MusicTech

Blair - Music Tech Program
Photo credit: John Russell

An Electronic Music Composition and Technology Camp That Goes Beyond Education

Day Program: July 8-12, 2024
Overnight Program: July 14-20, 2024

Recommended for ages 13-17

Dive into the world of video game music composition with MusicTech at Vanderbilt University. MusicTech offers an exceptional summer experience for teens with a passion for video game music and game design.

The program provides students with the foundational tools of digital music creation, combined with creative skills. You'll learn to compose original game music alongside likeminded technologists and industry experts. The program is based on methods and models used in the music technology courses taught at Vanderbilt Blair by Pascal Le Boeuf.

Vanderbilt University's MusicTech is much more than the typical summer camp experience. Discover the difference with a friendly environment of radical acceptance and "geek culture" where kids form meaningful relationships, grow socially and have a summer to remember!

MusicTech engages students through a combination of hands-on, production-based projects and group interactive experiences, learning a multitude of skills including but not limited to Logic Pro and digital music composition.

Camp sessions are conducted in small groups and led by award-winning staff and are appropriate for all levels of experience, from beginners to more experienced students. Topics include:

  • Work in Logic Pro X in our state-of-the-art studio
  • MIDI sequencing, sound synthesis and digital audio
  • Hands-on video game music composition projects

Schedule

Camp begins at 9:00 a.m. each morning, Monday to Friday. Students can be dropped off as early at 8:30 a.m.

The morning holds two academic sessions followed by a break for lunch at the University Dining Hall. 

In the afternoons, there are two academic sessions, a guest lecturer, snacks, and video game free play until pick up at 5:00 p.m. 

Stay Overnight!

Students arrive the afternoon of July 14 and will stay through the morning of July 20. Here we continue the evening fun of gaming and events, including some special events just for overnighters. Students will head to the dorms each night and can hang out some more in our dorm lounges or head to bed. Rest up, lots of fun ahead!

Overnight students receive three meals a day from the University Dining Hall. Students are awakened each morning and  gather for a trip to the University Dining Hall for breakfast. Plenty to eat before we head to the labs to begin your day! Lunch and dinner will also be served daily, of course. 

All of the dorms are equipped with twin extra long beds. Don't have twin extra long sheets? A sleeping bag works great too! 

Flying In? 

For students traveling alone to Nashville by air, Blair School of Music (BSM) requires students to take a BSM provided shuttle from the airport to campus. If students will be flying out of Nashville alone, they will also be required to take the provided shuttle. The VSA shuttle fee is $75 for round trip service. There is no discount for one-way service. The BNA airport is located approximately 20 minutes from Vanderbilt without traffic delays. A BSM staff member will be in touch with families at least one week prior to MusicTech to coordinate shuttle transportation for MusicTech students.

BSM required shuttle service at the airport will begin at 1:00 p.m. CT on check-in day. Please schedule a flight that arrives in Nashville between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. CT. A BSM staff member will be present at BNA's baggage claim area to greet all students to Nashville during the previously specified time frames. Additional information, including logistics for meeting the BSM staff member, the name of the BSM staff who will be greeting the student, and contact information for day-of correspondence, will be emailed closer to the start of the program. 

Students flying alone out of Nashville at the end of MusicTech will be required to take the BSM shuttle to BNA on check-out day. Check out is immediately following breakfast at 9:00 a.m., with anticipated airport arrival at 9:45 a.m.  Please schedule your student's departing flight between 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. CT.

Photos & Room Tour

Registration and Scholarships

Registration for MusicTech can be completed on VUPACE. In order to register for the camp, prospective students must complete enrollment forms required by the Blair Academy. These forms include the Blair Academy New Student Application, the Protection of Minors (POM) General Participation Agreement and Release for Summer 2024, and the MusicTech Application. You will receive email confirmation upon approval of these forms. Once the forms are approved, you can register by navigating to the course page, adding the course to your cart, and clicking the cart icon to begin the checkout process. 

Tuition for the day program is $2,000, which is due by June 17. Tuition for the overnight program is $2,600, which is due by June 3. Scholarship assistance is also available for MusicTech. Prospective applicants can apply for scholarship assistance here.

For assistance with registration and payment, please contact Elm Stephenson, the Blair Academy registrar, via email or by phone at 615-322-7655.

MusicTech

Learn the fundamentals of digital music composition and coding in a friendly environment of radical acceptance where campers form meaningful relationships, grow socially, and have a summer experience to remember.

It is not required that you read music!

Campers will learn to compose original game music alongside like-minded tech enthusiasts and award-winning industry experts.

MusicTech offers much more than your typical summer camp:

  • Create hands-on video game music projects
  • Work with Logic Pro X in our state-of-the-art studio
  • Learn MIDI sequencing, sound synthesis, and digital audio design

Recommended for ages 13-17

Perfect for beginners as well as intermediate and advanced students.

Register Here

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