Summer Music School

PMP’s signature program is the Summer Music School (aka The “Littles” Program), which welcomes gifted violin, viola, and cello students ages 12-18 into a richly supportive musical community. 

Each summer, 30-35 musicians from around the world come together for a seven-week residency on PMP’s picturesque waterfront campus on Shelter Island, New York.

The heart of PMP’s teaching philosophy lies in the development of the whole person. A rigorous yet inclusive and nurturing approach encourages each student to take risks and discover their individual voice.

PMP’s world-class faculty, led by acclaimed violinist Itzhak Perlman, oversee a curriculum of solo, chamber music, and orchestral repertoire at the highest level.

Admissions are based solely on talent. No student will ever be turned away due to an inability to pay. Once admitted, students are welcomed into the lifelong PMP family. “Littles” are invited back to camp every summer through age 18.

SOLO
Students receive 2-3 weekly lessons. Studio classes are held once a week, with additional studio activity throughout the summer. Everyone practices 4 hours, 6 days a week, with a 10-minute break every hour.

ORCHESTRA
Conducted by Maestro Itzhak Perlman, the PMP String Orchestra is truly one-of-a-kind. Students are seated non-competitively to eliminate the pressure of “ranking”. Seating is rotated for each movement, so each player has a chance to take on leading and supporting roles.

CHORUS
The entire extended camp family - including students, fellows, faculty, and community volunteers - sings daily, led by Maestro Patrick Romano. Singing together and exploring choral masterworks are core components of the PMP curriculum. Toby and Itzhak Perlman believe that the skills needed for singing are essential to an instrumentalist’s artistic development.

CHAMBER MUSIC
Students are assigned to a new chamber music group every two weeks, for a total of three “trimesters” over the course of the program. Ensembles rehearse regularly and are coached by Associate Director Merry Peckham. One chamber music trimester is devoted to contemporary music, directed by Curtis Stewart.

WORKS IN PROGRESS CONCERTS
With their teacher’s approval, students may perform in Works in Progress concerts (WIPs), held on most Friday and Saturday evenings. WIPs provide an opportunity to play recital and chamber music repertoire, attended by a warm and welcoming local audience in an outdoor performance tent.

PHYSICAL AWARENESS PROGRAM
A carefully curated program led by physical therapist and pilates instructor Yavanna Gettling teaches students how to rest and stretch effectively, minimizing performance-related injuries and stress.

CAMP LIFE
To balance a challenging curriculum, students enjoy games and tournaments, bonfire nights, “Ask Mr. & Mrs. P” discussion night, video nights, and lots of informal chamber music reading sessions with friends and faculty. Students relax on the PMP camp beach and the local frisbee field, and hop on the ferry for excursions to the North Fork and the Hamptons.