MI's Guitar Craft program offers comprehensive training in the design, construction and maintenance of electric and acoustic guitars. In keeping with MI’s total-immersion approach to education, your classroom is a fully-equipped instrument manufacturing facility. As a final project, you design and build your own instrument, learning through direct experience under the guidance of first-rank professionals how to analyze and solve the problems encountered by working luthiers. Whether your goal is to work for a guitar manufacturer, design and build your own instruments, or work as a guitar tech, a Guitar Craft education provides the foundation for success.
Program features:
Learn from Experienced Professional LuthiersGuitar Craft instructors bring decades of experience in manufacturing, custom shop operation, and instrument repair directly into the classroom.
Design, Build, and Play Your Own InstrumentDesign and build your personal guitar or bass from scratch (no prefab bodies or kits) using the same methods and equipment used by custom builders and manufacturers, from hand tools to a top-of-the-line Computer Numeric Control lathe. Weekly private lessons by expert MI guitar instructors will take your own playing to a new level.
Electric and Acoustic DesignWith the optional Acoustic Guitar emphasis, learn to design and build virtually any style of electric or acoustic instrument.
Day and Night SchedulesDay or evening class schedules, Monday through Friday. Choose the schedule that works best for you (Acoustic Guitar emphasis offered only Mon-Fri 6-10pm).
ClassesSmall classes provide plenty of hands-on experience under the close supervision of professional luthiers. A sample of courses includes:
Instrument Design Instrument FabricationFretwork & SetupInstrument RepairElectronicsFinish WorkInstrument Performance
Certificate in Guitar CraftTwo quarters, 30 credit unitsIntensive, hands-on training in electric guitar and bass design, fabrication, maintenance and repair.
Certificate in Guitar Craft (Acoustic Guitar Design)Three quarters, 45 credit unitsComprehensive training in all aspects of electric and acoustic instrument design, fabrication, maintenance and repair.
Associate of Arts – Combined Emphasis (six quarters, 90 credit units) Combines the 30-unit Guitar Craft curriculum with 60 units of performance-based instrument training on guitar or bass.
