Columbus, OH, including: Dublin, Powell, Upper Arlington, Delaware,
Cost: $299-$595 program fee depending on location, camp, and age group.
Program Dates: 5 days in the summer; dates vary by location.
Application Deadline: Applications are considered on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: Open to all middle school students in Ohio.
The Electronic Music STEM camps concentrate on electronic music production, offering training in both hardware and software for music creation. The camp is open to all, regardless of their level of expertise.
Multiple camps focusing on different aspects including: Synth Playground Music Creation, Game Music, and Electronic Music STEM Production. Students will have musicians and producers guiding them through the five-day workshop and learn about the lesser-known side of technology in the music industry.
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: $435 (February 1-May 31) and $485 (June 1-15); financial assistance is available.
Program Dates:
Band Camp: July 14 - 19, 2024 and July 21 - 26, 2024 (Grades 7-9 only)
Orchestra Camp: July 21 - 26, 2024
Choir Camp: July 21 - 26, 2024
Application Deadline: Applications open on February 1 and close after seats are filled.
Eligibility: Students in grades 5-12. Vocalists at any level and instrumentalists with at least one year of experience are eligible to apply.
The University of Maryland’s Terrapin Music Camp is for those musicians seeking instruction in vocals and instruments through ensembles and solo performances. While students can expect concerts, rehearsals, and sectionals to be a part of their daily routine, the camp offers a wide array of elective classes in various disciplines, ranging from keyboard and songwriting to dancing and fiddling.
A final test of your skills will be the performance held at the end of the camp. Over the week, you will learn about your own instrument and its place in an organized orchestra.
Tamanna Parikh is an alum of Ashoka University. She studied Psychology and English at Ashoka and will be joining the University of Pennsylvania as a graduate student. She plans on studying behavioral science and specializing in decision theory at Penn.
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