Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) & Downloads

May 20, 2019 is the deadline to enroll without late fees. After that, you will be charged $75 as a late fee.

The price of attendance depends on your enrollment date. If you enroll by January 31, the cost of Camp is $615; by March 31, $665; and by May 20, $715.

Note: These prices are for students/directors who are staying in the dorms.

For Commuter prices, please see camp.musicforall.org/info

The fee includes tuition, housing, meals, tickets to all evening concerts, a t-shirt, and a group photo. Transportation costs are not included.

Leadership Weekend is a two-day, intensive leadership workshop for students and directors. It is perfect for students who already hold leadership positions, students who would like to be in leadership positions eventually, and directors who want to bring the lessons back to their own programs. It’s awesome and you should add it on to your Camp experience!

A student division is kind of like a major for your time at Camp. You can be in the Drum Major Institute, Music Production Boot Camp, Concert Band, Marching Band, Orchestra, Jazz, Percussion, or the Color Guard division.

No, you cannot choose more than one division.

**Currently, there are no division choices for Middle School students. Middle School students attend the Middle School Concert Band camp or the Middle School Color Guard camp.

You will choose the Percussion division, select from the following, and choose your instrument accordingly:

Percussion Ensemble (Immersion) : for students who wish to play keyboard/mallet instruments and/or in a percussion ensemble environment

Marching Percussion : for students who wish to play one of the following marching percussion instruments: snare, tenors, bass, or cymbals

*if you play Jazz Drum Set, please register for Jazz Band

All Final Performances are free and open to all parents and family members who wish to attend. They will begin at approximately 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 29. The Symposium concludes immediately after the final performances.

Family members are encouraged to attend the Parent Breakfast (7:00 a.m.) and Family Day Picnic (11:00 a.m.) in addition to watching the final performances.

Dorm checkout will begin after the performances have been completed. To order tickets for the Parent Breakfast and Family Day Picnic, please fill out the form found at http://www.musicforall.org/camp-family-form. A limited number of tickets will be available on site, so we encourage parents and families to order them in advance.

Please Note: All students are required to stay until 3:00 p.m. for the conclusion of the final performances. Exceptions will be made for students who turn in an Early Departure Form (completed and signed by a parent/guardian) at check-in at the beginning of Camp.

Parents will need to make hotel accommodations on their own. Hotel rooms in Muncie are in limited supply (especially at the end of camp when Drum Corps fans are in town) so we suggest you do your research and make your plans early. Hotels that Music for All has used in the past have included: Hampton Inn, Fairfield, and the Courtyard Muncie in Downtown Muncie.

We invite you to connect with the Summer Symposium through Music for All’s social media outlets. Find all the details here: http://www.musicforall.org/connect/social-media

Students going into 7th & 8th grades with at least one year of playing experience are ready to join us for a fun and exciting week. We’ve designed the Camp from the ground up to provide a positive, caring environment with special attention to the needs of the middle school student.

Each day begins around 8:00 a.m. with a healthy breakfast, and concludes after an amazing evening concert, around 10:00 p.m. Each day includes four or more hours of playing time in rehearsals, sectionals, and masterclasses. Students will fill out their day in team building activities & recreational time like bowling, billiards, climbing wall, and other social activities.

The Music for All Summer Symposium is known for bringing in renowned teachers and artists. The directors and masterclass teachers are highly qualified, student-centered educator musicians. The featured middle school conductors, Stacey Dolan from VanderCook College of Music in Illinois and Rachel Maxwell from Traughber Jr H.S. in Oswego, Illinois are well-respected music educators.

The Middle School Concert Band Camp is designed from the ground up to provide a positive, caring environment with special attention to the needs of the middle school student. We’ve built-in time each day for students to participate in a variety of activities outside of their rehearsals and sectionals:

• team building/character sessions
• recreational activities like an open gym, bowling, billiards, and climbing wall
• outstanding evening concerts like the DCI Central Indiana show and Yamaha Young Artists
• special visits to other Camp areas like jazz, color guard, and marching band

Registration for the Middle School Concert Band Camp is from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Monday morning, and the Opening Session is at 1:00 p.m.

Please note that the middle school campers will have placement hearings on Monday morning during registration and will need to arrive well before 1:00 p.m. to perform them. The placement hearing materials can be found at musicforall.org/mscamp.

All middle school campers will have placement hearings on Monday morning during registration and will need to arrive well before 1:00 p.m. to perform them. The placement hearing materials can be found at musicforall.org/mscamp.

A recommended packing list can be found here.

In addition to standard camp needs, the Middle School Concert Band Camp students should also bring:

• Your instrument with your name, address and school marked on the case. Percussionists will only need to bring a stick bag with snare drum sticks, timpani mallets, and keyboard mallets.
• A fold-up music stand marked with your name, address, and school.
• Any necessary supplies or accessories, such as reeds, neck straps, valve oil, etc. Muncie Music Center will be on campus during the week to sell reeds, oil, etc.
• Comfortable attire – shorts, jeans & t-shirts – are appropriate for the Camp week. Please note that you will be in air conditioning for the majority of your day. [no clothing with inappropriate/offensive language]
• Remember, middle school campers will wear their Camp tee-shirts throughout the week. Each student will receive two tee-shirts at registration; these Camp shirts will their “uniform” for the week. Shirts will be laundered every other day.

The Music for All Summer Symposium is known for bringing in renowned teachers and artists. The directors and masterclass teachers are highly qualified, student-centered educator musicians.

Although most student bring their own instrument or an instrument from their school to Camp, we can accommodate most instrument needs should it arise.  Students in the Percussion Ensemble (immersion) division will only need to bring a stick bag with snare drum sticks, timpani mallets, and keyboard mallets. Students in the Marching percussion division should plan on bringing their own or school-borrowed instrument if possible; if needed, a limited quantity of marching percussion instruments will be available to borrow.

The SWAG Team members are the Music for All Camp’s counselors, teaching assistants, and superheroes. They are selected by vigorous application process, undergo a background check, and carry forward the 35 year tradition of ensuring safe, positively life-changing experiences for campers.

Final performance attire varies by Student Division.

Concert Band (High School): Students will wear Concert Black.
Girls: long black skirt (below the knee) or slacks are acceptable with a white blouse and black, closed-toe shoes.
Boys: black pants, white shirt, dark colored tie, black socks, and black shoes.

Jazz Band: “All black” – solid black button down shirt or polo, black pants, black socks and black closed-toe shoes.

Marching Band: For the DCI show and Final Performance, each student should wear khaki shorts, athletic shoes, and the FJM T-shirt that will be given to them during camp. No hats, sunglasses, or jewelry will be worn for these performances.

Orchestra: Students will wear Concert Black.
Girls: long black skirt (below the knee) or slacks are acceptable with a white blouse and black, closed-toe shoes.
Boys: black pants, white shirt, black socks, and black shoes.

Percussion: Percussion Immersion- “All Black” solid black button down shirt or polo, black pants, black socks and black closed-toe shoes.
Marching Percussion same dress code as Marching Band above.

Color Guard: Students will wear dark (black, dark gray, dark blue) shorts, white top or t-shirt, and tennis shoes.

Drum Major Institute: Students will wear khaki shorts. No jeans, please.

Middle School Concert Band Camp: Students will wear one of their designated Camp t-shirts (provided); full-length, dark dress pants (no leggings, please); and dark dress shoes.

Students will stay in a dorm room with one other student; Music for All will email the housing assignment in late May/early June.

Yes, you may request a specific roommate, but the two of you MUST be arriving and departing on the same day. For instance, if you arrive on Friday night and your friend arrives on Saturday morning, you cannot be roommates. Each room houses two students. Requests can be indicated on the Student Registration Form; requests must be mutual. Music for All will make every effort to accommodate rooming requests.

Please note that if you add a roommate request after May 20, you will be charged a $20 late change fee.

Two – You and a roommate. There are no exceptions.

If you are participating in Leadership Weekend, your meals start at Dinner on Saturday, June 23th.

If you are participating in full-week camp ONLY, your meals start at Dinner on Monday, June 25th.

To reach Music for All while we are on-site (June 25 – July 2), please call 877-643-6043.

Headquarters Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Daily, Friday, June 22 – Saturday, June 30.

If there is an emergency at camp, Music for All will contact the “Emergency contact” that was listed on your student’s registration form. Please make sure that phone numbers listed will be the best to reach you at.

You can reserve a spot on our shuttle. This shuttle is an additional fee and information about the shuttle reservations will be emailed to you (and posted on the website).

Music for All has developed routes from areas of the country with buses already scheduled to transport students to the Summer Symposium.

Students and Parents: If you’re looking for a bus, visit this page: camp.musicforall.org/bus

All participants should report to the Symposium registration room, located in the Student Recreation Center, to officially check-in and pick up a credential and notebook.

For Leadership Weekend: Registration is from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 23th (opening session begins at 1pm)

For Full Week Symposium: Registration is from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Monday, June 25th (opening session begins at 1pm)

Check-in will take approximately 30 minutes per participant. We encourage you to arrive early to ensure you complete your check-in and placement hearings/auditions (if applicable for your division) prior to opening session.

Please head to your dorm first to get your key and drop off your stuff, and then visit the registration when it opens at Park Hall.

Early arrival check-in will be on Friday, June 22 (for Leadership Weekend Experience students) or Sunday, June 24  (for Full-Week Symposium students). Early arrival check in on both days are from 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. at the designated residence hall.

During check-in, students will receive information about MFA-sponsored events, and a specific time for them to return to the residence hall for a floor meeting and room check that evening. After moving into the residence hall, unless directly supervised by their parent/guardian or teacher, we require students to attend the MFA-sponsored activities for the afternoon and evening.

The latest someone will be at the registration table will be 10:00 p.m. If you have to arrive later than that, please call 877-643-6043 so we can have someone at the dorm to let you in.

Requirements for placement hearings vary by division, indicated below. If applicable, more specific details and/or materials will be sent by the end of May.

The following divisions will have placement hearings on Monday morning before Opening Session at 1 PM: Concert Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Color Guard, Percussion Ensemble (Immersion) and Middle School Concert Band.

The Marching Band and Marching Percussion Divisions will have short placement hearings during the division’s first session on Monday afternoon.

The Drum Major Institute and Peer Teaching Division do not have hearing requirements.

The Music Production Boot Camp has requirements for sharing examples of your work prior to arriving to Camp. After registering for this division, you will be sent more detail about what and how to submit this material.

This varies by division – for full details, please view the Audition and Track information document that was sent to you.

Camp ends at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Campers booking flights from the Indianapolis International Airport should try to aim for flights leaving after 7:00 p.m.

If you have to leave early, please submit the Early Departure Form and give it to your SWAG at Check-in. Please note that you will miss final performances if you leave before 3:00 p.m.

LATE DEPARTURE PROCEDURES 

• Summer Symposium students remaining on campus the night of Saturday, June 29th are to check in with a Music for All staff member in the Atrium of the Arts and Journalism Building at 6:00 p.m.
• Dinner will be served to all students remaining on campus beginning at 6:00 p.m. in Atrium. 
• After dinner you may proceed to Cardinal Lanes in the Student Center for evening entertainment activities (bowling, movies, card games, etc.) 
• You must check in with a Music for All staff member at each location.  
• All students will be escorted back to their respective residence halls as a group at 10:30 p.m.  
• Floor meetings will be led by SWAG team members at 10:45 p.m. at each student’s residence hall.  
• Instructions for morning departure will be provided and reviewed during the floor meeting.  
• YOU MAY NOT LEAVE THE CAMPUS ON JUNE 29 FOR ANY REASON, UNLESS RELEASED TO YOUR PARENT OR GUARDIAN WHO HAS COMPLETED AN EARLY DEPARTURE FORM. STUDENTS DEPARTING BEFORE THEIR ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TIME MUST SIGN OUT WITH A MUSIC FOR ALL OFFICIAL.  

A recommended packing list can be found on the Music for All website, here: https://camp.musicforall.org/bring/

*in addition to the general packing list, make sure you review the division specific packing lists at the bottom of the page. An updated version of this list will be posted and sent by the end of April

Please notify Music for All of any instruments or additional equipment you will be shipping to the Summer Symposium as soon as possible.

You will need to ship the package so that it arrives no earlier than Tuesday before Camp and no later than the day before you arrive. REMEMBER: All Mail MUST Go Through Campus Processing, so please allow for an additional day or so for the shipment to reach its destination.

You can schedule a return shipment ahead of time if you’d like, or your SWAG can help you schedule one at the end of Camp.

Shipping  Address: “Student’s name” Conferences and Special Events c/o Music for All Headquarters 1515 N. Mckinley Ave. Ball State University, LA 152 Muncie, IN 47306

No. Please don’t bring mini-fridges with you.

Though laptops/tablets are allowed, students are encouraged to leave these expensive items at home. The busy schedule will allow little time to use them during the week.

Student cell phones are permitted; however, they must be turned off during sessions and concerts.

The following items are prohibited from the Music for All Summer Symposium:

• rollerblades
• skateboards
• scooters
• coffee makers
• bicycles
• non-performance weapons of any type, such as pocket knives, Swiss Army knives, etc.
• Juuls, vaporizes, e-cigarettes, or any form of tobacco/nicotine products

You can park near your dorm when you arrive, and you will receive a parking pass and instructions about where to park when you check in to your dorm. Please note that students who are staying on campus will be asked to turn their car keys into their SWAG at Check-in. If you’re a Commuter, you will be given a parking pass at Registration.

Please make us aware of any issues in the Medical Information portion of the registration process, and please check in with the nurse and your SWAG when you come to registration.

Yes, there is a nursing staff on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You and/or your student will be able to speak with the Head Nurse at Registration about any concerns you have. If you absolutely must speak with the nursing staff before Camp begins, please call us at 800-848-2263 or email us at info@musicforall.org.

In order to ensure the safety of all students on campus, all students with prescription medication (with the exception of insulin, inhalers, and EpiPens) are required to turn the medication over to the camp nurse during Check-In.

Please note that the nursing staff can ONLY distribute medication that is provided by the student at check-in.

If you want to buy snacks or souvenirs, or if you need to eat a meal before your meal plan starts, you should bring spending money. Otherwise, all your needs should be covered.

Indiana weather is unpredictable, but you can expect the weather mostly to be hot and humid. Temperatures typically range from 60 to 90 degrees, and it is not uncommon for there to be 90%+ humidity (Thankfully, the dorms are air-conditioned.) There is always a chance of rain as well, so bring an umbrella and rain boots if you’d like.

Yes.

Find your SWAG, and s/he will help you get a new one. Ball State does charge for lost room keys and lost meal cards. The cost for replacements are the responsibility of the student.

Muncie Music Center will be on site and will be able to help you. See your SWAG or instructor for help.

Please call the Music for All office at 800-848-2263 or email us at info@musicforall.org to inquire about lost items.

They can, but please be aware that all shipments must go through Ball State’s central receiving office, which typically adds a day to shipping time. You cannot ship items directly to a student’s dorm.

A member of Music for All or the SWAG Team will deliver all mail directly to the student’s room within the Residence Hall. The University receives several large shipments of mail per day, so letters or packages may not be processed the day it arrives. We advise you to send mail EARLY so that it will get to your child while they are on campus. The letter/package should be addressed as follows:

“Student’s name” Conferences and Special Events c/o Music for All Headquarters 1515 N. Mckinley Ave. Ball State University, LA 152 Muncie, IN 47306

On the weekends, parking is fairly unrestricted on campus. During the week, you may have to pay to park. Please see the parking map in the Student Information Packet for more details.