Join Us For Summer Band and Color Guard Camp
Students in middle school and high school, grades 6-12, are invited for a week of fun, practice and learning. Join us for a structured week of full band rehearsals, color guard rehearsals, technique classes, fun electives and a final concert/color guard performance.
2026 Camp Details
Date
June 1-6, 2026
Grades
6-12
Cost
$395 registration
Camp Activities
Warm-up
Meet inside the Guadalupe Chapel for the class warm-up. Students will practice proper warm-up techniques, preparing themselves for an optimal performance.
Technique Class
Each instrument meets with their section teacher to learn fundamentals specific to their instrument. The focus is on advancing each student’s playing abilities.
Full Band Rehearsal
Students will meet together as part of a full band. Rehearsing music with an esteemed middle school director in the Blue Band and with the Director of Bands at St. Mary’s University in the Gold Band, in preparation for an end of the week performance.
Sectionals
Sections meet together to work specifically on the full band music. This allows each student the opportunity to improve their part in making a superior performance with the full band.
Color Guard Camp
Learn fundamental color guard technique and a routine that will be performed for the final camp performance.
Electives
Registered students choose one elective to participate in. This is an opportunity for each student to learn about other areas of music.
List of Electives
- Color Guard
- Introduction to Color Guard provides foundational training in color guard, covering essential techniques in flag spinning, rifle/saber basics and movement. Students will learn equipment handling, body control and performance fundamentals while preparing for marching band or winter guard routines.
- Composition
- Learn the fundamentals of writing music and developing your skills as a composer.
- Conducting
- Learn the fundamentals of leading an ensemble as the conductor. Conducting patterns, fundamentals and how to read a score.
- Drumline
- Drumline teaches fundamental marching percussion techniques, including matched/traditional grip, basic rudiments (rolls, paradiddles, flams) and reading drum-specific notation. Designed for beginners or marching band members, this course builds teamwork, rhythm accuracy and instrument-specific skills on snare, tenor and bass drums.
- Drum Major Techniques
- Anyone looking to either audition for a drum major position in the future or current drum majors looking to advance their skills. Fundamentals of beat patterns and leadership.
- Jazz Improvisation
- Explore the basics of learning how to improvise in jazz music. For beginners and advanced students, the class centers more specifically on learning and advancing fundamentals and techniques of jazz improvisation.
- Leadership Training
- Learn the necessary skills for leadership positions in your home band. Anyone looking to apply for a leadership position at their school or current leaders. Classes are focused on learning how to become a strong leader.
- Marching Fundamentals
- Learn the fundamentals to marching in a Texas high school marching band. Get prepared for marching band to return in the fall. Open to all students, beginners to advanced, with the focus on learning and improving fundamental marching concepts.
- Percussion Ensemble
- A class centered around advancing your skills as a percussionist. Perform as part of a full percussion ensemble. The Percussion Ensemble is only open to percussion students. Percussion students are not required to be in the percussion ensemble. They can still choose any elective they are interested in.
- Sight-reading and Ear Training
- Develop critical fundamentals as a musician. Improve your music reading ability, intonation, listening and performance skills. This course will arm you with tools to help you learn music faster and more effectively.
- World Music
- World Music offers an introduction to the diverse musical traditions of the world, exploring how music functions as a reflection of culture, society and identity. Students analyze musical structures (rhythm, timbre, form) while exploring non-Western, folk and classical genres, including music from Africa, Asia, the Americas and beyond.
View List of Electives
Placement Auditions
The first day of camp will include placement auditions to ensure each student is in the correct band and on the part that affords them the best opportunity for advancing as a musician. The placement auditions are supportive and encouraging, and will help our teachers place students on appropriate parts that will allow them to have the best experience at camp.
- Students are required to bring their own music to perform for the placement auditions.
- Students should bring two contrasting pieces to audition.
- Pieces should be music that is representative of their performance level and abilities.
- Examples include, but are not limited to: Solo repertoire, all/region/state audition etudes, etudes/method books, parts performed in school and scale sheets.
- Percussion provided: Timpani, Marimba, Snare Drum and Xylophone.
- Percussion students should bring their own sticks and mallets.
Camp Fee
$395 Registration
Includes camp tuition, lunch Monday through Friday, sheet music, folder, badge with name and schedule, bottled water and camp t-shirt.
Optional Fees
$30 Early Arrival — 7 to 8 a.m.
$30 Late Pick-up — 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Fees are the total for the week.
We officially open the band camp at 8 a.m. and require students to be picked up at the conclusion of the day by 4:30 p.m. every Monday through Friday. However, we can accommodate parents and guardians needing an earlier arrival and/or later pickup times.
Camp Schedule June 1-6, 2026
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Class and Rehearsal | Guadalupe ChapelSaturday
10 a.m. Blue Band Concert
11 a.m. Gold Band Concert
Opening Monday, June 1
| 8:30 a.m. | Arrivals and Registration outside at Pecan Grove |
| 9 a.m. | Group Welcome and Instructions |
| 9:30 a.m. | Placement Auditions |
| 11:40 a.m. | Lunch |
| 1 p.m. | Ensemble Rehearsals (Students will be handed folders with part assignments based on their placement audition.) |
| 3:30 p.m. | Performance by the San Antonio Brass Band (sabrass.org) |
Monday Schedule
Tuesday, June 2, through Friday, June 5
| 8:30 a.m. | Welcome and Warm-up |
| 9:15 a.m. | Full Band Rehearsal |
| 10:35 a.m. | Sectional |
| 11:40 a.m. | Lunch |
| 12:30 p.m. | Elective |
| 1:50 p.m. | Full Band Rehearsal |
| 3:10 p.m. | Technique Class |
| Daily Schedule Example – Gold Band | |
Tuesday through Friday Schedule
Saturday, June 6
| 10 a.m. | Blue Band Concert |
| 11 a.m. | Gold Band Concert |
Saturday Schedule
Contact
For more information about the St. Mary’s University Summer Music Camp, contact Department of Music and Theatre Arts Chair Matthew Mireles, D.M.A.
Matthew Mireles, D.M.A.
Chair of the Department of Music and Theatre Artsmmireles1@stmarytx.edu
210-436-3421