Summer Music Clinic
Junior Session
June 22-28, 2025
For students completing 6th-8th grades
Senior Session
June 29-July 5, 2025
For students completing 9th-12th grades
Who we are
We invite young musicians, music lovers and those who enjoy all forms of music and creativity for a week of music and memory-making on the UW–Madison campus. There is a creative artistic path for everyone! With sessions for both middle and high school students, Summer Music Clinic offers the opportunity to:
- Learn from experienced educators and music and arts professionals from around the country, locally, and UW–Madison
- Learn and grow in a challenging, fast paced, supportive atmosphere
- Develop and discover new music and artistic skills and enhance existing ones
- Meet and collaborate with those who share your interests and connect your life and academics with the arts
- Develop and express your unique, creative style. Learn to tell your story in multiple ways through the arts
- Enjoy new experiences in a welcoming, supportive community on the UW-Madison campus
- Learn about UW-Madison and college life
Summer Music Clinic registration
- Registration opens in early January and is open through May 15, 2025.
Interested in more arts options? Join Badger Precollege at our NEW Summer Arts Clinic, a 1 week experience for high school students to learn from experienced arts professionals and develop new or existing artistic skills.
Summer Music Clinic works in partnership with the UW–Madison Mead Witter School of Music
Our history
Starting in 1929, Summer Music Clinic is the second oldest music camp in the USA by one year to Interlochen Center for the Arts. Encompassing the Wisconsin Idea, the mission of SMC is to be a true “clinic” for teachers, students, community, pre-service educators, and all to come and learn and grow together during the summer in an immersive arts experience.
I’ve never seen any other music education program of this structure and size have such a broad-reaching and long-lasting impact on young people. These young musicians grow and bloom exponentially over one brief summer week. This is possible because of two pillars of the program: 1) incredibly talented educators who love teaching more than anything, and 2) incredibly caring camp counselors who work tirelessly to create a safe, supportive, and fun community. Summer Music Clinic is much more than a music camp; it’s a game-changer.
Elizabeth Snodgrass
Program Manager of Summer Music Clinic
2018-2019
Teachers and counselors
Our highly qualified teachers are chosen for their excellence, diverse perspectives and backgrounds, creativity and care as music educators and are drawn from the Madison area as well as greater Wisconsin and the U.S. Instructors bring their own unique style of teaching and musical experiences to their classes, offering current, wide-ranging opportunities for students.
Experienced and caring counselors are part of what makes Summer Music Clinic so special. Several were campers themselves and know the value of having a friendly and reliable support system while away from home. These supervisors — usually college students or young educators — ensure campus life is fun and safe for all who attend, resulting in a welcoming and inclusive community.
Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
Summer Music Clinic and Badger Precollege are guided by values for inclusivity and equity and strive to provide access to any middle or high school musician who wants to participate. We uphold the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s commitment to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion as we seek to create programming that embraces the richness of diversity and the importance of an inclusive community of students, faculty and staff. We strive to increase accessibility to quality precollege programs for ALL students.
International participants
Support for international participants
At Badger Precollege, we provide international students with engaging coursework and programming while offering different levels of support to ensure the best experience possible. In addition to the traditional program opportunities, international students have access to:
- A Badger Precollege community manager who will work closely with international students to create a fun and educational atmosphere while in the program. The community manager will be available for students to communicate any ideas, concerns or issues relevant to the programs.
- An orientation session that covers all relevant information for the program and any questions that students or their families may have. It will cover technologies used in the program, what to expect within each synchronous course set up, expectations for the program and work done outside of course time, time zone set up and many other topics.
English proficiency recommendations
To be successful in Summer Music Clinic, we suggest that students demonstrate at least intermediate-level English through a minimum TOEFL score of 80 or IELTS score of 6.5 or Duolingo English Test score of 105. If you do not have a test score available but would like to see if your English is proficient for Summer Music Clinic, you may request a phone or video interview with Summer Music Clinic program staff.
Junior Session (Grades 6-8)
June 22-28, 2025
Senior Session (Grades 9-12)
June 29-July 5, 2025
One thing I really appreciate about this camp was working with such talented staff. I remember numerous comments and instructions that changed the way I think about music. I particularly learned things from the orchestra instructor about the importance of feeling the music and connecting with others. I also think I learned a lot from the opportunity I had to play in Collins Recital Hall for the tuition waiver audition.
SMC Student
2023