SFCM Announces 2023 Summer Music Academies including Guitar, Technology and Applied Composition, and Voice
Summer@SFCM’s residential programs, hosted in the Bowes Center, feature collegiate faculty members, guest artists, and one-of-a-kind experiences for young musicians.
The San Francisco Conservatory of Music invites applications from aspiring young musicians to live, learn, and play in the heart of San Francisco’s cultural district for one of its exciting, enlightening, and unparalleled summer residential academies.
This year's programs include unique summer academies in bass clarinet, guitar, harp, technology and applied composition and voice designed to cultivate young artists and their talent. Summer@SFCM’s overnight programs will be led by the Conservatory’s world-class faculty members.
“These summer programs will allow participants to grow as artists and citizens of the world under the tutelage of SFCM faculty, in the vibrant arts district of San Francisco,” said Matthew Worth, GRAMMY winner, voice professor at SFCM, and artistic director of the vocal academy. “Participants will have multiple opportunities to perform and retain professionally engineered recordings. They will have private voice lessons, acting and dance instruction. Participants will also experience a number of field trips, and get to know the diverse and electric arts scene in San Francisco.”
Attendees will participate in intensive study and personal instruction while residing in SFCM’s Bowes Center. This groundbreaking $200 million+, 12-story home for music was inaugurated in November 2021 and incorporates student housing, dining, classrooms, practice spaces, a recording studio, a broadcast studio, and three acoustically-exacting performance halls. The San Francisco Examiner called the Bowes Center, an educational landmark that is “a brilliant cultural addition to the city.”
Summer@SFCM’s residential programs are complemented by a returning, in-person day camp for harp musicians ages 10-19 and online offerings in composition. Musicians at harp camp receive daily teaching and opportunities to perform solo, in a master class, and as part of the harp ensemble. Students ages 13-18 can explore and expand their inner composer in introduction to composition or computer assisted composing, both online classes.
Emerging musicians across all instruments will get an experience like no other that will leave them inspired to help write the next generation of music. “It’s a very intense, but fun foray into music technology with world-class equipment and brilliant teachers!" said Abigail, 16, a past technology and applied composition summer participant.
"All the faculty were amazing and super kind! I loved having individual lessons with each teacher,” said Kiran, 15, a Guitar Workshop participant.
Applications open February 1 and must be submitted by April 1, 2023. Financial aid is available. Full details, including faculty listings and admissions requirements, can be found at https://sfcm.edu/summer-programs.
Residential camp
The SFCM Summer Vocal Academy provides an enriching environment where young musicians can focus intensely and creatively to further their musical and theatrical skills and continue to develop their vocal health, technique, and performance abilities. In addition to lessons with faculty, participants will have daily classes in mindfulness, theatrical training in dance and/or stage combat and perform in two professionally recorded concerts showcasing solo and ensemble numbers. Although primarily a classically based program, applicants with a range of musical interests are encouraged to apply.
DATES
Monday, July 24 - Saturday, July 29
Designed for currently enrolled high school students ages 14+ of all levels of vocal training and with the potential to pursue serious musical studies. Interested students should complete the online application and submit an audition video.
TECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED COMPOSITION IMMERSIVE
Residential camp
In this week-long immersive program, students will take a deep dive into music technology, media composition, and state-of-the-art production techniques. Through fun and interactive workshops, students will learn hands-on about what’s possible with the latest and greatest software tools. With guidance from world-class faculty members and visiting industry professionals, students will build a custom microphone, produce a sound logo for a commercial or trailer and work towards a culminating recording session of their own hybrid score to add to their portfolio of works to share online, or as part of a college application portfolio.
DATES
Monday, June 19 - Friday, June 23
Designed for currently enrolled high school students, ages 15+ with experience in music composition and electronic media or sound design. Applicants are required to submit links to two or three examples of their work that demonstrates their creativity with electronic media.
Residential camp
Participants will study with SFCM guitar faculty and guest artists in this week-long immersive guitar workshop. Students will work one-on-one with Sergio Assad, David Tanenbaum, and Marc Teicholz, as well as participate in guest masterclasses, performances, guitar ensembles and interactive workshops about guitar technique, and improvisation. All participants will work toward a culminating performance at SFCM.
DATES
Monday, June 26 - Friday, June 30
Designed for students ages 13- 18, admission is by video audition.
Residential camp
A holistic approach to taking your bass clarinet playing to the next level. In this new week-long intensive program, participants will work closely with members of the Sqwonk bass clarinet duo and the San Francisco Symphony to deepen and broaden their bass clarinet skills. With masterclasses and workshops on topics including practice techniques, audition preparation, extended techniques, career development, and creating new repertoire, students will immerse themselves in the bass clarinet from a range of angles and perspectives. All participants will receive one-on-one private lessons, play in a masterclass, and have the unique opportunity to perform alongside students and faculty in a large bass clarinet choir.
DATES
Monday, June 12 - Friday, June 16
Designed for students ages 18 and up, applicants will be asked to submit a video audition.
Day camp
Enrich your harp learning over the summer with SFCM’s Harp Camp! Hone your musical skills and connect with other young harpists from the Bay Area. During this five-day program, each harpist gets to perform solo, in a masterclass, and with the harp ensemble. Harpists receive daily instruction in topics including harp ensemble, eurhythmics, harp history, and special workshops such as arranging your favorite harp piece, improvisation, managing performance nerves, and more. Come join us this summer, collaborate with your harpist peers, and get your harp playing in tip-top shape!
DATES
Monday, July 17, 2023 - Friday, July 21 12:30 – 4:30 PM
Participants must be ages 12-18 and have previous harp experience, ideally at least 1 year of instruction. Participants will be asked to submit an introductory video.
INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC COMPOSITION
Day camp
Explore your inner composer in this introductory course. Apply the principles of harmony to create beautiful chord progressions, compose amazing melodies and sticky rhythms to play them in your computer, at the piano, or in your preferred music instrument. This course, offered online only, also includes an introduction to computer notation software to write and share your own composed music.
DATES
Monday, June 19, 2023 - Friday, July 7, 2023 M,W,F from 10 - 11:30AM or 1:00 - 2:30PM
Participants must be ages 13 - 18 and have the ability to read music as well as an understanding of major and minor scales, intervals and chord construction; minimum of two years experience with a musical instrument. No previous composition experience needed.
Day camp
Get into coding to create sound and music! Learn to generate and present your musical ideas through your computer or using your preferred digital audio workstation. Participants will be introduced to Computer Assisted Composition using different object-oriented visual environments (OpenMusic, PWGL and AC Toolbox), and create algorithms to compose melodies, rhythms, harmonic progressions and interesting sounds.
DATES
Monday, June 19, 2023 - Friday, July 7, 2023 T,TH from 10 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 3:00pm
Participants must be ages 13 - 18 and have previous experience with music theory that includes a basic understanding of major and minor scales, intervals, chord construction, chord progressions, musical forms and familiarity with basic counterpoint techniques. Either Mac or PC computer necessary. No previous coding experience required.
About the San Francisco Conservatory of Music
SFCM draws on the bold creativity of San Francisco to offer unparalleled training for the 21st century musician. We support students in developing the skills and vision to chart successful careers and advance the human experience through music. We believe a musical education must extend far beyond technical and performance skills. Our commitment to music of enduring quality and importance is the foundation of our innovative curriculum, cultivating critical thinking and business acumen alongside artistic practice, and creating a transformative environment of inquiry, collaboration, and entrepreneurship.
Our DNA combines a global perspective with the unstoppable energy and imagination of our hometown. Our pioneering programs and partnerships with leading institutions and businesses prepare students to seize opportunities in music and a wide array of the fastest developing sectors today. SFCM is a magnet for exceptional faculty whose ongoing professional experience benefits our students. As the only conservatory partnered with a leading artist management company, we are able to provide our students unique insight and access to the music industry.
www.sfcm.edu
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