
WSU Cougar Summer Music Camp HandbookWelcome to a week of music, friendship, and fun! We are excited for you to join us at the WSU Cougar Summer Music Camp, where you will grow as a musician, make lasting friendships and immerse yourself in the world of music. This handbook contains lots of information about our camp, including the schedule, recommended items to bring, guidelines, and expectations. IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR A SCHOLARSHIP – PLEASE WAIT TO HEAR OF YOUR STATUS BEFORE PROCEEDING TO REGISTER AND/OR PAY.
Camp Overview:
Every camper will work with outstanding Washington State University faculty members to enhance their musical skills, explore new musical styles, and collaborate with peers and instructors in a supportive and inspiring environment. This camp focuses on building playing fundamentals through private lessons, master classes, lectures, seminars, and performance opportunities. Students will also explore other areas of interest such as music theory, rock and roll history, jazz improvisation, conducting, and more. There will be lots of down time for evening activities and fun!
Dates: June 21-27, 2026
Camp Director: Danh Pham, Email: danh.pham@wsu.edu Evening Faculty/Assistant Director: Aaron Wacker, Email: aaron.wacker@wsu.edu
Faculty/Assistant Director: Martin King, Email: martin.king@wsu.edu
Important Dates and Times
Dorm Camper Check-In: Sunday, June 21, 2026, 2-5 PM, Gannon-Goldsworthy Dormitory- Orientation for All Campers: 7 PM, Sunday, Kimbrough Concert Hall
- Final Concert: Saturday June 27, 2026, 10 AM Bryan Hall Theatre
- Dorm Camper Check-Out: Saturday, June 27, 2025, from 1-3 PM, Gannon-Goldsworthy Dormitory
Sample Daily Schedule:
8:45 - 10:15 AM - Crimson Period Selection 10:15 - 10:30 AM - Break
10:30 - 12:00 NOON - Gray Period Selection 12:00 - 1:30 PM - Lunch
1:45 - 2:45 PM - Elective Period Selection 2:50 - 4:00 PM - Crimson Period Selection 4:10 - 5:20 PM - Gray Period Selection 5:30 PM - Dinner
6:45 PM - Evening Activities
Approximately 10:00 PM - Lights Out
The first and last day of camp will vary.
• 5:30 PM Dinner for dorm campers
• 6:30 PM Evening Activities
• Activities vary each night, but will include a variety of planned events such as recitals, a jam session, camp games, practice time, etc.
DORM CAMPERS: ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
Sunday Arrivals:
- Camp administrators and counselors will be on hand to welcome overnight campers to the dormitory on Sunday starting at 2:00 PM
- 2-5 PM campers will check into their dorm rooms and get a little bit of time to mingle and rest. Parents should confirm that completed health and permission forms are on file.
- At 5:00 PM campers will pack up their music-making materials for a walk up to Kimbrough Music Building.
- All campers will be given dinner and orientation Sunday at 6 PM in Kimbrough Music Building. Ensembles will host their first rehearsals in Kimbrough, and afterward students will have an opportunity to practice, meet new friends, and get settled.
Gannon-Goldsworthy Dorm address is: 1459 NE Stadium Way, Pullman, WA
Saturday Departures:
- Dorm campers will have breakfast together at Kimbrough Music Building on Saturday morning, followed by light dress rehearsals and preparations for the camp concert. Lunch will not be provided for dorm campers on Saturday.
- Saturday’s All-Camp concert at Bryan Hall Theatre will begin at 10:00 AM, and finish by 12:30 PM.
- Families can load and unload outside of Olympia Dorm.
- After the concert, dorm campers and their families should drive to the dorms to collect belongings, check out of rooms, and return dorm keys. Any dorm keys lost or not returned will result in a $50 fee. Campers who have returned their keys and checked out of their dorm rooms are free to celebrate with family, travel home, enjoy a lunch in Pullman.
DAY CAMPERS: ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
- Sunday Orientation: Day campers should arrive for camp orientation at Kimbrough Concert Hall at 5 PM on Sunday. Dinner and first rehearsals will follow, with camper pick-up at 8 PM.
- Drop-off location information is Kimbrough Concert Hall, 680 NE Library Road, Pullman, WA, 99163
- Monday through Friday: day campers should arrive ready to play/sing at Kimbrough Music Building at 8:30 AM. Lunch will be provided mid-day M-F.
- 5:30 PM day camper pickup (M-F): Parking lot beside Ida Lou Anderson House (755 NE Campus Street, Pullman, WA 99163) on the NW side of the structure. Day campers will be escorted to this pickup site by staff, who will stay until each camper is picked up.
- Day-campers are welcome to return for evening performances or activities after dinner, starting around 6:45 PM M-F. These includes a Camper Recital, cookouts (such as the one that occurs on Friday evening's concert for our FRIDAYS AT THE CLOCK series). Details will be shared out at the start of camp.
- Saturday concert: arrive at Kimbrough Music Building by 8am for final rehearsals and preparations for the 10 AM concert at Bryan Hall Theatre. Concert will conclude by 1pm, day campers can depart with their families after the concert.
- Parking in Terrell Parking garage, Cougar Way, Pullman, WA, 99163
WHAT TO BRING- ENSEMBLES AND CLASSES
- Your instrument/voice
- Instrument specific needs: I.e. valve oil, slide grease, strings, reeds and reed-making equipment, instrument cable (if you play electric bass/guitar), sticks and mallets, neck strap - for a week of making music.
- Repertoire/Music: You will be given music for the week’s camp. However, if you are wanting to perform on a recital at the start of the week, there will be an audition for that, thus you must have your own music (and piano part for us to accompany you).
- Music stand (for use in the dorm), metronome, and pencil
- Notebooks for enrichment classes
MEAL INFORMATION
- Dorm campers will have breakfast before the daily schedule begins at 8:15 AM
- All meals will be in a WSU dining hall on the North side of campus (close to Kimbrough Music Building, which provides allergy-free meals for diners. Please provide our camp director with information on your child’s dietary needs. (see form below)