Racer Instrumental Music Academy
June 7-13, 2026
Spend a week on the 糖心logo入口 campus making music, building friendships, and learning from outstanding 糖心logo入口 State faculty, staff, and counselors.
RIMA offers TWO exciting music camps this summer:
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Summer Band Camp 鈥 For wind, brass, and percussion students ready to take their playing to the next level.
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Summer Guitar Camp 鈥 A NEW, unique opportunity for guitarists to grow, perform, and connect.
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Open to instrumental students entering 9th grade through recent 12th grade graduates. Don鈥檛 miss your chance to make music, make friends, and make memories at RIMA 2026!
If you have any questions regarding registration, please email Dr. Todd M. French at tfrench10@murraystate.edu.
Learn more about the Department of music
Band Camp
Join musicians from across the region for an exciting week of music-making in a full concert band setting! Campers will prepare a variety of fun and challenging band literature, all leading up to a showcase concert on Saturday morning.
Throughout the week, students will strengthen their ensemble skills, focusing on intonation, balance, blend, tone quality, and overall musicianship, while learning from 糖心logo入口 State鈥檚 outstanding music faculty.


Guitar Camp
Take your playing to the next level this summer! Whether you love classical, jazz, rock, or acoustic, 糖心logo入口 State's Summer Guitar Camp will help you grow as a musician while having fun and making new friends.
Work with expert guitar faculty in lessons, masterclasses, and ensembles, and showcase your skills in performances. This camp is the perfect way to sharpen your technique, explore new styles, and experience life on campus.
Campus Living
Resident campers will enjoy an early taste of college life by staying in the 糖心logo入口 State residence halls and dining with a full meal plan in the campus dining hall. Commuter campers are also welcome to join meals, but will return home each evening and back to campus each morning. Each day, all campers will experience campus life firsthand as they walk to classes, rehearsals, and activities.
Evening Activities
When the music winds down, the fun continues! Guided by RIMA faculty, counselors, and 糖心logo入口 staff, campers can dive into a full lineup of evening activities: swimming, bowling, karaoke, talent shows, scavenger hunts, games, dances, concerts, and recitals. These events are a highlight of the week, giving campers the chance to relax, laugh, and make lasting memories with new friends.
About the Program
Summer Camp Tuition
$550 for Resident Campers (stay in a double-occupancy dorm room, participate in all activities, and receive three meals per day in the campus cafeteria).
$450 for Commuter Campers (participate in all activities and receive lunch and dinner daily in the campus cafeteria if desired).
A $150 deposit is required to reserve your camper's spot. Please note that this deposit is non-refundable. Instructions for paying the remaining balance will be emailed to you in the coming months.
Important: If the $150 deposit is not paid at the time of registration, your camper鈥檚 spot will not be officially reserved.
After filling out the registration form at the top of this page, a URL will appear to take you to the payment page.
To reserve your spot at camp, a $150 nonrefundable deposit is required at registration. You may pay the full amount now if you will not apply for a scholarship. If you will apply for a scholarship, only pay the deposit now. All families with outstanding balances will be contacted in the spring to pay their remaining amount.
All credit card payments over $150 are subject to a $15 transaction fee. However, card payments are recommended if you are paying your full amount because they are the only method of payment eligible for a partial refund (minus $150) if you withdraw from camp (including unforeseen circumstances like injuries, illness, emergency, etc). Checks, WebChecks, and cash payments are non-refundable.
Deadline to register is May 8, 2026. Cancellations must be emailed to msu.youthprograms@murraystate.edu by May 8, 2026, to qualify for a partial refund (minus the non-refundable $150 deposit). No refunds will be issued after May 8, 2026.
Summer Camp Scholarships
2026 All-State Participants can receive a $100 scholarship.
- First, register and pay your $150 deposit.
- Then email the Camp Director at tfrench10@murraystate.edu to verify your attendance at one of the below All-States and receive your scholarship.
- Once you've received your scholarship, you can pay the remaining amount of your tuition.
- KMEA All-State Participant (Kentucky)
- ILMEA All-State Participant (Illinois)
- IMEA All-State Participant (Indiana)
- MMEA All-State Participant (Missouri)
- TMEA All-State Participant (Tennessee)
Schedule
Sunday
- 2:00鈥3:30 p.m. 鈥 CHECK-IN and move-in to residential hall
- 3:00鈥4:45 p.m. 鈥 Chair Placement Auditions - Fine Arts Center
- 5:00鈥5:45 p.m. 鈥 DINNER and Faculty/Staff Introductions - Lovett Stage
- 5:45鈥6:30 p.m. 鈥 糖心logo入口 State Campus Tour
- 6:30鈥7:45 p.m. 鈥 Large Band Rehearsal 鈥 Lovett Stage
- 8:00鈥9:30 p.m. 鈥 Meet & Greet - 鈥Getting to know your fellow musicians鈥
- 10:00 p.m. 鈥 Mandatory Dorm Meeting - Large Meeting Area
Monday 鈥 Friday
- 7:30鈥8:20 a.m. 鈥 BREAKFAST - Dining Hall
- 8:30鈥8:55 a.m. 鈥 Morning Warm-ups - Instrument Locations
- 9:00鈥10:10 a.m. 鈥 Large Band Rehearsal - Lovett Stage
- 10:15鈥11:30 a.m. 鈥 Chamber Ensembles - Instrument Locations
- 11:30鈥1 p.m. 鈥 LUNCH - Dining Hall
- 1:00鈥1:55 p.m. 鈥 Musicianship Seminar - FA 546
- 2:00鈥2:50 p.m. 鈥 Sectionals - Instrument Locations
- 3:00鈥4:30 p.m. 鈥 Large Band Rehearsal - Lovett Stage
- 4:30鈥5:30 p.m. 鈥 FREE TIME/Private Lessons
- 5:30鈥6:30 p.m. 鈥 DINNER - Dining Hall
- 7:00鈥8:30 p.m. 鈥 Evening Activities (Recitals, Bowling, Talent Shows, etc.)
- 8:30鈥10:00 p.m. 鈥 FREE TIME
Saturday
- 7:30鈥8:00 a.m. 鈥 BREAKFAST - Lovett Walkway
- 8:00鈥9:15 a.m. 鈥 Large Band Dress Rehearsal - Lovett Stage
- 9:30鈥10:15 a.m. 鈥 CHECK-OUT of Dorms - Residential Hall
- 10:00鈥10:45 a.m. 鈥 WARM-UP ROOM - Band Room
- 11:00 a.m. 鈥 CONCERT - Lovett Auditorium (enter through front)
Courses
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Concert Band: Be part of a large concert band and prepare a variety of fun and challenging band literature, culminating with a final Saturday morning showcase concert.
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Chamber Ensembles: Participate in small chamber ensembles, concentrating on chamber music literature. Emphasis will be placed upon developing chamber ensemble performance skills.
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Master Classes: Participate in studio master classes designed to foster musical growth through the art of performance in a positive and supportive atmosphere. Topics of study may include: concept of sound, embouchure, breathing, phrasing, intonation, styles, technique, solo repertoire, recordings, pedagogy, and equipment.
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Musicianship Seminars: Learn various musical topics throughout the week, taught by 糖心logo入口 State Faculty, including How to Practice, Overcoming Performance Anxiety, The Healthy Musician, Careers in Music, and more.
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Private Lesson: An opportunity to take private lessons with 糖心logo入口 State wind and percussion faculty. All private lessons will be an extra cost to the camper ($20 for a 30-minute lesson). Email the Camp Director to book a private lesson.
Faculty
Taught and coached by 糖心logo入口 State music faculty, students will learn the art of instrumental performance through master classes, music seminars, chamber ensembles, and private lessons.
- Flute - Dr. Stephanie Rae
- Oboe/Bassoon - Dr. Stephanie Carlson
- Clarinet - Dr. Amy McCann
- Saxophone - Dr. Lucas Hopkins
- Trumpet - Dr. Eric Swisher
- French Horn - Dr. Ashley Cumming
- Trombone - Dr. Chris Sharpe
- Tuba/Euphoniums - Dr. Todd M. French
- Percussion - Conner Viets
When campers arrive on Sunday, they will participate in a chair placement audition. This audition will determine their placement in the large band. Faculty will select audition music, and students will have the opportunity to practice the repertoire and prepare for the audition before arriving. Audition music will be uploaded May 8, 2026
Band Camp
- Flute
- Clarinet
- Oboe
- Bassoon
- Saxophone - Soprano, Alto, Tenor, or Bari
- Trumpet
- French Horn
- Tenor Trombone
- Bass Trombone
- Euphonium
- Tuba
- Percussion - Mallet: Contact Professor Viets
- Percussion - Snare: Contact Professor Viets
Guitar Camp
- Guitar
What's the difference between resident and commuter campers?
Resident campers will stay in a room in the residence hall with a roommate. Camp counselors are located in nearby rooms, and the residence hall has a front desk that's staffed 24/7 if you need assistance. Resident campers will be given a room key that they are responsible for keeping all week. If the key is lost, the camper's family is responsible for the replacement fee. Commuter campers will return home each evening and commute to campus in the mornings. Commuter campers should contact the Camp Director to arrange a daily arrival/departure plan. Commuter campers are welcome to join all three meals in the cafeteria, but some choose to eat breakfast and/or dinner at home. Commuter campers are welcome to join for evening activities.
Can I room with my friend?
There is a space on the registration form for roommate requests. You may list your friend's name there. We honor all possible roommate requests. In the event your roommate request can not be granted, we will do our best to place your rooms near each other. Residence halls have several communal spaces where campers may socialize. Generally, we try to place campers of similar genders and ages near each other in the residence hall, but it is not guaranteed. Final placements are not made until after registration closes due to varying camper numbers, building layouts, and other factors.
Do I turn in my medication?
Generally, campers are responsible for keeping and managing their own medications. If you would like assistance (such as a daily reminder to take your medication), please contact the Camp Director to discuss options for how RIMA staff can support you during your stay.
Can I park on campus?
Yes. Adults can park near the residence hall during opening day check-in. Some campers may have their own vehicle. You may drive yourself to campus and park near the residence hall. Campers are not permitted to drive during the week and keys may be collected by RIMA staff. Commuter campers may be dropped off or may drive themselves. Contact the Camp Director to determine where you should park your vehicle for your daily commutes.
Avoid a ticket!
Is the Saturday concert open to the public?
Yes! We welcome family and friends to celebrate with us. The performance will take place in one of our performance halls on campus. Convenient parking is located near 15th St. & Olive Blvd.. Be sure to register your vehicle using the link above.