Music High School

A typical day includes both college-preparatory academics and dedicated music study. 

Music students spend the morning in academic classes and the afternoon in a music block built around their major. That time may include private lessons, large ensemble rehearsals, chamber music, technique classes, music theory, and practice. 

This structure gives students the depth of a music high school while preserving a strong academic foundation.

Interlochen offers both classical and contemporary music majors. 

Students can pursue majors such as Classical Performance, Composition, Jazz Performance, Music Production & Engineering, Popular Performance, and Singer-Songwriter. Within those areas, students can focus on paths such as orchestra, jazz, piano, songwriting, contemporary performance, and composition.

This gives students more depth and specialization than they would typically find at many high schools with music programs.

It is one of the defining parts of the Arts Academy experience. 

At Interlochen Arts Academy, music students live and learn alongside young artists in creative writing, dance, film & new media, interdisciplinary arts, theatre, and visual arts. That daily exposure to other disciplines broadens students’ perspectives and creates opportunities for collaboration across the arts. 

For many students, that balance of focused music study and a larger creative environment is a major benefit of attending Arts Academy.

Interlochen helps students prepare both artistically and practically. 

Faculty work closely with students to build repertoire, refine technique, and strengthen audition materials. Students can also receive support with prescreen recordings, meaning the video or audio submissions that many colleges require before a live audition. 

Academy also helps students manage the practical side of audition season, including balancing travel, school responsibilities, and preparation for competitive college and conservatory opportunities.

Depending on their major and placement, students may perform in orchestra, jazz ensemble, chamber groups, solo settings, contemporary performances, and other concerts on campus. These opportunities help students build confidence, strengthen their musicianship, and gain real stage experience. 

Some students also participate in tour experiences, which add another level of performance preparation and artistic growth.

At Interlochen, students balance academic classes, rehearsals, lessons, practice, performances, and residence hall life on a campus built for young artists. They are surrounded by peers who are equally committed to their craft, which creates a strong sense of shared purpose. 

That environment can be both challenging and deeply supportive, especially for students who want to grow as musicians while living in a close-knit arts community.

Interlochen is a strong fit for students who want serious music study as part of their high school experience. 

The best fit is a student who is excited by regular practice, performance, close faculty mentorship, and a schedule that balances strong academics with intensive artistic work. Some students already know they want to pursue music in college. Others want high-level training while they continue exploring their long-term path. 

In either case, Arts Academy is designed for students who want more than a typical school music experience.

The biggest difference is that music study is central to the school day. 

Many high schools with music programs offer strong electives, ensembles, or extracurricular opportunities. At Interlochen Arts Academy, music is not an add-on. It is part of a student’s daily academic and artistic life. 

That means students receive focused training, individualized mentorship, frequent performance opportunities, and the structure of a music boarding school within a full college-preparatory environment.

Yes. Students do not need to have every future step figured out before they arrive. 

Some students come to Interlochen knowing they want conservatory or music school after graduation. Others want time to grow before deciding on a specific path. Arts Academy supports both kinds of students by combining serious music study with broad academic and artistic development.