VAPA Foundation

This Pre-Freshman Band camp is for continuing band instrument players and is open to all students who just finished 8th grade during the 2025-2026 school year at a San Diego Unified School District school. A valid student ID number is required for final enrollment.

About our Program:

Get ready to take your skills to the next level before high school starts! This program is designed for outgoing 8th grade band students preparing for high school band—especially those planning to join the Mira Mesa Sapphire Sound! Build your skills, strengthen your technique, and play exciting ensemble music alongside students from across Mira Mesa. Led by professional teaching artists from the San Diego Youth Symphony, this is your chance to polish your playing, meet future bandmates, and step into high school music with confidence.

While all students are welcome to sign up, please note that the activities involve listening skills, focus, patience, cooperation, collaboration, and full participation. Physically, being able to sit in a chair, hold, and strum an instrument, and successfully move and bend the individual fingers on one hand. Reading and writing are also involved as students will be learning and creating lyrics, chord charts, and tablature or musical notation. If physical or visual accommodations are needed, please indicate this when you enroll. If you are unsure of your child's ability to safely and comfortably engage in these activities, please contact us in advance so we can help determine whether this camp will be a good fit or discuss possible accommodations.

Schedule:

• This 4-week camp runs weekdays from June 8 to July 2.
• Camp will be off Friday June 19th and Friday July 3rd for holidays.
• Student check in will be from 8:30am-9:00am, and student pick up/dismissal will be at 11:30am.
• Camp instruction will be from 9:00am-11:30 am.
  

This camp is a collaboration of VAPA Foundation, San Diego Youth Symphony, and SDUSD.