Marching Leadership, Color Guard, and Percussion Camp
Camp Date
- June 27–July 2, 2027
- Overnight Campers (tuition, housing, meals) $544.00
- Day Camper/Commuter (tuition only) $372.00
Registration Opens January 25, 2027 **Band Directors - Please read the "Band Director" section below for information about how to reserve spots for leaders who have not been selected yet.**
Camp HandbookCamp Features
CHANGES FOR 2027!!!
Discover the best leadership training in the Southeast at the FSU Marching Leadership, Color Guard, and Percussion Camp. Focused on building exceptional team leaders, you will work with accomplished instructors to develop skills to create high standards for your band, maintain personal motivation, and foster responsibility and respect. Reach your full potential this summer! This unique experience is designed for high school students who are involved (or want to be involved) in the leadership of their marching band. It is ideal for all drum majors, section leaders, band captains, color guard (flags and rifles only), and drum line.
Leadership Dynamics…Inside and Out
From 8:30am-11:30am, all campers will participate in the core leadership curriculum, outdoors on the field. Activities are designed to build communication skills, develop confidence with group interactions and peer-to-peer communication, using block drills, demonstrations, small group activities, and more.
From 1:00pm-5:00pm campers will split into one of three focus tracks based on their registration:
- Leadership Fundamentals Track:
This track is designed for Section Leaders, Band Captains, and Drum Majors (all instruments). Students will work indoors in large and small groups on score analysis, conducting styles, and techniques. Topics include creating high standards for your band, maintaining personal motivation and positive attitudes, and fostering responsibility and respect. Leadership Fundamentals will be displayed during the Pass-In-Review at the Civic Center on the final day of camp. - Color Guard Track:
Color Guard members will work indoors and receive instruction in choreography, show routine, and body work. Their routines will be presented during the Pass-In-Review at the Civic Center on the final day of camp. - Percussion Track:
Students enrolled in the percussion track will break into upper (Snare/Tenors) and lower battery (Bass/Cymbals) groups, working on technique acquisition and refinement through guided rehearsal on fundamental exercises, as well as individual musical responsibility and chamber musicianship through the coaching of standards in repertoire. The week will conclude with a showcase at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.
Spots in the percussion track are limited! If percussion track spots are full, percussionists can still attend and follow the Leadership Fundamentals track.
Instruction From The Best
Most of our instructors are former FSU Marching Chiefs, and have trained some of the finest leaders in the Southeast. Our core leadership curriculum is lead by Dr. David Plack, Director of FSU Athletic Bands, and Dr. Devan Moore, Assistant Director of FSU Athletic Bands, as well as other nationally recognized marching instructors. Percussion track students will work with instructors experienced in both the secondary and post-secondary drumline settings, including Dr. Austin Palella of the FSU Marching Chiefs Big 8. Color Guard track students will work with specialized color guard instructors including FSU Color Guard coach, Kayli Kapec.
Be A Summer Seminole
Spend time on the FSU Campus and experience what it’s like to be a ‘Nole. Learn more about dorm rooms, dining, medical care, and everything in between on our CAMP LIFE page. There will also be opportunities to interact with our outstanding Music Admissions team.
Evening Activities Are Part of The Experience
Every evening will have an activity planned, including recreation, small group sessions, and additional rehearsals.
Camp Details
Expand AllCampers must be attending grades 9-12 in the ’26-’27 school year AND have at least one year of high school marching band experience.
Open to beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.
No audition is required.
Florida State is committed to providing a quality education to all qualified students and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability. Please contact our office to discuss any questions or accommodations that may need to be made for your camper at least three weeks prior to the start of camp.
Overnight Campers: $544.00 which includes
- a non-refundable deposit of $100.00
- tuition
- housing
- three meals per day (meals begin with dinner on check-in day and ending with lunch on check-out day)
All registrants must pay the $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.
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.
Overnight Campers: $372.00 which includes
- a non-refundable deposit of $100.00
- tuition
Meal plans are available as optional add-on purchases. Meal plans are non-refundable once purchased:
- Day Camper Lunch Only Package: $35/week. Learn more
- Day Camper Dinner Only Package: $35/week. Learn more
- Day Camper Lunch & Dinner Package: $70/week. Learn more
All registrants must pay the $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.
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 27 .
There will be a final event called the Pass-In-Review at 1:30pm on Friday, July 2.
Check-out takes place on FRIDAY following the Pass-In-Review.
See below for full camp schedules.
Detailed information about check-in, check-out, and everything in between will be available in the Camp Handbook
SAVE YOUR SPOTS EARLY!
We hope that you will be sending your Marching Band Leadership students to our camp this summer. Even if you don’t know WHO you will be sending yet, you can reserve spaces for your students now, and when you select your students we will help get them registered.
2027 Guidelines
- Reservations are for leadership track only. We are unable to take reservations for the Color Guard track, or the Percussion track.
- Reservations are only for schools/organizations who will be paying in full on behalf of the students. If a family will be paying for a student to attend, then they need to register for camp through the regular registration process.
- All students will automatically receive the corresponding Matching Discount. FSU Summer Music Camps will contribute $1.00 for every $1.00 that an accredited organization awards the student up to a maximum of $100.00.
- A maximum of 8 reserved spots per school are allowed. Please only reserve the number of spots you will truly need. If you reserve more spots than you end up needing, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can offer the spot to campers on our waitlist.
- Names and contact information for your selected students must be sent to our office by May 30. After May 30th, spots that are reserved for which we have not received registration information may be released to the wait list.
How To Reserve Spots:
- Fill out the google form (coming in late fall 2026).
- Within 48 hours you will receive an email confirming your spots, or letting you know that you have been placed on a priority wait list. Reservations will be filled in the order they are received. If we reach capacity, your group will be placed on a wait list. Submitting the google form does not guarantee spots.
- In the spring, when you have the names of the students who will be attending for your school, send an email with their name, email, and phone number to musiccamps@fsu.edu. Our office will work with their parent/guardian to create their family account and officially register the student. Deadline to submit names is May 30 or the spots may be released.
- Once all students are registered, we will provide you with an invoice. Payment can be made for your group by check or credit card. Payments are due by June 15.
Band Directors that have already selected their students to attend camp should instruct the students to go online and register as soon as possible. Band Directors CAN NOT create an account and register all of their students under it.
REGISTRATION
Registration is done online and opens on January 25 at 9:00am EST. You are be able to register for multiple camps/sessions at the same time. A parent/guardian is required to complete the registration.
Only the tuition (day-camper) price will show when you begin to register. The registration form will ask you if you want to be an overnight camper, and if you answer “yes” it will automatically add the housing and meals to your cart.
All registrants must pay the $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 May 26. Campers registering after May 26 must pay in full at the time of registration.
Click here for the Payment, Cancellation and Refund Policy.
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.
WAIT LISTS
If there is a wait list for the track or camp 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 48 hours to accept or pass. Please add Support@Active.com and musiccamps@fsu.edu to your contacts so that the wait list offer does not go to your junk mail.
Students who have their fees for this camp paid by their school or boosters organization will automatically receive our Matching Discount of $100.00 per student.
Deadline: May 30, 2027 or until funding runs out, whichever is earlier.
If the school is reserving spots and paying for camp on behalf of their students, they will automatically received the Matching Discount. If a student is registering on their own, but their school is paying and they would like to receive this discount, they should follow the instructions here: Click here for more information and application instructions.
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: $70 Learn more
- Overnight Campers: Shuttle Service from airport or bus station: $30 each way. Learn more
- Day Camper Lunch Package**: $35/week (non-refundable) Learn more
- Day Camper Dinner Package**: $35/week (non-refundable). Learn more
- Day Camper Lunch & Dinner Package**: $70/week (non-refundable). Learn more
- Commuter 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 multiple weeks of camp have the choice to stay overnight in the dorm on the night in between ($70) 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 book an extra night. If you are required to switch rooms, counselors will be available to assist moving your belongings. If you do stay in the dorm, you will be brought to the check-in for the second camp on Sunday, by the counselors, along with all of the other campers that stayed over. 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.
Leadership Fundamentals Track: You must bring an instrument with you to camp for use during afternoon activities. You will not need your instrument for playing on the field. Campers will also need to bring a folding music stand and their instrument accessories, and may also wish to bring conducting gloves and baton if they have them, but it is not required. . A full packing list will be provided in the camp handbook.
Color Guard Track: Campers must bring their flag/rifle with them to camp. A full packing list will be provided in the camp handbook.
Percussion Track: Students must bring their own/home instruments, implements, harnesses, and stands. If you do not own your own instrument, you should speak with your music director about borrowing one to take to camp. FSU does not have instrument to loan. A full packing list will be provided in the camp handbook.
- Learn more about Camp Life
Sample Camp Schedule
Expand All| Sunday, 2:30-4:30pm | Check-In (you will be assigned an arrival timeslot) |
| Sunday, 7:00pm | Camper Orientation |
| MONDAY-THURSDAY SCHEDULE | |
| 7:30-8:15am | Breakfast |
| 8:30-11:30am | Marching & Leadership Fundamentals (Chiefs Field and Tully Gym) |
| 12:00-1:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:30-2:00pm | Attendance, Stretch |
| 2:10-2:55pm | Conducting Fundamentals |
| 3:05-4:15pm | Leadership Fundamentals |
| 4:25-5:00pm | Wrap-Up Sessions |
| 5:00-7:00 | Dinner |
| EVENING SCHEDULE | |
| Monday, 7:00-9:00pm | Recreation (UrbanAir, Movies, Bowling) |
| Tuesday 7:00-9:00pm | Help Sessions |
| Wednesday, 7:00-9:00pm | Recreation (UrbanAir, Movies, Bowling) |
| Thursday, 7:00-9:00pm | Help Sessions |
| FRIDAY / PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE | |
| 8:30-10:30am | Camp Wrap-up Activities |
| 11:00-12:15pm | Lunch |
| 12:30-1:15pm | Pass-In-Review Rehearsal |
| Friday, 1:30pm | Pass-In-Review |
| Friday, post PiR @2:30pm | Check Out |
| Sunday, 10am-2pm | Check-In (You will sign-up for an arrival time) |
| Sunday, 7:00pm | Camper Orientation |
| MONDAY - THURSDAY SCHEDULE | |
| 7:30-8:15am | Breakfast |
| 8:30-11:30am | Marching & Leadership Fundamentals (Chiefs Field and Tully Gym) |
| 12:00-1:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:30-2:00pm | Attendance, Stretch |
| 2:10-4:15pm | Color Guard Sessions |
| 4:30-5:00pm | Wrap-Up |
| 5:00-7:00 | Dinner |
| EVENING SCHEDULE | |
| Monday, 7:00-9:00pm | Recreation (UrbanAir, Movies, Bowling) |
| Tuesday, 7:00-9:00pm | Help Sessions |
| Wednesday, 7:00-9:00pm | Recreation (UrbanAir, Movies, Bowling) |
| Thursday, 7:00-9:00pm | Help Sessions |
| FRIDAY / PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE | |
| 8:30-10:30am | Camp Wrap-up Activities |
| 11:00-12:15pm | Lunch |
| 12:30-1:15pm | Pass-In-Review Rehearsal |
| Friday, 1:30pm | Pass-In-Review |
| Friday, post PiR @2:30pm | Check-Out |