ITHAC, N.Y. -- Aspiring musicians from around the country and around the world have gathered at Ithaca College for the annual Summer Piano Institute. About 30 youngsters ages 12 to 18 will spend 10 days studying and performing at Ithaca College with the internationally renowned piano faculty.

Professors will help the students improve their musical skills and also teach sight-reading and singing. They hope the children will leave with even more enthusiasm for music.

"We hope that they've been exposed to a wide variety of literature that they may not have without that experience. We hope that they've developed some really great friendships with the other students that are here, and are actually motivated to go back and try new things and expand on what they've already been working on with their teachers back at home," said faculty member Diane Birr.

The students and faculty will hold concerts throughout the week. The performances are open to the community.