The Official Blog of Musicians Institute
IN THE KNOW
How to Become a Professional Drummer in 2026: Skills, Training, and Career Paths
Becoming a professional drummer in 2026 takes more than good chops. Speed, fills, and stage energy still matter, but the drummers who get hired again and again usually bring something deeper: strong time, stylistic range, preparation, communication, recording...
How to Plan a Live Concert: A Beginner’s Guide to Show Advance, Stage Plots, and Load-Out
Planning a live concert is not just about booking a stage and hoping the night runs smoothly. Behind every successful show is a chain of technical, creative, and communication decisions that happen before the audience ever walks in. The better those decisions are...
Live Music Event Production vs. Audio Engineering: Which Career Path Fits You?
If you are interested in sound, recording, concerts, and the technical side of music, two paths may stand out right away: live music event production and audio engineering. They overlap in important ways, but they are not the same career path. One is built around the...
Music Production vs. Audio Engineering in 2026: Which Career Path Should You Study?
If you are deciding between music production and audio engineering, the confusion makes sense. The two paths overlap enough that people constantly blur them together, especially online. Both can involve DAWs, recording sessions, plugins, studio work, and collaboration...
How to Become a Touring Guitarist: Evan Weant’s Journey from MI Student to International Tour
When Evan Weant decided to attend Musicians Institute, he knew he wanted to become a serious musician. What he didn’t know was that his journey would quickly become a real-world example of how to become a touring guitarist in today’s music industry. Like many aspiring...
Guitar Technique Fundamentals: How to Build Speed, Accuracy, and Tone
A lot of guitar players want the same three things: more speed, cleaner playing, and better tone. The problem is that many practice routines chase those outcomes in the wrong order. Players try to get faster before they are consistent, play louder before they can...
#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!