8 Summer Band Camps for Middle School Students
Middle school is a crucial time for students to explore and nurture their passions, and for young musicians, summer band camps offer an opportunity to do just that. These camps provide an immersive experience, allowing students to hone their musical skills, make new friends, and perform in a collaborative environment.
Beyond the joy of music, early exposure to specialized programs like band camps can enhance a student's high school trajectory and college applications. Participating in such camps demonstrates dedication and a proactive approach to learning, setting students apart as they advance in their academic and extracurricular journeys. Here is a list of 8 summer band camps that middle school students can apply to!
Baylor University’s School of Music hosts an annual Middle School Band and Orchestra Camp, providing a fun, intensive week of performance training. Students are taught by Baylor’s faculty and music educators, conductors, and performers from across Texas. The camp culminates in a Grand Concert featuring performances by each ensemble. Daily activities include large and sectional rehearsals, group lessons, and recreational activities like swimming and basketball. Students audition for ensemble placement, with camp enrollment capped at 400 participants. Spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Location: Baylor University, Waco, TX
Cost:
Residential: $650 (includes tuition, dormitory, meals, and activities)
Commuter: $460 (includes tuition, lunch, and all camp activities)
Program Dates: June 16 – 22, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: Rising 7th-9th graders who have at least one year of experience with their instrument.
Application Deadline: Rolling applications. The deadline is usually in May.
At the week-long Florida State University Middle School Band Camp, students engage in concert band rehearsals twice daily, attend sectionals, and participate in masterclasses. Campers can also choose two elective classes each day from options like musicianship, conducting, steel pans, percussion ensemble, practice time, and world music. The camp concludes with a final performance in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. Evening activities include faculty concerts, watching an IMAX movie, bowling, and more. A placement audition during check-in determines each student's ensemble and chair assignment, but all ability levels are welcome.
Location: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Cost:
Overnight campers: $553
Day campers: $355
Program Dates: June 30 – July 6, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: Students who have completed grades 6, 7, or 8 and have at least 6 months of school instruction on an instrument
Application Deadline: Registration opens in January each year
The Middle School Band Camp at Michigan State University is a day camp designed for middle school students with at least one year of instrumental experience. Hosted at the MSU College of Music, this five-day camp offers students the chance to perform with peers, receive instrumental technique instruction, and engage in musicianship classes. The week’s studies and rehearsals conclude with a final concert for parents and friends. Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Cost: $310 (includes camp t-shirt and lunch for the week)
Program Dates: July 15 – 19, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: Middle school students who have completed at least one year of instrument study
Application Deadline: Rolling applications
The Middle School Band Camp at the State University of New York provides a welcoming environment for musical growth, focusing on large ensemble and chamber music performances. With most faculty members also serving as university professors, the camp offers instruction to help students enhance their technical skills and musicality. The program includes daily rehearsals for the Symphonic Band for a final concert at King Concert Hall. Students also participate in smaller ensembles such as Woodwind Choir, Brass Choir, or Percussion Ensemble, and the Stage Band, which focuses on jazz, musicals, and popular music. In addition, all students join the Festival Chorus, preparing for a performance at the final concert.
Campers can choose two elective courses from options like Music Theory, Popular Music, African Drumming, Tech in Music, Jazz Improvisation, and other topics such as stage presence and audition preparation. Private lessons with festival faculty are also available. Recreation activities are led by camp counselors, ensuring a well-rounded and enjoyable camp experience.
Location: State University of New York, Fredonia, NY
Cost:
Resident Tuition: $980 (includes tuition, room and board)
Commuter Tuition: $770 (includes tuition and lunch & dinner)
Program Dates: June 30 – July 6, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: Rising 6-8th graders
Application Deadline: June 10, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Middle School Band Camp, campers are guided to strengthen their musical knowledge while gaining a deeper understanding of their specific instruments. The camp emphasizes creating a positive, safe, and fun learning environment that encourages social connections and broadens students’ musical perspectives.
The staff, consisting of experienced licensed music educators, UW-Whitewater faculty, and Music Education students, maintain a camper-to-staff ratio of 10:1 to ensure personalized instruction, organized activities, and the well-being of all participants. Campers can choose from a range of unique elective classes, including Yoga for Musicians, Music Theory, Jazz Improvisation, Composition/Arranging, Hand Drumming, and Sound Engineering/Basics of Using a Sound System.
Location: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Whitewater, WI
Cost:
Resident: Early bird: $490 | Standard: $510 (includes accommodation and all meals)
Commuter: Early bird: $410 | Standard: $435 (includes lunch and dinner)
Program Dates: July 20 – 25, 2025
Eligibility: Rising 6-8th graders
Application Deadline: Rolling applications. Registration is limited to the first 200 residential and 5 commuter participants.
The Middle School Band Camp at Mount Vernon High School takes place over one week in August, with three-hour sessions each morning, ending with a Friday afternoon concert. This camp offers students entering 7th or 8th grade a valuable opportunity to continue their musical development during the summer.
Throughout the camp, students rehearse with a full concert band and participate in group lessons led by experienced high school musicians, helping them enhance both ensemble and individual skills. This camp not only prepares students for the upcoming school year but also fosters lasting friendships and nurtures their passion for music.
Location: Mount Vernon High School, Mount Vernon, WA
Cost: Early registration is $100. Any registration received after July 1 is $130.
Program Dates: Third week in August each year
Eligibility: Students entering 7th or 8th grade
Application Deadline: No information available
The Middle School Concert Band Camp at the Music for All Summer Symposium offers a week-long experience designed for middle school band students, where they interact with educators, artists, and peers from across the country. The camp fosters both musical and personal growth.
With masterclasses, full band rehearsals, and opportunities to work with a composer-in-residence, the camp ensures a supportive atmosphere for students looking to develop their musical abilities. Students enjoy a mix of music, fun, and friendship through team-building activities, evening concerts, and more.
Location: Ball State University, Muncie, IN
Cost: $1,129 (residential) or $1,029 (commuter). Scholarships are available
Program Dates: June 23 – 28, 2025
Eligibility: Students entering 7th or 8th grade with at least one year of performance experience on their instrument
Application Deadline: June 1, 2025
This middle school band camp is tailored to accommodate musicians of all skill levels, offering new and engaging challenges that enhance their abilities and boost confidence. Activities include master classes, musicianship classes, and sectionals.
Master classes, organized by instrument, focus on technique and repertoire, while musicianship classes cover basic music history and theory. Sectionals are larger instrument groups that help students refine their concert music. Evening activities add excitement to the camp experience, with options such as swimming, dances, concerts, volleyball, and basketball. The camp culminates in a final concert.
Location: Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX
Cost:
Residential: $475 (includes housing, instruction, meals, T-shirts, and evening activities)
Commuter: $200 (includes instruction, lunch, and T-shirts)
Program Dates: June 16 – 21, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7 and 8
Application Deadline: May of each year
One more option - The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.
The program was founded by a Harvard and Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure!
To learn more, you can reach out to our Head of Partnerships, Maya, at maya.novak-herzog@lumiere.education or go to our website.
Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link! If you'd like to take a look at the cohorts + deadlines for 2024, you can refer to this page!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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