Legitimizing Modern Music Education: Launched in September 2014 by industry veterans Sarah Clayman and Kevin Nixon, DIME is a music institute like no other––custom built for serious musicians who aspire to a long-term, professional career in modern music. “Our mission is to legitimize modern music education,” Clayman says. “Why should music schools only educate jazz and classical musicians? Those who make modern music and want to be in the industry can make a great cultural impact as well. Creative people that have struggled with traditional education come here and thrive both musically and academically.”
Clayman, whose father was legendary U.K. concert promoter Barry Clayman, started her career as International Promotions Manager for Sony Music Entertainment U.K. Nixon was the manager of one of her artists, English rockers Kula Shaker. Invited to Detroit to discuss a potential American Idol education tie-in, they were blown away by the city’s renaissance and joined forces with an investor to launch DIME. Their recent expansion includes the launch of DIME Denver in 2017 and DIME Online, which currently has students from 22 countries enrolled.
The DIME Curriculum: Partnered with MSU Denver, DIME’s high-level courses serve musicians and entrepreneurs seeking to maximize their musical abilities while learning how the industry works. Like its founders, the instructors of the program are successful industry pros who bring their experience into the classroom. Performance students take classes such as Live Performance Workshop, Technical Development and Improvisation, Music Theory and Music Industry Studies. They play in bands, meet industry professionals, master technique, promote their own shows, develop their voices and arrange their songs.
Songwriters enroll in classes like Lyric Writing, Writing for Film and TV, and Live Songwriters Workshop, along with relevant industry-focused classes such as Domestic Music Market, and Publishing and Copyright Law. Music Industry Studies students study Artist Discovery and Development, Self-Employment Skills in Music, Repertoire and Hit Song Analysis, and more. No matter one’s focus, the emphasis is on being part of a dynamic music community.
Degrees and Certificates: The MSU Denver at DIME Bachelor of Arts in Music degrees are liberal arts degrees in which music and general studies content is integrated throughout all coursework. Students are exposed to a broad curriculum that includes studies in history, the arts and humanities, and the sciences. The degree allows specialization in guitar, bass, drums or vocals. Its intensive nature enables students to become skilled practitioners and provides the freedom for them to develop their own unique and innovative methods of working. DIME Detroit and DIME Denver also host week-long performance summer programs each year for students 12+. DIME Online offers Standalone Classes, Short Courses and Sample lessons.
Contact DIME, 313-223-1600
