Summer Music Camps

Thanks to all who participated in the 2024 Department of Music summer camps! Please check back for more information about the summer music camps coming up in July 2025 or contact music@webster.edu with questions.

Expand Your Music Skills During the Summer with Webster University!

Webster University’s Department of Music presents exciting on-campus summer camps taught by Webster faculty and some of the area’s best-known performers and educators.


Jazz Camp 2024

July 8–12, 2024
9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Students entering grades 9-12 in Fall 2024 through adults.

Webster University, well known for its innovative jazz studies program and the Jazz@Webster concert series, is hosting a summer jazz camp at its Webster Groves campus. Participants will study with some of our area’s best-known performers and educators in master classes, combo rehearsals and improvisation classes.

Please note, registration for drummers is now closed. All drum spots have been filled for Jazz Camp 2024.

Skill Levels

Jazz camp is for beginning, intermediate and advanced level jazz improvisers and instrumentalists. Music reading skills are necessary for participation in classes and ensembles.

Tuition

The enrollment fee for camp is $255. To ensure enrollment, a non-refundable deposit of $35 is due by June 1. The $220 balance is due by July 1.

Contact Us

To learn more about Jazz Camp, request more information or contact Bennett Wood.

Register and Pay Online 

When and Where: The camp begins at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 8 in the recital hall of the Thompson Music Building, 8282 Big Bend (at the southeast corner of Edgar Road and Big Bend Boulevard). The camp ends Friday, July 12. The Final Student Concert is at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 12 featuring Student Ensembles.

Instruments: Please bring your instruments with you. If you will be playing drums, please bring your drum kit. Guitarists and bassists need to bring an amplifier. Storage will be provided. Unload all drum equipment and amplifiers at the side door of the west side of the Thompson Music Building.

Lunch: Participants are encouraged to bring their own lunch with them each day. Several fast food restaurants are within walking distance in the Old Orchard area of Webster Groves.

Webster University Jazz Camp

Applicants who will be high school freshmen in the fall of 2024 must submit a letter of recommendation from their primary music instructor in order to be admitted. Younger students must wait until they are entering the freshman year of high school to attend the camp. Please send recommendation letters to:

Bennett Wood
Webster University
470 E. Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119

The enrollment fee for the camp is $255. To ensure enrollment, a nonrefundable deposit of $35 must be made by June 1. The balance of the fee ($220) is to be paid by July 1.

The St. Louis Jazz Club provides a limited number of scholarships to the Webster Summer Jazz Camp. Primary music instructors of students who may need financial assistance to attend this year's camp should contact Bennett Wood.

Please note, registration for drummers is now closed. All drum spots have been filled for Jazz Camp 2024.


Classical Piano Camp 2024

July 15–19, 2024
9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Students entering grades 6–12 in Fall 2024

2024 Guest Artists

Dr. Jeffrey Carter
Dr. Carla Colletti
Nina Ferrigno, MM
Matt Pankratz, MM
Daniel Schene, MM
Graham Woodland, MM

Tuition

The enrollment fee for camp is $325. To ensure enrollment, a non-refundable deposit of $50 is due by Friday, June 7. The $275 balance is due by Monday, July 15.

Apply

Submit two pre-screening YouTube videos (two contrasting pieces) for review by June 7.

Apply for Piano Camp

Camp will take place on the Webster University campus in the historic Thompson House and Winifred Moore Auditorium.

Eligibility:

  • Students entering grades 6–12 in Fall 2024
  • Must be able to read notated music

Classical Piano Camp includes:

  • Daily private lessons with camp faculty (solo and ensemble)
  • Masterclasses
  • Interactive sessions:
    • Taubman
    • Vocal accompanying with Dr. Jeffrey Carter
    • String accompanying with Graham Woodland
    • Theory
  • Faculty performances
  • Guided practice with faculty members
  • Lessons, rehearsals, and performances in the Thompson House and Winifred Moore Auditorium
  • Ensemble recital on Thursday (alongside faculty members and guest artists)
  • Solo recital on Friday

*Recitals are open to parents and the public.

Process for application: Submit two pre-screening YouTube videos (two contrasting pieces) for review by June 7 via the Piano Camp Form. If accepted, a confirmation email will be sent with the registration information. We will choose one of these pieces to be on the Solo Recital, so they need to be current pieces and recent videos.

*Acceptable pieces do not include: selections from lesson books, easy-play transcriptions, or excerpts/arrangements. Repertoire should be a complete piece, beginning to end. Students should consult with their private teacher on repertoire.

The enrollment fee for the camp is $325. To ensure enrollment, a nonrefundable deposit of $50 must be made by Friday, June 7. The balance of the fee ($275) is to be paid by Monday, July 15.

Typical Day:

  • Lessons with faculty and guest artists
  • Ensemble coachings with faculty and guest artists
  • Special interest classes (theory games, music history, practice strategies, etc.)
  • Masterclasses
  • Guided practice with faculty

Student playing piano at Piano Camp

Instructors: Pat Eastman, MM; Caroline Hixson, MM, NCTM; Sue Martin, MM; Matt Pankratz, MM; Ruth Price, DMA; Donna Vince, MM, NCTM

Co-Directors: Caroline Hixson, MM, NCTM; Matt Pankratz, MM

For more information about Classical Piano Camp, please contact co-directors Caroline Hixson or Matt Pankratz.


Summer at CMS

The Community Music School also offers a variety of additional summer camps for students, including camps for flautists, composers, string players, chamber musicians and a summer band camp. In addition, CMS provides private applied instruction on the full range of band and orchestral instruments, plus piano and voice.


Pop Songwriting Camp

June 3–7, 2024
9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Students entering grades 9–12 in Fall 2024
Webster Groves, CMS Center 

Songwriting Camp includes daily songwriting technique lessons, co-writing sessions with peers coached by camp faculty, feedback sessions with camp faculty and peers, and a culminating concert.

Requirements: Must be able to accompany themselves on piano, guitar, ukulele or other harmonizing instrument.
Tuition: $280
Registration Deadline: May 15, 2024

Thompson House on Webster Groves campus

Thompson House

Thompson House on Webster Groves campus

The Webster University Department of Music is located in the Thompson House on the Webster Groves campus. Built in 1910, Thompson House is the oldest building on campus and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

8282 Big Bend Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63119

News and Events

Department of Music News and Upcoming Events