I happened to see on Facebook yesterday that Oberlin in Italy is not happening this summer. Cancelled due to low numbers of applications. My singer did the program in 2016, the summer before undergrad. It was pricey but she had a good time and it was exactly as advertised for kids her age. Does anyone know details?
Has anyone ever performed at Hershey Park for the summer?
No but it sounds awesome! Can’t wait to hear how it goes! 
S19 isn’t yet at the level where he can get a gig like that but he will be a counselor at Willow Lake Camp in NJ this summer – doing arts/theater/music. (And best of all, making some money!) Hope he won’t totally lose his chops.
Oh, yeah - chops loss is a concern. S won’t likely have his upright bass with him, just his electric.
Hope it’s okay for me to kick this thread up. I’m looking for advice on suitable summer programs for my daughter, a HS junior.
I posted in the introductions thread as well, but my daughter has recently told me she wants to major in viola performance. The trouble is, she only started with viola this summer. She has been on violin since age 5, has made all-state twice, and is concertmaster of her high school orchestra. She is talented, in my completely unbiased parental opinion, haha, but I suspect that even on the violin, she is not as advanced as many of the other talented children I read about on this forum.
I have a lot of concerns about how she can find a music performance path as a brand new viola player with not a lot of time. At the beginning of the summer she could not even read alto clef. She is still playing violin as well, but thankfully, her orchestra teacher has agreed to let her switch to viola starting second semester. She’s keeping up with her coursework (she is IB), but it’s definitely a jump up in rigor and homework load from last year.
For now, I’m focused on figuring out how we can make the most of the rest of junior year and this coming summer. We (her private teacher and I) think the best plan is to try to get her into a summer program, for three reasons.
- As a test to see how she really feels about music 24/7. We are thinking a longer program would be better.
- As a chance to solidify her skills in preparation for college prescreens in (gulp) one year. A program with good viola faculty would be ideal.
- As a way to expose her to others who might help her chart the best course from here. A program with viola students of different ages and backgrounds would be better.
We have assembled a list of summer programs for her to audition for, and I’m here to seek feedback on this list.
The list is:
Brevard (close to us, maybe too selective?)
BUTI (maybe too selective?)
Indiana University Summer String Academy (good reputation, how selective?)
Interlochen (maybe too selective?)
Marrowstone Music Festival (close to my relatives, looks less selective, but only two weeks long)
We can make anything work as far as location goes, as long as instruction is in English. Of course, it’s up to my daughter to successfully audition in, no matter how selective a program may be, but I’d like her to look at programs with a range of selectivity. I don’t know if this list has a range of selectivity, it might all be pegged too high. Our private teacher doesn’t seem to have good current knowledge of what’s out there.
Any advice?
Hi @stringbird,
Sounds like an interesting challenge. I’ll leave it to the string parents to weigh in, but I do know of one camp that many kids from our area (NJ) have attended and loved: https://www.kinhaven.org/ in Vermont. Might be a bit less selective than Interlochen and BUTI. I also know a student violist who enjoyed a summer program at https://www.easternusmusiccamp.com/ (Colgate College), again, not sure how competitive. Best of luck!
Hi @stringbird ! It sounds like you have a good list started! My daughter loved BUTI!
Here are some questions to ask- does she want to focus on chamber music or orchestral playing? Many camps out there are chamber only (string quartet) or chamber with light orchestra, or mainly orchestra with light chamber. All the camps we looked at also included private lessons - this is a must IMO.
More questions that we focused on while she was in high school - where does she want to go to college? And for a musician this means - who do you want to study with? Answer that question and then move backward to see if there are any summer institutes where these teachers are on faculty. Obviously you can’t do it all. Buy if you have say a list of 4 or 5 schools with 1 top choice teacher at each school, you find, if you can, as many opportunities that are out there to hopefully get in front of those teachers in the summers. You then send as many applications as you can afford and see where everything falls.
However, if you have no idea about schools it is best to study the faculty at each summer Institute, read their bios, do a little internet stalking and listening and see if that is someone your student might benefit from.
Look at the institute’s sample day page and see if the rehearsal/lesson/practice times/amounts are a match to what your student wants and needs.
BUTI has a few options - orchestral (6 weeks), string Quartet only (I think 2 weeks?) and an instrument specific camp (2 weeks)
I don’t have experience with Brevard and Interlochen but have heard great things.
Bowdoin International Music Festival is a great camp and welcomes high school as well as college
I found this nice website that lists music camps by state:
https://www.johnsonstring.com/resources/summer-music-camps/
On another other topic you have mentioned, if she truly wants to major in performance it is not too early to look at repertoire requirements of colleges and conservatories in which she is interested. Use these lists to pick repertoire NOW to work on. In 1 year (which is not that long) she will already need to have any required prescreening recordings already made and actual auditions will most likely happen in Feb of her senior year. If she picks this rep now, it will be a wonderful opportunity to work on them over the summer with master teachers. I think summer between junior and senior year might be most important.
Please message me if you have any other questions.
Wishing you all the best!!
@stringbird - My kid did Marrowstone a few summers (we live in PNW) and while it isn’t as selective as some other programs (BUTI) it is challenging and they play amazing repertoire. It has gotten a little more selective (a really good bassoon player didn’t make it last summer) so don’t let that throw you.
@akapiratequeen thank you! I will look into those two programs.
@Violinmomaz she is interested in orchestral programs. I am definitely with you on the need for private lessons.
We know next to nothing about the viola world so we are still at sea on the college question. Her private teacher is a violinist by trade. I’m actually hoping to gain some traction by working this the opposite way - hoping she can learn more about the viola world from other summer program participants so that we have a better idea what faculty and what colleges to look at. I did add the summer program faculty to my spreadsheet but I haven’t researched them any further. I can see how that would be helpful, I’ll do that this weekend.
That is a great idea to research repertory now. I have a GIANT unfiltered list of colleges, I should start through that list and see if i can find some repertory commonalities like what we found for summer programs.
Thank you!
Not to argue with your D’s teacher, but, frankly, if she is currently studying with a good teacher, she us most likely to make the most progress by taking 2 lessons a week this summer and practicing at home. You say she is behind and needs viola repertoire. Orchestra or chamber experience at BUTI or elsewhere won’t help with that. She would get a feel for 24/7 music.
Also, Interlochen is nit as selective as one hears - especially for viola. Orchestra there won’t help her development needs, teacher may not be as good as her current home teacher since the needs and background aren’t known, kids don’t always practice well or much as there are many “camp” requirements. If she can play the Telemannconcerto in tune and stylistically correctly, she will get in. If you want a scholarship, that is selective.
I cross posted with your explanation of the violin viola teacher. Question: Are you close to a college or university with a viola prof, even an adjunct that is a violist? I would suggest looking there for a teacher with the background she needs now. Maybe the current teacher will help, the new needs your D has should be obvious to her and your teacher has apparently already indicated her lack of viola world knowledge.
If the decision is still to look at summer camps, look into”practice camps” like Meadowmount. it is competitive, but less so for viola than violin or cello. Indianna Strings would also be good. She would have “real” violists for instruction. There may also be some University camp options with the viola prof or a viola grad student teaching the studio lessons. You could check that also.
No idea of yourD’s playing, but remember many auditioning for conservatories are playing at the level of the Bartok and Walton Concertos and playing them well. Stamitz and Vanhal level will need to be quite good for selective programs. Bach sonata will also be important every where.
@Lendlees somehow I missed your post about Marrowstone. It is reassuring to hear that it’s a good program, thank you for sharing your experience.
@Musicaspirant you have correctly identified all the concerns. She is sorely lacking in viola repertory and we need viola-specific guidance. As for her level, right now she is working on a movement from the Stamitz as one of her audition pieces for summer programs. That piece is within her playing range but she does not know, for example, the Telemann. The Bartok and Walton would surely be out of her range. This will be a limiting factor for her auditions next year. But one step at a time.
We do have a university nearby and our teacher has indeed recommended we switch to a “real” viola teacher, but so far I have had no success getting a response from the viola professor we were recommended to contact. As far as I can tell there’s only one viola professor. It hadn’t occurred to me to try to contact any other person, but now that you mention it, I notice that there is a graduate student there that we know who is studying viola. I will inquire further. The student might give lessons, or might know what the trick is to getting in touch with the professor. I agree with you that given the timeframes, two lessons a week over the summer would be quite valuable with the right teacher.
Back to summer programs. Whether or not finding a viola teacher works out, I do still think there is value in her going through the audition process, since that is going to be a fact of life for her for the next several years if she pursues this path. So I will probably still encourage her to at least audition.
That is interesting about Interlochen. To be honest it would not be our top choice based on her personality and some things we have heard about how they run it. But it does sound like it gives me the selectivity spread I was looking for.
I read about Meadowmount in this forum’s summer camp thread and floated the idea of it, but neither she nor the teacher seemed to think it was a good idea - the teacher because it has a boot camp reputation and my daughter because it doesn’t have the orchestral component - so I dropped it. Anyway from what I had read, I didn’t think she would be able to get in at Meadowmount. What other programs are there that are like Meadowmount? I have seen the phrase “practice camps like Meadowmount” on this forum somewhere else, but not program names.
My last thought is, with the list as I have it now, she could potentially do some mixing and matching of shorter programs (e.g. BUTI viola workshop + Marrowstone) to get both the intensive practice aspect and the orchestral aspect. That plus a viola teacher really seems like it would hit the sweet spot.
Lots to think about and do! Thank you again for your observations and advice.
I don’t know why your teacher objects to a “boot camp” for a student needing fast progress! Meadowmount has required practice hours, but your D would be exposed to some of the best and most serious young players - if she gets in. If your D isn’t practicing at least three hours daily now, she would need to build this time up to avoid injury due to suddenly upping the required practice hours at Meadowmount or Indiana Strings.
I still doubt that an orchestra experience is likely to provide the development your D needs. She needs playing time with her repertoire and work on identified weaknesses with a good teacher. Orchestra rehearsal time cuts into the time available for individual practice and the energy and focus of the player. (Not true for winds and percussion orchestral players. They are all on solo parts. Very valuable for leadership and independence.) Talk this through with her teacher - the camps are often quite expensive and would be a shame to not get the benefits she needs now. Her auditions will focus on concerto, Bach, perhaps etudes and scales. Pretty rare to have a string audition with an orchestral excerpt requirement and even if there is one, she’s unlikely to have performed the work. Excerpts are generally studied like solo literature.
Chamber music, since player is on a solo part, could be valuable viola experience for her.
@stringbird I was looking up Thayer for you (which is unfortunately only one week) and ran into this site: https://bandnotes.info/camps.htm
Ignore the local listings for metrowest Boston and scroll down. Others on here could help evaluate these programs, for which links are provided on the bandnotes site (or you can google, of course):
Apple Hill (NH) applehill.org
Curtisfest: extremely selective ¶
New England Music Camp (Sidney ME) 4-8n weeks
Summer Music Festival at Thayer Performing Arts Center ( 1 week)
Interlochen and Brevard are on your list
Point Counterpoint Lake Dunmore, VT) 3,4. 7 weeks
Kinhaven (Weston VT) 6 weeks
Philadelphia International Music Festival
Stringwood (MN) 2 weeks with Artari String Quartet (not sure about 2020)
UNH Summer Youth Music School (NH) 2 weeks
Hartwick College Summer Music Festival
Eastern US Music Camp at Colgate 2,3,4 weeks (NY)
Penn State HS Summer Music Camp
Eastern Music Festival and School at Guilford College, NC , 5 weeks
Credo Chamber Music Association at Oberlin
Portland ME String Quartet Festival
Rocky Mountain Summer Conservatory (CO)
Rocky Ridge Music Center (CO)
International Music Institute and Festival at Coolfont (MD)
I would note that this list may date back to 2015, since NY Summer Festival was listed and it closed in that year 
I would also encourage reading the Double Degree Dilemma essay closer to the top of this forum, which outlines the various ways to study music. An addtional option not covered is to do a BA, in music or another subject, take lessons privately, and do extracurricular performance. It is okay to apply to BM and BA programs and cover all options if a student isn’t sure.
Hi @stringbird I am back to add my $.02 about practice boot camp v. orchestra focused camp.
If she wants to major in performance and one would infer pursue a career in music, I would think, as a violist, a high level orchestral experience would be beneficial. Viola players find their place in the professional world as part of a quartet or an orchestra. Being exposed to a more varied repertoire of orchestra music would be of great value, especially at a place like BUTI because they perform 3 concerts of major works and are expected to learn them quickly. There is plenty of practice time and 6 weeks of lessons AND chamber music rehearsals and coachings. My D who is a violinist and has been focused on all three aspects of playing - solo, chamber, orchestra - found it a rich and challenging environment.
My fear about boot camps is that even though you have “designated practice time” the only thing that requires is that you stay in a room and make noise. The drive that makes a practice boot camp worthwhile is internal motivation and an ALREADY well established practice routine - what to focus on in the time allowed, how to make goals for your practice session, how to achieve those goals (slow practice, etudes, methodical approaches to difficulties, etc.).
If she is at all undecided, or newly decided, about pursuing performance, I think she would need to have a varied environment where she can get a real feel for all the options open to her.
For my D Bowdoin this past summer was a great balance. They had large ensemble (not always full symphonic, sometimes strings, etc.) They had tons of chamber, (self-rehearsals and coachings), lessons, masterclasses and then plenty of practice time, and opportunities to perform solo and chamber works often during each week. She was able to perform 3 solos and three chamber pieces. They were also encouraged to have down time, to rest, to achieve balance. It was exactly what she needed this past summer.
All this to say, sometimes the best motivator is finding the love and joy in music that makes you feel like there is nothing else you can or want to do. That is what makes you work hard. Well, that and a good teacher!
(When looking for faculty/teacher information and looking at bios, look at who/where THEY themselves studied with. You will see a trend happening)
Wishing you and your daughter all the best!
@Violinmomaz, this strikes me as great advice! Not a string parent, but I can corroborate the last pont:
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We saw a definite pattern when we started to research faculty at S’s schools of choice – most of the people he admired/liked most had studied at Eastman, even if they were now at other colleges. Didn’t help with the initial list but really narrowed things down near the end.
@Violinmomaz presents a great counter position to the orchestra vs practice camp focus.
I don’t necessarily disagree that high level orchestra experience will be valuable to her down the road. I was thinking more of the challenges of preparing conservatory/college audition repertoire that will need to be completed a year from now. Given the new focus on viola and the level of advancement at present, I see the focus on developing greater facility on the instrument as primary. Perhaps she can gain that with orchestral rep, but it is very easy to “play along” with a section whereas solo playing and focus makes clear any areas where development is needed. Practicing and preparing audition rep will be harder during school time, especially with the difficult academics she is pursuing. I saw summer as a chance to jump start the personal practice and viola focus.
Certainly the point that a varied environment might help your D determine if music and viola is the route or not. Note that many of the camps mentioned are quite selective.
Thanks again to everyone for their advice and thoughts! It seems there are several fronts to work on.
First, I tend to agree with @Musicaspirant that the focus should be on technique and rep, which takes me back to the need to find a good viola-specific private teacher who can be available in the summer. I need to widen my search. I need to get moving on this and not rely on our private teacher, who has a lot going on right now.
Next, I definitely hear @Violinmomaz comment on finding out what rep specifically to focus on. I.e. what will her auditions next year require. I looked through my school list last night and I think I know enough to narrow it down to twenty or so. I can pull in their audition requirements and go from there.
Finally, revisiting the original question I posted about summer camps. It sounds like the list I have was good for the conditions I specified, but that my conditions are a little off. It’s probably not so important about the length of the camp for my daughter’s situation, and in fact, shorter might be preferable if we can find a good viola teacher. After searching for a viola teacher and for college audition repertory, I’ll go through the list @compmom posted and maybe rearrange some things.
Sounds like you are on it, @stringbird! Your D is lucky to have a fierce advocate in her corner!
@stringbird - You are doing a great job in helping your D. I have seen so many young people flounder in this field because parents didn’t know or care enough to help them with anything. One such young man calls me his “music mama” because I’ve been able to advise him a little through the years. Keep up the good work!! This is a very different experience than “normal” college kids go through! They just need help and guidance. At least someone to make spreadsheets!
I will say one more thing - don’t forget to sit down and ask her what SHE wants from the summer and what she expects to happen with each choice you might make. Her motivation, whether you choose camp or intense lesson schedule or something in between will determine the outcome more than anything else. If she wants it badly enough, she will make it work.
Please keep us updated!
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