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Popular Music Experience: 
Songwriting - Music Performance

(Session 1)

July 7-11, 2025

This exciting program allows you to collaborate, create, and co-write while being immersed in the art and business of popular music. This unique experience brings first-hand interaction with Frost Faculty to prepare you for collegiate-level popular music programs. You will deeply analyze songs, lyrics, and production and work with each other to perform and create originals and captivating covers. Additionally, you will learn about key areas of the music business to more richly understand the business of your craft. This experience will culminate with a final show. Come make music and memories with peers who are passionate about popular music!

New for Summer 2025:

Participants attending "Session 1" can opt to also attend "Session 2" for a two week experience! Applicants will need to indicate that option when applying for Session 1. Total tuition cost for the two weeks will be adjusted and does NOT include the optional program housing. Housing will be in addition to program tuition. 

Meet the Program Director

Raina Murnak

Raina Murnak serves as the Director of the FROST Summer Institute of Contemporary Songwriting. She has been an active vocalist and performer for over 20 years. She has been a university educator for the last 16 years, and has created such innovative programs as the Contemporary Music Theory program, the Solfege/Sight Singing program within FROST’s renowned Experiential Music Curriculum, and the advanced theory, theater and songwriting programs at the FROST Young Musician’s Summer Camp. She also remains active on FROST Online teaching courses in Undergraduate Music Theory Fundamentals and Graduate Peak Performance.

As a multi-talented artist well versed in not only music, but also in dance and the visual arts, Professor Murnak has created hundreds of songwriting and theater productions she has directed for her students, while garnering close to 100,000 video views. As a performer, she has starred on stage and screen as a lead vocalist, background vocalist and musical director for numerous artists.

After pursuing a musical path as an avant garde classical vocalist, Professor Murnak is now widely as a regarded contemporary vocalist and songwriter. She has an impressive command of multiple vocal techniques and styles, and she oversees a large private studio where she teaches students who use singing as therapy, as well as those who tour and compete in televised music competitions.

Dr Murnak holds both a BM and MA degree in Vocal Performance and Composition from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and a DMA in Music Theory and Composition and Vocal Pedagogy from the University of Miami.

  • Students must be in grades 9-12

    Please submit one video or audio example of either: a song you are performing or a song you have written AND list any instruments you play (including voice)

  • 9-10:05 Lyrics and Listening (Brian Wilkins and Ian Holljes)

    10:15-11:20 Music Biz (Brian Wilkins)

    11:30-12:35 LUNCH, 12:45-1:50 PRACTICE/MASTERCLASS SESSIONS

    2-3:20 Songwriting Sessions/Producing Your Song (Raina Murnak/Stephen Gleason/Camilo Salas)

    3:30-5 Making the Band (Two student coaches)

  • 2025 Program Tuition: $1,250

    Tuition Includes: Program Instruction and performance, daily lunch, and program shirt. Program tuition does not include: on campus housing and commuter parking. 

    Note: Camp tuition does not include the Acceptd Application fee of $50.00. 


    Second Week Option: Participants seeking to extend this camp into week two will have the option to indicate this on their initial application. Once accepted into the camp, participants will then "select" Week 2 and the total tuition will be adjusted to: $1,800.00 for the total cost. This tuition does not include housing, which is a separate charge.

  • On campus summer housing will be available for non-local program participants.

    Housing Check in day: Sunday, July 6, 2025 from 3:00pm - 5:00pm.
    Housing Check out day: Saturday, July 12, 2025 before 12:00pm. 

    Cost for Program Housing: $950.00

    Housing cost includes: Double Room occupancy for 6 nights, dorm linen package (bed sheet, comforter, pillow, bath towel, and washcloth), all daily meals (breakfast/lunch/dinner) in our dorm dining hall.

     

    FOR PARTICIPANTS OPTING FOR THE TWO WEEK PROGRAM: 

    Housing Check in day: Sunday, July 6, 2025 from 3:00pm - 5:00pm.
    Housing Check out day: Saturday, July 19, 2025 before 12:00pm. 

    Cost for Program Housing: $1,900.00

    Housing cost includes: Double Room occupancy for 13 nights, dorm linen package (bed sheet, comforter, pillow, bath towel, and washcloth), all daily meals (breakfast/lunch/dinner) in our dorm dining hall. 



    Students electing to add housing will need to indicate it on the application when asked. More information will be posted on the website once the University Housing Office finalizes all logistics for the new summer sessions. Any questions should be directed to: frostsummerprograms@miami.edu

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