The Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester is one of the premier music schools in the United States. The Eastman School offers seven different summer programs for high school students in grades nine to 12. The Music Horizons Program and the Summer Jazz Studies require audition tapes. Summer workshops at Eastman do not require auditions. Eastman School of Music Summer Institutes are geared for college students and adults. Course offerings include jazz history, instrumental conducting, choral and vocal classes and music education. Summer housing is provided for some of the summer programs, but not all. Tuition varies depending upon the program.
The Walden School Young Musicians Program in Dublin, New Hampshire, is a summer music program for students ages nine to 18. It is a five-week program that combines the elements of school, camp and a summer music festival. The emphasis of the music program at Walden is improvisation and composition. At the end of the summer, each student has composed a minimum of one musical composition that is performed and critiqued by guest artists, teachers and other students. All students must have completed at least one year of private instrumental instruction as a prerequisite for enrollment. Teacher recommendation must accompany the application, which also requires a short essay. Tapes can accompany the application but are not required. All students must live on campus, and financial aid is available.
The Heifetz International Music Institute is in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, on the campus of Brewster Academy. It is a six-week intensive program for advanced students in violin, viola and cello. The summer program focuses on lessons, practicing, solo performance and chamber music. Students at this summer program attend Heifetz Performance and Communication Training classes. Auditions are required and can be done via the institute's online audition system, a live audition or submission of a DVD. Two contrasting musical pieces are required for the audition. Most students are 14 to 25 years old. The cost for attendance includes tuition, room and board, and scholarships are available to qualified students.
The Boston University Tanglewood Institute is internationally recognized as one of the top summer music schools for high school students. It is the only summer music school that works in collaboration with a world-famous symphony orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Program workshops vary in length from two-week workshops to six-week workshops. Auditions may be live or recorded. Tuition and fees are based on the total number of weeks a student attends. Scholarships, based on merit, financial need and program need are available for all programs except the two-week workshops.