EARN A MUSIC DEGREE FROM ANYWHERE
Musicians Institute Online was founded on the idea that if anyone has a passion for music, they should be able to learn from other musicians in a creative, collaborative, and supportive environment–and all on their terms.
MI Online is the online extension of MI’s rich history and core philosophies, offering access to MI’s acclaimed curriculum and supportive, interactive course content to anyone, and in any part of the world. Regardless of where life is taking you, MI Online will be there to help you make your music dreams come true.
WHAT DOES MI ONLINE OFFER?
We are excited to announce that in SPRING of 2023, MI Online will be offering Bachelor of Music in Performance degrees in Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keyboard and Vocals!
MI Online already offers a Bachelor of Music in Songwriting and Production.
MI Online also offers Certificate, Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees in various performance and music industry programs, including Bass, Drums, Guitar, Keyboard, Independent Artist, Vocal, Studio Recording Technology, DJ Performance & Production, Songwriting, Artist/Producer/Entrepreneur, and Music Business.
Every MI Online course is taught by the college’s world-class faculty of accomplished musicians, where students will be personally guided through pre-recorded video lectures which can be accessed from anywhere. Altogether, MI Online music school provides real-world, artist-driven, and authentic learning opportunities to those who are committed to improving their craft and pursuing a meaningful life in music.
General FAQs
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What is MI Online?
MI Online is the online music school that delivers the curriculum and programs offered at Musicians Institute, in Hollywood, California. Through live lectures, discussions, pre-recorded video content, and many other forms of content delivery housed in our virtual classrooms, MI Online’s goal is to provide access to our innovative curriculum and inspiring faculty to anyone – from anywhere.
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Can I take the course using my mobile phone or tablet?
Yes! MI Online is designed for students who are on the go. Our Learning Management System (LMS) works on most mobile devices. Students will be able to watch pre-recorded videos and complete some course work on mobile phones. However, most courses will require a computer or laptop.
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Are MI Online courses available for credit?
Yes! MI Online courses are offered in for-credit and not-for-credit options. For-credit courses are part of MI’s Certificate and Associate Degree programs. Not-for-credit courses are individual courses for students who are interested in music training and skills development. Not-for-credit courses are not applicable toward the attainment of any degree, certificate, or another academic award.
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How do MI Online courses work?
MI Online follows the same academic calendar as our campus in Hollywood. Courses taken for-credit are 11 weeks in length, 10 weeks of instruction and 1 week of final exams. Not for-credit courses consist of 10 weeks of instruction only, and 1 optional week of final exams. Each week you’ll watch pre-recorded video lessons, and you will participate in discussion with your peers, practice and submit assignments, and receive meaningful feedback from your instructor. Depending on the course, there will be weekly quizzes, mid-term and final exams. It should take approximately 10-12 hours per week to complete the lessons and assignments, more or less time may be required based on a student’s level of experience.
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What coursework and assignments do I need to complete?
Coursework and assignments are designed for students to develop the skills necessary to meet the expected student learning outcomes of each course. Typical assignments can be discussion posts and responses to peers, video performances of students playing required assignments, watching video, listening to podcasts, listening to and analyzing music, reading, and writing papers.
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Is there a final assignment at the end of the course?
Yes, depending on your course, you’ll be required to complete a final assessment or upload your final assignment.
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Where can I view my progress in the course?
You can view your progress on the Grades tab of your course homepage in the LMS.
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How long is the course material available for?
You’ll have access to your course material up to 2 weeks after your course ends. As you are working through the course, you should download all available materials for your device of choice.
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What kind of internet connection and gear will I need for the course and lectures?
You will need a computer (desktop or laptop, PC/Mac). We recommend that you connect to an Internet Line with an average speed of 10Mbps or better, and use an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi. We suggest using Chrome or Firefox internet browsers on iOS, MacOS, Windows or Android and have complete access to install software on the computer you are using. Throughout the program, students will be required to make basic recordings of individual musical performances and/or interview style presentations. Recommended recording software includes Audacity, iMovie, and GarageBand. If purchasing a third party digital audio workstation software like Logic, Reason, Pro Tools, minimum system requirements are below:
Mac:
– Intel® Mac with macOS 10.12.6, 10.13.6, 10.14.4 or 10.14.5 (please find version specific qualifications in the macOS Compatibility Grid below; confirm that your other software is compatible with macOS Mojave before upgrading–see this article for more information)
– Intel® Core i5 processor (Pro Tools Standard), Intel® Core i7 processor (Pro Tools | Ultimate)
– 16GB RAM (32GB or more recommended)
– Internet connection for installation
– 15GB disk space for installation
– PCIe slot for HDX or HD Native card (incl. one power connection on motherboard), Thunderbolt port for supported PCIe-chassis or HD Native Thunderbolt
– USB port, FireWire port or Thunderbolt port for CoreAudio-supported audio device
– Pro Tools | Ultimate requires a Pro Tools DigiLink I/O license to access HD hardware. For more information see this articleWindows:
– Intel® PC Windows 10 Home, Pro, and Enterprise 64-bit Editions (please find version specific qualifications in the Windows OS Compatibility Grid below)
– Windows 10 for Workstations supported on Intel® Xeon processor-equipped machines
– Intel® Core i5 processor (Pro Tools Standard), Intel® i9, or Intel® Xeon processor (Pro Tools | Ultimate)
– 16GB RAM (32GB or more recommended)
– Internet connection for installation
– 15GB disk space for installation
– PCIe slot for HDX or HD Native card (incl. one power connection on motherboard)
– USB-port, FireWire-port for ASIO-supported audio device
– Pro Tools | Ultimate requires a Pro Tools DigiLink I/O license to access HD hardware. For more information see this article
LMS FAQs
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What is the LMS?
The LMS is your “Learning Management System.” Think of it as your virtual environment for everything related to your course or program. MI Online uses the cloud-based Brightspace Desire 2 Learn “D2L” as the primary LMS. For more information on D2L please visit: https://www.d2l.com/higher-education/
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What are Discussions?
Discussions are similar to social media news feeds. It’s a great way to communicate and connect with your instructor and classmates. MI Online is a community of learners. We encourage engagement and our discussion posts are a great way for students to communicate and engage with one another. Students are required to create one discussion post and reply to two students posts each week.
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How do I add a post to a Discussion?
Log into your MI Online LMS. As you work through your course you will be prompted to create and reply to discussion posts as part of your weekly assignments. Your instructors will post questions for you to respond to in order to get the conversation started.
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Where can I download my coursework or unit learning documents?
Material available for download will be embedded throughout the course.
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What are Announcements?
Announcements contain information about your course and are posted by either your Instructor or the MI Online Support Team.
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How can I contact my course instructor?
You can contact your instructor for general questions via the course discussions and/or through email. You can find your discussions embedded in your course weekly modules and you can email your instructor directly in the LMS.
Technical/Course FAQs
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What devices/browsers are supported?
Our platform is accessible using modern devices and browsers. However, for the most reliable experience, we recommend using the latest versions of Firefox, Safari or Chrome.
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Who can I contact for further help?
If you are experiencing account related issues, please contact us at support@online.mi.edu.
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Is closed captioning available for your videos?
Yes, closed captioning is available for MI Online videos.
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What languages are supported?
English is currently the only supported language.
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How do I enroll in a course, certificate or degree program?
Enrolling in a course or certificate program is easy and can be done completely online. Please select Apply Now on this website to begin an application. You can also contact our admissions team directly at 866-383-0468 (toll-free) or 323-462-1384 (local and international) or send us an email at admissions.mi.edu.
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Who are the instructors?
Our instructors are MI faculty who are highly-specialized and recognized experts in their field. Additional instructors may be added from time to time to support additional sections.
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How many credits do I need to take to be considered part-time and full-time as an undergraduate student?
MI Online recognizes that due to family commitments and/or work schedules online students might not be able to devote the time necessary to be a full-time student. Therefore, we allow students to enroll in Certificate and Associate degree programs part-time. To be considered part-time, undergraduate students need to take a minimum of 7.0 credits in a quarter. To be considered, full-time undergraduate students need to take a minimum of 12 credits in a quarter. We recommend students take 15 credits per quarter to complete your program on time.
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How long will it take to complete a program?
The amount of time it will take to complete a program will vary depending on the number of courses required in the program, your enrollment status (full-time or part-time), and if you opt to skip a quarter during your program. Below is an average of how long it will take to complete the program if you are a full-time student and do not take any breaks in enrollment:
– Individual courses: Each individual course is 10 weeks in length, with 1 week of final exams.
– Certificate programs are two quarters (6 months) to four quarters (12 months) in length.
– Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degree are six quarters (18 months) in length. -
Can I transfer my enrollment from MI Online to MI on campus?
For information about transfers, please see our Academic Policies listed in the MI Online catalog.
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Can I apply for federal financial aid?
MI Online does accept federal financial aid (FAFSA) for our online programs. For more information on Federal Financial Aid, please visit our Financial Aid page: https://www.mi.edu/admissions/financial-aid/
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Can I use tuition assistance to pay for an MI Online course?
MI Online does accept tuition assistance for United States veterans. For information about using military tuition assistance, please visit the Financial Aid page: https://www.mi.edu/admissions/financial-aid/
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Can international students take MI Online courses?
Yes! As long as you have an internet connection, you can study at MI Online from anywhere in the world.
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Do I need to know how to read music to take a course?
It depends on the course or program you are applying to. Prerequisites and general admission requirements are listed in the course description and on the admissions page.
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Do I need a high-school diploma or equivalent to enroll in an undergraduate certificate program or take a course for undergraduate credit?
It depends on the course or program you are enrolling in. You need a high school diploma or a GED to be enrolled in a certificate or degree program. You do not need a high school diploma or GED to enroll in a single non-credit course. International institutions must be evaluated for high school diploma/GED equivalency.
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Can my parent or guardian contact the school on my behalf and obtain information regarding my enrollment?
According to the FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)
students are entitled to specific privacy rights with respect to their academic records and student directory information. Student directory information is considered to be name, address, telephone number, and certain school related information. At Musicians Institute, student records and information may only be provided to the student or specific parties authorized in writing by the student, a Musicians Institute employee, representatives of Federal or State agencies, accrediting organizations, auditors, or other officials authorized under the Act. FERPA information is provided to students during the enrollment process. Currently enrolled students may obtain FERPA information upon request from the Registrar’s Office. -
Are textbooks, software, and hardware included in tuition costs?
Textbooks, software, and hardware are not included in the tuition costs.
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Do MI Online students have access to the Music Library?
Yes, MI Online students enrolled in a certificate or degree program have complete digital access to the MI Music Library. The Musicians Institute Music Library provides a wealth of media, online research databases and resources, print materials, and related equipment to support MI’s educational programs, as well as access to videos of visiting artist concerts, seminars, and instructional media.
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Do MI Online Students have access to the MI Artist & Career center?
Yes, MI Online students enrolled in a certificate or degree program have complete digital access to the MI Music Artist & Industry Support Center. The goal of the Artist & Industry Support Center (AISC) is to empower students by enhancing their understanding of course materials, facilitating professional development learning strategies, and fostering confidence and skills needed to excel in the entertainment industry. MI Online students can participate in one-on-one advisement meetings covering topics including (but not limited to): EPK’s (Electronic Press Kits), Resumes, Entrepreneurship, Self-Branding, Audition Preparation, and all other musical and career based matters.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MI
MI ONLINE MUSIC PROGRAMS
BASS
DRUMS
GUITAR
KEYBOARD
VOCAL
STUDIO RECORDING
SONGWRITING
MUSIC BUSINESS
INDEPENDENT ARTIST
ARTIST/PRODUCER/ENTREPRENEUR
ELECTRONIC MUSIC PRODUCTION