Schedule

Classes

Ensembles

Traditional large ensemble and chamber music experiences are reflected in the sample schedules below. 

Private lessons

Each woodwind, brass, and percussion student will receive one 30-minute private lesson and one 50-minute group lesson each week. String students receive two 50-minute private lessons each week. Piano students receive one 30-minute lesson daily. Each singer and composition major receive one 25-minute private lesson each week. 

Performance class

All students gather daily for a live music listening experience (30 minutes) featuring mini-recitals by the Seminar faculty, alumni and guest artists. 

Musicianship

Each student has a daily 50-minute musicianship (music theory) class assigned by level of ability ranging from the fundamentals of intervals, scales, key and time signatures to modes, counterpoint, and harmonization. There is an aural skills component to each class, where students have an opportunity to refine their sight singing and ear training and develop more reliable musical memory.

Electives

Each student will choose up to two 50-minute elective class from an array of options. Possibilities include instrumental jazz techniques, computers and music, beginning piano, beginning guitar, introduction to music therapy, music history topics, chamber winds, chamber choir, etc.

"Since the late 1960s, I have been delighted to teach and coach Seminar students in both lessons and ensemble formats. The uniqueness of this program is twofold: It is a very select group of talented young students participating in a program that emphasizes chamber music; and which has a low student/faculty ratio that allows these students to have a special relationship with the faculty, the counselors, support staff, and the administration, all whom are dedicated to the musical growth of the individual students. I regularly encounter adults who participated in the program and they all have good memories of their experiences. That even includes all of my three children, who are proud Seminar alumni." – Robert Whaley, Principal Tuba of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and Professor Emeritus, Western Michigan University School of Music

Past Sample Schedules

The intended string enrollment of violins, violas, cellos and double basses creates 4 quartets and a piano trio. Each will meet twice daily: one coached, one self led. The double basses will have one, 50-minute group coaching/ensemble session daily. The entire enrollment will meet as a string orchestra for one 60-minute period daily. Each string student will also receive two 50-minute private lessons each week. 

  • 8 to 8:50 a.m. Practice or Free Time

  • 9 to 9:50 a.m. Coached Quartet/Trio

  • 10 to 10:35a.m. Performance Class

  • 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. String Orchestra

  • 11:45 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. Lunch

  • 1:10 to 2 p.m. Self Led Quartet/Trio

  • 2:10 to 3 p.m. Musicianship Class

  • 3:10 to 4 p.m. Elective Class

  • 4:10 to 5 p.m. Lesson (twice weekly) or Practice Time

  • 5 to 6 p.m. Dinner

  • 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free Time

  • 7:30 to 9 p.m. Evening Activity

  • 9 to 10:30 p.m. Practice or Free Time

  • 10:30 p.m. Residence Hall Closes

The intended vocal-choral enrollment includes a balanced Concert Choir of 40 voices. All singers will meet for two 50-minute periods daily as a mixed chorus as well as for one 50-minute sectional rehearsal daily. Each singer will receive one, 25-minute private lesson each week and will meet with all voice majors for two group sessions on special topics.

  • 8 to 9 a.m. Vocal Rest or Warm-up Time

  • 9 to 9:50 a.m. Concert Choir

  • 10 to 10:35 a.m. Performance Class

  • 10:45 to 11:35 a.m. Choir Sectional

  • 11:35 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch

  • 1 to 2 p.m. Lesson (once weekly) or Practice Time

  • 2:10 to 3 p.m. Musicianship Class

  • 3:10 to 4 p.m. Elective Class (includes vocal chamber music)

  • 4:10 to 5 p.m. Concert Choir

  • 5 to 6 p.m. Dinner

  • 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free Time

  • 7:30 to 9 p.m. Evening Activity

  • 9 to 10:30 p.m. Practice or Free Time 

  • 10:30 p.m. Residence Hall Closes

The woodwind enrollment includes flutes, oboes, clarinets, bass clarinets, bassoons and saxophones (alto, tenor, baritone). These instruments constitute the woodwind section of a wind ensemble which meets for two 60-minute periods daily. Woodwind students meet one, 50-minute period daily in a wind quintet, saxophone quartet, clarinet sextet or flute trio. They receive one 30-minute private lesson and one 50-minute group lesson each week. 

  • 8 to 8:50 a.m. Coached Trio/Quartet/Quintet/Sextet

  • 9 to 9:30 a.m. Lesson (once weekly) or Practice Time

  • 10 to 10:35 a.m. Performance Class

  • 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. Wind Ensemble

  • 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch

  • 1 to 2 p.m. Woodwind Choir (first week); Wind Ensemble (second week)

  • 2:10 to 3 p.m. Musicianship Class

  • 3:10 to 4 p.m. Elective Class

  • 4:10 to 5 p.m. Group Lesson (once weekly) or Practice Time

  • 5 to 6 p.m. Dinner

  • 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free Time

  • 7:30 to 9 p.m. Evening Activity

  • 9 to 10:30 p.m. Practice or Free Time

  • 10:30 p.m. Residence Hall Closes

The brass enrollment includes trumpets, horns, trombones, euphoniums, and tubas. These instruments constitute the brass section of a wind ensemble which meets for two 60-minute periods daily. Brass students meet one 50-minute period daily in a brass quintet or quartet. They receive one 30-minute private lesson and one 50-minute group lesson each week. 

  • 8 to 8:50 a.m. Coached Quintet or Quartet

  • 9 to 9:30 a.m. Lesson (once weekly) or Practice Time

  • 10 to 10:35 a.m. Performance Class

  • 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. Wind Ensemble

  • 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch

  • 1 to 2 p.m. Brass Choir (first week); Wind Ensemble (second week)

  • 2:10 to 3 p.m. Musicianship Class

  • 3:10 to 4 p.m. Elective Class

  • 4:10 to 5 p.m. Group Lesson (once weekly) or Practice Time

  • 5 to 6 p.m. Dinner

  • 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free Time

  • 7:30 to 9 p.m. Evening Activity

  • 9 to 10:30 p.m. Practice or Free Time

  • 10:30 p.m. Residence Hall Closes

The enrollment constitutes the percussion section of a wind ensemble which meets for one or two 60-minute periods daily. Percussion students begin their day with a variety of percussion chamber music experiences including mixed percussion and steel pan ensembles. They receive one 30-minute private lesson each week as well as two 50-minute drumset group lessons during the first week. 

  • 8 to 9:50 a.m. Percussion Chamber Music

  • 10 to 10:35 a.m. Performance Class

  • 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. Wind Ensemble

  • 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch

  • 1 to 2 p.m. Group Lessons (first week); Wind Ensemble (second week)

  • 2:10 to 3 p.m. Musicianship Class

  • 3:10 to 4 p.m. Elective Class

  • 4:10 to 5:10 p.m. Private Lesson (once weekly) or Practice Time

  • 5:10 to 6 p.m. Dinner

  • 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free Time

  • 7:30 to 9 p.m. Evening Activity

  • 9 to 10:30 p.m. Practice or Free Time

  • 10:30 p.m. Residence Hall Closes

Pianists receive one 30-minute private lesson daily and are also assigned a duet partner. At their first lesson, they are assigned solo and four-hand works which are new to them. Pianists also have one 60-minute Piano Class daily, where they encounter sessions in technique, literature and special topics. 

  • 8 to 9:30 a.m. Practice Time

  • 9:30 to 10 a.m. Private Lesson (daily)

  • 10 to 10:35 a.m. Performance Class

  • 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. Practice Time

  • 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch

  • 1 to 2 p.m. Piano Class

  • 2:10 to 3 p.m. Musicianship Class

  • 3:10 to 4 p.m. Elective Class

  • 4 to 5 p.m. Practice Time

  • 5 to 6 p.m. Dinner

  • 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free Time

  • 7:30 to 9 p.m. Evening Activity

  • 9 to 10:30 p.m. Practice or Free Time

  • 10:30 p.m. Residence Hall Closes

Composition/MAT students receive cutting-edge instruction in a combined curriculum of music composition and multimedia arts technology. Students gain broad experience in creative sound that includes alternating daily lessons in both Composition and MAT, a Technology Performance Ensemble, and daily time for creative experimentation.

  • 8 to 8:50 a.m. Practice Time

  • 9 to 9:50 a.m.  Alternating Private Lessons in Composition and MAT

  • 10 to 10:35a.m. Performance Class

  • 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. Technology Performance Class

  • 11:45 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. Lunch

  • 1:10 to 2 p.m. Composition Class

  • 2:10 to 3 p.m. Musicianship Class

  • 3:10 to 4 p.m. Elective Class

  • 4:10 to 5 p.m. Creative Sound Practice

  • 5 to 6 p.m. Dinner

  • 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free Time

  • 7:30 to 9 p.m. Evening Activity

  • 9 to 10:30 p.m. Practice or Free Time

  • 10:30 p.m. Residence Hall Closes