The Official Blog of Musicians Institute
IN THE KNOW
From the MI Vault: Norman Brown Live at Musicians Institute
Long before social media gave us instant access to performances from our favorite musicians, some unforgettable moments were happening right here at Musicians Institute in Hollywood. In this edition of the MI Vault, we're looking back at a performance from acclaimed...
How Do You Improvise on Guitar Without Getting Lost in the Chord Changes?
Quick Answer: “To improvise over chord changes without getting lost, learn the progression first, hear where each chord changes, target chord tones on strong beats, connect nearby arpeggio and scale shapes, and build short phrases instead of running patterns. Start...
What Should a Guitarist Know Before Playing With a Band?
Quick Answer: “Before playing with a band, a guitarist should understand rhythm, song structure, chord changes, dynamics, tone, and how to listen to other musicians. You should arrive prepared, know your parts, leave space in the arrangement, follow cues, control your...
How Should an Independent Artist Plan Their First Music Release?
Quick Answer: “Independent artists should plan their first music release by finishing the music first, setting a realistic release date, preparing artwork and artist profiles, choosing a distributor, organizing credits, building promotional content, and creating a...
Sonora LA Retreat Brings Guitarists, Mentors and Andy Wood to Musicians Institute
Musicians Institute recently welcomed the Sonora LA Retreat 2026 to its Hollywood campus, bringing together guitarists, mentors, educators, and special guest Andy Wood for several days centered around playing, learning, and connecting through music. The annual Sonora...
From MI to The Voice: How Dory Lobel Built a Career as a Guitarist and Musical Director
Building a career as a professional musician takes more than being great at your instrument. You need to learn music quickly, adapt to different artists and styles, perform under pressure, build relationships and be ready when the right opportunity arrives. For MI...
#TBT
#TBT: Rare Jaco Pastorius 1985 Performance at Musicians Institute
Rare Jaco Pastorius 1985 Performance at Musicians Institute with Jeff Berlin, Frank Gambale and Patrick Buchmann.
#TBT: Eddie Van Halen Performs At Musicians Institute
MI remembers the icon and guitar legend, Eddie Van Halen.
#TBT: Johnny Hiland At Musicians Institute
Check out this #TBT of Johnny Hiland from the MI Vault.
PROFILES
MI Alum Spotlight: Nia Yang
Producer/artist Nia Yang tells us about her career and experience studying at Musicians Institute.
Alumni Spotlight: MI Alumnus Barrett Wilson of Fender Play
We feature Barrett Wilson, a graduate of the Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance program, who currently works as a guitar instructor at Fender Play.
Tanya Chua Recounts Her Career And Journey To Musicians Institute
Tanya Chua talks to MI about her career and her education at Musicians Institute.
Musicians Institute Graduate Spotlight: Areli Castro
This spotlight is on Areli Castro, a graduate of the Independent Artist program at Musicians Institute, who has landed her first industry job as an Executive Assistant at Hopeless Records. Areli chatted with The Mix about the internship program, her music projects,...
What Is The DIY Musician Conference In Austin? MI Will Host Panels For Indie Musicians
There are plenty of music festivals in Los Angeles and all over the country, where music lovers can unite, network, relax and watch some of their favorite bands and artists play in one place. Sure, that's all fun and games, but what if you're an independent musician...
Mateus Asato The Early Years
We highlight Mateus Asato’s career since graduating from MI.
GUEST ARTIST
Musicians Institute Hosts Drum Clinic With Drummer Omar Hakim
Musicians Institute (MI) recently hosted a drum clinic featuring legendary drummer Omar Hakim. Hakim, renowned for his work with icons like Miles Davis, Weather Report, and David Bowie, shared his insights and expertise with aspiring drummers. The clinic was a...
Meet Kira Ruth, First Recipient of Musicians Institute’s Full Ride Scholarship
We catch up with MI student, Kira Ruth, winner of the Full Ride Scholarship to MI.
MI Graduate Spotlight: Drummer Karl-Johan Wigander
Meet Karl-Johan Wigander, an MI drum graduate who has found his spot as a successful touring musician.
Steve Vai Defines His True Meaning of Success At Musicians Institute
Steve Vai came for a clinic at MI and dropped a lot of gems.
Guitarist Mark Lettieri Visits Musicians Institute For Insightful Guitar Clinic
Check out some videos and photos from Mark Lettieri’s clinic!
Adam Skeppar Guitar Session
Adam Skeppar, a native of Sweden who is currently pursuing an A.A. in Guitar Performance, stopped into one of our studios to show off his latest skills. Want to take some guitar classes? Check out our Guitar programs to find out which courses are best for you!