Ithaca College Summer Music Academy: A Crescendo of Opportunity
The Ithaca College Summer Music Academy (SMA) offers a unique pre-college experience for young musicians. Designed for students interested in honing their skills and exploring new musical avenues, the academy provides a creative and supportive environment for growth. The program caters to both students aspiring to careers in music and those seeking a quality summer music experience.
A Legacy of Musical Excellence
Since 1892, the Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre, & Dance has cultivated a reputation as one of the finest undergraduate music schools in the country. The faculty works diligently each year with students from across the country, helping them develop into world-class professionals. The Summer Music Academy builds upon this legacy, offering a taste of the college's rigorous and rewarding musical training.
The High School Program: A Pre-College Symphony
The high school program at the Summer Music Academy is a residential pre-college experience that combines dedicated music courses with the opportunity to earn college credit. Taught by Ithaca College faculty and top music educators from across the country, the program provides invaluable insights and instruction.
The high school program offers a robust pre-college experience with a rich offering of music courses, as well as non-music courses. The electives have been carefully designed to allow students interested in pursuing careers in music the experiences needed to hone and expand upon their interests, as well as investigate new areas of interest.
Chamber Music Institute: An Enchanting Summer Retreat
The Ithaca College Chamber Music Institute serves as an enchanting summer retreat where young maestros can explore their musical talents. The camp serves as an enchanting summer retreat, where young maestros can caress strings, kiss keys, and blow life into wind instruments, discovering their harmonious high notes and crescendoes. Uniquely poised as an orchestrator of melodies and mentorships, the Institute encourages personal growth alongside musical dexterity. The intermediate program is a joyful dalliance between fun and serious performance. Picture an opportunity to work with revered instructors within a warm and encouraging atmosphere - it's the perfect sonata for success! At this vibrant hub of hertz and heartbeats, young adults aren't merely learning to play music; they're exploring the complexities of the world through the beautiful language of harmony. Here, in the heart of Ithaca, children are taught to find their rhythm and move to their beat in the grand dance of life.
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Courses Offered
In addition to the core music curriculum, students can choose from a variety of courses designed to broaden their horizons. Although the text provided by the user does not speak directly of music courses, it does mention other courses that are available during the summer pre-college program. This may be an indication of the interdisciplinary nature of the summer academy. Courses include:
- Foundations of Health, Human Performance, and Wellness: This course offers an engaging orientation to health, human performance, and wellness at the individual, group, and population levels. During the course, students will participate in hands-on learning in a variety of campus-based labs and clinics, as well as off-campus field visits.
- Imaginative Writing: This course prepares students for college-level creative writing, guiding them through the techniques of crafting personal essays, short stories, and poems. Peer workshops and close readings of diverse authors contribute to a rich learning experience.
- The Media and Me: An Introduction to Critical Media Literacy: This course addresses aspects of contemporary critical media literacy, including media ownership, the production and distribution of media, and how power structures and culture shape our own use of media. Students will develop the ability to think critically about what they read and watch, and will gain the tools and perspectives to become more empowered and autonomous media users.
- Wildlife Tracking and Nature Observation: This experiential field class allows students to develop the skills of an ecological field scientist and naturalist. Students will learn fundamental tree identification, mammal behavior and identification, the use of motion-activated trail cameras, and how to move through natural landscapes without creating disturbance.
Applicants are asked to indicate their first, second, and third choice courses during the application process. The academy strives to provide everyone with their first choice option.
Residential and Commuter Options
The Summer Music Academy offers both full residential and commuter experiences.
Full Residential Experience
The total cost for the full residential experience in the summer program is $5,900. This includes a three-credit Ithaca College undergraduate course, three weeks of housing and meals, structured recreational activities, access to campus resources and all program fees (this includes the $500 deposit).
Commuter Experience
The commuter rate is $4,368. The total cost for commuters includes a three-credit Ithaca College undergraduate course, activity fees, 16 meals (orientation dinner and lunch during the weekdays), and all program fees (this includes the $500 deposit).
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Options for Ithaca College Employees
The dependents of Ithaca College employees are welcome to participate in the programs and can apply for tuition remission to offset some of the costs of participation (this applies to the "for credit" programs SCHSS, SMA, & STC; and does not apply to SPI). Your dependent may choose between being a commuter or living on campus. Your participation in our summer pre-college program is not confirmed until you have paid your $500.00 deposit in Campminder.
Fees and Financial Aid
In addition to program fees, a non-refundable $50 application fee is due upon application to the program and if applying to the Summer Theatre Conservatory, an additional non-refundable $25 application fee for Acceptd applies.
The $500 enrollment deposit is non-refundable. Full refunds of paid program fees due to withdrawal from the program by June 1 will be provided, minus the enrollment deposit of $500. Partial refunds of program fees after June 1 may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Ithaca College provides a limited number of need-based, partial-tuition scholarships. The maximum award is 50% of the program fee. The academy also welcomes partnerships with foundations, non-profit service organizations, and college-prep organizations seeking to fully support or offset costs for students to attend the summer pre-college residential programs.
Application Information
The Summer College for High School Students (SCHSS), Summer Music Academy (SMA), & Summer Theatre Conservatory (STC) will run Sunday, July 12 through Friday, July 31, 2026 (drop-off on Sunday, July 12th and pickup on Friday, July 31st will be in the afternoon). Applications for the SCHSS, SMA, and STC programs are now open.
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Applicants must submit their audition materials via Accepted.
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