Admissions  Frequently Asked Questions

Musicians Institute offers a wide variety of degrees and areas of concentration in the field of contemporary music. Program options include:

Bachelor of Music in Performance (180 credit units, twelve quarters): a unique degree program combining contemporary music performance with rigorous training in such traditional music disciplines as theory, arranging, and music history.

Associate of Arts in Performance (90 credit units, six quarters): provides comprehensive instrument skills, musical knowledge and practical performing experience preparing you for the challenges of professional and creative contemporary performing careers. AA options also include combinations of instrument study and music-industry specialties (audio engineering, music business, independent artist development, film, guitar-making).

Certificate in Performance (60 credit units, four quarters): provides a solid, intensive foundation in instrument technique, musicianship, and contemporary music performing experience.

Music Industry Certificate Programs (30-45 credit units, two-three quarters): focused, intensive instruction in non-performing fields including audio engineering, independent artist development, music business, film, and guitar-making.

Encore Program (non-certificate training in music; one quarter): customized programs in performance – create a personalized ten-week schedule of classes and lessons on your instrument.

To find out more about each program, available options, and how to apply, contact an Admissions Representative.

Musicians Institute is an accredited member institution of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), a national accrediting agency recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the US Department of Education.

Criteria for admission vary according to the particular program. An Admissions Representative will answer all of your questions and tell you exactly what you need to do to apply to the program of your choice. Once you’ve made a decision, the first step toward applying to any program is to fill out an application form. To request an application:

Telephone:	From the Los Angeles area or from outside the US: 323-462-1384 From other US phones: 1-800-255-7529
Email:	admissions@mi.edu
Write:	Admissions Department Musicians Institute 6752 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood, CA 90028

While you are not required to take specific High School courses to be admitted to MI, we strongly recommend that you take advantage of any music-related studies available to you. Relevant classes would include Music Appreciation, Music Theory, Ear Training, Music Reading, Music Industry Studies, Ensemble, Choir, Band, Chorus, Computer Skills and Keyboard Skills.

Outside of school, private lessons (for performance students) are also very important. An additional source of preparatory information is available through MI Press (www.mi.edu/aboutmi/mi-press; Hal Leonard Publishing), the official publications of Musicians Institute. A number of books, book/CD and DVD titles are available on a variety of subjects related to MI programs that can also be used in conjunction with private lessons.

Admission requirements vary by degree level and subject area. Bachelor Degree students are required to submit a letter of recommendation from a music teacher (private teachers are acceptable), but you are not required to show that you have taken specific courses or attended a certain type of school. You will be evaluated according to the criteria most relevant to the program to which you are applying and based on the level of skill and knowledge you demonstrate in your application. Acceptable skill levels can be acquired through any combination of training including self-study, private study, live performing experience, online study, workshops, classes, or formal training.

Click here [PDF document] to see specific performance standards for Bachelor Degree applicants; click here [PDF document] for Music Theory and Ear Training requirements.

There are many factors that enter into determining your qualifications to enter a specific MI program. Skill, knowledge, and experience all play an important role, but so do focus and dedication. We consider not only whether you are prepared to begin a program, but also whether you’re prepared to finish it. Most programs begin by teaching fundamentals but also move very quickly into more advanced areas. A less-experienced musician with a high degree of discipline can complete a program with great success, whereas a musician with more experience who is not prepared to put in the necessary effort may wind up struggling. It’s not so much a matter of how long you’ve been a musician, but more about how dedicated you are to moving forward with your musical development.

Before you apply, an Admissions Representative can give you an idea of whether your level of experience appears to be high enough for you to apply. After you submit your application, senior instructors will carefully review it and determine your ability, skill level, and overall qualifications for acceptance into the program. In some cases, they may recommend that you re-apply after further study, or that you consider entering a different program or at a different degree level. If you are accepted, when you arrive to register for classes you will be evaluated again and placed into course levels appropriate to your current level of skill, knowledge and experience.

MI’s Artist & Career Services Department (ACS) is dedicated to helping students stay informed of the many professional opportunities available in the music industry, helping prepare them to take advantage of these opportunities and making the transition from student to working professional as smooth as possible. While MI does not guarantee that enrolling in or completing any program will lead to employment, or that any student will obtain any specific job during or after enrollment, ACS does offer a variety of career-oriented services to students and alumni including:

Musicians Referral Service (MRS): MI’s exclusive online resource for connecting talent with opportunity. MRS receives frequent calls from bandleaders, managers, potential music students, producers, booking agents, A&R representatives and studio managers who require the services of trained musicians and engineers and provides contacts to members.

Career Counseling: one-on-one sessions with experienced professionals who can provide specific advice on how to prepare for professional and creative opportunities in the music industry.

Auditions: MI’s exclusive weekly Hiring Hall audition showcase brings top signed artists seeking talent into the school on a weekly basis. Audition opportunities are open to all students and are advertised to the student body and alumni through the Musicians Referral Service. Past auditions have included Selena Gomez, Macy Gray, Avril Lavigne, Smashing Pumpkins, The Offspring, Gwen Stefani, Korn, NIN, Rob Thomas, Hilary Duff, Maroon 5, Lifehouse, Hoobastank, Missy Elliot, Billy Howerdel, Finch, Rockstar Supernova, Derek Sherinian, Liz Phair, Matt Sorum (MI does not guarantee specific future auditions). Weekly audition workshops train you in specific techniques for audition preparation, how to handle yourself during the audition, and how to present the best possible image to potential employers.

Internships: MI’s Internship Coordinator places qualified students with music-industry companies so they can gain inside experience during enrollment; internships are also a proven method for developing contacts leading to employment.

The California Bureau of Private Post-Secondary Education has recently revised its policies about how placement statistics are reported. Updated information regarding the number of students who have been placed as well as the starting salary you can earn after finishing a specific educational program will be available beginning in September 2010. Please see this document for current information - School Performance Fact Sheet.docx

MI’s mission is to provide students with the tools to achieve their highest creative and professional potential. The real measure of success is what former students accomplish in the years after MI. We are proud to be part of their development, but their success, whether in or out of the public eye, is the result of individual dedication and tenacity. To mention only a few, former MI students who have gone on to public recognition as recording artists include Keb’ Mo’, Jeff Buckley, Norman Brown, and Brooke White; instrument virtuosos include Paul Gilbert, Scott Henderson, Jennifer Batten and Frank Gambale, and members of internationally-known bands include John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Rivers Cuomo, Brian Bell and Scott Shriner (Weezer), and Dave Kushner (Velvet Revolver). Other grads are found on stage or in the studio with artists ranging from Nine Inch Nails, Paul Stanley, Chris Cornell, Paul Stanley, Stone Temple Pilots, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, and Korn to Mariah Carey, Pink, Christina Aguilera, Jordin Sparks, Rihanna, Melissa Etheridge, and the late Michael Jackson.

Check out “Success Stories” on MI’s website to see examples of hundreds of grads who are working in every part of the music industry.

Tuition varies by program type and length. Contact your Admissions Representative or see the current Course Catalog for a complete description of tuition and fees.

Musicians Institute is authorized to provide aid for US Citizens and permanent residents under various federal and state financial aid programs. Each type of aid has specific eligibility requirements and the amount you qualify to receive will vary according to your individual circumstances and the program to which you are applying. If you qualify, you may be eligible for one or more types of aid. However, it is important for you to know that financial aid does not usually cover all of your tuition costs.

The first step in applying for financial aid is to log on to www.fafsa.ed.gov and enter the MI school code (015238) By filing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online, you ensure its accuracy and the information goes directly to the federal processor, which means you receive your Student Aid Report sooner. It's fast, convenient, and user-friendly. If you require a paper application, you may contact MI's financial aid office and one will be mailed to you. Upon request from the Financial Aid Office, you may need to provide additional documents such as student and/or parent tax returns, verification of untaxed income, or other documents required to determine eligibility. The Financial Aid Office will mail your award notification approximately 3-6 weeks after receipt of your Student Aid Report (depending on the time of year) only if you have already been accepted for admission to MI.

Musicians Institute offers a variety of scholarships designed to provide tuition assistance to students during their enrollment at MI. Log on to http://www.mi.edu/admissions/scholarships for a list of current scholarships, how to apply, and the deadline for submission. Refer to each scholarship application for specific details; for all additional questions about scholarships, please contact the Admissions Department.

Tours are conducted between 9am and 6pm each weekday by appointment with your Admissions Representative. Another great opportunity to tour the campus is to attend a Hands-On Open House. These events are scheduled throughout the year; contact the Admissions department for details, dates and to make a reservation.

Every college sets its own requirements for accepting credits from other institutions, and these requirements vary widely based on program content, institutional accreditation, and other factors and is determined case-by-case by the receiving institution. MI cannot guarantee in advance that any specific institution will accept your credits, but should you need to transfer, we are prepared to help you through the process.

As with transferring to other institutions, the question of which or how many of your prior credits are transferable to a specific program at MI must be handled on a case-by-case basis (see the current Course Catalog for more information on transfer of credits into MI’s Bachelor of Music program). However, if you have successfully studied at another institution of higher education and seek to enter a similar program at MI, you may qualify for advanced placement in certain areas; this will be determined based on your placement interview at the time of registration.

Hollywood is known as the entertainment capital of the world, and MI’s main entrance is in the center of Hollywood on legendary Hollywood Boulevard, just blocks from locations like the Kodak (Academy Award) Theater, Grauman’s Chinese Theater, clubs, recording studios and entertainment industry headquarters in every direction. For more information on Hollywood, Student Housing, transportation, and living in LA, contact an MI Admissions Counselor.

MI does not own housing, but the surrounding neighborhood contains many apartments and other housing options. Thousands of MI students have moved to Hollywood from all over the world and found safe, clean, convenient housing. MI’s on-campus housing coordinator will provide you with information based on neighborhood, affordability, and features. You can also reduce costs by getting referrals for roommates who are also attending MI. A housing guide will be sent to you automatically upon acceptance, the Housing Coordinator will provide information before you arrive in LA, and during registration week you can meet potential roommates at special housing meetings.

Hollywood has received quite a makeover in recent years, sparked by new businesses and attractions such as the Academy Awards theater. During the day, streets are crowded with tourists from all over the world, and at night a thriving club culture fills venues on the Boulevard and side streets. The local business improvement district provides private security patrols in addition to the normal police presence. Aside from MI, thousands of students live and study at schools throughout the Hollywood area. MI provides a door-to-door free shuttle bus service at night for students living within two miles. However, Hollywood and Los Angeles are large urban areas and common-sense precautions are important. Don’t walk alone at night on deserted streets, especially carrying expensive equipment, and stick to well-lighted, well-traveled areas whenever possible. Tens of thousands of young men and women from all over the world have lived and studied in Hollywood over the past three decades and consider it to have been the best time of their lives – we think you will, too.

Download the latest Crime Statistics Report here: Crime Statistics Report.pdf *.

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