Can anyone offer any insight on Summer programs for Contemporary Music? My daughter is applying as a vocal performance or singer/songwriter concentration. She currently has one acceptance and the program wants a committment in 2 weeks. This is where it gets dicy as we will not hear from other programs until much later. All of the apps are not even in yet! So how do we navigate this process without knowing her outcomes yet?
She is appying to the followig programs:
Interlochen, Idyllwild, Grammy Camp, Berklee 5 week, UC Denver music industry, NYU Steinhardt
This is all new to me. I need all the help I can get in learning this new world. Thank you in advance!
This is a problem without a solution unfortunately, Some programs respond early and have deadlines for a yes or no that falls before other programs respond. You have to prioritize choices and, in some cases, gamble. At least that is our experience. It might be possible to email a program that has not yet responded, tell them they are the first choice but that a response is needed to another program, so is there any way to find out whether or not acceptance is likely.
@compmom Thank you for your response. I am afriad we will have to gamble and make some choices. We have been doing some research and are starting to prioritize. Would you have any specific feedback about the content/training at any of these programs that could help us prioritize them?
My daughter and I had this conversation yesterday, after your post! The ethical thing to do is to decide one’s first and second choices and avoid leading other programs on just so you have a place. One of her friends suggested she say yes to the first program to accept her, then later tell them no if another program she prefers says yes, and that is totally unethical and unfair to the program and to other applicants. Of course you were not considering that: we were kind of shocked at this suggestion I guess!
What is your daughter’s preferred genre and does she have some foundational training with a teacher?
I only know about Berklee personally, honestly. If she is in later high school, I would think Berklee or NYU would be good if they are schools she might want to attend. I know that summer faculty isn’t always faculty from the year-round program but often they are and summer programs can give a flavor of the place for a potential applicant. Maybe Denver too.
Berklee has an outstanding vocal program that allows you to work in any style or genre you choose
“Your voice: it’s your instrument. Explore the world of contemporary vocal music in your choice of style: pop/rock/country, R&B, jazz, musical theater, or a cappella. Open to vocalists, singer-songwriters, and instrumentalists who sing, this four-day program will provide you with instruction in vocal technique, style, performance skills, singing with a band, group singing, and a cappella performance.”
Steinhardt has a contemporary vocal workshop, which looks a little more focused on technique and the blurb does not specify genre. http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/summer/contemporaryvocal
“The Vocal Performance Program in Music and Performing Arts Professions offers a two-week contemporary voice workshop during which students learn about vocal technique, vocal function and basics of vocal anatomy and physiology, while employing the tools learned in activities including but not limited to: ensembles, solo performances, private lessons and coachings, workshops and masterclasses with master teachers and guests currently working in the field. Students will have a chance to showcase their talent and progress from material learned during the two-week intensive program at a final concert at the conclusion of the workshop.”
UC Denver is an interesting one if she wants to attend their commercial singing program as an undergrad, which falls under the music and music industry umbrella. But the summer program includes a lot on music industry, including writing, recording and performing. There is a singer-songwriter ensemble, one of 4, so if she writes songs, again, that might be a possibility.
I think of Interlochen as classical ( it is certainly an esteemed program) but I see they have rock music (not a voice program) and a program for singer/songwriters. Does your daughter write songs? Is this a fit?
Idyllwild doesn’t seem to have a program that is as focused on s contemporary singing, compared to Berklee and NYU, but is a very interesting multi-faceted program.
Grammy Camp looks more interesting than Interlochen and Idyllwild, to me, but like Denver, there is a music industry bent. LA covers different genres. I think Nashville may be for singer-songwriters. so again I don’t know if your daughter writes music. It certainly is a way to interact with professionals and potential teachers at the undergrad level.
I guess I would ask if training and technique are important to your daughter, or if she is more interested in being exposed to performance and recording, and an overall glimpse at the industyr. Overall I would say Berklee and NYU would be the best choices but they are competitive, I am sure, so hard to gamble. It depends on your daughters preferences and experiences.
And a disclaimer is that the websites I looked at may not give the whole story, and raise more questions in some ways. Good luck!
Just noticed a Berklee summer program thread here on the music forum…
Thank you for your insight, this is helpful! Yes, we are trying to avoid any sticky situations for sure. May just have to go with our gut feelings! Also agree that the websites may raise more questions…that’s why I am reaching out for info here. It has gotten confusing!
To answer some of your questions. My D is currently mostly indie/pop with a classical background. She says she is not into jazz, although she really has not had much exposure to it. She does sing and write her own music. This too may make it more confusing!
Agreed that attending a program attached to a university is the top choice because college is the next step! However, one of my D’s goals for the summer is to try to decide what her college focus will be should she have to choose between vocal performance and singer/songwriter. So a program with exposure to both is also a priority.
But NYU’s deadline isn’t until MAY something so this all gets a little stressful!
We are trying to take some deep breaths here, while she finishes some applications and waits to hear from some programs!
Using the summer to figure out focus for undergrad makes a lot of sense. Berklee looks good in that regard…but maybe she likes some of the others. Good luck with this!
I came across this article from Arts Bridge “13 Summer Music Programs ArtsBridge Loves” https://artsbridge.com/summer-music-programs-artsbridge-loves/
Thanks for sharing this!