Composer Camp
Unlock Their Creative Voice: Composer Camp 2026
Move beyond the sheet music and step into the role of the composer. Back for a second year, our Summer Composing Camp teaches students how to create their own music! From the first spark of an idea to a finished, polished piece, students spend a week immersed in the art of music theory, melody-making, and harmonic structure.
This year, we’ve reimagined the experience to offer two specialized pathways, ensuring every student works alongside their peers at a level that inspires them.
Piano teachers may audit this course for professional development. Scroll down to find New For Teachers: Audit and Elevate
Composer Camp 2026 Details
Dates:
Session 1: July 20-24, 2026
Session 2: August 10-14, 2026
Time:
Junior Creator (age 9-12) from 9:00am-12:00pm
Senior Artist Collective (age 13+) from 1:00pm-4:00pm
Location:
What’s Included:
The 2026 Composer’s Handbook Every camper receives a physical copy of my custom-written Composing Guide. This isn't just a notebook; it’s a complete roadmap to the week and beyond
Individualized coaching from piano teachers with 50 years of combined teaching experience
3:1 student:teacher ratios (classes are capped at 6 students)
Printed transcription of their composition(s)
Week end showcase recital
Cost: $300*/student
*register before March 15th, 2026 and receive 10% off!
New for 2026: Tailored Age Groups
The Junior Creator Track (Ages 9–12)
By creating a dedicated space for our 9–12-year-olds, we’ve redesigned the curriculum to be high-energy, hands-on, and perfectly paced for this age group. In the Junior Track, we will:
Learn Through Doing: We’ll focus on interactive "composition games" and activities that turn music theory into a puzzle to be solved.
Build Strong Foundations: introduce and practice the building blocks of music so kids can explore constructively to write their own music.
Collaborate with Peers: Students will work with friends their own age, fostering a supportive environment where they feel confident sharing their rough drafts and experiments. There are no “wrong notes”!
Faster Wins: We’ve streamlined the process so younger composers see their ideas come to life quickly, keeping their momentum and enthusiasm high all week long.
The Senior Artist Collective (Ages 13+)
The age split will be a game-changer for teens! By moving into a dedicated Senior Track, we are able to:
Skip the Basics: We’ll bypass the introductory concepts that younger beginners need, allowing us to dive straight into advanced harmony, complex rhythms, and sophisticated structural development.
Peer Collaboration: Students will be working alongside fellow teens, fostering a more mature environment for sharing ideas and giving constructive feedback.
Professional Tools: We will spend more time on Musescore music notation software, that requires a higher level of focus and computer literacy
New for Teachers: Audit and Elevate
We’ve had several teachers ask about our curriculum and how we manage the composing process. This year, we are opening up an Audit Opportunity for local teachers. The fee is $75 for one week long session.
By auditing the course, you will:
Observe the Sessions: See firsthand how we transition students from a simple motif to a completed, transcribed piece.
Receive the Materials: You’ll get a physical copy of our 2026 Composer’s Handbook—the custom roadmap we use to guide the week—which you can adapt for your own studio teaching.
Master the Tech: Watch how we use MuseScore with students of different age levels in real time.
We would love to have some of your bright stars join us, and we’d be thrilled to have you stop by to talk shop and share in the creative process!
The Referral "Kickback": We want to reward you for helping us grow our creative community!
Refer 1 Student: Receive 50% off your Teacher Audit fee.
Refer 2+ Students: Your Teacher Audit and the 2026 Composer’s Handbook are completely FREE.