BACHELOR OF MUSIC DEGREES
BACHELOR DEGREE IN MUSIC PROGRAM
The Bachelor of Music program offers degrees in Performance (Contemporary Style: Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard, Bass & Drums), Composition (Scoring for Visual Media) and Songwriting and Production. While the primary area of specialization may vary, comprehensive coursework in the study of music theory, ear-training, keyboard proficiency, music history, arranging, conducting, audio production and business relations serves as an integral part of both programs.
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Performance from Musicians Institute may minor in either Audio Production or Industry Studies.
Unlike other Bachelor of Music programs, Musicians Institute’s curriculum includes in-depth study of both traditional and contemporary techniques relating to performance, songwriting, composition, and songwriting and production. We welcome student musicians interested in a wide variety of styles, our goal being to prepare all graduates for successfully navigating the ever-changing environment that is today’s music industry.
GRADUATE INDUSTRY-READY WITH AN MI MUSIC DEGREE
When you graduate with your Bachelor in Music Degree from Musicians Institute you will leave with:
- EPK (Electronic Press Kit)
- Recordings of arrangements in multiple instrumentations:
- Rhythm Section
- 2 Horns + Rhythm Section
- 4 Horns + Rhythm Section
- String Quintet
- 4 Vocalists, Strings, 5 Horns, Rhythm Section
- Big Band
- Pro Tools and Logic Certification
- 2 High Definition Videos of Sophomore and Senior Jury Performances
- Full scores demonstrating notation, arranging, and transcription skills
BACHELOR’S IN MUSIC DEGREES OFFERED
MUSIC PERFORMANCE
(Contemporary Styles)
This unique degree program combines contemporary music performance training with the rigorous study of traditional disciplines including music theory, history, sight-singing, keyboard proficiency, arranging, conducting & recording.
The comprehensive program instructs students to demonstrate stylistic depth, creative maturity and professional competence in preparation for careers in today’s music industry.
Students attain expertise in one of five major instruments:
SONGWRITING AND PRODUCTION
The Bachelor of Songwriting and Production at Musicians Institute is designed to create versatile and functioning songwriters in today’s modern music industry.
MUSIC COMPOSITION (Scoring For Visual Media Program)
The goal of MI’s Bachelor of Music Composition program is to provide students with the educational foundation for careers as composers of musical soundtracks for visual media including film, television, animation and games.
The curriculum includes in-depth studies in both traditional and popular techniques and styles of composition with emphasis on professional applications to contemporary media.
CAREERS IN MUSIC
In addition to the many general music-related classes and electives offered at MI, the Bachelor of Music Program provides grads with the essential knowledge and skills that lead to such career options as:
PERFORMER
ACCOMPANIST (STUDIO OR LIVE)
ARRANGER
BAND MEMBER
SOUND DESIGNER
FILM/TV COMPOSER
PERFORMER
SONGWRITER
MUSIC DIRECTOR
TRANSCRIBER
ORCHESTRATOR
RECORDING ARTIST
TEACHER
COMPOSER
MULTIMEDIA DEVELOPER
MIXING/MASTERING ENGINEER
PRODUCT REP
MUSIC DEGREE MINORS
Minor in Audio Production
Additional recording courses cover technology and techniques including Acoustics, Console Operation, Pro Tools, Mixing and Mastering, and more.
Minor in Entertainment Industry Studies
Concentrated courses in Music Publishing, Music Law, Record Companies, Management, Marketing and more.
MUSIC BACHELOR CURRICULUM
Musicians Institute’s Bachelor in Performance Program provides its participants with a multitude of skills that will allow them to succeed in all facets of the music business. The program is unique in the sense that it streamlines the education process so that there is a smooth transition from student to professional. Developments in the music world are quick and constant, and the Bachelor Program is designed to give students experience that will allow them to understand the past, excel in the present, and adapt in the future.
Technology
Technology classes that are built into the program give students hands-on practice with programs such as Pro-tools, Logic, Sibelius, Ableton, and Reason. Proficiency with these programs is essential for the working musician so that they may write, record, and notate in any given situation.
Arranging
Arranging classes not only give the students a chance to write and arrange pieces for rhythm section, horns, strings, and big band but also allow the students to have their pieces recorded in the studio by live session musicians. The students are tasked with leading the sessions and are given a high quality studio recording of their arrangement. Classes such as these give the students a real world view of what skills they need in order work in the studio as session musicians, arrangers, and producers while also providing them with valuable portfolio items in their recorded arrangements.
Juries
Bachelor students’ education experience is crowned by two performances in which they must notate, arrange, direct and perform 7 songs in front of a jury panel. Both the sophomore and senior jury are paced and designed to evaluate the culmination of skills in chart writing, arranging, musical ability, performance, and leadership. The entire performance is videotaped and edited so the students will essentially have a reel of their skills to present in resumes and auditions. While challenging, both juries provide the students with a productive assessment of their current skills and the path forward to success.
These distinctive classroom experiences combined with top notch faculty give Musicians Institute’s Bachelor students the necessary expertise to be front-runners in an ever-changing musical world.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor of Music Degree requirements include completion of 30 semester-units or 45 quarter-units of coursework in General Studies. For general reference, the required distribution of units is shown in our Course Catalog along with representative areas of coursework.
Please refer to the General Education Transfer Agreement between Los Angeles City College and Musicians Institute for specific course titles and numbers that meet the requirements. Units completed at other institutions will be evaluated to determine their equivalency; see Admissions: Transfer of Credit for more information.
COURSE CATALOG
For a detailed look at all of MI’s program offerings, you can find the course catalog here.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Musicians Institute offers many opportunities for scholarships in all of our programs. Please visit our Scholarship page for more information.
FINANCIAL AID
Please visit MI’s Financial Aid page for all the details on how you can qualify.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
International students make up nearly one-fourth of MI’s total student population, representing more than 50 countries throughout the world while creating a unique and diverse learning environment, full of endless opportunities in Hollywood and beyond. For more info, please visit the International Students page.
FACILITIES
BACHELOR OF MUSIC DEGREE FACILITIES
- Full production sound stages and recording studios
- Fully equipped 24/7 practice facilities and computer labs with the latest industry standard equipment
- Concert Hall access, with full audio/video recording capabilities
- Multiple performance and recording studios available for student practice
- 24/7 University security on campus
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Our faculty pool is comprised of dedicated, working processionals in the competitive Los Angeles music scene. These passionate masters offer clear guidance and nurturing designed to make the students get the most out of their time at MI.
ALEXIS SKLAREVSKI
CREDITS: CROSBY, STILLS & NASH, MANHATTAN TRANSFER, JACKSON BROWNE, DWEEZIL & AHMET ZAPPA, ALBERT LEE, CAROLE KING
LYMAN MEDEIROS
CREDITS: STEVE TYRELL, DIANE SCHUUR, ALEX ACUNA, ERIC MARIENTHAL, MARY CLAYTON, LEW SOLOFF, BYRON STRIPLING
DAVE KEIF
CREDITS: MARK LINDSAY, RITA COOLIDGE, ETTA JAMES; AND TV SHOWS AND MOVIES INCLUDING “SMALLVILLE” AND “THE HORSE WHISPERER”
MUSIC DEGREE FROM MUSICIANS INSTITUTE
The Bachelor of Music degree from MI is a rigorous and challenging program that provides students with a deep understanding of music theory, history, and performance. At Musicians Institute, students receive a comprehensive education that prepares them for successful careers in the music industry. The program offers a range of specializations, including Performance, Composition, and Songwriting and Production, which allows students to tailor their education to their specific interests and career goals.
Music education is an essential component of the Bachelor of Music program. Students receive intensive training in music theory, ear-training, keyboard proficiency, and arranging, as well as in-depth studies of music history and conducting. These skills are essential for success in the music industry, whether as a performer, composer, producer, or anything else in the music industry. In addition, the program includes courses in audio production and business relations, providing students with the practical skills they need to navigate the complex and ever-changing music industry.
Musicians Institute is renowned for its innovative and forward-thinking approach to music education. Unlike other Bachelor of Music programs, Musicians Institute’s curriculum includes in-depth study of both traditional and contemporary techniques relating to performance, songwriting, composition, and songwriting and production. The program is designed to prepare students for the rapidly changing landscape of the music industry and to provide them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a variety of music-related careers.
At Musicians Institute, students learn from experienced faculty members who are experts in their field. They receive individual attention and personalized instruction, allowing them to develop their skills and reach their full potential. In addition, the school’s state-of-the-art facilities and equipment provide students with the tools they need to create, perform, and produce high-quality music.
The Bachelor of Music degree from Musicians Institute is a valuable credential that opens doors to a range of exciting and rewarding careers in the music industry. Graduates of the program are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the industry and have the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to succeed. Whether they go on to work as performers, composers, producers, or music educators, Musicians Institute’s Bachelor of Music program provides them with a solid foundation for a successful career in music.