Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Saturday mornings will consist of weekly morning class/ensemble schedules.
• Sunday mornings are free for practice, recreational time, or for students who wish to attend religious services.
• Some performances will take place during selected Sunday afternoons.

All social and recreational programs are organized and supervised by the dorm supervisors and counselors. Activities include (but are not limited to) off-campus trips; movie nights; bowling; movies; running club (known as "Fun Run"); rollerskating; dances; trips to local lakes or parks; etc. Students may also opt to practice during free times.

Camp Yearbook: "Cadenza"
Students can take part in the writing and editing of NYSMF’s summer publication “Cadenza”. They may also assist in the preparation for the final dance at the end of the festival.

Students and parents are urged to seek financial assistance from local sources such as school music organizations, county/state/national music education organizations, youth orchestras and bands, music clubs, service clubs (i.e. Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.), businesses, local churches and foundations.

Email is NYSMF's preferred means of contact for all administrative matters, including admissions status, news notices, billing issues, etc. This ensures there is a clear record for you and for NYSMF, and prevents any confusion. Please let us know if you prefer being contacted by other methods - phone, fax, email, etc.

Yes indeed we do!

• EVERYDAY DRESS CODE (not very strict)
  Your regular, everyday clothes generally will be fine. Please, however, avoid anything that could be construed as potentially "offensive" or "embarassing"
  
  Generally, use this old rule of thumb: if you have to ask, don't bring it.
  
• CONCERT DRESS CODE (strict)
  White shirt/blouse, black pants, black socks, black shoes.
  - OPTIONAL: black ties, black jackets.

NYSMF offers all students the opportunity to keep their cash safely in our Festival Bank, rather than somewhere in their room or on their person. This is a free service provided by the Festival in the interests of preventing money from being lost.

You may make a deposit of any amount at any time, and you may withdraw daily by visiting the NYSMF Festival Bank Office during weekday bank hours. At the end of your stay, it is your responsibility to come to the Bank Office or the Main Office to withdraw any remaining money and to close your account.

We recommend appx $50-$75/week for general spending money while you are attending the Festival. This will let you pay for incidentals, including movie nights, pizza nights orsnack and soda machines.

There is an ATM located in the Hunt Union and inside Mills, if you would prefer to pay ATM fees in exchange for the convenience of extended access to your bankroll.

Yes, our host, the State University of New York, College at Oneonta, will provide college credit for a modest additional fee of $50 per credit. To earn one or more college credits, please do the following:

1. Bring a copy of your high school or college transcript to NYSMF
2. Pick up and fill out a SUNY Oneonta College Credit Form (available at Registration, the NYSMF Main Office, or in the college music department's Main Office in the Fine Arts Building).
   NOTE: SUNY requires your valid Social Security number and other information to process the form. No exceptions.
3. Pay the required $50 per credit fee to SUNY Oneonta (not to NYSMF)
4. Return the completed form and your payment to the NYSMF Main Office, or the SUNY music dept office.

You may read, print, and download directions from our website on this page. It contains many ways of getting to Oneonta and NYSMF.

PLEASE bring your small portable amplifier with you to NYSMF! They are an essential part of your instrument and we do not have enough to go around.

Please follow the signs on campus to check in at our Registration Area.

There, you will meet the NYSMF Administration, Faculty, and Staff; take care of any remaining payments; and receive your room key; and schedule your Placement Audition. You will also find counselors waiting and willing to help you get your bags to your room!

If you arrive after 1pm, please check in at the NYSMF office (Ford Hall, Room 123).

Placement auditions will be held from 1 pm - 4:00 pm.

Our official taxi partner is A&D Taxi, buy you may contact any local taxi/limo company in Oneonta to get to and from the local transporation hubs. Please see the Yellow Pages or the City of Oneonta website to see their recommended taxi services.

A & D Taxi
83 Lower River St.
Oneonta, NY 13820
(607) 433-TAXI (8294)
"Ask for NYSMF rates"

Additional information for getting around Oneonta is available on the NYSMF website here.

Each NYSMF session officially ends when the All-NYSMF Choir sings its final note on the final Saturday evening, generally around 9:30pm. You may leave any time after then, since every student and staff member of NYSMF is required to sing in the All-NYSMF Choir.

Students who leave before the conclusion of that Saturday night concert will be automatically disqualified from receiving NYSMF Awards and/or Scholarships.

Students who leave before the conclusion of that Saturday night concert will be automatically disqualified from receiving NYSMF Awards and/or Scholarships.

You will receive a CHECK-OUT checklist at least 24 hours before the end of the current session of NYSMF. You may also pick up the checklist anytime before the end of the session from the NYSMF main office.

Simply let your parents know your plans, and then let us know in the NYSMF main office anytime before the last Friday of the session. We'll contact your parents and take care of the rest -- and you can look forward to two to four more weeks of music!

The regular daily NYSMF schedule officially begins at noon on Monday, the day after you arrive. Here's how you will be spending your time until then:

The majority of your NYSMF days will follow the regular daily schedule. However, with your busy concert schedule, your weekend schedule will vary to accomodate your performances. All schedule changes will be announced ahead of time after rehearsals for the All-NYSMF Choir (held daily at 9 am).

Some schedule changes may occur due to other activities being held on the campus of our host, SUNY Oneonta. However, we will always strive to keep any disruptions to a minimum.

All schedules are subject to change.

NYSMF students live in separate boys and girls dormitories.

Students are grouped by age; for example, 17- and 18-year-old girls will be on the 4th floor of the girls' dorm, with 17-year-old girls in the east wing and 18-year-old girls in the west wing.

Roommates are randomly assigned by age, so for example, a 15-year-old boys will have another 15-year-old boy as a roommate.

Students will be housed in two-person dorm rooms, with each student having their own desk, bed, dresser, and closet. There will be two or three rooms in a SUITE, which includes a common area and a bathroom.

Our staff of rugged, seasoned music festival veterans have compiled a list of WHAT TO BRING that you may download here. Highlights include a pillow; sweaters (them Oneonta nights can get mighty turribull cold); a three-ring binder; a folding music stand; and EXTRA LONG SHEETS.

Checklist of what to bring with you to NYSMF (PDF format)

Extra long sheets are available here in town if you forget yours. If you are coming from a long distance away and need a linen set, we are able to provide them to you for a fee. Please ask your counselor if you need a linen set.

NYSMF maintains a 3- or 4-to-1 proportion of campers to faculty/staff.

Counselors will be housed in the dormitories alongside the students, providing 24/7 supervision. Some faculty members may also be housed within the dorms, providing additional supervision.

All NYSMF Counselors are 18 years of age and older. Many will have had training in Emergency Care, First Aid, and CPR.

All NYSMF students, staff, and faculty will be issued magnetic access "KEYCARDS", which must be used for entry into any campus building.

New York State Troopers patrol SUNY Oneonta 24/7. We are fortunate that they also have an office right on campus, providing speedy response in emergency.

The dorm offices will also be staffed during all evening and late night hours, controlling dormitory and building access.

YourName
c/o NYSMF (New York Summer Music Festival)
<< Dormitory name >>
SUNY Oneonta
108 Ravine Parkway
Oneonta, NY 13820 - 1768

NOTE: NYSMF cannot guarantee the timely arrival of any mail or packages.

Yes, but BOTH your parents AND your friend's parents must independently notify us by email at least 48 hours before you both arrive at NYSMF.

You may bring small electronic devices including computers, hairdryers, gaming devices, etc. You may also bring a dorm-size refrigerator, room fans, window fans, etc.

You may NOT bring any kitchen appliances, air conditioners, etc., UNLESS you have a medical condition that requires any of these devices, AND you have sufficent documentation. If you have any questions, please contact us directly.

Yes! Please let us know as soon in advance as possible, and we'll communicate your needs to the SUNY food service people at SODEXO. They are happy to accomodate any special dietary needs, from nut allergies to kosher foods to strict vegans.

Unfortunately, NO. New York State Health Regulations for overnight summer camps clearly state that no camper may keep ANY medications, either OTC or prescription, in their rooms. ALL MEDICATIONS MUST BE GIVEN TO THE NYSMF NURSE UPON ARRIVAL, AND MAY ONLY BE DISPENSED BY A QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL.

No. No NYSMF participant may host any overnight guests in their rooms. It is a violation of NYS Dept of Health regulations; may be considered to be trespassing by the college; and may require the involvement of the New York State Police, who are resident on campus.

At NYSMF, students are welcome to bring their desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc

While there is no free WiFi available, you may purchase an internet access account from NYSMF for $20, which will allow you to connect ONE DEVICE to the SUNY Oneonta wireless network ("Red Dragon WiFi") from anywhere on campus and is only good for ONE device (laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc) - the SUNY computer system does NOT allow you to share the account.

There are numerous solo and ensemble performance opportunities at NYSMF. Students are required to audition in order to perform in solo recitals.

A limited number of instruments are available for rental on a first-come, first-served basis for $50.00 per week.

• Double basses are quite difficult to secure, but we can get you one of those for $100 per week.
• Harps are the hardest of all instruments to locate in the Catskills, but with enough advance notice, we have been able to get quality instruments for a larger fee.

Please be sure to tell us well in advance if you will need to rent an instrument.

1. A prepared piece of your choosing. Make sure to pick one that demonstrates your ability.
2. Scales
3. Sight-reading

This will be determined by the results of your PLACEMENT AUDITION. The results will be posted on Monday morning, listing ensembles, names, and seating. You will use the results to help plan your daily schedule.

The list of available classes is available on our website here; please remember that the list is subject to change.

At 8:30 am the day after your arrival (the first Monday morning of each session), everyone will be required to REGISTER their personal daily schedule with the NYSMF office. All students will gather in the REGISTRATION AREA and be given TWO copies of a blank DAILY SCHEDULE sheet; then, along with a Faculty Advisor, you will fill in all the ensembles you have been placed in, and then add all of the other daily classes you would like to take.

All students must give that second copy of their Daily Schedule sheet to the NYSMF office, so that we will be able to contact you quickly in case of emergency.

The Concerto Competition Audition is held during each session of the Festival - generally, during the first Tuesday! Students may audition with a movement of a standard concerto. Students must bring their piano accompaniment part with them to the Festival. One of NYSMF's piano faculty will accompany for you, to ensure that you are sounding your best. The winner of the audition will perform with the Festival's Chamber Orchestra during the final weekend concert.

Students may use practice facilities in the Fine Arts Center in addition to practice rooms provided throughout each of the Festival dormitories. Students may also practice in their own dorm rooms.

In general, Visiting Artists will hold their masterclasses on a weekday afternoon, normally between 1 and 4pm. However, with the great number of professional musicians coming to NYSMF to give free Masterclasses, the times will vary depending on day of the week, schedule, and even the number of visiting masters are at NYSMF that day.

If you wish to perform in a Masterclass, you may arrange it through your private lesson instructor. Spaces are limited, so try to take care of this as soon as you are able.

Private lessons MUST be paid for BEFORE you may schedule them. All lessons must be paid for at the NYSMF Main Office - please do NOT make arrangements with the private lesson instructor, or take lessons before you have paid for them.

You have many convenient options to pay for your lessons:

WHEN YOU PAY YOUR TUITION.
There is a place on the application form for this. Please write in the number of lessons you want, calculate the cost, and pay by personal check (before May 15), or by money order, bank check, PayPal, or credit card at any time.

WHEN YOU CHECK IN.
When you check in at NYSMF on your first day, you have the option of telling us right then and there how many lessons you want. Payments can be done instantly via money order, bank check, PayPal, or credit card.

ANY TIME DURING YOUR STAY.
You may pay for additional private lessons at the Festival Office during normal business hours. Payments can be done instantly via money order, bank check, PayPal, or credit card.

Once you've paid for your lessons, you may then schedule them with your instructor. Please see the next FAQ below.

Remember, you MUST pay for your private lessons FIRST. Once you've done that, here is how you schedule them:

At 8:30 am on the first Monday of each session, students will gather in the REGISTRATION AREA for one last time. Each private lesson instructor will also be there, sitting at a table, ready to speak with each student to schedule an individual lesson time.

Students will line up at the appropriate table, and when it's their turn, will work with their instructor around their busy ensemble schedule and find a time that works for them both.

If you schedule private lessons AFTER this time, please make sure to pay for them in the Main Office, and then make arrangements with your instructor.

Once you've paid for your lessons, you may then schedule them with your instructor.

You may request to study with a specific instructor, and we will do our best to make that happen for you. However, please remember that not only can a single teacher schedule only so many lessons per day (in addition to their coaching, conducting, practice, and performance responsibilities), but all of NYSMF's instructors are highly qualified and very experienced.

We recommend at least one hour-long lesson (or two half-hour lessons) per week to maximize your experience at NYSMF. Many students take more so they can take full advantage of working with our excellent faculty!

Some NYSMF Visiting Artists will be able to offer a limited number of private lessons. They tend to be more expensive than those with our faculty, generally around $150-$250 per hour, but the actual cost is decided by the Visiting Artist. Please inquire at the Festival Office for more information.

No refunds can be offered for missing a private lesson, barring medical emergencies. Please don't miss your private lessons unless you have a medical emergency.

For audiences: "dress clothes", unless otherwise announced in advance.

Certainly -- you, your parents, friends and relatives are always welcome to attend NYSMF performances. If you are coming for Session II or III, the three days before you arrive will be packed with incredible student performances. You will need to make your own housing and meal arrangements, unless you wish to pay the modest Early Arrival fee.

No, we wil not be offering video recordings for sale.

You are welcome to make your own recordings as well, but please be sure to turn off all sounds from your own cameras.