About Musical Arts Institute
The Musical Arts Institute is a nonprofit, community-minded organization that provides exceptional music training taught by a staff of highly qualified instructors. The heart of MAI’s mission is to offer solutions to under-served communities and areas where music lessons are unavailable and/or not affordable.March 2010, we opened the doors to our primary location on Chicago’s south-side for the purpose of providing superior music instruction. Within less than one year we have enrolled 130 students taught by 14 music professionals. Along with traditional music training (offering private lessons, workshops, off-site learning, and clinics) utilizes an intensive level based curriculum. Included in the curriculum are private and group studies in voice, piano, string instruments, percussion, and wind instruments.
Sponsorship
All proceeds from this effort go to the creation of our Musical Arts Institute Computer Lab ( in memory of the late George Duke). Our computer lab is essential to providing the highest quality music education. We are establishing a 10 station computer lab (including desks, computers, keyboards, and recording and composition software) that will benefit our students in the following ways:
Music Creation, Creative Identity and Expression
As the next generation is creators, students will learn to create music on their instruments, voices, AND computers. Creating music electronically will inspire and serve as a catalyst for each student to create a body of work that is completely their own.
Social Media and Music Marketing
For the next generation of music creators, all of music marketing will happen online, through social media. CDs and other forms of media will not be produced in the future. Students will learn how to create their own business model, to sell and market their music performances, image, video and related product lines.
Musicianship
For college-bound students, the study of music theory and musicianship is essential for college prep. There are music theory and ear training software so that students can properly prepare for the rigors of college music.
Collaboration
Music creation is often a collaborative process. Creating music online provides a platform for students to collaborate with other students, teaching artist, and composers.
Socially Conscious
Community Building
Some of our computer lab students will choose to create them will even be socially conscious music that will perhaps make a positive imprint on this world. Students get a chance to tell their own story and write songs that are germane to them.