i Program Overview

The guitar program is the foundation of Musicians Institute. In 1977, the Guitar Institute of Technology was founded as the first school to teach contemporary music. With the addition of multiple instruments over the years, GIT became known as the Musicians Institute, but the passion for the guitar has remained.

Since then, MI’s guitar program continues to offer the foundational skills necessary for a thriving and exciting music career. Guitar classes are taught by renowned, active professional players who train students in the fundamentals of guitar playing, including performance, advanced techniques, ear training, melodic soloing, and a variety of contemporary styles.

At MI, we believe that training in these diverse styles and professional environments allows students to be ready for any job after graduation, whether it’s as a studio session player, a guitar teacher, a touring musician, an artist, and beyond!

It is this firsthand, immersive experience in our classrooms and facilities that really set the stage for success in the music industry after MI.

CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHTS

GUIT-024 – Guitar Gear Mastery

GUIT-088E – Acid Jazz Guitar

GUIT-156E – Melodic Soloing

GUIT-062E – Metal Guitar

> VIEW COURSE CATALOG

DEGREE BY THE NUMBERS

From 10 weeks to 4 years, there’s an option for you!

MASTER OF MUSIC – 4 Quarters

BACHELOR OF MUSIC – 12 Quarters

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS – 6 Quarters

CERTIFICATE – 4 Quarters

MI SELECT (Individual Courses) – 10 Weeks

i Program Overview

The guitar program is the foundation of Musicians Institute. In 1977, the Guitar Institute of Technology was founded as the first school to teach contemporary music. With the addition of multiple instruments over the years, GIT became known as the Musicians Institute, but the passion for the guitar has remained.

Since then, MI’s guitar program continues to offer the foundational skills necessary for a thriving and exciting music career. Guitar classes are taught by renowned, active professional players who train students in the fundamentals of guitar playing, including performance, advanced techniques, ear training, melodic soloing, and a variety of contemporary styles.

At MI, we believe that training in these diverse styles and professional environments allows students to be ready for any job after graduation, whether it’s as a studio session player, a guitar teacher, a touring musician, an artist, and beyond!

It is this firsthand, immersive experience in our classrooms and facilities that really set the stage for success in the music industry after MI.

CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHTS

GUIT-024 – Guitar Gear Mastery

GUIT-088E – Acid Jazz Guitar

GUIT-156E – Melodic Soloing

GUIT-062E – Metal Guitar

> VIEW COURSE CATALOG

 

DEGREE BY THE NUMBERS

From 10 weeks to 4 years, there’s an option for you!

MASTER OF MUSIC – 4 Quarters

BACHELOR OF MUSIC – 12 Quarters

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS – 6 Quarters

CERTIFICATE – 4 Quarters

MI SELECT (Individual Courses) – 10 Weeks

i The MI Difference

i The MI Difference

FULLY IMMERSIVE CURRICULUM

Guitar students will be taught contemporary guitar skills, with core classes including Guitar Technique, Guitar Performance, Guitar Reading, Harmony/Theory/Ear Training. They will also develop performing skills and guitar tricks in contemporary styles from blues, jazz, and fusion to country, rock, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, reggae, funk, R&B, and hip hop.

Live Performance Workshops

MI is unique in its focus on the stage, and Guitar students are required to perform weekly in Live Performance Workshops (LPWs) as part of the curriculum. The song selections are changed weekly, allowing students to gain experience with diverse genres, making them stronger musicians for their careers beyond MI.

Equipment & Facilities

Students will have access to top of the line guitars, pedal boards and more, that can be rented from our MI Library and used in our practice and performance studios. MI’s library is stocked with Fender, PRS, Kiesel, Strandberg, Suhr, ESP, Takamine, and other top guitar brands. MI has 45 general purpose counseling

Private Lessons with Instructors

MI instructors are also successful musicians and working professionals, bringing their experience into the classroom every day. Students have the unique opportunity to have one-hour private lessons with instructors, who can offer more personalized instruction and advice on their classwork and beyond.

Hollywood Location

Our campus is located in the middle of the entertainment industry, including the worlds of music, film, television and beyond. Students will have access to the finest live music venues, along with opportunities and possibilities to visit, intern and work at the best studios and sought after music labels in the world.

Fully Immersive Curriculum

Guitar students will be taught by our industry-experienced instructors, where they’ll learn how to demonstrate stylistic depth, creative maturity and professional competence in preparation for careers in today’s music industry. Some highlights include:

  • Contemporary guitar skills, with core classes including Guitar Technique, Guitar Performance, Guitar Reading, Harmony/Theory/Ear Training.
  • Develop performing skills and guitar tricks in contemporary styles from blues, jazz, and fusion to country, rock, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, reggae, funk, R&B, and hip hop.

Live Performance Workshops

MI is unique in its focus on the stage, and Guitar students are required to perform weekly in Live Performance Workshops (LPWs) as part of the curriculum. The song selections are changed weekly, allowing students to gain experience with diverse genres, making them stronger musicians for their careers beyond MI.

Equipment & Facilities

Students will have access to top of the line guitars, pedal boards and more, that can be rented from our MI Library and used in our practice and performance studios. MI’s library is stocked with Fender, PRS, Kiesel, Strandberg, Suhr, ESP, Takamine, and other top guitar brands. MI has 45 general purpose counseling/practice labs that are equipped with amps and various equipment to serve any needs for classwork and beyond.

Private Lessons with Instructors

MI instructors are also successful musicians and working professionals, bringing their experience into the classroom every day. Students have the unique opportunity to have one-hour private lessons with instructors, who can offer more personalized instruction and advice on their classwork and beyond.

Hollywood Location

Our campus is located in the middle of the entertainment industry, including the worlds of music, film, television and beyond. Students will have access to the finest live music venues, along with opportunities and possibilities to visit, intern and work at the best studios and sought after music labels in the world.

i Facilities

i Facilities

>
Full production sound stages and recording studios
>
Full production sound stages and recording studios
>
MI Library provides access to top of the line guitars, pedal boards, amps and more, all which can be rented from the library and used in our practice and performance studios
>
MI Library provides access to top of the line guitars, pedal boards, amps and more, all which can be rented from the library and used in our practice and performance studios
>
Concert Hall access, with full audio/video recording capabilities
>
Concert Hall access, with full audio/video recording capabilities
>
Fully equipped practice facilities and computer labs with the latest industry standard equipment
>
Fully equipped practice facilities and computer labs with the latest industry standard equipment

i Faculty

Musicians Institute hosts a highly skilled faculty with extensive experience in the world of contemporary music.

i Faculty

Musicians Institute hosts a highly skilled faculty with extensive experience in the world of contemporary music.

i Alumni Success Stories

i Alumni Success Stories

Nicole Row Panic! At the Disco

BASS PROGRAM

“The most important thing I took from MI was what you do with what you’re given. I tried my best to absorb everything I heard, and took every gig I was offered.”

Nicole Row Panic! At the Disco

BASS PROGRAM

“The most important thing I took from MI was what you do with what you’re given. I tried my best to absorb everything I heard, and took every gig I was offered.”

Derek Keota Best Engineered Album Grammy Nomination

AUDIO ENGINEERIG PROGRAM

“To say MI has been a life-changing experience would be an understatement.”

Bishop Briggs Singer/Songwriter

VOCAL PROGRAM

“I truly never saw myself doing anything other than music.”

JUSTIN DERRICO

Pink, NBC’s The Voice

GUITAR PROGRAM

“I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for MI.”

KELLY APPLETON /

Sam Smith, Tricky, Florence & The Machine

GUITAR PROGRAM

“I was fascinated by the L.A. music scene…all the big touring acts seem to recruit in L.A., it just seemed like the logical place to be and MI the best launching pad.”

MATEUS ASATO /

Silk Sonic, Tori Kelly

GUITAR PROGRAM

“I had a teacher [at MI] that changed my whole life, Dale Turner, and he had a class called Jimi Hendrix Rhythm Guitar. That changed the whole thing.”

DAVE ELLEFSON 

Megadeath

GUITAR PROGRAM

“I came here to Hollywood, specifically to the Musicians Institute because this was at the epicenter of everything cool.”

PAUL GILBERT /

Racer X, Mr. Big

GUITAR PROGRAM

“When I was 17, I went to G.I.T (MI)…That was really helpful for learning to apply music theory to the guitar fingerboard, and I was really inspired by all the great teachers and students.”

JUSTIN DERRICO /

Pink, NBC’s The Voice

GUITAR PROGRAM

“I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for MI.”

International Students

International students make up nearly one-fourth of MI’s total student population, representing more than 50 countries throughout the world. The International Student Office is dedicated to making the transition from each student’s home country to MI’s Hollywood campus as smooth and easy as possible.

i CAREER OPTIONS

i CAREER OPTIONS

“What can I do with a degree in Guitar Performance?”

Following in the non-traditional spirit of MI, graduates with a degree in Guitar have found careers in diverse settings across the music industry. We strive to prepare graduates for any opportunities that arise in music, like:

> PERFORMER

As a guitar performer, you can perform as a solo artist or as part of a band.

> ACCOMPANIST (STUDIO OR LIVE)

Accompanists typically play instruments like piano or guitar and support and collaborate with vocalists, dancers, theater performers, and other creative artists.

> ARRANGER

An arranger takes compositions and alters the melody, harmony, and tempos to change the tone and style of the original piece.

> SONGWRITER

Songwriters specialize in writing the melodies, harmonies and lyrical elements for a specific instrument or part of a song. They can be the artist behind the song, or write for other artists to use.

> MUSIC SUPERVISOR

The music supervisor is the head of the music department on a film or television show, overseeing song placement and licensing music for the production.

> TRANSCRIBER

Transcribers might work with a composer to notate the notes, arrangement, and pitch of a previously unwritten song or score.

“What can I do with a degree in Guitar Performance?”

Following in the non-traditional spirit of MI, graduates with a degree in Guitar have found careers in diverse settings across the music industry. We strive to prepare graduates for any opportunities that arise in music, like:

> PERFORMER

As a guitar performer, you can perform as a solo artist or as part of a band.

> ACCOMPANIST (STUDIO OR LIVE)

Accompanists typically play instruments like piano or guitar and support and collaborate with vocalists, dancers, theater performers, and other creative artists.

> ARRANGER

An arranger takes compositions and alters the melody, harmony, and tempos to change the tone and style of the original piece.

> SONGWRITER

Songwriters specialize in writing the melodies, harmonies and lyrical elements for a specific instrument or part of a song. They can be the artist behind the song, or write for other artists to use.

> MUSIC SUPERVISOR

The music supervisor is the head of the music department on a film or television show, overseeing song placement and licensing music for the production.

> TRANSCRIBER

Transcribers might work with a composer to notate the notes, arrangement, and pitch of a previously unwritten song or score.

i Career Development

i CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Artist & Career Services

Artist & Career Services (ACS) is an extensive resource center designed to offer students and alumni active professional & personal development to succeed in today’s competitive entertainment industry.

ACS provides help in career development like resume building, workshops, industry mentors, discounted gear, internships and more.

INTERNSHIPS

The ACS Internship Program provides MI students with real-world experience in the music industry through internships in music-related companies. Students in the Music Business Program are required to complete an internship, while Common Course and Audio Engineering majors are able to sign up to be interviewed and considered for the elective program.

INTERNSHIPS

The ACS Internship Program provides MI students with real-world experience in the music industry through internships in music-related companies. Students in the Music Business Program are required to complete an internship, while Common Course and Audio Engineering majors are able to sign up to be interviewed and considered for the elective program.

i SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID

i FINANCIAL AID

Don’t let finances get in the way of your dreams. MI has a range of scholarships available for incoming students of all kinds. Scholarships available to Guitar students include:

>

MUSICIANSHIP SCHOLARSHIP

Musicianship Scholarships are available to new and current instrumental students enrolling in the Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Composition, Associate of Arts, or Certificate in Performance Programs.

>

D’ADDARIO WOMEN IN GUITAR SCHOLARSHIP

D’Addario Music Foundation, was created to assist advanced, stylistically diverse female guitarists with their educational development.

Ready to start your Guitar journey?

Ready to start your Guitar journey?

The first step in applying to our on-ground or online program is to complete an Application for Admission, and get started with the best music college!

The first step in applying to our on-ground or online program is to complete an Application for Admission, and get started with the best music college!

MI Online logo

Can’t make it to Hollywood? You can enroll in our Online Guitar program from anywhere in the world through MI Online!

i UPCOMING EVENTS

i Upcoming Events

MIO INFO SESSION

---------------------------------

 

Meet the MI Online team as they
guide you through the MIO
platform, the diverse program
offerings, and the steps needed to
apply.

FINANCING YOUR
EDUCATION

FinAidInfoSessionDate---------

 

You’ll learn about everything from
an overview of the financial aid process,
to key documents you’ll encounter,
and different funding sources that
can help you manage costs.

VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE

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Find out for yourself why
thousands of musicians from all
over the world have made MI the
launching pad for their careers.

Nicole Row Panic! At the Disco

BASS PROGRAM

"The most important thing I took from MI was what you do with what you’re given. I tried my best to absorb everything I heard, and took every gig I was offered."

Nicole Row Panic! At the Disco

BASS PROGRAM

"The most important thing I took from MI was what you do with what you’re given. I tried my best to absorb everything I heard, and took every gig I was offered."

Nicole Row Panic! At the Disco

BASS PROGRAM

"The most important thing I took from MI was what you do with what you’re given. I tried my best to absorb everything I heard, and took every gig I was offered."

CONNECT WITH AN ADMISSIONS ADVISOR

Enter your info below and our Admissions team will contact you shortly, or call us at 800-255-7259.

 

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