2017-18 MUSICIANS INSTITUTE & MUSICIANS FOUNDATION SPONSORED FREE CLASSES @THE GRAMMY MUSEUM FOR LAUSD STUDENTS ANNOUNCED

The Musicians Foundation, Musicians Institute (MI) and The Grammy Museum are proud to present the 2017-2018 series of co-sponsored Grammy Museum Music Education classes for LA Unified School District high school students in the Museum’s intimate Clive Davis Theater.

The Grammy Museum has become an important gateway for supporting and preserving music education as a major sponsor of school tours and music classes for LA area middle and high school students who are suffering from severe cuts in arts education in their own school’s budget.

During 2017-18, the classes are taught exclusively by MI’s world-class faculty, and MI/The MF will be the Museum’s sole Education Class sponsors for the months of November, March and April.

This unique hands-on MI course series (now in its 10th consecutive year), has inspired and delighted thousands of high school students while imparting valuable knowledge and experience that are at the heart of making, understanding and appreciating both music and the music industry.  

Some classes may be available to the public, contact The Grammy Museum directly for more details.  All classes start at 11am.

 

Introduction to Today’s DJ Techniques: Charlie Sputnik

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

International DJ and musician Charlie Sputnik will demonstrate hands-on DJ techniques as well as discuss the various modern tools available to today’s aspiring DJs. Other important areas including obtaining gigs, promotion and contracts will be covered.

 

Introduction to Foley Recording and Editing:  Mehdi Hassine

Tuesday, November 14, 2017  AND   Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Using professional sound libraries and movie scene analysis, veteran Musicians Institute instructor (and top studio engineer and industry consultant in production and post-production) Mehdi Hassine will demonstrate and introduce students to the recording and editing techniques involved in synchronizing background and sound effects as well as what is involved in Foley sessions (footsteps and props) for film.

 

Beat Making and Samples: Darryl Swann

Tuesday, November 21, 2017 AND  Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Join veteran instructor Darryl Swann as he gives students a hands-on demonstration of sampling techniques, mixing principles and how to use an old-school drum machine and vinyl records to create beats. Starting his career in a metal band, Cleveland-born Swann has worked with artists such as Mos Def, Rick Rubin, Will I Am, Raphael Saddiq, Stevie Wonder and Macy Gray (producing her triple platinum smash hit album On How Life Is, featuring the Grammy Award-winning song I Try, and her follow-up record The Id).

 

Today’s Drummer: Creating Ableton Live Loops and the Drum Set:  Donny Gruendler

Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017

Many of today’s biggest rock, pop, R&B and hip hop acts use laptops, loops and Ableton Live to augment their live stage performances. Today’s high-profile drummers are emulating, embracing and working with DJs and newer technologies. This workshop will demonstrate how to create loops and backing tracks within Ableton Live. Students will participate interactively by recording hand claps, voices and various sound EFX into the instructor’s laptop and be shown how to make great loops out of these “on-the-spot” textures.

 

Music Business Careers: Dan Kimpel, Aaron Meza

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Want to learn how to “put your best foot forward” when entering a career in the music industry? Join Musicians Institute professors Dan Kimpel and Aaron Meza as they discuss a wide range of music career opportunities with students. Kimpel, author of the best-selling Networking in the Music Business and Meza, author of You’ve Written a Song So Now What? Both have a long history in the music industry and are considered leading authorities on popular music.

 

Hook, Lines and Sinkers- A Pop Lyric Writing Workshop: Anika Paris

Tuesday, April 3, 2018  AND Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Learn about lyric writing, using metaphors, similes, rhythms and rhymes in your lyrics, casting your song like a movie, creating story lines and characters and more as Anika Paris, a published songwriter with Universal Polygram and Warner Bros., leads students in exercises that will challenge them to begin their songwriting process. Students will be given a songwriting overview before being asked to pen their own creation to share with the class.

 

Networking Strategies: Aaron Meza

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Success in a changing music industry is determined by the strength and longevity of personal contacts: who you know, what you know and, most important, who knows you. Join Musicians Institute professor (and leading authority on popular music) Aaron Meza for this practical course, in which students will learn about different types of communication, social techniques, and presentation skills important to making personal contacts in all strata of the music business and building a professional support network.

 

Musicians Institute has been a major sponsor of The Grammy Museum Education programs since 2008, and is a proud Grammy Museum College Affiliate.

We’re Golden!

 

It’s not everyday that you can proudly proclaim that you’re golden; but we’re letting the world know that we have just achieved GuideStar Gold Certified Non-Profit Status!

Help us celebrate by supporting our mission to fund music college scholarships by shopping at Amazon Smile (they automatically give a portion of your purchase to us) – just click the image below, sign-in and start shopping!

 

Please be sure to visit our fantastic new website, too!

 

Spring 2017 MELODIC SOLOING SCHOLARSHIP WINNER: Eric (Wei-Hsiung) Shen

Guitar Program Chair Stig Mathisen with Eric (Wei-Hsiung) Shen

Musicians Institute and the Musicians Foundation are pleased to announce that Eric (Wei-Hsiung) Shen is the recipient of the Spring 2017 Melodic Soloing Scholarship.  

Eric comes to MI’s Guitar Program from Taiwan with 9 years of playing experience and in possession of solid melodic soloing skills with a specialization in blues.

While studying at MI, he plans to focus on “learning all the knowledge that a top professional musician needs, and to learn from the best!
When asked why he chose to study at MI he added “because it is close to the music industry and there are so many students who are just outstanding players. I’ve seen many talented MI students on social media and I want to be surrounded by great musicians who share my passion for music.”

His professional goals and aspirations include “devoting myself to the world blues music scene, like all the pioneers.  Those top blues guitar players like Joe Bonamassa, Matt Schofield…etc. are revolutionaries.  My long term goal and aspiration is to become an awesome musician like my heroes.”

Everyone at MI congratulates Eric on winning this very prestigious scholarship award, and we welcome him as he begins his studies and the many great experiences ahead at MI!

Special thanks to an anonymous MI Guitar Program alumnus (GIT class of 1980) for generously sponsoring this scholarship, which helps to provide talented students like Eric with the support, tools and recognition they need to launch successful careers in the music industry.

To learn more about the MI Alumni Community click HERE, and HERE

 

Spring 2017 President’s Award Bass Scholarship Winner: Imnajungshi (Jungshi) Aier

Bass Program Chair Maurice Verloop with Imnajungshi Aier

The 2017 President’s Award Bass Scholarship has been awarded to Musicians Institute Bass Program student: Imnajungshi Aier.  The Kohima, India native earned the prestigious award with a strong demonstration of his diverse musical skills in the Funk, Blues and Indie genres.

Describing his reasons for coming to MI, Jungshi states, “I heard about the school through a friend who also studied at MI and learned about it’s reputation and quality.  I chose to attend MI because I want to learn from the best instructors who can help me achieve my goals and guide me in the right direction.”

He sees his education as an important key to achieving his career goal of being able to “become a top bass player’.

Everyone at MI would like to congratulate Jungshi on winning this prestigious award.

Special thanks to MI’s longtime owner Histake Shibuya for generously sponsoring this scholarship, which helps to provide talented students like Jungshi with the support, tools and recognition they need to launch successful and creative careers in the music industry.

SPRING 2017 D’ADDARIO GUITAR SCHOLARSHIP WINNER: Luis Kalil Menezes

Guitar Program Chair Stig Mathisen with Luis Kalil Menezes

Talented guitarist Luis Kalil Menezes has been named as winner of the Spring 2017 D’Addario Guitar Scholarship.  Coming to Musicians Institute from Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Luis brings an versatile array of playing skills and experiences in the metal genre.

Luis decided to attend MI’s Guitar Program in order to “learn things I’m not really into, like jazz, funk and other music genres.  I chose Musicians Institute because (besides the amazing team of instructors), getting to meet and network with people and having the experience to play with different musicians, from different places and influences is something unique.”

He sees these skills as an important key to achieving his dream of one day being able to “become one of the greats and to be influential.  I want to tour, play shows, give clinics, keep raising my fan base and reaching out to people across the globe with my music.  I want to write, record and release more albums and of course, make a living in music throughout the years.”

Everyone at MI welcomes Luis to the Guitar Program and congratulates him on winning this very prestigious award!

Special thanks to our longtime industry partner, D’Addario Strings and The D’Addario Music Foundation for generously sponsoring this scholarship, which helps to provide talented students like Luis with the support, tools and recognition they need to launch successful and creative careers in the music industry.

To learn more about the full line of D’Addario Products click here: http://www.daddario.com

 

ANNOUNCING THE WINNER OF THE Al Bruno Memorial Country Guitar Scholarship AT MUSICIANS INSTITUTE: Bhargav Choudhury

 

Chair of the Guitar Program, Stig Mathisen (l.) with Bhargav Choudhury (rt.)

Current MI Guitar Program student Bhargav Choudhury is the winner of the prestigious Al Bruno Memorial Country Guitar Scholarship  at Musicians Institute.

The versatile guitarist comes to MI by way of India having performed and studied guitar in a wide array of musical genres including: blues, rock, prog rock, metal and funk.

Bhargav explains that he chose to study at Musicians Institute because “MI has the best guitar program in the world, excellent instructors, and great resources within the campus. I think the knowledge and experiences I will gain by studying at MI will make a me better guitar player and open new career opportunities”.

During his studies, he plans a continued focus on “learning different genres of music, so that I can incorporate in my own music and endeavor to raise my guitar skills to the next level. I also want to continue to gain live performance and real world music experience from MI.”.

After MI, Bhargav’s career aspirations are to “tour the world playing my own music and to be a good performer. I love to share my musical ideas with people, so I would love to be an instructor and to do session work in the music industry”.

Everyone at MI congratulates Bhargav on this achievement.   We look forward to seeing him reach his full potential while at MI.

Special thanks to the family and friends of Al Bruno who generously funded this scholarship to honor the exceptional talents and artistic career of the late Mr. Bruno, MI’s first Country guitar instructor. The scholarship provides talented students like Bhargav with the support, tools and recognition they need to launch successful and creative careers in the music industry.

Announcing the Winner of the George Duke Keyboard Scholarship at Musicians Institute: Renhui Goh

Renhui Goh (l.) with Dean of the School of Performance Studies and Chair of the Keyboard Program, Rachel Yoon (rt.)

Keyboardist Renhui Goh is the winner of the prestigious George Duke Keyboard Scholarship at Musicians Institute.

The multi-talented Bachelor of Music student comes to MI by way of Singapore having performed, studied and composed on the piano in a wide array of musical genres including: classical, jazz, rock, soul and funk as well as being in possession of solid vocal skills.

Renhui explains that she chose to study at Musicians Institute because “MI has a really open environment that encourages creation and collaboration.  Also, if you set your heart out to do anything, the teachers in MI will be sure to help you achieve it. I came to this school knowing very little about jazz, and I would say (in all honesty) that my teachers here have set the very foundation of my playing and philosophy towards life and music. I am very grateful for them”.

During her studies, she plans a continued focus on “developing my musicality as both an instrumentalist, and composer/arranger”.

After MI, Renhui’s career aspirations are to “be a versatile musician who can play, compose and arrange; work and collaborate with musicians and creatives all over the world and produce good work that will impact people and the community in positive ways”.

Everyone at MI congratulates Renhui on this achievement.   We look forward to seeing her reach her full potential while at MI. Special thanks to Rich Buchanan and James Chesser on behalf of the Stanley Clarke Scholarship Foundation; who generously funded this scholarship to honor the exceptional talents and artistic career of the legendary George Duke. The scholarship provides talented students like Renhui with the support, tools and recognition they need to launch successful and creative careers in the music industry.

George Duke

 

We take care of our own – Support Music Education With Your End of the Year Tax-Deductible Donation

“You make a living from what you get, you make a life from what you give.” – Quincy Jones

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to our many friends from The Musicians Foundation! As 2016 comes to an end, friends, families, businesses, community centers, artists and students around the world are coming together to celebrate the season, create, express their spirit of generosity and to give. During this special season, please consider donating to The Musicians Foundation and be a part of a global celebration of a new tradition of generosity.  Your support will help us create and continue to fund scholarships for talented, but financially challenged music college students at Musicians Institute, and to support our ongoing free music class series at The Grammy Museum for LAUSD high school students! Giving is easy.  Simply click on the link below and donate any amount; and it’s 100% tax deductible: With gratitude, The Musicians Foundation   Every Day- shop at Amazon Smile for all of your shopping, and they’ll send us a donation! CLICK HERE We need music more than ever.  Make it Count – Get a Tax Deduction – Support the Future of Music! 6752 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood CA 90028  Guidestar Silver Certified Charity

 

FALL 2016 PRESIDENT’S AWARD GUITAR SCHOLARSHIP WINNER: George Kester

(l.) Guitar Program Chair Stig Mathisen with George Kester (rt.)

The inaugural President’s Award Guitar Scholarship has been awarded to Musicians Institute Guitar Program student: George Kester.  The Cape Girardeau, Missouri native earned the prestigious award with a strong demonstration of his specialized musical skills in the Metal genre.

Describing his reasons for coming to MI, George states, “I hope to become a more versatile musician and focus my journey to mastering the guitar.  I chose MI because of the location and the opportunity to connect and meet with all different kinds of people and musicians.”

He sees his education as an important key to achieving his career goals of being able to “I want be a touring artist, but my primary goal is to make a living playing music.”

Everyone at MI would like to congratulate George on winning this prestigious award.

Special thanks to MI’s longtime owner Histake Shibuya for generously sponsoring this scholarship, which helps to provide talented students like George with the support, tools and recognition they need to launch successful and creative careers in the music industry.

FALL 2016 BACHELOR OF MUSIC IN COMPOSITION SCHOLARSHIP WINNER: Ben Levin

Ben Levin with Rachel Yoon, Dean of the Bachelor’s Program

Guitarist Ben Levin is the winner of the second annual Bachelor of Music in Composition Scholarship at Musicians Institute.  The newly enrolling Bachelor’s Degree in Composition Program student comes to MI by way of Alma Ata, Kazakhstan (USSR) and Israel having performed and composed music in a wide array of genres including: Rock/Fusion, Pop, Blues/Country, Jazz, Classical, Experimental, and Electronic music. Ben has been composing, editing and recording music for the past 12 years.

Upon learning about his award, Ben explains that he chose to study at MI because “MI is the best and the most practical school in the Los Angeles area, and it’s where I can earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Composition.  I hope to bring honor and excellence to MI during my time here. ”

During his studies, he plans to focus on “taking my composing, editing, arranging, mixing, mastering , and musical idea implementation skills to the next level. I hope to learn how to be a leader and a unique composer that writes music that stands out from the rest.”

After MI,  Ben’s career aspirations are to “compose music until the last day of my life. To be able to support myself financially with music, and write at least one composition that will change the world.  I also want to produce and release an album.”  He adds, “I want to work at the studio as a Studio Engineer, Producer, and Composer and to be involved at the music process on all levels.”

Everyone at MI congratulates Ben on this achievement, which marks a great beginning to his studies. We look forward to seeing him reach his full potential while at MI.

Special thanks to The Musicians Foundation for generously sponsoring this scholarship, which helps to provide talented students like Ben with the support, tools and recognition they need to launch successful and creative careers in the music industry.