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Musicians Institute Industry Mentors Winter 2026
Meet your Winter 2026 MI Industry Mentors.
How to Book Your First Gig as an Independent Musician
Booking your first gig can feel like one of the biggest hurdles in your music career. You might be ready to perform, but figuring out where to play and how to get booked can feel overwhelming. The good news is that every working musician started exactly here. Booking...
Your First Gig: Essential Tips for Musicians Before You Step on Stage
Playing your first live show is a defining moment in any musician’s journey. Whether you’re performing at an open mic, a small local venue, or a DIY house show, that first gig represents a shift from practicing in private to sharing your music with the world. It’s...
Musician Institute Partners with Kawai Pianos to Support the Next Generation of Contemporary Musicians
We’re excited to announce a new partnership between Musicians Institute and Kawai Pianos, uniting MI’s cutting-edge music education with Kawai’s nearly century-long legacy of piano craftsmanship. Kawai America Corporation’s collaboration with MI means that premium...
Essential Guitar Gear: 10 Must-Have Tools for the Beginning Guitarist
Building Your Foundation for Success Progress as a musician depends on more than just picking up a guitar and strumming a few chords. Many beginners soon realize that frustration and plateaus are common if the proper groundwork isn’t set from the start. Equipping...
How to Prepare for Your Keyboard/Piano Audition for Music College
Auditioning for music college is a big deal. Depending on the college you choose, acceptance rates may be as low as 3%. Low acceptance rates often reflect the immense popularity of the music industry. So, many people want to be professional musicians, and they...
#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!