Modeled after Cornish College of the Arts’ core undergraduate music curriculum, this course is designed for student musicians who already play, write, or perform and want to deepen their creative and technical command of music. Through hands-on exploration, ensemble playing, and guided listening, students strengthen their understanding of how theory connects directly to performance, composition, and improvisation.

Whether your background is in band, songwriting, production, or private study, this class helps you refine and expand your musicianship—building the fluency needed for college-level study and professional collaboration.

Students will:

• Practice reading and writing musical notation for pitch and rhythm through applied performance exercises
• Explore intervals, scales (major, minor, chromatic), and diatonic modes to expand harmonic vocabulary
• Develop confidence in key signatures, transposition, and harmonic function through real-time application on their instrument or voice
• Strengthen rhythm, meter, and time feel, from traditional groove patterns to contemporary and syncopated phrasing
• Sharpen aural skills by identifying melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic patterns through interactive listening and call-and-response
• Apply theoretical concepts directly in songwriting, arranging, improvisation, and small-group ensemble work

Whether students come from classical, jazz, or modern popular backgrounds, this course provides the essential foundation to connect ear, mind, and instrument, preparing them for advanced study and creative exploration at the college level.

This intensive can be taken on its own, but it’s designed as the core morning intensive program that pairs perfectly with Summer@Cornish afternoon electives.

We encourage students to add two electives — either to deepen their focus in a specific discipline or explore new creative interests across fields.

Explore the available electives [here], or email plus@cornish.edu with any questions.

How the Summer@Cornish Program Works

Design your own schedule: full days, morning Intensive only or afternoon Electives only!

Three Ways to Participate

• Full-Day Program

• Half-Day Program

• Single Elective

Full-Day Program

• Morning Intensive: Monday–Friday, 9 AM–12 PM

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• Afternoon Electives: Monday/Wednesday/Friday) & Tuesday/Thursday, 1 PM–4 PM

Half-Day Program

Students can select a combination of: 

• Only morning Intensive

• Only two afternoon Electives

Residency Program (Optional Add-On)

Available to Full-Day students:

• Evening & weekend activities

• Extra studio time

• On-campus supervision and housing

[Learn more here →]