Bachelor of Music in Songwriting and Production
Hollywood, USA
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
USD 10,800 / per quarter *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
* 8025 USD for online | additional 363 USD per general course
Key Summary
Transform Your Musical Vision into Professional Reality
Musicians Institute's Bachelor of Music in Songwriting and Production program is designed for aspiring songwriters and producers seeking to develop versatile skills for today's dynamic global music industry. Located in the heart of Hollywood, California, this comprehensive program combines contemporary music education with traditional disciplines to create industry-ready professionals.
Program Highlights
- Professional Demo Portfolio: Graduate with a fully produced, mixed, and mastered demo portfolio showcasing your original compositions, complete with professional liner notes
- Industry-Standard Technology: Master essential recording and notation software, including Logic, Pro Tools, Ableton Live, and Sibelius
- Comprehensive Curriculum: Develop expertise in lyric writing, melody creation, contemporary arranging, studio production, and music business fundamentals
- Collaborative Environment: Work alongside talented performers, engineers, and industry students from over 50 countries
Expert Faculty: Learn from active industry professionals in the competitive Los Angeles music scene
Global Community
International students make up nearly one-fourth of MI's total student population, representing more than 50 countries throughout the world, creating a unique and diverse learning environment full of endless opportunities.
General Education
To fulfill general education requirements, students must complete 45 quarter units in liberal arts subjects. Musicians Institute partners with Los Angeles City College (LACC) to offer required courses in English, mathematics, natural science, social science, and humanities.
Musicians Institute is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
Financial Support
Multiple scholarship opportunities are available for international students, including:
- The Musicians Foundation Bachelor of Music in Songwriting and Production Scholarship ($2,500 per quarter, $5,000 total)
- Helping Hand Scholarship Program for continuing students demonstrating academic achievement and financial need
Financial Aid
There are several requirements for you to receive federal or state financial aid. A few of the main ones include:
- Valid Social Security Number (federal aid)
- U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status (federal aid)
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Males between the ages of 18 and 26 must be registered with the Selective Service
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress while attending MI
- Satisfactory repayment status of prior Federal student loans
- Satisfactory payment arrangements for prior Federal grant overpayments
- Enrolled in an eligible program of study
Scholarships
Musicians Institute offers music scholarship opportunities for students ranging from recently graduated high school seniors to continuing college students transferring from other institutions. MI is proud to offer tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships every quarter, in a wide variety of different programs and disciplines!
Please be advised that all entering MI Performance Program students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships as part of the admissions process. If you are selected as a scholarship winner, a scholarship award letter will be included in your welcome packet along with your acceptance letter. If you are not selected as a winner, you won’t be notified separately; however, you are encouraged to submit a separate online scholarship application to be considered with the regular scholarship review.
Please note: You must submit an admissions application for an MI program to be considered for any of the following scholarships.
Music scholarships are available to college students enrolling in music majors for the first time
- Artist, Producer, Entrepreneur Scholarship
- Audio Engineering & Studio Recording Scholarship
- Development Scholarship
- Electronic Music Production Scholarship
- International Musicians Merit Scholarship
- Independent Artist Scholarship
- Music Business Program Entrepreneur Scholarship
- Musicianship Scholarship
- International Outreach Scholarship
- Opportunity Scholarship
Scholarships are available to current MI students
- Audio Engineering & Studio Recording Scholarship
- Hardship Scholarship
- Musicianship Scholarship
Major area
- Songwriting Private Lesson 1-12
- Songwriting 1-4
- Compositional Style and Analysis 1-2
- Lyric Writing 1-2
- Contemporary Arranging 1-5
- Vocal Arranging 1-2
- Sophomore Recital
- Recording & Production 1-4
- Mixing Essentials 1
- Studio Recording and Production 1-2
- Music Mastering
- Senior Portfolio Project
Supportive music
- Keyboard Harmony for Songwriting
- Music History 1-4
- Musical Directing/Conducting
- Secondary Applied Lessons
- Business of Composing 1-2
- Sibelius Notation
- Advanced Chart Writing
- Electronic Music Techniques
- Logic 1-2
- ProTools 101-110
- Music Information Literacy
Musicianship
- Harmony & Theory 1-8
- Ear Training 1-6
- Keyboard Proficiency 1-3
- Vocal Technique for Songwriters
- Guitar Harmony for Songwriters
- Critical Listening
Others
- 45 credits of General Ed courses
- 4 credits of Electives
What will I learn?
- Write, perform, and record original music.
- Write and arrange a Senior Project Portfolio, editing Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Live band with horns, and virtual instrumentation.
- Mix, master, and create liner notes for a professional demo to be used after graduation.
- How to use industry-standard recording and notation software, including Logic, Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Sibelius, and others.
At Musicians Institute (MI), our songwriting program goes beyond general music-related classes and electives. We focus on providing graduates with the specialized knowledge and skills required to excel in a variety of career paths within the music industry. Some potential career options for MI songwriting program graduates include:
- Performer
- Accompanist (Studio or Live)
- Arranger
- Band Member
- Product Rep
- Songwriter
- Music Director
- Transcriber
- Copyist
- Music Supervisor
Career Preparation
Our curriculum is carefully crafted to prepare versatile, functioning songwriters for today's modern music industry. Graduates can pursue diverse career paths, including:
- Songwriter
- Music Director
- Recording Artist
- Producer
- Film/TV Composer
- Music Supervisor
- Program Structure
The Bachelor of Music program includes comprehensive coursework in:
- Music theory and ear training
- Keyboard proficiency
- Music history and arranging
- Conducting
- Audio production
- Business relations
Students write, perform, and record original music, culminating in a Senior Project Portfolio that includes editing of lead vocals, backing vocals, live band arrangements with horns, and virtual instrumentation.
Why Choose Musicians Institute?
When you choose MI over other colleges for songwriting, you'll graduate with a professional-quality demo that serves as your passport to the music industry. Our songwriting program is a creative incubator where you can explore your artistic voice, experiment with various genres, and collaborate with fellow students who share your love for music.
MI is unique in giving students a fully immersive stage experience from the moment they start classes. Weekly Live Performance Workshops with diverse song selections help students gain experience across multiple genres, making them stronger musicians for their careers beyond MI.
Ready to launch your global music career? Contact our international admissions team today to begin your journey at Musicians Institute.