**Some of this information is still being updated. please check back soon for more definitive information.**
SEMINAR 2021: July 19–23, 2021
For 69 years, the summer music camp at Western Michigan University — SEMINAR — has welcomed aspiring young musicians to the university’s main campus in Kalamazoo. Last year, due to the evolving unknown factors surrounding the COVID-19 global pandemic, the faculty and staff in the School of Music at WMU elected to offer SEMINAR as an online experience. This change reflected our shared desire to ensure the safety of the students, faculty, and staff participating in the program, while at the same time offering an artistic and educational opportunity at a time when one is greatly needed.
Due to a recent lessening of restrictions in the state of Michigan and Western Michigan University, we've announced that SEMINAR 2021 will be held in-person as a one-week day camp, from July 19-23, 2021.
SEMINAR 2021 carries forward the spirit of our standard two-week camp in a shortened but fulfilling experience. We are excited to offer a rewarding musical, social, and inspirational experience with a variety of activities for outstanding young musicians. The faculty of Western Michigan University School of Music are teaching private lessons and classes, including brand new elective classes. Our carefully selected camp counselor staff of university music majors is hard at work creating WONderful social engagements for participants.
Find your path, make your music
SEMINAR 2021 features 1-on-1 private lessons, masterclasses, instructional content, and counselor-led group activities, as well as courses, concerts, links to music faculty generated content, and other inspirational content.
SEMINAR 2021
Curricular Content
- Private Lessons (at least 2x per week)
- Group Lessons (2x per week)
- Theory / Musicianship class
- Elective class (students choose up to two)
Enrichment Content
- SEMINAR 2021 performances and masterclasses
- Links to music faculty generated content (techniques/fundamentals, college audition preparation, etc.)
- Links to music related informational content (Ted Talks on listening, making music, etc.)
- Sessions with Counselor groups
- Social activities and games with Counselor groups
Daily schedule
A huge component of SEMINAR is the lifelong friendships that form while making music together in the rehearsal room, as well as outside. Traditionally, SEMINAR camp counselors begin and end each day with students as they head from the dorms to Dalton Center or the cafeteria. At SEMINAR, our camp counselors play just as important a roll, beginning the scheduled day with camp groups in daily group sessions and ending each day with group activities, music watch parties, and other relationship-building participatory events.
SEMINAR 2021 daily schedule
(all times EST)
10 a.m.–noon Private Lessons and Group Lessons (see "lessons" tab for detail)
11 a.m.–noon Piano Class (piano majors only)
noon–1 p.m. Lunch in Cafeteria
1–1:50 p.m. Elective Classes: Block 1
2–2:50 p.m. Elective Classes: Block 2
3–3:50 p.m. Theory Classes
4–4:30 p.m. Performance Class
4:30–4:45 p.m. Snacks on Fountain Plaza
4:45–6:15 p.m. Counselor/Planned Activities
Cost and application
The SEMINAR 2021 cost is $675. We are pleased to be able to offer scholarships to qualified applicants, and we are thankful to the Burdick-Thorne Foundation for their generous gift that makes this possible. The foundation’s ongoing support of the School of Music allows us to provide important outreach programs to the community, such as SEMINAR.
To apply for SEMINAR 2021, fill out the application form. Information about submitting audition recordings can be found here.
Have more questions?
Visit our FAQ page below