Jazz Ensemble Camp

Campers must be attending grades 9 – 12 in the ’25-’26 school year. (Rising 9th graders during summer 2026 are not eligible).

All ability levels are welcome, but campers should have at least 6 months of school instruction or equivalent on an instrument.

No audition is required to register but there will be a placement audition at camp check-in to determine your Big Band and Combo assignment.

Sorry, we do not accept clarinet, flute, or vocal jazz at this camp.

No audition is required to register, but there will be a placement audition at camp check-in to determine your Big Band and Combo assignment.

All campers should perform Billie’s Bounce as well as the scales or rudiments as listed below.  Campers may also be asked to sight-read.

Billie Bounce Requirements (all campers)
This is a jazz standard and can be found in hundreds of collections and online.  If you are having trouble finding this piece of music please contact our office.

• Quarter note = 120bpm
• Play 2X through the head (24 bars)
• Play 2 choruses of improvisation (24 bars)

SCALES

Winds

• Quarter note = 120 bpm
• Major Scales (two octaves when possible): F, B-flat, E-flat, and G

Piano, Guitar, and Bass

• Major Scales (two octaves): F, B-flat, E-flat, A-flat, and G
• Minor scales (two octaves): d, g, c, f, e-flat

Rudiments and Styles (Drums Only)

Rudiments

• 5-Stroke Roll
• 10-Stroke Roll
• Single Paradiddles

Styles

• Slow Swing (quarter note = 60 bpm)
• Up-tempo Swing (quarter note = 240 bpm)
• Samba (any tempo)
• Rock (any tempo)
• Funk (any tempo)

Sight Reading

All campers will be asked to sight-read a short selection.

Overnight Campers: $570.00 which includes

• a non-refundable deposit of $100.00
• tuition
• housing
• three meals per day (meals begin with dinner on check-in day and end with breakfast on check-out day)
• a digital download audio recording of the final performances.

All registrants must pay a $100.00 non-refundable deposit when registering.  Families can choose to pay the balance in full when registering OR enroll in a monthly payment plan for the balance. Payment plans require a monthly auto-draft and must be paid in full by June 1, 2026 . Campers registering after May 1 must pay in full at the time of registration.

Click here for the Cancellation and Refund Policy.

Scholarship and other third-party payments can be accepted.  Please contact our office if you need assistance with having a scholarship or school booster check applied to your account.

Campers who plan to attend another camp the following week may wish to stay overnight in the dorm on the night of June 13. The cost for the night of housing between the two camp weeks is $75.00.  You also have the option to check-out from the first camp and then check back in for the second week.  Read more about Extra Nights of Housing.

Day Campers: $372.00 which includes

• a non-refundable deposit of $100.00
• tuition
• a digital download audio recording of the final performances.

Meal plans are available as optional add-on purchases.  (Meal plans are non-refundable once purchased):

• Day Camper Lunch Package:  $35.00/week (non-refundable).  Learn more
• Day Camper Dinner Package:  $35.00/week (non-refundable). Learn more

All registrants must pay a $100.00 non-refundable deposit when registering.  Families can choose to pay the balance in full when registering OR enroll in a monthly payment plan for the balance. Payment plans require a monthly auto-draft and must be paid in full by June 1, 2026. Campers registering after May 1 must pay in full at the time of registration.

Click here for the Cancellation and Refund Policy.

Scholarship and other third-party payments can be accepted.  Please contact our office if you need assistance with having a scholarship or school booster check applied to your account.

Check-in takes place on Sunday, June 7 between 1:00pm-3:00pm.

There will be a performance on Friday, June 12 at 7:00pm featuring all campers in their Small Combo.

There will be a final performance on Saturday, June 13 at 10:30am featuring all campers in their Big Band.

Check-out takes place on June 13 following the Big Band performance at about 12:00pm.

See below for a sample camp schedule.

Detailed information about check-in, check-out, and everything in between will be available in the Camp Handbook.

REGISTRATION

Registration is done online and opens on January 20, 2026 at 9am EST.  You can register for multiple camps/sessions at the same time. A parent/guardian is required to complete the registration.

**Only the day-camper (tuition) price will show when you begin to register.  Once you continue on in the registration, you will be asked about being a day or overnight camper, and you will be able to add on housing/meals and other options.

All registrants must pay a $100.00 non-refundable deposit when registering.  Families can choose to pay the balance in full when registering OR enroll in a monthly payment plan for the balance. Payment plans require a monthly auto-draft and must be paid in full by June 1. Campers registering after May 1 must pay in full at the time of registration.

If you have attended camp before and are not sure what your registration account log in is, please contact us at musiccamps@fsu.edu and we will send you the information.  Please do not make a new account.

Click here for the Payment, Cancellation and Refund Policy.

WAIT LISTS

If there is a wait list for your instrument when you attempt to register, you can opt to be placed on the wait list. No deposit is required to be placed on the wait list. If a space becomes available you will be notified automatically by the Active registration system via an email from Support@Active.com, and you will have 72 hours to accept or pass. Please add “Suppport@active.com” and “Musiccamps@fsu.edu” to your contacts or regularly check your junk mail to be sure your wait list offer does not go to junk mail.

Because of the limited number of rhythm instrument spots and high demand, this camp often has long wait lists for bass, guitar, piano, and drums.  Spaces only open up if someone else who plays that instrument cancels; we are not able to open up more spots.  You are welcome to contact us at any time to find out your position on the wait list.

POST-REGISTRATION CAMPER FORMS

Once you have paid the deposit and receive a registration confirmation, you will be able to fill out your required camper forms. These forms include a medical information form (no physical required), consent forms, and more.  These forms should be completed as soon as possible, but are due no later than one month prior to the start of your camp.

All-State Discount:

A $50.00 All-State Discount is available for this camp.   To qualify you must:

1. Be selected for a Florida All-State Ensemble on the same instrument that you will be playing at camp
2. Attend the conference as a performer in Tampa, FL in January 2026

Use the code: 26FMEA50 during check out to get the discount.  Please note that we verify all discounts against the event concert programs.  If we are unable to verify your participation, the discount may be removed.

Tri-State Discount:

A $50.00 FSU Tri-State Discount is available for this camp.   To qualify you must:

1. Be selected for a the FSU Tri-State Festival on the same instrument that you will be playing at camp
2. Have attended the festival as a performer in Tallahasee in December 2025.

Use the code: 26TRI50 during check out to get the discount.  Please note that we verify all discounts against the event concert programs.  If we are unable to verify your participation, the discount may be removed.

Campers may received one (1) All-State Discount or (1) Tri-State Discount per summer.

Private Lessons:

Optional private lessons are available at this camp.  Lessons are booked at camp check-in based on availability. Lessons are $50.00 per 50-minute lesson. Lesson payments are made directly to lesson teachers by cash or check only.

Optional Add-Ons:

There are several add-on options available during the registration process.  You can add any of these options to your registration during the initial registration process, or anytime up to two-weeks before the start of your camp.

• Overnight Campers:  Extra Nights of Housing in the dorm:  $75.00.  Learn more
• Overnight Campers: Shuttle Service: $30 each way. Learn more
• Day Camper Lunch Package**:  $35.00/week (non-refundable)  Learn more
• Day Camper Dinner Package**:  $35.00/week (non-refundable). Learn more
• Day Camper Parking Passes**: TBA/week (non-refundable). Learn more

**Lunch packages, dinner packages, and parking passes are non-refundable once purchased**

We would love for you to attend multiple camp sessions!

Campers who plan to attend another camp the week after Jazz Ensemble Camp have the choice to stay overnight in the dorm on the night in between ($75.00) or to check-out on Saturday and then check back in for the second week on Sunday.

Though we will try to keep you in the same room if possible, it is not guaranteed to have the same room during all sessions even if you purchase an extra night.  If you are required to switch rooms, counselors will be available to assist moving your belongings.

You can sign-up for an extra night during the initial registration process, or anytime up to two-weeks before the start of your first camp.

Read more about Extra Nights of Housing.

All campers must bring their instrument with them to camp.  If you do not own your own instrument, we suggest speaking with your music teacher about borrowing your school instrument for the duration of camp. Rental instruments are also available locally through Playground Music Center (850-785-1355)

A locker or secure storage location will be provided for larger instruments.

The instrument that you select during camp registration is the instrument that you must play at camp. If you would like to change your instrument to a different one after you register, you must contact our office prior to the start of your camp. If you play multiple instruments, you must choose a primary instrument but are welcome to bring your second with you for additional opportunities.

All campers must bring their instrument, instrument accessories, and a folding music stand.
In addition:

• Drummers must bring a  4-5 piece kit – snare drum, 1-2 rack toms, floor tom, cymbals (ride, crash and hi-hat), and hardware (hi-hat stand, cymbal stand(s), drum throne, bass drum pedal). Drumsticks and brushes.
• Electric Bass and Electric Guitar players must bring their instrument, an amp, cables, and an extension cord with them in addition to their instrument.
• Upright Bass players must bring their instrument.   They should also bring a stool (bar stool height) and, if they plan to play with a pick-up (not required), they should also bring an amp, cables, and an extension cord.

• Visit our Camp Life pages to learn more about the camp experience and what you need to prepare for your time at camp.