P.A.L.S.

A summer program of private lessons, music education activities, and exclusive access to the Aspen Music Festival and School’s summer season for students in grades 1-12.

Two program locations are available:
Aspen Music Festival and School Bucksbaum campus or Glenwood Springs High School
 

The P.A.L.S. program is generously underwritten by Les Dames d'Aspen.

Important Dates and Deadlines

• Applications Open: April 1, 2024
• Application Deadline: As of June 1, 2024, PALS registration is closed for summer 2024. Please consider our Festival Lessons program for music lessons held throughout the summer. 
• All applicants will be notified of acceptance status by May 25, 2024
• Program Duration: June 26–August 18, 2024

The P.A.L.S. Program Includes:

• An AMFS P.A.L.S. season pass 
  • Good for up to twenty AMFS concerts in summer 2024 
  • If P.A.L.S. students attend twenty concerts and wish to attend more, additional youth tickets can be purchased for just $5 each! 
  • Each pass entitles the P.A.L.S. student to two tickets per concert, so a parent/guardian can attend. Students in the Little P.A.L.S. division must be accompanied by a parent/adult at every concert. 
• Private lessons 
  • Music lessons in the student's area of study/choice with top AMFS student musicians. Lessons are arranged by each student according to their schedule and the teacher's schedule. *Guitar student? See website for guitar-specific lesson details.  
• Access to P.A.L.S. Events:   
  • Choose to attend events just for P.A.L.S. students, like studio and performance classes featuring P.A.L.S. students and teachers, behind-the-scenes looks at what happens at performances, pre-concert chats with AMFS conductors and students, pre-concert program notes in kid-friendly language, tours of the world-class performance facilities, and more -- all subject to availability. 
  • P.A.L.S. Events are scheduled throughout the summer to ensure that students can find events that work within their summer schedules. 

Who Can Apply?

Full-time or full-summer residents of the Roaring Fork Valley (including Greater Roaring Fork communities) who…  

• are currently studying an instrument (including voice) and wish to devote serious focus to this instrument during the summer months 
  • Instruments of study in P.A.L.S.:  Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone/Euphonium, Tuba, Percussion, Harp, Piano, Guitar, and Voice. 
  • Please note:   
    • All P.A.L.S. classical guitar students receive 2.5 hours of lessons on guitar, as guitar is a Half-Session II program at the AMFS and teachers are only in residence July 22 through August 18.  
    • P.A.L.S. program guitar students can choose to study an alternate (secondary) instrument for the first four weeks of the program during Half-Session I.  Little P.A.L.S. guitar students cannot select a secondary instrument. 
    • Voice students must be entering at least 5th grade.  Voice study in P.A.L.S. is not available to students in 4th grade and younger. 
• have at least one school year of experience on their instrument
• can complete a series of private lessons
  • P.A.L.S. division:  
    • grades 6-12, plus students entering college as a music major or minor 
    • 5 one-hour private lessons 
  • Little P.A.L.S. division:   
    • grades 1-5 
    • 5 half-hour private lessons 
• can commit to one of two program locations
  • Choose one: 
    • At the Aspen Music Festival and School – Bucksbaum Campus (225 Music School Rd., Aspen, CO 81611) 
      • Lessons held on the AMFS campus will be scheduled on dates/times that work for you and your P.A.L.S. teacher from June 26 – August 18. Even better…see if you can schedule lessons and catch a concert together! 
    • At Glenwood Springs High School – 1521 Grand Avenue Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 
      • Lessons and P.A.L.S. activities held on specific Mondays throughout the summer: 
        • Monday, July 1 
        • Monday, July 8 
        • Monday, July 15 
        • Monday, July 22 
        • Monday, July 29 
        • Monday, August 5 
      • Students must commit to in-person lessons on at least 5 of the above dates. 

If you do not meet the above requirements, we recommend purchasing private lessons through the Festival Lessons program instead of applying for P.A.L.S. All Festival Lessons take place at the Aspen Music Festival and School – Bucksbaum Campus. 

Cost and Scholarship

• P.A.L.S. division (Grades 6-12): $300 
• Little P.A.L.S. division (Grades 1-5): $175

Scholarships are available to families with significant financial need.

For more information or with questions, please contact education@aspenmusic.org. 

The P.A.L.S. program is generously underwritten by Les Dames d'Aspen.