What to Pack for Arts Academy

No additional materials are required for Creative Writing students. Please see the "required items for all students" listed below. 

*Pointe shoes: As this is an all encompassing dance program, pointe shoes will wear and tear at different places respective to each particular student. The Dance Division faculty will decide what is an appropriate amount of pointe work for the students based on abilities and overall safety and health of the student. Certain students may be using pointe shoes more or less than others based on the dance faculty’s assessment, so we ask that each student come prepared with at least two pairs of pointe shoes at the beginning of the academic year. 

All Dancers

Hair Products: 
Hair spray, hair gel/mousse, bobby pins, hair pins, hair nets, elastics, eyelashes, hair brush/comb, curling iron (if needed). Anything students use or share (pins, etc.) will need to be sterilized after every use. 

Stage Make-up:
Female Identifying: Foundation, pink blush, fake eyelashes, brown eyeshadow, dark red lipstick (not cherry red) mascara, eyeliner

Male Identifying: Foundation, brown blush, brown eyeshadow, dark red lipstick, eyeliner 

General: Clear deodorant (non staining for costumes), body adhesive (butt glue)

Filmmaking Equipment List

In the interest of Film & New Media students’ ability to access/practice their craft, each student is required to bring a personal camera, storage media, and other consumables/technology. As a musician has an instrument and accessories to rehearse and practice techniques, Film & New Media majors are required to bring the following items. If there are any obstacles in obtaining any of the following items please contact Lisa Fitzpatrick, Admin to Film & New Media. Please, however, prepare to arrive on campus with the items listed below.

• Technology
• Mac Laptop (MacBook Air, MacBook, or MacBook Pro)
• Samsung SSD Drive 2TB or similar (REQUIRED)
• SD Card (REQUIRED)
• Camera + Storage (see suggested options in this link)
• Sound Recording Device
• Headphones or earbuds (over-the-ear headphones preferred)
  • Airpods/Bluetooth earbuds do not work with our location technology and students should purchase hardwired headphones or earbuds specifically for studio and location work.
• Wristwatch (inexpensive, simple analog is fine)
• Safety / Clothing
  • Winter hat, gloves, insulated boots, warm socks, winter coat
    • We are often shooting exteriors in cold, wet weather.
  • Grip gloves/work gloves (Set Hardware or Mechanix gloves)

Animation Equipment List

In the interest of Animation students’ ability to access/practice their craft, each student is required to bring a laptop. We will be using your laptop computers in the classroom, so bringing a MacBook with a USB-C connection will give you the simplest means of connecting to our new Cintiq Pro 27” displays. Software for animation will be provided. Students often want to bring their iPad tablets —this is fine —but we will be teaching, training, and working with professional software and require a laptop to run the software. The software we use is NOT compatible with iPads. 

• Technology
• Macbook Pro Laptop with USB-C connection
  • Always purchase as much RAM as possible for your computer. It will extend the lifespan of your device
• Applecare extended 3-year warranty
• USB 3.0 Drive 1TB
• Headphones or earbuds (over-the-ear headphones preferable)
• Cintiq Pen

Please bring instruments and personal art supplies with which you like to work. We can make arrangements for acquiring any supplies you need as well.

Music students are responsible for providing the necessary materials and supplies for their area of study. You must provide supplies for your instrument such as strings, rosin, valve oil, etc. Additionally, specific performance attire is required—please see below for your program's requirements.

Performance Attire

Orchestra/Wind Symphony/Choir/Jazz Ensembles Concert Attire

For Orchestra, Choir, Wind Symphony, Jazz Ensembles, and Pit Orchestra students may select from the following solidly black options listed below. 

1. Solid black, long-sleeved, two-piece outfit OR
2. Three-quarter to full-length dress, according to the following specifications:

Top/Dress Options:

• Neckline no more than two inches below the collarbone
• A high cut back
• No skin should be visible at the midriff whilst seated or standing
• Full-length or 3/4-length sleeves which fall below the elbow. No translucent clothing.
• OR solid black, long-sleeved, collared, button-down dress shirt. All buttons and seams should be black and without visible labels, logos, or patterns. Buttoned shirts must be fully buttoned up.
• Dresses must be three-quarter or full-length.
• A solid formal black jacket/blazer may be worn over the blouse
• Option for solid black long tie. 

Bottom Options:

• Tops can be paired with solid black full-length slacks/dress pants OR solid black floor-length skirt. Any slit must not rise above the knee
• Black non-tuxedo pants with no visible patterns or pinstripes.
• No leggings or excessively tight pants. 

Shoes / Accessories: 

• Knee or calf-length solid black hosiery or solid black socks. No skin should be visible at the foot ankle
• For pants, optional solid black belt with unobtrusive buckle.
• Closed-toe black dress shoes.
• No hats. Religious headwear is acceptable.
• No conspicuous jewelry or makeup.
• No perfume or cologne.

For solo recitals, chamber music concerts, and composition performances:

• Semi-formal to formal concert attire. A suit, a semi-formal or formal dress, or a blouse with a skirt or dress pants are all acceptable
• Attire may be any color
• Chamber groups should coordinate their attire

Prohibited Attire

• T-shirts, polo shirts, denim, leather, jersey and other casual knit fabrics or items
• Sneakers and other casual shoes
• No skin should be visible at the midriff, feet, or ankles
• Hair ornaments, and extraneous material such as feathers or fringe on the sleeves and collar
• Conspicuous and/or obtrusive jewelry

Contemporary Music Concert Attire

All students should be dressed modestly for all performances. This means modest necklines and hemlines. clothing should cover midriff completely, and no undergarments of any kind (slips, corsets, bralettes) should ever be worn as attire.

It is recommended that each student bring dress clothes for performances. Any combination of dress shirt, slacks, skirts, tops, or dresses along with one pair of dress shoes (no heel exceeding 3 inches) and opaque black tights (for skirts and dresses). Because many performances are web streamed live, we ask that you consider dress attire with minimal pattern as that can translate blurry in HD.

For popular music students and jazz students, you should bring at least one outfit that is solidly black. All students taking Choir should order the choir concert attire as stated above.

What to Bring

Classical Music Students 

• Metronome
• Recording device
• Tuner
• Instrument Accessories, as needed (reeds, strings, mutes, etc. ) 

Check with your Instructor if you have questions about specific items.

Percussionists

Please see the Percussion Gear Requirements.

Contemporary Music Students
(Popular, Jazz, Songwriting, Music Production & Engineering)

For students enrolled in the popular performance program, please note these details specific to your program noting the attire under the Contemporary Music portion:

All Jazz Students

• Bring one lined journal for practice notes (Moleskine medium or large recommended).
• Bring one large book of staff paper (Henle Staff Paper booklets recommended).
• Have notation software installed on your laptop: Musescore (free) or Dorico (recommended for professional use).

Drum Students (Jazz and Popular Music)

• Bring your own set of cymbals and hi-hat clutch, carried in a case. Cymbals will not be provided for rehearsal or practice kits.
• Bring a stick bag containing: Sticks, Brushes, Mallets, Hot rods
• If unable to obtain these items, email: Director of Popular Music, Josh Davis or the Director of Jazz, Chris Glassman.

Vocal Majors (Popular and Jazz)

• All incoming students are enrolled in Choir for their first year. Please take note of attire requirements for both choir and contemporary music.
• Required: Purchase your own Shure Beta 58A microphone (needed for rehearsals).

Instrumentalists (Popular and Jazz)

• All incoming students are enrolled in Choir for their first year. Please take note of attire requirements for both choir and contemporary music.
• Bring your instrument and accessories, including:
  • Tuners
  • Metronome
  • Cables
  • Any other necessary gear
• Jazz Acoustic Bass Players must have a pickup for amplification.
• Jazz Trumpeters need the following mutes:
  • Cup mute
  • Plunger mute
  • Bucket mute
  • Harmon mute (with stem)
• Jazz Trombonists need the following mutes:
  • Cup mute
  • Plunger mute
  • Bucket mute

Singer-Songwriters

• All incoming students are enrolled in Choir for their first year. Please take note of attire requirements for both choir and contemporary music.
• All students must have:
  • A metronome
  • A Shure Beta 58A microphone
  • Over-the-ear quality headphones with a quarter-inch adaptor
• If you play guitar:
  • Recommended: Acoustic guitar with internal pickup
  • Bring your own quarter-inch cable and tuner
• Returning students in Recording and Arranging should also bring:
  • An audio interface (minimum 2 mic pres)
  • Two XLR cables
  • A small MIDI keyboard controller (e.g., MIDI MK3)
  • Optional: Purchase a recording mic bundle (can be shipped to Interlochen)

Music Production & Engineering (MPE) Students

• All incoming students are enrolled in Choir for their first year. Please take note of attire requirements for both choir and contemporary music.
• Bring a laptop with Pro Tools installed:
  • Subscribe to the year-long Pro Tools plan (educational discount available)
  • If needed, request an educational discount letter from Director of Music Production & Engineering Marc Lacuesta.
  • Also subscribe to the Avid Complete Plug-In Bundle
• Bring the following gear:
  • Audio interface (minimum 2 mic pres)
  • Over-the-ear headphones with quarter-inch adaptor
  • USB keyboard controller (e.g., Akai MPK MIDI MK3)

All Theatre Majors

• Stage Blacks: Long Sleeved Shirt, Pants, Socks, Closed Toe Shoes (solid black only, no symbols, no brand logos or writing)

Rehearsal/Performance

All Theatre performance majors must bring the following:

All Theatre Performance Majors must bring their own makeup and hair tools. If you do not bring your makeup kit to campus, one will be charged to your student account upon arrival. 

Scene Shop

When working in the scene shop, all students MUST wear shoes that have both closed toes and closed heels. This is for your safety. You should also have some old, loose-fitting clothes that you do not mind getting dirty.

Dance Class

Students planning to take a dance class (Dance for Musical Theatre, Dance Styles, General Dance, Song and Dance Lab, or Advanced Musical Theatre Workshop) should bring comfortable, modest movement clothes. They should be form-fitting, full-coverage tops, and tights, leggings or pants in addition to the following:

Theatre Design & Production: 

Rehearsal / Work Calls / Scene Shop:

• Stage blacks: long sleeved shirt, pants, socks, closed-toed shoes  (black only, no insignias, no brands, nothing that isn’t flat black)
• 6” - 8” C-wrench, like this example
• Small black flashlight with belt holster
• 11 in 1 screwdriver, like this example
• Mechanic safety gloves, like this example
• Dust mask
• Safety goggles, like this example
• Ear plugs, like this example

Scene shop: When working in the scene shop, all students MUST wear shoes that have both closed toes and closed heels. This is for your safety. You should also have some old, loose-fitting clothes that you do not mind getting dirty.

Art supplies for class:

• Paper and brush accessory pack, like this example
• Watercolor palette, like this example
• Scale rule, like this example
• An iPad is recommended for ALL D&P Students, but not required

All new and returning students in the Visual Arts Division must provide the following materials for their own use, which should not be shared with others. Materials listed under “All Visual Arts Students” are required for all students to provide, regardless of their schedule. Once students have enrolled in classes, they will be required to purchase the materials listed for those specific studios. In some cases, students will be assigned materials or tools for their own use during that class. We will share that list once classes are scheduled. If a student has financial limitations that may prevent them from obtaining these materials, please reach out to Visual Arts Division Director Melinda Ronayne directly to request assistance and alternatives. 

All Visual Arts Students

All students, new and returning, need to have an art box or tool box containing the supplies listed below. This can be purchased in the Scholarshop on campus for approximately $150-$170. If you already have a box, you do not need to purchase one at the Scholarshop, but you do need to make sure you have all of these materials.

Supplies in the Art Box:

Other Supplies (not included in the Art Box)

• Digital camera (DSLR Recommended): There are many DSLR cameras on the market that will work great. If you need a suggestion, we recommend an entry-level camera, either the Nikon D3500, or a Canon EOS Rebel with a basic 18-55mm lens to start. A point and shoot camera, like a Nikon Coolpix could work as well.
• Minimum 32GB SDHD Card
• Sturdy portfolio: We recommend a nylon, waterproof fabric or plastic/PVC portfolio at least 24” x 26” in size with a shoulder strap.

Visual Arts Clothing Requirements

• Apron or smock
• Closed toed shoes: All Visual Arts students are required to wear sturdy closed toed shoes with back and heel support in the Visual Arts Building at all times. Protective footwear is required for safety purposes. We do not recommend ballet flats or other shoes that do not provide proper support and protection.
• Professional dress clothing: Students are required to have professional dress clothing to wear on the days we have critiques, presentations, and gallery openings.