This year, our Tune Up! HPYO Summer Intensive will be running from Monday, August 21 to Thursday, August 24 from 9:00am to 3:30pm each day. We wrap up our program with a culminating concert at 6:30pm on the evening of August 24.
Tune Up! is a non-auditioned opportunity for young musicians to give the HPYO a try and see if it’s a good fit. If you are already in the HPYO, it’s a great chance to blow the dust off of your instrument and get ready for the new season. It can also be used as a stand-alone summer enrichment program to support your learning on your orchestral instrument. Our program includes full orchestra rehearsals with our conductor David Willms, sectionals and coaching led by musicians from the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, enrichment and wellness workshops, and a chance to get to know other young musicians in a casual, relaxed orchestral setting. Tune Up! is open to any player 11 years and older with 3 or more years of experience on an orchestral instrument.
Players in Tune Up! will all be in the same ensemble, regardless of their level of experience. To achieve this, we will be creating simplified parts at both the intermediate and junior level so that everyone is challenged while also being set up for success!
Click here to see a sample schedule of our Summer Intensive activities. Note that this schedule is provided only to give insight into the possible structure of the week. It is subject to change and will be finalized closer to Tune Up! in August.
Tune Up! Policies and Procedures
Tuition
Tuition for Tune Up! is $250 . Participants who join the HPYO for the regular 23-24 season will receive a $25 discount on their HPYO tuition.
Before and After Care
For an additional fee of $50, before and after care can be made available for those who have difficulty with the pick-up and drop of times. There will be no programming offered during this time, but participants will have active supervision from 8:30 – 9:00am and 3:30 – 5:00pm. Please note: it is expected that parents drop-off or pick-up their players no more than 15 minutes before or after the programmed day. Players who consistently remain with us beyond the pick-up and drop-off windows will be invoiced for the after-care fee.
Instruments
Tune Up! is an orchestral program. Here are the instruments that fall within that category:
Violin
Viola
Cello
Double Bass
(also known as upright bass)
Flute / Piccolo
Oboe
Clarinet
Bassoon
French Horn
Trumpet
Trombone
Tuba
Percussion
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate guitar, electric bass, drum kit, keyboards, saxophone players or vocalists.
Please note that we are not able to provide an instrument for players to use (except for percussion). For those without an instrument, please look into signing out a school instrument for the summer or getting rental instrument for your young musician.
Payment Options and Refunds
The HPO has provided new ways to pay fees for Tune Up! Participants can choose to pay the $250 fee up-front as a single payment, or they can pay a $50 registration fee at the time they sign up followed by $100 payments on June 1 and July 1.
Registration is non-refundable except in specific situations related to COVID-19. (See COVID-19 Protocols)
Meals and Hydration
There are limited food services open on campus during the summer, so please plan to pack a lunch and snacks for each day of Tune Up! There are water bottle refill stations on site, so please pack a refillable water bottle.
Location
The majority of our programming takes place at Togo Salmon Hall at McMaster University.
Click here for directions to McMaster University.
Our concert venue will be chosen based on registration for the program, and will be announced closer to the start of the program.
Code of Conduct
The HPYO is committed to providing a safe and happy learning environment. Ensuring that every participant is treated with respect and dignity, free from any form of discrimination or conflict. If a participant behaves in a manner that violates this code, the HPO reserves the right to remove the participant from camp immediately. No refunds whole or part will be given.
COVID Protocols
The HPO will follow health and safety protocols as set forth by the government. At any time during the program, players may be asked to adhere to public health measures which could include, but are not limited to; wearing a mask, social distancing, hand sanitizing and/or proper hygiene, proof of a negative RAT test or vaccination. Families will be given as much notice as possible should public health measures be required.
Should a player test positive for COVID-19 up to 5 days prior to the beginning of Tune Up!, the player will be asked to withdraw from the program and will be issued a full refund. Should a player test positive for COVID-19 during the program, they will be asked to stay home for the remainder of the program and be given a pro-rated refund. Refunds will only be granted with a doctor’s proof of a positive COVID-19 result.
If a player is symptomatic but does not test positive during the program, we request they stay home for the safety of other musicians until their symptoms improve. When they return, we ask that they mask whenever possible.
Participants are encouraged but not required to take a rapid test before arriving for Tune Up!