i Program Overview

The Bass Program at Musicians Institute is one of our foundational performance programs. Since its inception, the goal of the MI Bass program has been to train bassists with the practical, hands-on skills that will allow them to thrive in diverse musical environments.

How do we accomplish this? First, we have a world-class staff of bass faculty, who are all still working in the industry today. This means that students are being taught and getting guidance that is most relevant to being a successful, modern working musician.

Second, our bass program offers a wide variety of genres and styles to study. These classes will equip you with the bass foundation to handle any style of music, from funk, rock, jazz, R&b, and more!

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 bass teacher, a touring musician, an artist, and beyond!

At MI, you aren’t just training to be a bassist–you’re training to be a versatile, adaptable musician who is ready to seize any opportunity that comes your way. Whether you aspire to be a solo artist, a touring musician, or a behind-the-scenes session player, our Bass Program equips you with the skills, connections, and experience. Enroll today to turn those dreams into reality.

 

CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHTS

BASS-011 – Bass Technique & Fretboard

BASS-370 – Synth Bass

BASS-014 – Bass Gear Maintenance & Mastery

> 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 ARTS – 12 Quarters

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS – 6 Quarters

CERTIFICATE – 4 Quarters

MI SELECT (Individual Courses) – 10 Weeks

i Program Overview

 

The Bass Program at Musicians Institute is one of our foundational performance programs. Since its inception, the goal of the MI Bass program has been to train bassists with the practical, hands-on skills that will allow them to thrive in diverse musical environments.

How do we accomplish this? First, we have a world-class staff of bass faculty, who are all still working in the industry today. This means that students are being taught and getting guidance that is most relevant to being a successful, modern working musician.

Second, our bass program offers a wide variety of genres and styles to study. These classes will equip you to handle any style of music, from funk, rock, jazz, R&b, and more!

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 bass 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

BASS-011 – Bass Technique & Fretboard

BASS-370 – Synth Bass

BASS-014 – Bass Gear Maintenance & Mastery

> 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 ARTS – 12 Quarters

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS – 6 Quarters

CERTIFICATE – 4 Quarters

MI SELECT (Individual Courses) – 10 Weeks

i The MI Difference

i The MI Difference

Live Performance Workshops

MI is unique in its focus on the stage, and Bass 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.

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.

Equipment & Facilities

Students will have access to top of the line basses, amps 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, Suhrl, Schecter, Squier, ESP, and other top bass 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.

IMMERSIVE CURRICULUM

Bass students will gain exposure to various grooves like rock, funk, shuffle, swing, odd- meter, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, country, and jam-band. They will also learn fretboard basics covering triads, chords, scales, harmonies and arpeggios.

Live Performance Workshops

MI is unique in its focus on the stage, and Bass 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.

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.

Equipment & Facilities

Students will have access to top of the line basses, amps 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, Suhrl, Schecter, Squier, ESP, and other top bass 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.

Immersive Curriculum

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

  • Exposure to various grooves like rock, funk, shuffles, swing, odd- meter, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, country, and jam-band
  • Fretboard basics covering triads, chords, scales, harmonies and arpeggios
  • Reading fundamentals for the bass clef, with rhythmic subdivisions, pitch identification, and string positions

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

Bishop Briggs Singer/Songwriter

VOCAL PROGRAM

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

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 /

Incubus, 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.”

MATT MCJUNKINS /

A Perfect Circle

BASS PROGRAM

“Being around other people that are doing the same [things] that you wanted to do, I think is very helpful, very inspiring.”

JUAN ALDERETE /

Mars Volta, Racer X

BASS PROGRAM

“If you had a love for music, what would you do? Submerge yourself in it.”

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 Bass Performance?”

Following in the non-traditional spirit of MI, graduates with a degree in Bass 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 bassist, 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 Bass Performance?”

Following in the non-traditional spirit of MI, graduates with a degree in Bass 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 bassist, 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.

i SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID

i FINANCIAL AID

Don’t let finances get in the way of your dreams! MI has a range of scholarships and financial aid options available for incoming students of all kinds. Scholarships available to Bass 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.

>

SCHECTER MICHAEL ANTHONY BASS SCHOLARSHIP

The Schecter Michael Anthony Bass Scholarship (sponsored by Schecter Guitars) was created to directly encourage and support the educational growth of bass program students at Musicians Institute at the AA or B.M. level.

Ready to start your Bass journey?

Ready to start your Bass 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 Bass program from anywhere in the world through MI Online!

i UPCOMING EVENTS

i Upcoming Events

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.

ON-CAMPUS 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.

MI ONLINE 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.

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."

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