The Bowdoin Summer Music Festival is designed for serious students with advanced musical ability who are motivated, disciplined, and comfortable with a significant amount of independence. Teachers and chamber coaches expect students to make full use of individual practice time, and to make significant progress during their time at the festival. Students are encouraged to take advantage of all masterclasses and performance opportunities and to attend all concerts. Each student's experience will reflect the energy, drive, and self-discipline he or she brings to the program. The assigned faculty member assumes responsibility for the student's lessons, repertoire, weekly masterclasses, and chamber music.
Students receive one hour-long private lesson for each week that they are enrolled.
Each student is also assigned to one or more chamber groups, which receive hour-long coachings twice each week. In addition to the scheduled coachings, each group, with support from its coach, determines its own practice schedule. Preparation of both solo and chamber repertoire for concerts and masterclasses is an integral part of the program. Student recitals are presented a minimum of twice each week, with virtually every student performing at least once. These concerts are open to the public and provide a forum for acquiring skills and insights vital to an artist's maturity.