Summer Music Clinic | Senior Session

Be a part of an a cappella ensemble! Music will be made completely through the human voice. All experience levels are welcome. A diverse and varied repertoire is a focus of this course.

Limited enrollment (15)

This class is for the experienced guitarist looking to build and expand their skills and musicianship. The course is designed as a small group instruction class. All styles and types of guitars welcome.

A small jazz ensemble that covers a wide range of Afro-Cuban music, including son, son montuno, guaracha, mambo, bembe, danzón, guaguancó, cha-cha-chá, mozambique, rumba, and bolero. Students in the Afro-Cuban Jazz Ensemble work with the rhythmic concepts of clave in practical application, including improvisation and theoretical knowledge.

Instruments: Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Piano, Bass, Percussion

Add rock to your Bach. Put some swing in your strings. Play the blues and some fiddle. Get rhythm in your bows. Explore exciting possibilities for string instruments in contemporary music styles and improvisation.

Limited enrollment (15)

Do you audition for honors ensembles, solos, theatre productions, college, and more? Are you looking to gain valuable experience and tips for how to prepare for and crush your audition in the moment? This course is for you! Come with pieces of music you have prepared to gain valuable experience and insight into the audition processes in music!

Develop your skills in ear training. Skills will include listening and identifying scales, intervals, chords and the ability to take aural dictation or transcribe music.

Be a part of a wind band ensemble! A diverse, challenging, and varied repertoire is a focus of this course. Explore the student choice audition process to select the path that is best for you. Music is taught through a variety of methods including reading notation, learning by rote or ear, and an individualized and large ensemble approach.

Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Percussion and others

Limited enrollment (15)

This class focuses on telling stories without saying a word through the foundations of making beats. This session revolves around making contemporary musical compositions and the different ways that it happens.

Limited enrollment (15)

Come learn the guitar! Students will learn the basics of the instrument, notes, and chords in this course. The course is designed as a small group instruction model and will be taught in a group setting. A limited number of instruments are available on request.

Limited enrollment (12)

Come learn the piano! Students will learn the basics of the instrument, notes, and chords in this course. The course is designed as a small group instruction model and will be taught in a group setting. Instruments are provided.

Limited enrollment – Violin (24), viola (12), cello (12), double bass (6)

Chamber strings is a string based ensemble that focuses on a diverse, challenging, and varied repertoire for small string ensembles. Trios, quartets, and more will be explored in this course! Come enjoy a small ensemble experience focused on musician independence and self-rehearsing through a coaching model.

Instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Other

Limited enrollment – Brass (8), woodwind (8), mixed (8)

Chamber Winds is a wind instrument based ensemble that focuses on a diverse, challenging, and varied repertoire for small ensembles. Trios, quartets, and more will be explored in this course! Come enjoy a small ensemble experience focused on musician independence and self-rehearsing through a coaching model. This course is offered through a collaboration with the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society.

Instruments: Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Percussion, Other

Be a part of a choral ensemble! A diverse, challenging, and varied repertoire is a focus of this course. Explore the student choice audition process to select the path that is best for you. Music is taught through a variety of methods including reading notation, learning by rote or ear, and an individualized and large ensemble approach.

All voice parts

Learn what making music is like in front of an ensemble! Physical movement, score study, and rehearsal techniques will be explored in this course. All students will be active participants as conductors and choral musicians.

Limited enrollment (12)

The skill of accompanying and collaborating with other musicians is a great addition to the pianist’s skill set! In this course, learn techniques for accompanying soloists, choirs, and collaborating with multiple musicians from collaborative pianists. This course is a combination of learning techniques and then putting them into practice with SMC ensembles while working with a collaborative pianist.

Limited enrollment (20)

Learn techniques to compose your own music and arrange the music of others for a variety of ensembles. Composition, focused on creativity, is also a technique rooted in music theory and learned skills to help amplify your creative ideas through the study of melody, harmony and rhythm. Arranging includes arranging original compositions and those of others for the best sounds and results with various ensembles.

Beginning and Advanced Composition and Arranging are two separate classes with enrollment limited to 20 in each course.

What if you could tell other musicians in the moment what to play, how to play, and when to play without writing anything down or uttering a word? Or have the freedom to play in a group without having any music? “Soundpainting” is a universal multidisciplinary live composing sign language for collaborating with and responding to your peers in an improvisational and inclusive environment. Join Dr. Gnojek to learn over 40 gestures to indicate things like woodwind, whistle, increase tempo, skip like a record, play badly, play good-ly!, and improvise.

All of the art forms are connected to one another, and we become richer and more authentic musicians when we experience different art forms. Learn about dance through physical movement, character representation and interpretation, and more, as it relates to your skills as a musician. A variety of dance styles will be explored in this course including Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary, and Afro styles.  

Limited enrollment (15)

Be an active participant in recording SMC ensembles in rehearsal and performance! This hands-on course teaches you about microphones, location vs studio recording, and all things audio before recording various SMC ensembles from fiddle groups to large jazz ensembles to choirs.

Limited enrollment (20)

Be part of a drumline! All experience levels welcome. Be a part of a traditional marching drumline ensemble. Focus will be on strong percussion technique and presentation. Instruments are provided for this course.

Limited enrollment (20)

Be part of a drumline! Students must be a percussionist to be in this course. Be a part of a traditional marching drumline ensemble. Focus will be on strong percussion technique and presentation. Instruments are provided for this course.

Explore the world of traditional fiddling! Music is taught by rote or ear primarily in this ensemble. If this is your best way of learning music this ensemble is for you! If you are working to build on this listening skill this ensemble is also for you! Learn skills like improvisation, reading chord charts, tablature, and writing and arranging for different string instruments.

Instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Other

Have you ever wondered why film music sounds the way it does or why it is so vital to movies? In this course, we’ll explore the origins of film music, tracing its evolution over the past century. From the silent film era to the golden age and the jazz era, we’ll examine the key shifts that have shaped cinematic scores. We’ll also explore the transition from the grand, orchestral styles of John Williams to the modern, innovative sounds of Hans Zimmer.

This comprehensive course on film music covers everything you need to know to excel in the industry. You’ll delve into story structure, scene analysis, effective collaboration with directors, cinematic orchestration, MIDI mockup production, and navigating the business side of working in Hollywood. This course offers an in-depth, immersive journey into the art and craft of creating music for film.

Join us for an exciting week of free improvisation, where you’ll explore new ways of expressing yourself through the art of spontaneous composition. Students will experiment with extended techniques, read graphic scores, and play improvisation games, discovering new ways to interact with their instruments and with each other. The week will culminate in a fully improvised performance, showcasing the creativity and spontaneity developed throughout the class!

Be part of a Gospel/Praise Choir! This music originated in the evangelical churches of black populations in the southern United States. Containing elements of jazz and blues, it often takes the form of a call and response between the preacher, who sings or declares a line, and the congregation, which sings an affirmative reply.

All voice parts welcome.

Be a part of a guitar ensemble! A diverse, challenging, and varied repertoire is a focus of this course exploring music that is specifically written for this ensemble. Music is taught through a variety of methods including reading notation, learning by rote or ear, and an individualized and large ensemble approach.

Instruments: Acoustic Guitar, Classical Guitar, Electric Guitar, Other

In this class, we’ll explore common chord progressions found in songs by Irving Berlin, U2, The Beatles and Beyoncé. We’ll also look closely at 4 primary song structures —and discover how they’re used by artists such as Taylor Swift, Vampire Weekend, Ani DiFranco and Johnny Cash. Then we’ll spend time experimenting with these chord progressions and song structures by writing songs in small groups.

Limited enrollment (15)

You’ve sung and listened to so many songs, but have you tried writing your own? Whether you’ve composed before or not, this class will help you craft lyrics, melodies, beats, presentations, and give life to that song inside you. Tell your story! Learn to record your song!

Indian music have had a marked influence on jazz since at least the 1950s. Jazz artists such as John Coltrane, Yusef Lateef, Alice Coltrane, Roscoe Mitchell, and John McLaughlin have blended Indian music practices into their jazz performances and compositions. Elements of Indian music such as the use of a drone, raga (melodic scales, patterns, and embellishments), tala (rhythmic cycles), and their rhythmic vernacular have all been incorporated into jazz. This course will be a survey of Indian music-influenced jazz from the 1950s until the present. It will also cover established and emerging generations of South Asian and South Asian-American jazz musicians of the last 10 to 20 years such as Vijay Iyer, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Rez Abbasi, the course’s teacher Arun Luthra, and others, who have brought Indian music into the mainstream of modern jazz and contributed to its continuing development and evolution.

From BeBop to Hip Hip, this course covers the steps of today’s most popular music genre.

Come learn how to arrange your favorite tune for an a cappella ensemble! Prior experience not required. Please come with a song in mind to arrange during the class.

In this course, you’ll learn the complete process of becoming an expert music mixer from start to finish. Each session will focus on a crucial stage of the music production process. We’ll start with an overview of recording and editing takes, followed by gain staging, fader mixing, automation passes, and finally, the mastering process. You’ll be mixing like a pro in no time!

Limited enrollment (12)

Playing and singing with an accompanist is a learned skill and enhances your musicianship. Come learn tips and tricks for preparing and performing with an accompanist. Please bring the sheet music for pieces you are working and their piano accompaniment to use in the course.

Flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, percussion

Work on specific instrument techniques in small group instruction to expand your skills and learn new repertoire. These courses are taught by a specialist in your instrument.

Violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, piano, harp

Work on specific instrument techniques in small group instruction to expand your skills and learn new repertoire. These courses are taught by a specialist in your instrument!

Limited enrollment (50)

Learn what making music is like in front of an ensemble! Physical movement, score study, and rehearsal techniques will be explored in this course. All students will be active participants as conductors and instrumental musicians.

Konnakol is the art form of vocalizing rhythms in Carnatic (South Indian classical) music. With konnakol you can perform rhythms vocally, analyze the rhythms you hear and read, and execute the rhythmic ideas you conceive without the need for an instrument. Konnakol will also hone your rhythmic proficiency at any music you are learning and performing. This course will teach you the basic building blocks of konnakol, how they are applied in Carnatic music, and how konnakol can be applied to the rhythms of all music.

Limited enrollment, varied by instrument

Be a part of a jazz combo! A diverse, challenging, largely improvisatory, and varied repertoire is a focus of this course. Explore the student choice audition process to select the path that is best for you. Music is taught through a variety of methods including reading notation, learning by rote or ear, and an individualized and large ensemble approach.

Instruments: Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Guitar, Bass, Piano, Drums, Vibraphone

Be a part of a jazz ensemble! A diverse, challenging, somewhat improvisatory, and varied repertoire is a focus of this course. Explore the student choice audition process to select the path that is best for you. Music is taught through a variety of methods including reading notation, learning by rote or ear, and an individualized and large ensemble approach.

Instruments: Flute, Clarinets, Double Reeds, Saxophones, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vibraphone

Wind instruments and high strings

Improvisation is how we can individually express ourselves within a piece of music with others. Experience an introduction to the world of improvisation through exploring jazz scales, rhythmic styles, and standard patterns that will help you improvise in an ensemble and more!

Wind instruments and high strings

Improvisation is how we can individually express ourselves within a piece of music with others. Learn to craft more challenging improvisational passages and techniques.

As musicians, listening is a crucial part of our training and development. This workshop focuses on the practice of listening with an emphasis on listening across a variety of artists and genres. We will spend time listening to tracks of historical and cultural significance from as early as Dixieland Jazz Band, to the groundbreaking recordings of the Miles Davis Nonet, and contemporary artists such as Vijay Iyer, Snarky Puppy, and Esperanza Spalding, among others. Our goal is for students to develop a listening list by the end of the workshop, with names of artists, record labels, and genres they can explore in the future.

Bass, drums, guitar, piano (Limited enrollment – 12)

Work on specific instrument techniques in small group instruction to expand your skills as part of a rhythm section and learn new repertoire. These courses are taught by a specialist in your instrument!

Want to improve your improvisation and understanding of jazz? This course will help you understand and apply core concepts in classic jazz, bebop, and more to become a much better improviser and jazz player.

Limited enrollment (12)

This class is designed for the intermediate or advanced pianist (~4+ years of keyboard study) to explore keyboard skills that are essential for professional development.

Skills covered include: technical skills that improve awareness of keyboard topography; sight-reading solo and ensemble keyboard repertoire with varying textures, styles, and pedagogical issues; melodic and harmonic transposition exercises to develop intervallic reading skills; harmonization exercises to improve awareness of harmonic relationships; score reading exercises; rhythmic exercises to develop reading fluency and groove; basic realization of lead sheets in popular music styles.

This course covers selected musical cultures from Latin America and the Caribbean within their cultural and geographical contexts. You will become familiar with the different styles and repertoires of music such as bolero, ranchero, marimba de tecomates, bossa-nova, choro, Latin pop, merengue, nueva canción, huayno, bambuco, rumba, salsa, samba, son, bachata, milonga and more. Learn historical backgrounds and social functions of these styles.

Limited enrollment (12)

Learn both mixing and basic turntablism— all using professional, industry standard equipment. This course bridges traditional Western music theory with the latest DJ technology and techniques. Featured instructor is touring DJ Pacal ‘DJ Pain 1’ Bayley.

Limited enrollment (18)

This workshop focuses on developing listening skills and one’s capacity to discuss different dimensions of music. Each day, we will listen to music from different cultural contexts and as identified by students. We’ll talk about each piece, contextualize them in their cultural contexts, and share our perspectives on each piece. So, come, bring some tunes to share, and let’s listen to and talk about music together.

Limited enrollment (12)

This course is an in-depth guide to creating film and video game music using just a laptop. You’ll learn how to compose dramatic music, work across various genres, and produce your own epic MIDI soundtracks. We’ll also cover where to find free software and MIDI instruments, giving you all the tools needed to bring your musical visions to life.

The success of any large group can be attributed to the success of the individual. Students will learn how to be more effective and independent marchers by increasing their awareness of physical space. An exploration of marching technique and field orientation will enhance the student’s contribution to the ensemble in which they are a member.

A mariachi ensemble is a group of singing and playing musicians interpreting the folkloric music of Mexico. Mariachi music is a distinct type of traditional Mexican folk music that combines brass and string instruments. The music is accompanied by a distinctive singing style in its harmonies. Ensemble instrumentation is violin, trumpet, nylon-string guitar, vihuela, guitarrón, harp, and voice. All group members sing the vocal chorus parts, and in many pieces vocal soloists are featured. No prior mariachi experience required. 

Instruments: Violin, Trumpet, Guitar, Vihuela, Guitarrón, Harp, Voice

Limited enrollment (18)

Are you curious about how seemingly opposite fields can merge into something groundbreaking? Are you passionate about music AND want to see how it intersects with other areas? This course explores the surprising connections between music AND… technology/artificial intelligence, health, and history/current events. Discover the innovative ways these fields come together!

In the musical world, as well as in general, the contributions of African Americans have often been excluded from history and curriculum. In this class, we will dive into all things African-American as it relates to musicians, their music, and musical practices. We will also look into significant cultural influences and historical events that not only shaped African-American music, but also changed the world. 

Become a more well-rounded vocalist. Join us as we look at some of the most famous composers of operas, musicals, art songs, and mainstream songs. We will also look at the greatest singers of those vocal styles. From Schubert’s song cycles to the battle cries of Wagner’s Valkyries to Ella Fitzgerald’s masterful improvisations and Madonna’s iconic “Vouge” music video.

The Harmonic Styles of 18th Century European Musicians – Beginning and Advanced tracks, limited enrollment of 40 in each track

This course focuses on the harmonic style of 18th century European musicians or traditional western music theory. To understand western music theory is to understand the building blocks of western tradition music you play and sing. This class will cover the fundamentals you need to know to support your development as a musician. Review major, minor, diminished, and dominant-seventh chords; clefs, notation, scale degrees, and musical rhythms and patterns.

The business of music is a global multi-billion dollar industry. Those who create the music, distribute, work at labels, publish, record, manage, promote, produce, counsel, and more are part of this industry. Arts Administration is a thriving career path in the Arts that work to serve communities and artists. Learn about various aspects of these careers and the industry as a whole and how the world is changing the music and the music is influencing the world. This course is offered through a collaboration with the Bolz Center for Arts Administration with the Wisconsin School of Business.

Limited enrollment (30/section)

In this class students will explore the meaning of improvisational play. They will broaden their understanding of improvisation and music-making through experiential learning and an affirming environment.

Limited enrollment (15)

In this workshop, you’ll work on being a musical maker and explore maker culture as you design, code, hack, and build new music controllers and instruments. Maker culture is a do-it-yourself and community-embedded movement that focuses on learning-through-doing in order to create, iterate, and tinker with ideas and objects. You’ll make musical controllers and instruments out of reclaimed and recycled components, design and code controllers for yourself and others to use to make music, and work with others to be a creator, learners, and teacher with your peers.

Be a part of a musical theatre ensemble! A diverse, challenging, and varied repertoire is a focus of this course. Music is chosen from the musical/Broadway genre to create a storied performance. Explore the student choice audition process to select the path that is best for you. Music is taught through a variety of methods including reading notation, learning by rote or ear, and an individualized and large ensemble approach.

All voice parts.

Be a part of a full orchestra ensemble! A diverse, challenging, and varied repertoire is a focus of this course. Explore the student choice audition process to select the path that is best for you. Music is taught through a variety of methods including reading notation, learning by rote or ear, and an individualized and large ensemble approach.

Instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Percussion, Piano, Harp, Other

Limited enrollment (18)

Be a part of a percussion ensemble! A diverse, challenging, and varied repertoire is a focus of this course. Music is taught through a variety of methods including reading notation, learning by rote or ear, and an individualized and large ensemble approach. *Students must be a percussionist as their primary instrument to be in this course.

Limited enrollment (12)

Be a part of a piano ensemble! A diverse, challenging, and varied repertoire is a focus of this course exploring music that is specifically written for this ensemble. Music is taught through a variety of methods including reading notation, learning by rote or ear, and an individualized and large ensemble approach. Instruments are provided for this course.

Limited enrollment (26)

A dynamic string group where young musicians come together to play exciting contemporary and popular music! Whether you’re interested in pop, rock, or movie soundtracks, our ensemble gives you the chance to perform the music you love while improving your skills and making new friends. This ensemble is open to violinists, violists, cellists and bassists.

Instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass 

Limited enrollment (12)

In this class we will be using the influence of Neil Peart, the drummer for the band Rush, to understand how to phrase the drum set in non-conventional ways over time signatures of all sorts. We will dive into how to listen for musical cues to know where the band is, how to imagine different drumming patterns that can fit with the band, and most importantly, how to pull it all together.

Limited enrollment (24)

Rock out! Come join in a collaborative experience working to create a band and your own sound by choosing cover songs and exploring original material.

Instruments: Voice, Guitar, Drums, Bass, Piano, Wind Instrument

Limited enrollment (12)

In this class we will attempt to train our ears as well as our hands. Each day we will focus on a specific rhythm, (sixteenth notes, eighth note triplets, quintuplets, etc.), and we will attempt to introduce as many sticking patterns into that rhythm as possible. This will help our hands gain a deeper muscle memory for rudiments while our ears will be pushed to hear phrases over top of the bar line. This will give us a deeper ability to listen outside of what we play, so we have a better idea of what is musical. 

Limited enrollment (15)

Compose original music for an original short film— experience music production/beatmaking on current digital audio workstations as well as video editing, with an emphasis on storytelling using visual and audio materials. Featured instructors are multi-platinum producer Pacal ‘DJ Pain 1’ Bayley and Rob ‘Rob DZ’ Franklin.

This class will focus on the elements of choreography from a variety of musical theater styles.  Students will learn a short routine showcasing different types of dance and have the opportunity to choreograph and teach some of their own choreographed genius to their peers for final performance. Although official dance experience is not required, students taking this class are best suited if they have the creativity to design dances and want to learn more!

Somatic Body Awareness is a practice and exploration of connecting the physical and mental body. The incorporation of neurological science, physical movement, and other interdisciplinary techniques create an understanding of one’s body. Through breathwork, mindfulness exercises, and movement, participants will explore techniques to enhance posture, reduce physical tension, and clear the mind. Drawing from somatic practices such as Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method, and yoga, the course aims to create embodiment, improve stage presence, and deepen a musician’s mind and body awareness.

Limited enrollment (15)

Use music and sound to tell a story! In this class, students are given a choice of a short animated film that they’d like to craft a soundscape for. Over the week, we’ll record unique sound effects, create musical scores, and edit it all together to bring these short stories to life!

Spoken word can be powerful, fun, express identity, evoke emotion, and just sound good. This program teaches participants how to tap into that internal voice or provides a good opportunity to practice one’s poetic skill set. In this session we will write, share, revise, and discuss. This is not a course on the history or theoretical underpinnings of spoken word but a practical class where we will learn strategies to write and deliver spoken word poetry that feels most expressive of your inner thoughts and desires.

Limited enrollment (30)

In this workshop class, you’ll learn numerous chords, strum patterns, and riffs on ukulele so you can accompany yourself and others on songs you know, love, and create. You’ll learn through playing and creating songs in a fun and non-formal context. We will even host a ukulele jam session at the end of the class so we can teach, lead, and make music with friends, family, and community members as we show off what we have learned and made together.

Limited enrollment (20)

This class will be an exploration of how visual art can represent musical sound and how musical sound can represent what we see. Exploring other art forms makes our music-making richer! Students will experience multiple examples of visual art that represent musical sounds and study music that represents visual art. Students will also have the opportunity to create their own art and/or music as part of this course.

This class is focused on you, the individual, to work on a song of your choice (pop, classical, and more) with a supportive atmosphere to help you craft your song and performance. Learn helpful techniques to bring into your daily practice with a focus on vocal health. Students are asked to bring music with them to this class.

Soprano, alto, tenor, bass

Work on specific vocal techniques in small group instruction to expand your skills and learn new repertoire. These courses are taught by a specialist on your voice part!

This class will be a drumming, cultural, and dance experience exploring African cultural traditions through West African Traditional Drum and Dance. Students will use traditional instruments and techniques including Sabar drumming from Senegal. Instruments are provided for this course.

Inside the Mind of a Composer; Limited enrollment (20)

Ever wonder how you can learn to hear the music better in rehearsal and know more about the piece and how your part relates on your own? This course will focus on score study techniques for instrumental repertoire. Knowing the score and how to know it helps you in rehearsal and personal practice preparation! Students will work to develop the skill of understanding the score of a piece and how their part fits within the big musical picture. The class will focus on repertoire students are potentially learning in SMC ensembles to be able to directly apply the skills they are learning! The class will include large and small group instruction to allow for the practice of skills together.

Step out of yourself — and into someone else’s world — as we explore the intersection of creativity and identity. Discover the power of songtelling from others’ perspectives and how walking in another’s shoes can ultimately help us understand our own selves (and songs) in a deeper way.

Would you like to learn more about the melodies your favorite songwriters and artists write? In this class, you’ll learn 8 key aspects of melody that are used throughout popular music! We’ll listen to songs by Bruno Marlos, Taylor Swift, Bill Withers, Sara Bareilles (and many others – feel free to bring your favorite song!) to discover how these artists are creating their impactful melodies. You’ll learn how utilizing aspects of melody can help you deliver your song’s message more powerfully and authentically.