Musicians Institute
Encyclopedia
Musicians Institute is a privately owned for-profit music vocational school located in Hollywood, California. Although not a regionally accredited school, the school offers a variety of unaccredited Bachelor Degree, Associate Degree and Certificate programs in fields including contemporary music performance on guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and vocals as well as audio engineering (including studio recording, post-production and live sound), independent artist development, guitar-making, music business, and film production. [1]
MI co-founder Pat Hicks provided the organizational skills that turned Howard Roberts' educational philosophy into a functioning music school.
Musicians Institute has since been sold to, and is now owned by Japanese businessman Hisatake Shibuya. Mr. Shibya is also the president of Musicians Institute. MI is a for-profit, privately owned business.
recorded a music track and music video
for an episode of California's Gold
. It required Howser to sing Al Jolson
's "California, Here I Come
" twenty-seven times for the music track, and the video was shot on a Red One and two digital SLR
cameras. The final scene was filmed on a jib
in front of the Musicians Institute with Howser on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
. The video was reviewed as having "a vibe akin to a Bollywood
-meets-High School Musical
casting call", with Howser's singing called "a Henry Higgins
-esque patter".
Guitar program
Bass program:
Drum program:
Film Program:
Academics
Musicians Institute is approved to operate in the State of California by the Bureau for Private Post-secondary Education and has been an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music since 1981.Musicians Institute is not a regionally accredited college.History
Musicians Institute was originally founded as The Guitar Institute of Technology in 1977. Based upon the educational philosophy of guitarist Howard Roberts, GIT was co-founded and managed by Los Angeles music businessman Pat Hicks. With the addition of the Bass Institute of Technology (BIT) in 1978 and the Percussion Institute of Technology (PIT) in 1980, GIT became Musicians Institute.MI co-founder Pat Hicks provided the organizational skills that turned Howard Roberts' educational philosophy into a functioning music school.
Musicians Institute has since been sold to, and is now owned by Japanese businessman Hisatake Shibuya. Mr. Shibya is also the president of Musicians Institute. MI is a for-profit, privately owned business.
Huell Howser video
In November 2010, Huell HowserHuell Howser
Huell Burnley Howser is an American television personality best known for California's Gold, his travel show for the Los Angeles based KCET.-Early career:...
recorded a music track and music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for an episode of California's Gold
California's Gold
California's Gold is a public television travel program that explores the numerous natural, cultural and historical wonders of the Golden State. The show, now in its 17th year, is produced and hosted by Huell Howser...
. It required Howser to sing Al Jolson
Al Jolson
Al Jolson was an American singer, comedian and actor. In his heyday, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer"....
's "California, Here I Come
California, Here I Come
"California, Here I Come" is a song written for the 1921 Broadway musical Bombo, starring Al Jolson. The song was written by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Meyer, with Jolson often listed as a co-author. Jolson recorded the song in 1924...
" twenty-seven times for the music track, and the video was shot on a Red One and two digital SLR
Digital single-lens reflex camera
Most digital single-lens reflex cameras are digital cameras that use a mechanical mirror system and pentaprism to direct light from the lens to an optical viewfinder on the back of the camera....
cameras. The final scene was filmed on a jib
Jib (camera)
In cinematography, a jib is a boom device with a camera on one end, and a counterweight and camera controls on the other. It operates like a see-saw, but with the balance point located close to the counterweight, so that the camera end of the arm can move through an extended arc. A jib permits the...
in front of the Musicians Institute with Howser on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
. The video was reviewed as having "a vibe akin to a Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
-meets-High School Musical
High School Musical
High School Musical is a 2006 American television film, first in the High School Musical film franchise. Upon its release on January 20, 2006, it became the most successful film that Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced, with a television sequel High School Musical 2 released in 2007 and...
casting call", with Howser's singing called "a Henry Higgins
Henry Higgins
Henry Higgins may refer to:*The fictional character: see Pygmalion or My Fair Lady*The Australian politician and judge H. B. Higgins* Henry Higgins -See also:*Harry Higgins, English cricketer*Henry Huggins, fictional character...
-esque patter".
Faculty
Musician's Institute faculty includes part-time educators, artists and music professionals. Notable faculty include:Guitar program
- T.J. Helmerich
- Scott HendersonScott HendersonScott Henderson is a fusion and blues guitarist best known for his work with the band Tribal Tech.-Early days:Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, Henderson began playing guitar at an early age...
- Alex MachacekAlex MachacekAlex Machacek is an Austrian jazz fusion guitarist best known for his 1999 debut album Featuring Ourselves and the acclaimed follow-up Delete and Roll with the band BPM...
- Dale Turner (songwriter)Dale Turner (songwriter)Dale Turner is an American singer-songwriter, rock musician, and multi-instrumentalist/record producer, noted for his sophisticated songcraft, quirky vocal arrangements, and adventurous guitar work. Queen-meets-Mr...
- Carl VerheyenCarl Verheyen-History:Verheyen has authored many instructional books, including Improvising Without Scales, as well as Studio City, a collection of articles written for the magazine Guitar for the Practicing Musician from 1996-1999...
- Dave WeinerDave WeinerDave Weiner is an American guitarist, most widely known for being one of Steve Vai's touring guitarists. He also posts instructional videos, called the "Riff of the Week", every Wednesday on YouTube, iTunes and his own website, he also gives online lessons.- Joining Steve Vai :Weiner first joined...
- Keith WyattKeith WyattKeith Wyatt is a Los Angeles-based guitarist, educator performer, teacher, writer, and developer of music curriculum and educational media. Since 1996, Wyatt has toured and recorded with renowned LA-based “American Music” group The Blasters and is featured on 4-11-44...
- Dean BrownDean BrownDean Craig Brown, AO was the Liberal Premier of South Australia between 14 December 1993 and 28 November 1996, and Deputy Premier of South Australia between 22 October 2001 and 5 March 2002 to Rob Kerin.-Political career:...
- Dave WeinerDave WeinerDave Weiner is an American guitarist, most widely known for being one of Steve Vai's touring guitarists. He also posts instructional videos, called the "Riff of the Week", every Wednesday on YouTube, iTunes and his own website, he also gives online lessons.- Joining Steve Vai :Weiner first joined...
Bass program:
- John HumphreyJohn Humphrey (bass player)John Michael Humphrey is a bass player who has toured with guitarist Scott Henderson since 1998, performing with drummer, Kirk Covington, as a trio. Together they recorded Well To The Bone in 2003...
- Stuart HammStuart HammStuart "Stu" Hamm is an American bass guitar player, known for his session and live work with numerous artists as well for his unconventional playing style and solo recordings.-Beginning career:...
- Putter SmithPutter SmithPutter Smith is an American jazz bassist, teacher and retired actor.-Acting performances:He famously played the part of homosexual assassin Mr. Kidd alongside partner Mr...
Drum program:
- Chuck FloresChuck FloresChuck Flores is an American jazz drummer. One of the relatively small number of musicians associated with West Coast jazz who are actually from the West Coast, Flores was born Charles Walter Flores in Orange, California, and grew up in Santa Ana...
- Glen Sobel
Film Program:
- Alan CalzattiAlan CalzattiAlan Calzatti, is a director, cinematographer, and a movie editor.Calzatti is well versed in the creative and technical aspects of directing, shooting, editing and creating CGI/visual effects...
Notable alumni
- Sharon AguilarSharon AguilarSharon Aguilar is an American instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. She plays lead guitar and violin with Scarlet Fever, the all-female backing band touring with Cee Lo Green.- Biography :Sharon Aguilar was born in Panama,...
- Juan AldereteJuan AldereteJuan Alderete is an American bassist known for his work with the band The Mars Volta. Prior to his work with that band, he was known for playing in Racer X, where he received credit as John Alderete.-Biography:...
- Norman BrownNorman BrownNorman Brown may refer to:* W. Norman Brown , Indologist and Sanskritist* Norman O. Brown , author* Norman E. Brown, sports editor of the Central Press Association* Norman Brown...
- Jean Marc BelkadiJean Marc BelkadiJean Marc Belkadi is a French born, American Jazz Fusion Guitarist. He is known for his prolific improvisational soloing technique. Many famous professional guitarists have studied with him and he is fast becoming "like his mentor, the late, great guitar genius Ted Greene," a reference in the world...
- Jeff BuckleyJeff BuckleyJeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley , raised as Scotty Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician...
(1 Year) - Mike CampeseMike CampeseMike Campese is an American guitarist and composer best known for being a member of the multi-platinum group Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Campese was picked over several guitarists in 2004 during the bands fourth CD, The Lost Christmas Eve and received a gold record for his work...
- Joacim CansJoacim CansJoacim Cans is the lead singer of HammerFall, a Swedish power metal band. He is the only member aside from founder and guitarist Oscar Dronjak to appear on all of the band's albums....
- Alessandro CortiniAlessandro CortiniAlessandro Cortini is an Italian musician best known for touring and recording with the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails from 2004 to 2008. Currently, Cortini is also the frontman for the Los Angeles based electronic-alternative band SONOIO. In addition, he was a touring member of The...
- Kevin FowlerKevin FowlerKevin Fowler is an American Texas Country artist. He has released five studio albums, and has charted three singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including the top 40 hit "Pound Sign "...
- Frank GambaleFrank GambaleFrank Gambale is an Australian jazz fusion guitarist. He has released eleven studio albums over a period of more than two decades, and is renowned for his use of the sweep picking and economy picking techniques.-Recording career:...
- Synyster GatesSynyster GatesBrian Elwin Haner, Jr. , better known by his stage name Synyster Gates or simply Syn, is an American musician, best known for being the lead guitarist of the American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold.-Early life:...
- guitarist, Avenged SevenfoldAvenged SevenfoldAvenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California. Formed in 1999, the group consists of vocalist M. Shadows, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ.... - Paul GilbertPaul GilbertPaul Brandon Gilbert is an American guitarist. He is well known for his technical guitar work with Racer X and Mr...
- guitarist, solo and bands including Mr. Big (band)Mr. Big (band)Mr. Big is an American rock supergroup, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1988. The band is a quartet composed of Eric Martin , Paul Gilbert , Billy Sheehan , and Pat Torpey ; Mr. Big also included Richie Kotzen, a reputable blues-based guitarist who replaced Gilbert in 1999...
and Racer X (band) - Matt McJunkinsMatt McJunkinsMatt McJunkins is a studio and touring bass player who currently resides in Los Angeles, California. He plays bass in A Perfect Circle, Puscifer, Ashes Divide and recently 30 Seconds to Mars. He also sings backup vocals in all of these bands and plays some keyboard and guitar for Puscifer.- Early...
- Rafael MoreiraRafael MoreiraRafael Moreira is a Brazilian-American guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist / vocalist on the hit CBS television shows Rock Star: INXS and Rock Star: Supernova, and most recently on MTV'S Rock the Cradle...
- Scott ShrinerScott ShrinerScott G. Shriner is the bass guitarist for the alternative rock band Weezer.-Early life:Shriner was born in Toledo, Ohio. He took up bass in high school. After being discharged from the Marine Corps, he found his high school bass teacher Mark Kieswetter, with whom he studied until moving to Los...
- Chad SmithChad SmithChad Smith is an American musician, best known as the longtime and current drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers. Smith is also the drummer of the hard rock supergroup Chickenfoot which includes Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, and Michael Anthony, former Deep Purple vocalist Glenn Hughes' backing band and...
- Ashwin SoodAshwin SoodAshwin Sood is a Canadian musician. Sood plays drums, percussion, keyboards, and sings.Sood was Sarah McLachlan's drummer, and was also married to McLachlan, although they are now separated....
- Jeff YoungJeff YoungJeff Young is an American guitarist. He graduated from Musicians Institute in 1985, and is best known for his time with the thrash metal band Megadeth, appearing on the 1988 album So Far, So Good... So What!...