MUSIC PERFORMANCE
Guitar
Program Overview
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-153E – Jimi Hendrix Rhythm Guitar
GUIT-062E – Metal Guitar
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
CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHTS
GUIT-024 – Guitar Gear Mastery
GUIT-210 – Guitar Technique 210
GUIT-088E – Acid Jazz Guitar
GUIT-153E – Jimi Hendrix Rhythm Guitar
GUIT-062E – Metal Guitar
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
Facilities
Faculty
Musicians Institute hosts a highly skilled faculty with
extensive experience in the world of contemporary music.
Musicians Institute hosts a highly skilled faculty with extensive experience in the world of contemporary music.
Scott Henderson
Tribal Tech / Joe Zawinul / Chick Corea
Dean Brown
Billy Cobham / Brecker Brothers / Marcus Miller
Dan Gilbert
Dan Siegel / Robben Ford / Larry Carlton
Artur Menezes
Joe Satriani / Buddy Guy / TEDx
Scott Henderson
Tribal Tech / Joe Zawinul / Chick Corea
Dean Brown
Billy Cobham / Brecker Brothers / Marcus Miller
Dan Gilbert
Dan Siegel / Robben Ford / Larry Carlton
Artur Menezes
Joe Satriani / Buddy Guy / TEDx
The MI Difference
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.
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.
Scholarships & 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
The D’Addario Women in Guitar Scholarship, sponsored by The D’Addario Music Foundation, was created to assist advanced, stylistically diverse female guitarists with their educational development.
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.
Alumni Success Stories
Kelly Appleton / Guitar Program
Worked & toured with Sam Smith, Florence & The Machine, Tricky, Beth Ditto and more!
“I was fascinated by the LA music scene…all the big touring acts seem to recruit in LA, it just seemed like the logical place to be and MI the best launching pad.”
Kelly Appleton
Worked/Toured with Sam Smith, Florence & The Machine, Tricky, Beth Ditto and more!
GUITAR PROGRAM
“I was fascinated by the LA music scene…all the big touring acts seem to recruit in LA, it just seemed like the logical place to be and MI the best launching pad.”
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!
Can’t make it to Hollywood? You can enroll in our Guitar program from anywhere in the world through MI Online!
Upcoming Events
Open House
On-Campus:
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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.
Financing Your Education
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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.
MIO Info Session
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Meet the MI Online team as they
guide you through the MIO
platform, the diverse program
offerings, and the steps needed to
apply.
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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