ASU Popular Music Summer Camp
Discover the art of performance, songwriting, production, engineering and music entrepreneurship.
Discover the art of performance, songwriting, production, engineering and music entrepreneurship at ASU’s Popular Music Program summer camp.
Guided by our world class faculty and staff, students will have the opportunity to explore their various interests, develop their musicianship, and prepare for studying music at the college level.
Taking place in our state of the art facility in the cultural hub of Downtown Phoenix at Fusion on First, participants will have hands-on experiences in our studio suites, performance and rehearsal spaces, writing rooms, and digital media labs, all outfitted with the latest technology.
During the day, write songs, compose and produce music on your instrument and/or computer, engineer and perform in the studio, collaborate with other students, perform on stage and get real-world advice from veteran songwriters, industry professionals, and up-and-coming artists.
At night, have a college experience by living in a dorm, going to programmed events and hanging with all the other students.
Registration is now open!
Program dates
June 8-13,2025
Registration fee
$100 (nonrefundable)
For registration, payment and cancellation/refund information visit the registration link.
Tuition
$1,600 Overnight programing includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
$1,100 Daytime programing
includes lunch.
Payment/Registration deadline
to be announce
Check-in date
June 8
Age range
14-19
Enrollment options and information
Daytime Programming
Each day, students will participate in core classes which include songwriting, music production, engineering, beatmaking, and performance, and sit in on a visiting artist presentation. Students will also have ample opportunity to collaborate, attend faculty office hours, participate in group feedback sessions, and perform their music. Lunch included each day. Drop off will take place right before breakfast and pick up will take place riht after dinner.
Overnight Campers
Nighttime Programming
In the evenings students will participate in our nighttime programming events, examples of which are a Diamondbacks game, a movie night, a Sun Devil’s Fitness event, karaoke, a museum visit, etc. Campers from Camp Cronkite will join the Popular Music students for the majority of the night time programming. Dinner will be provided each day of nighttime programming. There will also be time for students to be making music together and practicing.
Housing
Students will be having the college dorm experience, staying at Gordon Commons on the Downtown Campus. Campers from Camp Cronkite will also be housed in Gordon Commons during the camp but won’t be roomed with Popular Music students. Students who elect to be housed for the duration of camp will be provided with breakfast, lunch and dinner each day of camp.
What you should know
Throughout the experience we will have dedicated camp counselors with the participants, day and night. The address of Taylor Place is 120 E. Taylor St. Each camper will share their room with another camper. For those who elect to be housed on campus, you need to bring
- Linens will be provided but you might want to bring an extra blanket for your bed as well.
- A bath towel, your clothing and any personal items you might need, such as hair dryers, hair styling tools and irons are not supplied.
- Toiletries (e.g. toothbrush, deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, personal hygiene products) and something to carry your toiletries in.
- Camera ready outfit (slacks, button down shirt, polo, dress, skirt, blouse, blazer).
- Hat, reusable water bottle, and sunscreen – those UV rays are strong!
- Any phone or electronics charging cables.
- Shoes that are comfortable for walking.
Camp staff and counselors may not administer medication. Campers who bring medication must adhere to University Housing Policies concerning medication use.
Below is a sample of a typical day in the program.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
|
8 a.m. – 9 a.m. |
Breakfast / Arrival |
|
9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. |
Core class 1 |
|
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. |
Core class 2 |
|
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. |
Lunch |
|
1 p.m. – 2 p.m. |
Visiting artist |
|
2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. |
Core class 3 |
|
3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. |
Core class 4 |
|
5 p.m. – 6 p.m. |
Dinner/Departure |
|
7 p.m. – 9 p.m. |
Nighttime programming/Practice time |
|
6 p.m. |
Dinner |
|
7 p.m. – 9 p.m. |
Nighttime Programming |
|
9 p.m. – 10 p.m. |
Wind down and lights out. |
There will be several scholarships available and you can submit your application HERE.
The Popular Music High School Summer Program is coordinated by Popular Music faculty and staff, and led by Popular Music faculty. Current ASU Popular Music students serve as camp counselors who report to Popular Music faculty and serve as mentors and supervisors, just as a resident assistant would nurture college students in the residential hall.
The program culminates in a final showcase on Friday night of student performances in the Lobby of Fusion on First. This performance is not mandatory, and interested students must sign up to confirm their spot. The performance is free and open to friends and family.
All students 14 and older with some background in music are welcome to attend. Students will be placed in groups based upon an initial assessment of their interests, age, and level of musicianship.
Students who are interested in participating in the Beatmaking and Production core classes are encouraged to bring their own laptops, but it’s not required. All software and hardware will be provided at the camp.
Participants will study at Fusion on First which is located in Downtown Phoenix on the corner of Fillmore and First Ave. Students are encouraged to stay with us overnight but commuter options also exist. During the daytime programming, students must remain in Fusion on First.
Since there are feedback sessions for students to elect, they are encouraged whatever materials they have to showcase their music - this might include charts or lead sheets, recordings of their music (via tablet, computer, or another accessible format), and/or lyric sheets.
Students should also bring any portable instrument they use to compose or perform music. Pianos will be provided, as well as small MIDI keyboards. If you compose music on a laptop, please bring your computer and any equipment that’s important for you to be creative.
Campers eat most of their meals at the Taylor Place Restaurant, a student dining hall with a variety of healthy options. View sample Taylor Place menus here.
We are able to accommodate some dietary restrictions (e.g. dairy-free) and special diets (e.g. vegetarians), though campers are responsible for advocating for their own dietary needs while at camp. Be sure to note dietary needs in your application.
Registration is now open!