Basic Information
- Deadline: Register by May 27 (registration is closed); Payment in full by June 1
- Dates: Monday, June 20 - Friday, June 24
- Location: Walhalla High School (arts wing + auditorium)
- Cost: $100 for entire week
- Staff: The camp will be supervised by SDOC band directors, and includes instructional staff who are all accomplished music teachers working with young students.
- Who can attend: Band students leaving 6th-12th grades
- Concert band instruments only (woodwind, brass, percussion)
- Student needs the recommendation of a band director or music teacher
- Spaces may be limited and not guaranteed
- We will notify of acceptance by May 25
Jr. High Experience
Students leaving 6th-8th grades will focus on musicianship in a full ensemble environment, with sectional instruction. They will spend significant time working on advancing their musical abilities and getting semi-private instruction in small group environments. Check out our video of 2021's concert, or video of the masterclass performances each section did for their fellow attendees.
Sr. High Experience (NEW!)
Students leaving 9th-12th grades will have an experience that empowers them to be the next generation of student leaders in their band programs. They will participate in various leadership training sessions with topics including team building, culture development, communication, instructional techniques, and more! Students will have the opportunities to apply these techniques as they assist the sectional instructors in small and large group environments. No matter what role students have in their band program, all will walk away with the confidence to create a positive culture in their programs and serve their bands to the fullest.
More Details
This project is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
What's Included
- 5 full days of music
- Lunch and snacks provided
- Music Instruction - sectional, full band, and ensemble
- Special music education opportunities
- End-of-week performance for families
- Camp T-Shirt
Want to help?
We rely on community support to help make this camp an affordable option. If you'd like to donate, please do so here:
Donate
Sample Daily Schedule
Schedules are subject to change based on instructional goals; this is just an approximate example of how the day is divided up.
- 8:00 - 8:30: Drop-Off, Setup, and Tune
- 8:30 - 10:00: Full Band (Jr. High), Leadership Training (Sr. High)
- 10:00 - 10:30: Snack, move to next session
- 10:30 - 12:00: Sectional Instruction
- 12:00 - 1:00: Lunch
- 1:00 - 2:00: Educational Session, Ensembles
- 2:00 - 3:00: Full Band (Jr. High), Leadership (Sr. High)
- 3:00 - 3:30: Snack, move to next session
- 3:30 - 4:30: Sectional Instruction
- 4:30 - 5:00: Closing notes, clean up
Questions?
What is acceptance?
We attempt to include everybody that wants to attend! We do want to make sure all attendees are actual music students without disciplinary concerns, and that we have capacity to support each student with our instructional staff and facilities. Registering early with a valid teacher recommendation should be a good indication of acceptance.
How do we get a music teacher's recommendation?
We will contact the school band directors directly to ask for approval. If your student does not attend an Oconee County school, please provide contact information (name and email) for a music teacher who could provide a recommendation. The recommendation is simply to ensure that the applicant is an active student musician in their program with no disciplinary concerns that would interfere with our program.
Is financial assistance available?
While this camp is cost effective compared to other day camps, we understand it may still be a barrier to participation for some. Depending on local sponsorships and donations, we may be able to provide partial payment support. Please check the appropriate box on your signup form, and when we provide notice of acceptance, we'll let you know the final fee.
What happens if I do not pay the final fee by the deadline?
Please get in touch with us and we will work with you. We want your student to attend and may have ways to make that happen!
Get In Touch
If you still have questions not answered here, please send us a message over Facebook and we will answer as soon as we're able!