All your questions, answered.

What is special about The Walden School Young Musicians Program?

The Walden School Young Musicians Program provides an unparalleled creative summer experience for musically inclined students ages 9 to 18. Part school, part camp, and part festival, the program convenes each summer for five weeks in the beautiful Monadnock region in Dublin, New Hampshire. Through rigorous and innovative daily instruction, students hone their musical and creative skills within a supportive community of like-minded peers and mentors, with a goal of improvising and composing original works.

What is the size of Walden’s student body? What are the ages of the students?

Walden maintains an intentionally small student body of approximately 45-55 students, between the ages of 9 and 18. Students who have not yet completed 8th grade prior to the start of the program can participate in the abbreviated, 3-week program. Students who have entered college or university, regardless of age, are no longer eligible to participate as students in our Young Musicians Program but may be excellent candidates for Walden’s Creative Musicians Retreat. Students who are eligible to attend the Young Musicians Program are not eligible to attend the Creative Musicians Retreat

Who are your students and applicants?

Walden students come from all over the world. In 2022, our students came from 16 US states, Egypt, and India, and around 35% were students of color from the United States. In recent years, students have come to Walden from the United Kingdom, China, Mexico, India, Venezuela, Japan, Belgium, Italy, South Sudan, and other countries.

Successful applicants are musicians with an imaginative spirit and a desire to create – using music as the medium. Previous improvisation or composition experience is valued, although not necessary. Applicants who already receive quality vocal and/or instrumental training and demonstrate creativity in other pursuits (language arts, dance, theater, visual arts) are regarded highly in the admissions process and are often excellent matches for Walden’s unique program. Generally, we seek students who have studied an instrument privately and/or in a school setting for at least one year. Students who are experienced composers and those who are new to exploring composition are welcome applicants to Walden.

Do students attend The Walden School for more than one summer?

Yes, frequently they do. The average tenure for students at Walden is three to four summers, but some students return for six, seven or even more summers. A typical Walden summer has approximately 50-60% returning students and 40-50% new students.

Walden’s summer camp is five weeks. Do students thrive away from home for that long?

Yes! The Walden School intentionally strives to establish a safe, strong, and supportive community, and we find that our students form close and lasting friendships that transcend the boundaries of age. The Walden School hires 11-12 teaching faculty and 6-7 staff members each summer—all of whom, in addition to program director Seth Brenzel, are in residence in New Hampshire throughout the summer program. With a student-to-adult ratio smaller than 3:1, each student receives unparalleled personal attention.

What musical instruments do students at Walden play, and can I bring my instrument to YMP?

Students at Walden play a wide variety of instruments, from cellos to computers (and everything in between). All types of instrumentalist and musician are welcome at Walden. Many Walden students are also brand-new to their instruments and choose to use the summer finding opportunities to try out performing and making music with others, on an instrument they’re just getting to know. 

Students are encouraged to bring their instruments with them to Walden, provided they take care of any transportation needs. Any students who play large instruments (e.g. harps, vibraphones, etc.) should inquire before the summer. Pianos are available for all students at Walden, and students have access to a reserved piano for at least 45 minutes each day, during their assigned practice period. Students can usually find a piano outside of that time though, as Walden rents a large number of pianos (grand, baby grand, and upright) each year.

What courses does The Walden School offer?

Students take three classes and chorus each day, Monday through Friday. Each student is enrolled in musicianship (Walden’s unique, activity-based approach to theory and aural skills), composition, and one enrichment course, which change each summer depending on the needs of the student body and the passions of our faculty. Walden’s Leadership Team places students into classes in the spring, and the curriculum is designed such that over a series of summers, students receive a balanced course of study at Walden. Classes run each day from 9:15 am until 11:45 am, followed by a 45-minute choral rehearsal. You can find an overview of the weekday schedule here

How large are classes at Walden?

Musicianship, composition, and enrichment courses are small, with classes usually being made up of between 3 and 6 students.

How are classes assigned?

Classes are assembled by Walden’s academic team based on student interests, age, experience levels, and faculty specialties. The balance and makeup of each class is carefully considered in order to best serve each individual student. 

What is Walden’s musicianship curriculum like?

Walden’s unique musicianship curriculum teaches students to hear and understand music at a deeper level. Classes cover the building blocks of music and foster musical fluency through interactive, hands-on activities, with a focus on discovery, fun, and creativity. 

Musicianship begins with a foundation in basic acoustics and proceeds through intervals, modes, and triads. Functional harmony, advanced/extended harmonic language, jazz musicianship, and analysis are next, among other topics. Every class at Walden (including composition, specialty classes, chorus, and computer musicianship) is rooted in Walden’s musicianship curriculum. 

What does chorus look like?

Each student, staff member, and faculty member participates in small choral groups and the all-school chorus. The Musicianship Course, the core of our program, incorporates singing to underpin each student’s musical fluency. Chorus is also an important time for the entire YMP community to spend time making sound together. YMP culminates in a final choral concert, where the YMP community shares the music they’ve been making with each other, with family and friends, and with the wider Dublin community.

Do I need to know how to read music to attend Walden?

No — a small background in music and music notation is helpful for students to have, but an interest and curiosity for the arts is more important for a YMP student’s success. Our musicianship curriculum can start at the very beginning (from note reading) for any student who comes to YMP hoping to learn to read music.

Do I need to have composed a piece before to attend Walden?

Nope! Walden is proud to program the premieres of many “Opus Ones” every summer.

What do the students do when they are not in class?

On weekdays, right after lunch, the entire Walden community has a rest period – a quiet time for relaxation, reading, letter writing, etc. Following rest period the students rotate through 45-minute practice periods in classrooms and studios equipped with pianos or electronic music equipment, and faculty often offer one-on-one tutoring or composition lessons. During the late afternoons Walden’s staff offer recreational activities. These include refreshing swimming trips to nearby Dublin Lake and games such as ultimate Frisbee, capture the flag, croquet, or cards. On Saturday, the entire community hikes a nearby mountain and attends a dance in the evening. The academic program is enriched by The Walden School Concert Series on Friday evenings, workshops offered by visiting guest artists, and weekly Composers Forums. Once a week, the community gathers for an ‘open mic’ event. At this event, students, faculty, and staff can perform for one another in a casual setting – humorous skits, songs, recital music, poetry, dance and more are presented for the whole community to enjoy. You can find an overview of the weekday schedule here

Who provides supervision of the students when they are not in class?

It is Walden’s philosophy that by participating in all levels of community life, faculty members, staff, and students together create an environment where close, respectful relationships can develop and creativity may flourish. Therefore, in addition to teaching, our faculty members assist full-time adult staff members in overseeing the non-academic aspects of our program. This includes faculty and staff living amongst the students in their own, private rooms within the students’ dormitories, eating meals together, supervising free time outside of class or other group activities, and participating in various school-wide recreational activities.

Do students leave the campus during the summer?

Students go off-campus with staff and faculty supervision on regular occasions throughout the summer. Each Saturday the entire community hikes a nearby mountain, and all students, faculty and staff board school buses and head off-campus for the day. This excursion is almost always followed by a couple of hours in a local town so that students can visit stores to purchase sundries, books, snacks, and/or other items. There are also frequent swim trips to nearby lakes, which are off-campus. Students are never allowed to leave campus without being accompanied by a faculty or staff member.

Can parents visit students during the session?

There are numerous public events throughout the summer – concerts, Composers Forums and events during the final Festival Week – that are all open to the public and members of the parent community. We encourage parents to visit during these times. Also, with a minimum 24-hours prior arrangement, it may be possible to take one’s child out for a lunch or dinner, or to join in one of our Saturday hikes with the entire community. It is not possible to accommodate parents and families in the dining hall for meals, except on the Thursday evening of Festival Week for the family dinner (or for three-week students, at lunch on July 21).

What about cell phones, internet, television, video games, and computers?

Walden students are quite busy during the summer, and the location of the program is ideal as a retreat from the distractions of our ever-connected and plugged-in world. Therefore, items such as video games, PDAs, cell phones, and other electronic devices should be left at home; The Walden School does not allow their use during the summer session. Students do not have access to the Internet or their mobile phones while at Walden. Students who already use a computer to notate compositional work can bring the computer and related software and can work on such projects while at Walden, but must refrain from watching television shows or movies or playing video games on the computer. Students have access to dormitory phones and can purchase phone cards to use with the phones to call home (and receive calls from home!) during certain hours of the day. Students are required to write a letter home (placed in a stamped, addressed envelope no less!) each week.

Walden’s summer camp is five weeks. Do students thrive away from home for that long?

Yes! The Walden School intentionally strives to establish a safe, strong, and supportive community, and we find that our students form close and lasting friendships that transcend the boundaries of age. The Walden School hires 12-14 teaching faculty and 5-7 staff members each summer—all of whom, in addition to program director Seth Brenzel, are in residence in New Hampshire throughout the summer program. With a student-to-adult ratio smaller than 3:1, each student receives unparalleled personal attention.

What are weekends at YMP like?

Each weekend, the whole YMP community hikes a nearby mountain, visits one of several local swimming spots (weather permitting), and takes a trip into downtown Keene or Peterborough. On campus, there is a weekly dance featuring a theme, zany costumes (optional), dorm competitions, and all kinds of dancing and music. Students can also choose to participate in the dance band, which provides live music for some of the dances.

The whole community participates in hikes. We value safety and fun on the trail, and emphasize a steady pace, listening to nature, and staying hydrated. Hikes often culminate in singing on the mountaintop! 

Who are Walden’s faculty members?

Members of Walden’s faculty represent a broad range of musical and teaching experience. They are excellent composers, performers, and educators. Many of our faculty members were students at Walden before going on to study at some of the finest colleges and universities in the country. In addition to classroom and private instruction, Walden faculty members perform, coach, and conduct student works throughout the summer session, affirming through example an integrated approach toward music making and original composition. All faculty members have at least completed a bachelor’s degree in music, and many have completed masters or doctorate degrees from leading universities and conservatories. More information about the faculty can be found on Walden’s website.

Who are Walden’s visiting artists?

Visiting artists are musicians and musical creators who come to Walden to perform concerts, give students feedback on their work, teach workshops, and premiere student works. They hail from some of the most renowned performing ensembles in the world. Each year, we also invite a distinguished composer-in-residence to work with 5-week students. 

Who provides supervision of the students when they are not in class?

It is Walden’s philosophy that by participating in all levels of community life, faculty members, staff, and students together create an environment where close, respectful relationships can develop and creativity may flourish. Therefore, in addition to teaching, our faculty members assist full-time adult staff members in overseeing the non-academic aspects of our program. This includes living in their own, private rooms in the students’ dormitories, eating meals together, supervising free time outside of class or other group activities, and participating in various school-wide recreational activities.

Where do students live?

Walden students are housed in the dormitories of our host campus, the Dublin School. They are grouped according to age and gender, and faculty and staff members live in their own private rooms in the dormitories. Each student has at least one roommate. The dormitories range in size, housing anywhere from 7 to 22 students, plus a minimum of two members of the faculty and staff.

What are the dining services like?

The entire school community gathers three times a day in the dining hall of the Dublin School, which overlooks Crotched Mountain and the stunning valley below. The Walden School employs excellent chefs who work year-round for Dublin School, and meals are served buffet style with varied and ample selections. There are vegetarian options available and a full salad bar is included at lunch and dinner. Specific dietary restrictions (i.e. vegan, gluten-free, nut-free) may be accommodated – please inquire.

What and where is the Dublin School?

Dublin School is situated on 365 wooded acres in Dublin, New Hampshire, a setting that is conducive to swimming, outdoor activities, and quiet walks in inspirational vistas. Dublin Lake is within walking distance of the campus. Behind the lake stands 3,200 foot Mount Monadnock, which the Walden community climbs each summer. The Dublin campus has 10 buildings, including the Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall, arts building and studios, and library. Each summer, the academic buildings are turned into music studios with 16 pianos, two of which are concert grands. Dublin School is a private college preparatory school. For more information about Dublin School’s campus and program, please visit their web site at www.dublinschool.org.

What is the concert hall like?

Concerts and composers forums take place in the Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall on the campus of the Dublin School. This recital hall features beautiful acoustics, a sprung wood floor, a grand piano, and a Meyer sound system. Pieces for electronics up to 4, or occasionally 8, channels can be accommodated. You can find photos of the recently renovated and updated concert hall here (scroll down to “Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall”).

If the program is in New Hampshire, why is the administrative office in California?

Walden offers summer programs, and we utilize the campus of the Dublin School in New Hampshire, where we have been in residence since 1983. The School is a New Hampshire 501(c)(3) organization. Our faculty and staff live throughout the country. Walden’s Executive Director, Seth Brenzel, lives in San Francisco year-round, and in his role as Director of the Young Musicians Program, he is in full-time residence in New Hampshire during the summer.

What’s a Walden School composers forum?

Composers Forums are evening events in which newly composed works are performed. After each piece, there is a discussion with the composer led by moderators. The audience is invited to ask questions, share observations, or offer constructive criticism. The performers are also a vital part of these discussions.

What kinds of music are heard on Walden School composers forums?

Walden School composers forums are style-inclusive—we program a wide variety of genres and styles of music, which changes with the student body and faculty every year. Chamber music, singer-songwriter works, improvised works, works-in-progress, interdisciplinary & intermedia works, electronic music, and collaboratively-composed works are among some of the more common types of music premiered at Walden composers forums. In addition, we are proud to program the premieres of many students’ first pieces (“Opus Ones”) every summer. You can listen to music from some past composers forums here

Who moderates composers forums?

Faculty members and/or guest artists lead the discussion with the composer. In addition, all three festival week composers forums will be moderated by the Composer-in-Residence, often alongside a YMP faculty member as co-moderator.

Who performs pieces on composers forums, and what instrumentations can I compose for?

Students, faculty, and visiting artists perform music on the composers forums. Students may also perform pieces themselves. For festival week, students may also compose for members of The Walden School Players. Students may also compose works to perform themselves, works for voice (pending approval by the choral director), and works for electronics and/or electroacoustic music. During festival week, students are encouraged to compose for The Walden School Players, the instrumentation of which will be announced before the summer.

When will I know who the visiting artists are for YMP? 

Visiting artists will be added to our website as they confirm. You can follow us on social media (facebook and instagram) and subscribe to our newsletter to be up-to-date on the latest Walden news.

Do I need to know how to use notation software to compose a piece for a composers forum?

Absolutely not. All students at YMP will learn how to compose works by hand, and will do a fair amount of composition by hand over the summer. Students may bring personal computers with notation software if they like, but they are by no means required to, and notation software is not a requirement or learning goal for any YMP class. Walden also actively embraces alternative forms of notation, including chord charts, graphics, video, text, and more.

Will I receive a recording of my composers forum piece?

Yes, all Walden Composers forums are recorded and, once recordings have been edited and mastered, recordings of every composers forum will be posted on our BandCamp page. Each YMP student will receive a copy of one of their composers forum pieces. Students may also purchase tracks from any of the composers forums during the summer, as well as the choral concert, for a small price. Video recordings of pieces may be provided on request, for a small fee.

Where do concerts and composers forums happen?

Concerts and composers forums take place in the Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall on the campus of the Dublin School. This recital hall features beautiful acoustics, a sprung wood floor, a grand piano, as well as a Meyer sound system (works for electronics up to 4, or occasionally 8, channels can be accommodated). 

Occasionally, concerts will take place outside the Upper Fountain Arts Building, also on the campus of the Dublin School. In recent years, many Walden School concerts and composers forums have also been live-streamed via the Walden School’s YouTube page. These are taken down from YouTube right after the event is over, as recordings of student works and the choral concert will be posted on our BandCamp page a few weeks after the summer is over.

What is Festival Week?

The fifth and final week of Walden is Festival Week. Over the course of the week, students present the creative work of the summer through three composers forums, the choral concert, and class demonstrations that are open to the public. Parents and friends are encouraged to attend this special showcase week.

Where can I find a full schedule of festival week?

Please see our overview of festival week events here under “Week 5”. The schedule changes slightly from year to year, but this will give you a good idea of what festival week is like. A full schedule of festival week and a form for RSVPing to events will be sent out to families in advance of week 5, so you can plan any travels to and from Dublin.

Where do festival week events happen?

All events happen on the campus of the Dublin School. Families are also invited to an off-campus reception on the Saturday of festival week.  

Who are The Walden School Players, and how do I know which of them I can compose a piece for?

Each year, six professional musicians come to Walden for the last two weeks of the session to rehearse and perform many students’ compositions on the Festival Week Composers Forums. The instrumentation of The Walden School Players varies and will be announced each year a few months before the summer. 

What is the choral concert?

Students and faculty/staff work towards the choral concert performance for the duration of YMP, under the direction of the YMP choral director and various faculty and staff conductors. The choral concert is a very exciting opportunity for the YMP community to share the music they’ve been working on together for five weeks with each other, with their families and friends, and with the wider Dublin community. It is one of our most well-attended concerts every year! You can listen to some of our past choral concerts here.

How do students and families usually get to Dublin, New Hampshire?

Many families travel with their student(s) to Dublin, driving them to campus. There is a small regional airport 75 minutes from Dublin in Manchester, New Hampshire (Manchester-Boston Regional or MHT), an Amtrak station 60 minutes away in Brattleboro, Vermont, and a bus station 20 minutes away in Keene, New Hampshire. With advance notice, Walden staff can meet students at these three transit stations and bring them to campus for an additional transportation fee. Walden staff will contact families well in advance of the program to confirm each student’s travel plans. 

Students may not drive to Walden unaccompanied or park a personal vehicle on campus during the program. 

Is there a packing list for students?

A packing list is sent out in advance of each summer. A few of the essential, required items that are on the list every year include: one or more reusable water bottles, hiking shoes, a light jacket, sunscreen, insect repellant, and a backpack for hikes; some personal spending money for snacks, postage supplies, and other expenses; your instrument(s), music stand, staff paper, pencils, and other supplies for music and classes; and twin xl sheets, towels, toiletries, a pillow and pillowcase, a desk lamp, and a fan for the dorm.  

Some other things students might want to bring include a swimsuit, flip flops, and a beach towel for swim trips; postage stamps, blank letters, and envelopes; and books, journals, and other hobbies to work on during free time. 

Is there anything students should leave at home?

Students do not have access to television during their time at Walden, and students are not allowed to watch DVDs/movies, except during specified group activities during the summer or as part of a class activity or assignment. Please do not send DVDs/movies with your child to Walden. Also, the playing of handheld video games is not allowed during Walden’s program, and so therefore we request that you not send your child with any handheld video games. The summertime is a great time to be outside, read a book, listen to music, practice an instrument, talk with friends and roommates, take a walk, or participate in the myriad activities at camp

Social media, internet, and cell phone use are not allowed at Walden. How do YMP students keep in touch with friends and family?

Students can communicate day-to-day with friends and family on landline phones in the dorms, and by sending and receiving letters. Every week, every student is required to write a letter home to a parent or guardian. Students are encouraged to bring some mailing supplies to camp (at least 5 each letters, envelopes, and stamps), and more mailing supplies can always be purchased in the Walden staff office. Parents can also send emails to students, which are printed by Walden staff and distributed daily to students at lunch. Think of these emails as an electronic version of a paper letter—messages are printed and delivered to students as is.

Can I listen to music on my laptop or mp3 player while at Walden? Can I bring my walkman or record player?

Yes – we are a music camp, after all! Students may come to Walden with music to listen to in any format that does not require the internet, as long as they also bring and use headphones. 

We do not recommend saving music to listen to offline on a streaming service such as Spotify or Apple Music before coming to Walden. Those files are not really downloaded onto the device, and will eventually disappear without internet access. 

Do students need to bring a laptop?

Not really! Some students bring personal computers and laptops to Walden, but most students do not. There is no reason for students to bring their computers to Walden, except perhaps to utilize notation software for compositional work they do while at Walden. In general, we encourage students to develop the skill of copying out scores and parts by hand (using pencil and paper!) – an important skill for any musician. 

I am a runner—can I continue to train while at Walden?

Every year, a few students arrange in advance for permission to run before breakfast on and around the Dublin School campus. Often, there are also faculty and staff who run in the early morning and can recommend suitable routes. 

What is the price of the Young Musicians Program?

Full tuition, room & board for the Young Musicians Program in 2024 is $9,700 ($6,500 for 3-week students). Tuition includes instruction and supervision, a recording of the student’s festival piece, a group photo, and the camp t-shirt; it does not include travel to and from camp. There is also a non-refundable $55 application fee. 

Does The Walden School offer financial aid?

Yes. In 2023, approximately 33% of our student body received need-based financial aid, with awards ranging from 10% to 90% of tuition, room & board. Walden’s financial aid budget is limited, and we encourage you to apply for financial aid as soon as possible. Completed 2023 federal tax return(s) for the student’s parents/guardians are required in order to apply for 2024 financial aid.

In addition, the Lance Reddick Scholarship is a new financial aid opportunity – offering 10 students a full scholarship for the 5-week summer program.

Some mix of intellectual purpose, music and community has touched our daughter, and the joy is palpable and big enough, I think, to go with her wherever she goes.

– Parent of a Young Musicians Program student

Summer 2024

Start your application today.