Summer Music Academy
June 22-27, 2025
A week-long camp for band, choir and orchestra students
About The Program
A student's performance depends on many things, among them, challenging instruction, highly qualified and supportive faculty, a camp culture that builds community, accessible facilities, and opportunities to grow in every dimension. At our Summer Music Academy (SMA), students will find the ideal conjunction of all these factors and more.
Band, choir and orchestra students at the middle school and high school levels are invited to attend. Our week-long residential or commuter camp offers electives in a variety of interesting and applicable areas. Students also have the opportunity to take private lessons with university instructors and participate in evening social activities.
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Additional Information
Faculty
All faculty and housing directors will be Texas certified educators and/or university professors. Faculty are selected based on outstanding performance professionally and their personal commitment to the Texas Lutheran University Summer Music Academy philosophy. Student leaders are college students hand-selected to assist with SMA.
Performances
All performances are open to the public. Professionally made recordings will be available for purchase at the time of registration and performances.
Housing
Students will be housed in separate residence halls based on age and gender, two students per room.
Social Activities
Activities may include swimming, socials, tournaments, casino night, movies, recreational sports, recitals, Schlitterbahn, etc. All activities will be supervised by professional camp personnel.
Environment
A student's performance depends on many things, among them, challenging instruction, highly qualified and supportive faculty, a camp culture that builds community, accessible facilities, and opportunities to grow in every dimension. At our Summer Music Academy, students will find the ideal conjunction of all these factors and more. The camp is conveniently contained within the borders and safety of the TLU campus. Seguin is located 35 miles northeast of downtown San Antonio and 50 miles south of Austin. It is easily accessible from any direction via major highways.
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Level Of Study
Middle School Bands, Choirs & Orchestras
Designed to provide an encouraging, supportive learning environment with appropriate challenges for students with at least one year of formal school instruction and entering grades 6-8.
Senior High School Bands, Choirs & Orchestras
Provides a dynamic, challenging experience that allows each individual’s strengths to be developed. Enrollment will be in one specific area or students may elect the General track, in which students are allowed to choose a combination of courses from any offerings in any area. For students with at least two years of formal school instruction and who are entering grades 9-12.
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Electives Selection
Electives will be offered in a variety of interesting and applicable areas including jazz band, leadership skills, conducting, music composition, music theater, chamber music, music theory, rhythmic studies, music history, jazz history, improvisation, double reed making, marching fundamentals, drum majoring, and world percussion.* Participants are asked to select one track (orchestra or band). Not all electives may be available, depending on demand and faculty availability. Requests will be filled in the order in which they are received.
High School Band Students: Jazz Band and Reedmaking (for double reed players) each take 2 electives spots.
*subject to change.
BAND
All band students will have section rehearsal and masterclass as part of their daily schedule in addition to large ensemble rehearsal.
Middle School Students
- Strengthening Skills Track (Sight reading/Rhythmic Studies, Ear-Training, Leadership)
- Jazz Track Jazz Band, Jazz Improvisation (Winds - concert band auditions will serve for jazz placement. Rhythm section will need to play an additional audition for jazz band.)
- Double Reed Track for Oboe and Bassoon Players ONLY (Reed making and Music Literature)
- Theory/Composition Track (Music Technology, Music Theory, Music Literature)
- Exploration Track (Intro to Piano, Music History/Literature/Improvisation)
- Percussion Track for Percussionists ONLY (Drumset Class, Drum Circle/Hand Drumming, Steel Drum Ensemble)
High School Students
- Strengthening Skills Track (Sightreading/Rhythmic Studies, Ear-Training, Leadership)
- Jazz Track Jazz band, Jazz Improvisation (Winds - concert band auditions will serve for jazz placement. Rhythm section will need to play an additional audition for jazz band.)
- Performance Track for Wind Players ONLY (Audition Preparation, Tone and Technique Development, and Chamber Music)
- Theory/Composition Track (Music Technology, Music Theory, and Arranging/Copyright/Licensing)
- Double Reed Track for Oboe and Bassoon Players ONLY (Reedmaking and Chamber Music) – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
- Percussion Track for Percussionists ONLY (Drumset Class, Drum Circle/Hand Drumming, Steel Drum Ensemble)
- Musical Leadership (Conducting, Marching Leadership, Careers in Music, etc.)
- Mix and Match – tell us what you want to learn about, and we will select electives that will help you reach your goals!
ORCHESTRA
All middle and high school orchestra students will have chamber music as part of their daily schedule, in addition to large ensemble rehearsal.
Middle School String Students
Strengthening Skills Track (Sightreading/Rhythmic Studies, Ear-Training, Technique Development)Theory/Composition Track (Music Technology, Music Theory, Music Literature) Mix and Match - Tell us what you want to learn and we will select electives that will help you reach your goals!
High School String Students
Strengthening Skills Track (Sightreading/Rhythmic Studies, Ear-Training, Technique Development) Theory/Composition Track (Music Technology, Music Theory, Music Literature) Mix and Match - Write out what you want to learn and we will select electives that will help you reach your goals!
CHOIR
All vocal students will have Musical Theatre coaching and Duets & Trios coaching as part of their regular schedule.
- Strengthening Skills Track (Sight reading/ Rhythmic Studies, Ear-Training, Leadership)
- Theory/Composition Track (Music Technology, Music Theory, Music Literature)
- Mix and Match - tell us what you want to learn, and we will select electives that will help you reach your goals!
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Registration Fees
- Residential Students – Cost $625
- includes all instruction, housing, meals, activities, and a camp T-shirt
- Commuter Students – $400 includes all instruction, two daily meals, activities, and a camp T-shirt
- Private Instruction with a Specialist – Available for $25 for one lesson, $40 for two lessons (payable by cash or check at check-in only)
- Schlitterbahn Evening Event - (Optional) Wednesday, June 25, 2025
- WITH Schlitterbahn Season Pass - $35 (includes catered meal, and bus transportation)
- WITHOUT Schlitterbahn Season Pass - $70 (includes park entry, catered meal, and bus transportation)
Achievement-Based Scholarships
(Requests due prior to June 1)
A limited number of scholarships are available based on individual student achievement through the TMEA/ATSSB region, area, and all-state process.
Students should email sma@tlu.edu, briefly outlining their accomplishments and requesting consideration for a scholarship. If you have requested a scholarship, you will be notified by email with a discount code to use on the payment form by June 1. Please refrain from submitting your remaining balance due using the payment form until after you have received information about your scholarship request.
The Patricia and Roy Norton Memorial SMA Scholarship is a scholarship dedicated to the memory of Patricia and Roy Norton, who both dedicated their lives to teaching music. Roy ran the Summer Music Academy for many years when he served as the Director of Bands for Texas Lutheran University, and Pat taught at the Summer Music Academy for more than 35 years. Roy was a fine clarinetist and Pat was a wonderful oboist. To continue to remember and honor Pat and Roy Norton, this scholarship may benefit one high school clarinet player and one high school oboe player each year.
Applicants should demonstrate the following qualities: high achievement on clarinet or oboe, dedication to their high school band program, leadership in action, and an intention to pursue a degree in music education.
Applicants should email Dr. Brett A. Richardson, Director of Bands, at sma@tlu.edu, outlining the ways in which they demonstrate the qualities that were so important to the Nortons. A letter of recommendation from the applicant's high school band director is also requested. Applicants will be informed by email of any scholarship awarded by June 1.
Please refrain from submitting your remaining balance due using the payment form until after you have received information about your scholarship request.
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Audition Information
All students attending the TLU SMA must audition on Sunday for placement in bands.
Students should have two contrasting selections (for example, one slow, lyrical selection and another faster, more technical selection) of their own choosing. These selections should demonstrate proficiency on the instrument. These selections may be chosen from any of the following materials (student choice):
- Solo Literature
- Etudes
- Method Books
- Excerpts from selections performed at school
- School Audition Music
Percussionists, please prepare to play snare and marimba selections for your audition. You will need to bring your sticks, mallets, and a drum pad (optional). Other equipment will be provided.
It is important that all students choose representative selections showing the most secure aspects of their performance level. Additionally, all students may be asked to sight-read a short selection.
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SMA Checklist
Updated packets will be uploaded by 6/1/2025
Residential Information Packet
Commuter Information Packet1. Fill out an application
- Fill out an application on Registration Deposit Acceptiva
2. Submit your non-refundable $100 deposit
- Online applicants must use a credit card or e-check to pay the $100 non-refundable deposit when registering for camp. The remaining balance can be paid using the Online Payment Form. Online registration will not be processed without the $100 deposit.
- Tuition is refundable if written notification is received on or before June 15.
3. Pay your remaining balance by June 15
- Pay the remaining balance using a credit card or e-check by using the Online Payment Form.
- If you would like to pay with a check or money order (payable to Texas Lutheran University), we must receive the full balance by June 15.
- If you have requested a scholarship, you will be notified about the amount you will receive by June 1. Please do not submit final payment until you have been notified about your scholarship request.
4. Submit your required Agreement & Health Form & Release Waiver
- Agreement & Health Form
- Electronic signatures will not be accepted. Please print out and sign. It is preferable that you scan and email to sma@tlu.edu
5. Bring your Schlitterbahn pass if you have one
6. Pay for private lessons at check-in (if you selected this option on your application)
- If you pre-registered for lessons, please pay for those at registration.
- If you did not pre-register but wish to add lessons, you can add them at registration.
- Lessons: One 25-minute lesson for $25 or two 25-minute lessons for $40
- Please turn in cash or checks at registration – separate checks for each instrument, please, and correct change is appreciated.
- Lessons will be assigned to appropriate instructors following registration and may begin as soon as Monday.
7. Review your SMA Packet (contains information about schedules, emergency contacts and behavior guidelines)
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Preliminary Schedule
Check back by June 1st, 2025 for the updated camper schedule.
Contact Us
Summer Music Academy
Do you have a question? Get in touch.
Contact
- Phone:830-372-6027
- sma@tlu.edu