Jazz Institute
July 5 – July 11, 2026 | MPulse Summer Performing Arts
One-Week Summer Program
The MPulse Jazz Program is an all-encompassing program for the high school jazz musician. Participants will engage in approximately 35 sessions during this one-week program including classes such as jazz composition, a studio recording session, improvisation, beginning jazz arranging, small jazz ensembles, and much more. Classes will be led by University of Michigan Jazz Faculty, SMTD applied faculty, and professional jazz artists.
Institute Dates: July 5 – July 11, 2026
Institute Tuition (including room & board): $1,950
Application Status: CLOSED
Non-Refundable Application Fee: $75
Priority Application Deadline:
February 1, 2026*
Priority Admissions Notification:
March 1, 2026
*Applications will remain open until the program is full. Rolling application submissions will be reviewed on a monthly basis. Please check the application status above to see if we are still accepting applications on a rolling basis.
Application Fee Waivers
Review the qualifications and the documentation you will need to provide here: How can I apply for a fee waiver for my application? Qualified students/families will reach out to the Acceptd Support team to request a waiver code to waive the $75 application fee. Fill out this fee waiver form to request a code.
Program Sample Schedule
While schedules vary year-to-year, the 2025 schedule will provide insight into the programming provided.
Faculty
Dennis Wilson
Associate Professor of Jazz & Contemporary Improvisation
Dennis Wilson joined the Michigan faculty after teaching at Kansas State University where he also served as an assistant dean for the College of Arts and Sciences. Wilson was the lead trombonist for the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra and has toured, performed, and recorded with the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, the New Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the American Jazz Orchestra, the Benny Carter Orchestra, and Slide Hampton’s World of Trombones. He received a GRAMMY Award nomination for vocal arrangements for Manhattan Transfer and has performed on GRAMMY Award-winning recordings with Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, and Diane Schurr.
Eligibility & Audition Requirements
Eligibility
The MPulse Jazz Institute is open to students entering grades 9 (nine) through 12 (twelve) in the Fall of 2026.
Piano, Guitar, and Bass
Upload a video recording including the following:
- Walk a bass line or comp chords for an F or Bb blues, either with a combo or play-a-long recording.
- Improvise a solo to either a blues, rhythm changes, or standard jazz tune, either with a combo or play-a-long recording.
- Compose and play your own created solo on the song “Lady Bird.” A PDF file of this song is provided here. Please download the file in your instrument’s key.
Note: Rhythm section players must be able to read the appropriate clefs for their instruments.
Drums
Upload a video recording of you playing the following styles:
- Swing (sticks and brushes)
- Bossa nova
- Samba
- Ballad
All other instruments (excluding piano, guitar, bass, and drums)
Upload a video recording including the following:
- Six major scales of your choice.
- Three harmonic and/or melodic minor scales of your choice using eighth notes (quarter = 120).
- Perform a melody (head) AND improvised solo to either a blues, rhythm changes, or standard jazz tune, either with a combo or play-a-long recording.
- Play the melody
- Play a minimum of 2 choruses & no more than 4 choruses of improvisation on that melody. (If you are submitting a blues, play a minimum of 3 choruses.)
- Compose and/play two choruses of your own created solo on the song “Lady Bird.” A PDF file of this song is provided here. Please download the file in your instrument’s key.
MPulse Scholarships
Merit Awards
A limited number of scholarships are available for extremely talented students based on Faculty discretion. Consideration for these scholarships is automatic for applications received by the priority application deadline.
Need-Based Awards
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available to families with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $125,000 or under in the previous calendar year, or with special circumstances due to the pandemic. To be considered you must upload your financial aid materials by the application deadline as part of your application. This includes:
- Monthly Expenses
- Previous Year’s Tax Return
- Statement of Need
Watson Scholarship (For Michigan Residents Only)
In the spirit of the life of a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School (1942) and Michigan physician, the Watson A. Young Scholarship promotes academic excellence and college aspiration among students with financial need. These need-based scholarships support middle and high school students’ participation in summer opportunities at U-M that seek to develop students’ interests and abilities in academic disciplines and expose students to the experiences and possibilities provided by higher education. More information about the Watson Scholarship.
Housing Accommodation Information
High school-aged participants are required to live on campus and stay in the Bursley Hall dormitory. Programs that include adult students (18+) may elect to live on campus, and will stay in the Baits II dormitory. Both buildings are on the University of Michigan’s North Campus and are a short walk from where most classes and events will be held. Participants should be aware of the following information regarding the dorms:
- Neither dormitory has air conditioning in the dorm rooms.
- Rooms are double occupancy. Bathrooms are shared between hall-mates in typical dorm style. Roommate requests can be submitted to [email protected].
- Linens / pillows / toiletries are not provided. Participants should be prepared to bring all necessary items to live in the dorms. The bed size is Twin-XL for purposes of securing bedsheets. Room & board are included in the price of tuition.
Meal Information
Participants will receive meals in Bursley Dining Hall located in Bursley Hall, a short walk down from Baits. Participants can access Bursley’s daily menu via the link provided.
Contact Us
MPulse Summer Performing Arts Institutes
Office of Engagement & Outreach-Youth & Adult Programs
University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance
Stearns Building │ 2005 Baits Drive │ Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Phone: 734-936-2660
Email: [email protected]
Emails and phone lines are monitored at the following times
Monday – Friday, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm EST