FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Yes. Musicians Institute offers a wide variety of degrees and areas of concentration in the field of contemporary music. Program options include:

Bachelor of Music in Performance (180 credit units): A unique degree program combining contemporary music performance with rigorous training in such traditional music disciplines as theory, arranging, and music history.

Associate of Arts in Performance (90 credit units): Provides comprehensive instrument skills, musical knowledge and practical performing experience preparing you for the challenges of professional and creative contemporary performing careers. AA options also include combinations of instrument study and music-industry specialties (audio engineering, music business, independent artist development, guitar-making).

Associate of Science in Music Business (90 credit units): The ASMB degree provides students with in-depth training in a diverse range of subjects encountered in today’s music industry. In addition to courses in entertainment law, music publishing and licensing, record labels, distribution, and personal management, our Associate of Science degree also includes music industry history, international music publishing, accounting and finance, marketing, and visual media.

Yes. Musicians Institute is an accredited member institution of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), a national accrediting agency recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the US Department of Education.

Criteria for admission vary according to the particular program. An Admissions Representative will answer all of your questions and tell you exactly what you need to do to apply to the program of your choice. Once you’ve made a decision, the first step toward applying to any program is to fill out an application form.

At Musicians Institute you can receive focused instruction leading to the following certificates:

Certificate in Performance (60 credit units): Provides a solid, intensive foundation in instrument technique, musicianship, and contemporary music performing experience.

Music Industry Certificate Programs (30-45 credit units): Focused, intensive instruction in non-performing fields including audio engineering, independent artist development, music business, DJ Performance and Production, and guitar-making.

MI Select Program: (non-certificate training in music; one quarter): customized programs in performance – create a personalized ten-week schedule of classes and lessons on your instrument.

Musicians Institute Online: Online courses in guitar, DJ, Harmony and Theory and Ear Training.

Summer Shot: Get a taste of what your life could be like playing music—all day long! Spend a whirlwind week in Hollywood on MI’s state-of-the-art college campus, where you can get deeper inside the music industry and have an unforgettable summer experience. Hit the stage, the studio or the workshop while learning from award-winning teachers and clinicians.

Next Generation Star Program: Students ages 5 and up collaborate across programs (Bass, Drum, Guitar, Keyboard and Voice), to enhance their learning experience and gain extensive exposure to all forms of music performance. Spend 6 Saturdays in the heart of the music industry and learn more about instrument of choice.

While you are not required to take specific High School courses to be admitted to MI, we strongly recommend that you take advantage of any music-related studies available to you. Relevant classes would include Music Appreciation, Music Theory, Ear Training, Music Reading, Music Industry Studies, Ensemble, Choir, Band, Chorus, Computer Skills and Keyboard Skills.

Outside of school, private lessons (for performance students) are also very important. An additional source of preparatory information is available through MI Press, Hal Leonard Publishing, the official publications of Musicians Institute. Over 100 publications, books, CDs and DVDs are available on a variety of subjects related to MI programs that can also be used in conjunction with private lessons.

Admission requirements vary by degree level and subject area. There is an audition process for programs in: Bass, Guitar, Drums, Vocal, Keyboard, Independent Artist and DJ.

Programs that do not require any prior music education: Audio Engineering and Music Business.

Bachelor Degree students are required to submit a letter of recommendation from a music teacher (private teachers are acceptable), but you are not required to show that you have taken specific courses or attended a certain type of school. You will be evaluated according to the criteria most relevant to the program to which you are applying and based on the level of skill and knowledge you demonstrate in your application. Acceptable skill levels can be acquired through any combination of training including self-study, private study, live performing experience, online study, workshops, classes, or formal training.

There are many factors that enter into determining your qualifications to enter a specific MI program. Skill, knowledge, and experience all play an important role, but so do focus and dedication.

We consider not only whether you are prepared to begin a program, but also whether you’re prepared to finish it. Most programs begin by teaching fundamentals but also move very quickly into more advanced areas. A less-experienced musician with a high degree of discipline can complete a program with great success, whereas a musician with more experience who is not prepared to put in the necessary effort may wind up struggling.

Before you apply, an Admissions Representative can give you an idea of whether your level of experience appears to be high enough for you to apply. After you submit your application, senior instructors will carefully review it and determine your ability, skill level, and overall qualifications for acceptance into the program. In some cases, they may recommend that you re-apply after further study, or that you consider entering a different program or at a different degree level. If you are accepted, when you arrive to register for classes you will be evaluated again and placed into course levels appropriate to your current level of skill, knowledge and experience.

The Student Support Center on campus provides information, resources and networking opportunities to help students create and meet personal career goals. Counselors provide individual, one-on-one attention or group sessions during scheduled appointments that can cover tutoring, résumés, EPK’s (Electronic Press Kits), audition preparation, music industry internships and more.

For details on Professional Development services, Audition Training, Career Mentors, Internships, Career Workshops & the MI Connects online talent resource, visit: https://www.mi.edu./artist-support-center/

The California Bureau of Private Post-Secondary Education has recently revised its policies about how placement statistics are reported. Updated information regarding the number of students who have been placed as well as the starting salary you can earn after finishing a specific educational program is available.

For Placement rates go to: Consumer Student Disclosure

MI’s mission is to provide students with the tools to achieve their highest creative and professional potential. The real measure of success is what former students accomplish in the years after MI. We are proud to be part of their development, but their success, whether in or out of the public eye, is the result of individual dedication and tenacity.

To mention only a few, former MI students who have gone on to public recognition as recording artists include Keb’ Mo’, Jeff Buckley, Norman Brown, and Brooke White; instrument virtuosos include Paul Gilbert, Scott Henderson, Jennifer Batten and Frank Gambale, and members of internationally-known bands include John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Rivers Cuomo, Brian Bell and Scott Shriner (Weezer), and Dave Kushner (Velvet Revolver).

Other grads are found on stage or in the studio with artists ranging from Nine Inch Nails, Bishop Briggs, Paul Stanley, Chris Cornell, Paul Stanley, Stone Temple Pilots, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, and Korn to Mariah Carey, Pink, Christina Aguilera, Jordin Sparks, Rihanna, Melissa Etheridge, and the late Michael Jackson.

Tuition varies by program type and length. Contact your Admissions Representative, see the current Course Catalog or Tuition and Fees for complete description of tuition and fees, as well as estimated budget costs.

Musicians Institute is authorized to provide aid for U.S. Citizens and permanent residents under various federal and state financial aid programs. Each type of aid has specific eligibility requirements and the amount you qualify to receive will vary according to your individual circumstances and the program to which you are applying. If you qualify, you may be eligible for one or more types of aid. However, it is important for you to know that financial aid usually does not cover all of your tuition costs.

The first step in applying for financial aid is to complete your FAFSA application and enter the MI school code (015238). By filling in your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online, you ensure its accuracy and the information goes directly to the federal processor, which means you receive your Student Aid Report sooner. It’s fast, convenient, and user-friendly. If you require a paper application, you may call 1.800.4FEDAID and one will be mailed to you.

Upon request from the Financial Aid Office, you may need to provide additional documents such as student and or parent tax returns, verification of untaxed income, or other documents required to determine eligibility.

The Financial Aid Office will mail your award notification approximately 3-6 weeks after receipt of your Student Aid Report (depending on the time of year) only if you have already been accepted for admission to MI.

Musicians Institute offers a variety of scholarships designed to provide tuition assistance to students during their enrollment at MI. Information is available on the MI Scholarship website at: scholarships.mi.edu

Tours are conducted between 11am and 3pm each weekday by appointment with your Admissions Representative. Another great opportunity to tour the campus is to attend Open House. These events are scheduled throughout the year; contact the Admissions department for details, dates and to make a reservation.

Every college sets its own requirements for accepting credits from other institutions. These requirements vary widely based on program content, institutional accreditation, and other factors and are determined case-by-case by the receiving institution. MI cannot guarantee in advance that any specific institution will accept your credits, but should you need to transfer, we are prepared to help you through the process.

As with transferring to other institutions, the question of which or how many of your prior credits are transferable to a specific program at MI must be handled on a case-by-case basis (see the current Course Catalog for more information on transfer of credits into MI’s Bachelor of Music program). However, if you have successfully studied at another institution of higher education and seek to enter a similar program at MI, you may qualify for advanced placement in certain areas; this will be determined based on your placement interview at the time of registration.

Hollywood is known as the entertainment capital of the world, and MI’s main entrance is right in the center, on legendary Hollywood Boulevard just blocks from locations such as the Dolby (Academy Award) Theater, Grauman’s Chinese Theater, and with clubs, recording studios and entertainment industry headquarters in every direction. For more information on Hollywood, Student Housing, transportation, and living in LA, contact an MI Admissions Counselor.

Yes. MI operates two residence hall locations within walking distance of the main Hollywood campus. Space is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Locations:

• 1527 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood, CA 90028
• 1622 N. Wilcox Ave, Hollywood, CA 90028

Check out the MI Housing Guide for more information.

Hollywood has received quite a makeover in recent years, sparked by new businesses and attractions such as the Academy Awards Theater. During the day, streets are crowded with tourists from all over the world, and at night a thriving club culture fills venues on the Boulevard and side streets.

The local business improvement district provides private security patrols in addition to the normal police presence. Aside from MI, thousands of students live and study at schools throughout the Hollywood area. MI provides a door-to-door free shuttle bus service at night for students living within two miles. However, Hollywood and Los Angeles are large urban areas and common-sense precautions are important. Don’t walk alone at night on deserted streets, especially carrying expensive equipment, and stick to well-lighted, well-traveled areas whenever possible. Tens of thousands of young men and women from all over the world have lived and studied in Hollywood over the past three decades and consider it to have been the best time of their lives – we think you will, too.

Musicians Institute has a secure campus. MI operates on a closed campus, meaning only current students, employees and those with official business with Musicians Institute are allowed on campus or in any Musicians Institute facilities or buildings. Visitors must check in with Security upon entering the MI campus or any MI buildings or facilities. In fact, students must scan in their MI ID card immediately upon entering or exiting MI facilities or buildings.

Crime & Safety Statistics and Information

Various shuttle companies offer one-way service to Hollywood for around $50. If you are staying at local hostels they may reimburse you for your shuttle fee.

Unless you already have a car and plan on driving it to California as your means of getting here, it’s not vital to have a car while you are at school. Contrary to popular myth, you can survive in LA without a car. You can go almost anywhere you want to go either by bus, taxi or the rapid transit rail system. Having a car can be nice, but insurance rates in LA are high and parking can be very expensive.

There are many resources available to support personal efforts in skill development. One source of preparatory information is available through MI Press (Hal Leonard Publishing), the official publications of Musicians Institute. Over 100 books, CDs and DVDs are available on a variety of subjects related to MI programs that can also be used in conjunction with private lessons.

Accepted students may request a deferment of enrollment up to one year beyond the date when he or she was scheduled to begin his or her program. If the one-year time period is exceeded, the student must submit a new application, application fee and possible admissions requirements. The deferral must be requested in writing before the start of the quarter for which the student was originally accepted.

A request for deferring admission may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Please note requests for deferments are granted solely at the discretion of the Director of Admissions, and relevant documentation may be required. Scholarships awarded by the Scholarship committee will be deferred for a maximum of one year, if the deferment request is approved.

Applicants may postpone their initial enrollment at Musicians Institute for a maximum of one year. Applicants who cannot enroll after one year, will need to reapply for admission.