MCI is committed to making musical theater education as accessible as possible. We do not want income to be a barrier to our community. We are able to offer payment plans to our students. Please reach out with any concerns or questions at admin@musicalcreatorsinstitute.org.
Registration for fall is now closed. Click here to join our mailing list so you can be the first to know about Spring Classes!
Fall Classes
LYRIC WRITING with Adam Gwon
October 5 - December 21
Thursdays 6:00pm - 8:00pm ET
11 classes
Online
ABOUT THE CLASS
This 11-week class will cover the foundations of lyric writing—including song structure, scansion, and rhyme—and how to apply your storytelling impulses most effectively to the lyric medium. You’ll examine classic musical theater song forms; analyze great lyrics and what makes them successful; and explore how music, book, and collaborators can be considered in the lyric writing process. Through a series of writing assignments, you’ll gain a solid foundation in lyrical storytelling and the tools to be a stronger dramatist and collaborator.
FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC COMPOSITION with Andy Collopy
October 9-December 18
Mondays 6:30pm - 8:30pm ET
12 classes
In-Person / Hybrid
CLASS DESCRIPTION
Are you a lyricist or librettist who also has musical ideas you want to develop? This course will help provide a technical foundation to get you from voice memo to lead sheet and lead sheet to score. Train your ear, build music theory knowledge, and develop your personal aesthetic so that you can communicate your ideas with greater clarity to the world and yourself. This course will not only help you get your musical ideas down; it will also give you a deeper understanding of the composers you work with, making you a better and more confident collaborator.
HOW EVERY MUSICAL IS A JUKEBOX MUSICAL with Heath Saunders
October 8 - December 17
Sundays 6:00pm - 8:00pm ET
8 classes
In-person / Hybrid
ABOUT THE CLASS
Jukebox musicals get a bad rap for being reductive and shallow, but exploring how to craft dramatic impact around established music is a necessary aspect of any musical creation process. This class will be partially based in analysis of published and performed jukebox shows, and partially a creative writing class as we build our own miniature scenes and musical treatments around the music that we hear and love from outside a “musical theater” context.
BOOKWRITING, STRUCTURE, AND AESTHETICS with Sam Carner
October 4 - December 20
Wednesdays 8:00pm - 10:00pm ET
12 classes
Online
ABOUT THE CLASS
How are musicals different from plays or movies? How does adaptation work? What is the real function of songs in a musical? Are there any non-negotiable plot points? Why is romance such a common theme in musicals? Through reading and discussion of classic musical theater libretti and analytical texts, alongside regular assignments in outlining and song placement, we will examine how musicals really work and interrogate common (mis)conceptions about the form. Without seeking any magic bullets, we will identify trends in musical theater’s history and present, asking ourselves what an audience expects when attending a musical and how to find room for something new.
CORE with Sam Carner & Shifting Faculty Panel
October 3rd - December 19
Tuesdays 6:30pm - 9:30pm ET
12 classes
In Person / Hybrid
ABOUT THE CLASS
The foundation of our program. This course brings our diverse faculty of industry experts together with our passionate student writers to create a new community of creators. A combination workshop and master class, you will be paired with new collaborators regularly to write and revise in response to prompts, while also being offered the opportunity to present your outside work for discussion and critique by our experts and your fellow students. This is your chance to explore new collaborations, learn from the best, inspire and be inspired by your peers, and be part of the exciting community that can only exist when passionate creatives are all in the same space.
COMEDY SONGWRITING with Sam Carner & Zina Goldrich
October 4 - December 20
Wednesdays 5:00pm - 7:00pm ET
12 classes
In-person / Hybrid
ABOUT THE CLASS
Needing to write a funny song can strike fear into the heart of even the most accomplished musical theater writer. This course aims to demystify comedy songwriting and expand the toolkits of composers and lyricists alike. Learn how to develop a funny idea into a series of hilarious moments and get, not just the smile, but the laugh. Co-Taught by the authors of some of contemporary musical theater’s most-performed comedy songs (Taylor the Latte Boy, The Alto’s Lament, What Do You Do With Your Arms, Wall Lovin’, etc.), this unique course will help you really land the joke—and more important, land the point.
COMPOSING FOR THE VOICE with Andrea Daly
October 6 - December 22
Fridays 1:00pm - 3:00pm ET
12 classes
In Person / Hybrid
CLASS DESCRIPTION
Explore the craft and art of vocal writing and translate your musical ideas from your instrument to your singers in this essential course for all musical theater composers. Topics covered will include: timbre and range across musical styles, writing toward vocal sustainability, writing accompaniment for the voice, setting lyrics, writing for singers with limited ranges, ensemble writing and vocal arrangement, and more. Award-winning composer and vocalist Andrea Daly will build your creative and technical toolkit to help you hone your own compositional “voice.”
Where are we located?
All of our in-person classes take place at the Dramatists Guild of America at 1501 Broadway, 7th Floor, Suite 710 Mary Rodgers Room. We are centrally located in Midtown Manhattan with easy access to all major subway lines.
Not in NYC? No problem. All of our classes are offered with the option of joining us virtually.
Interested in multiple classes?
REGISTRATION DISCOUNTS
For 2 classes or more, we offer 15% off
For 3 classes or more, we offer 20% off
Are you an alumni? We’ve got a code for you too.
Email us for details.
*Please Note: the disount will not show up below the subtotal on your shopping cart. Do not be alarmed, when you click checkout the discounts will be applied.