MI’s 90-credit-unit, six-quarter Associate of Arts in Performance Degrees provide the instrument skills, musical knowledge and performing experience that musicians need to prepare for the challenges of professional and creative contemporary performing careers.
AA-Performance Degrees are available for bass, guitar, keyboards, drum set and voice (see links below for information about each program). Students may also earn an AA-Performance (Combined Emphasis) degree by combining any instrument emphasis* with specialized studies in one of the following areas:
Audio Engineering: professional recording studio production
Recording Artist Development: songwriting and music production for independent artists
Music Business: recording industry career preparation
Guitar Craft: electric guitar and bass design, fabrication, and maintenance
Music Video, Film and Television:: music-based film and video production
*the Guitar Craft emphasis is only available in combination with instrument study in Guitar or Bass For specific information about Combined Emphasis courses and credit requirements, refer to the section of this website describing the Certificate in Performance for the appropriate instrument as well as the section describing the requirements for the appropriate music industry program (e.g. Certificate in Performance – Guitar plus Certificate in Audio Engineering). Course requirements and credit weights for the AA (Combined Emphasis) are identical to the total requirements of the two Certificate programs combined.
Associate programs do not include General Education requirements and are not designed as direct preparation for further study at the Baccalaureate level. For information on requirements for students wishing to transfer from an AA program to MI's Bachelor of Music Degree program, please consult the current course catalog or contact an Admissions Representative.