SYMS Summer Music Camp"

Sunday, July 13 – Friday, July 18

Jr. SYMS is a 6-day program for students who have finished 7^th or 8^th grade.  Our brochure/application form will be ready by early February, and you may mail the registration form as soon as you receive it.  Online registration will start around March 1^st if you wish to apply to SYMS that way.  The web address is www.unh.edu/music/syms. 

No audition is required to be accepted into the program.  The deadline for applying to SYMS is June 1.  Tuition is expected to be $575 for residential students; $475 for commuters.  There will be a small deposit due at the time of application, and the balance may be paid anytime, including the day of registration, July 13^th.  Everything is included in the tuition cost except the optional private lesson.

If you wish to be added to the mailing list for a brochure/application form, please send a mailing address to lseiler@cisunix.unh.edu   Questions about the program can also be answered by emailing or calling Linda Seiler at 603/659-2010 (home phone).

Percussion and wind players participate in one of the concert bands and may try out for one of the jazz bands.  String players play in String Orchestra, voice students sing in Concert Choir, and there are programs for pianists and guitarists as well.  Auditions are held the first day of the program for placement in groups.  Audition information is sent in one of the mailings after we receive your application.

The daily schedule for Jr. SYMS will include a convocation first thing in the morning after breakfast, two large group rehearsals, a sectional rehearsal (for some groups), a master class on your instrument of choice, a music theory or chorus class (pianists are invited to sing with the Concert Choir), and an elective class period.  Students finalize their class schedules on Sunday evening at which time they find out their group placement(s) and choose their elective class.  Elective classes include music theory, history, beginning classes in piano, guitar, brass, and violin (we provide the instruments), musical theater, hand bell choir, jazz band, jazz piano, jazz choir, jazz improvisation, drum set class, African drumming, and computer class.  Classes/rehearsals run from 8:00 – 4:00 each day. There will be a full hour for lunch and some free time between classes and dinner and again for a short time after the evening activity.  

Evening activities (parents welcome) are at 7:00 and include recitals by faculty and students, swim/movie night, and guest performances.  Final concerts are given on Friday during the late afternoon and evening.  Students return home after their final performance. 

An optional private lesson may be taken at an extra cost.  Teachers and students arrange lesson times on the first day of classes.

On the first day of SYMS, registration will be held from 9:00 – 12:00 noon.  Students will sign up for audition times and receive their room keys at this time. 

Housing for residential students will be in the UNH dormitories with one dorm for girls and another for boys.   The rooms are doubles, and students may choose a roommate if they wish.  The choice will only be guaranteed if the other student sends us a reciprocal request.  There will be one counselor per ten students at Jr. SYMS; counselors live on the floors with the students and help them adjust to being away from home, organize activities during free time, etc.  Counselors do a bed check each night, and lights are out at 10:00 PM.

Dining will be at the Holloway Commons in the Memorial Union Building.  It is a fantastic facility with a wide variety of choices at each meal.  Those with food allergies will have no problem finding plenty to eat.

Students who commute daily to SYMS will be provided with lunch.  A counselor will be assigned to check commuters in before the morning convocation each day, and out again after classes are finished for the day.  Commuters are welcome at all the evening events as well.

Financial aid is not available for Jr. SYMS students, but many students find aid through their schools, churches, or civic organizations.  We do have discounts for siblings and NHMEA members, however.