二、优秀的教师与教材是现代音乐教学的重要保障
经过十五年的探索与实践，迷笛以严谨、科学的办学态度邀请并拥有了一支雄厚的师资队伍──学校主讲教师来自芸集北京的最著名的摇滚、布鲁斯、爵士乐队的优秀乐手（包括国外乐手），其扎实的理论基础和丰富的实践经验为学校的教学质量提供了坚实可靠的保障。
除了各专业的主任讲师以外，迷笛还聘请了大批现代音乐界著名乐手作为客座教师，力图使学生从不同音乐风格中汲取更丰富的知识和技法，从不同角度得到更切实的提高。 1997 年初，经国家外国专家局、北京市政府外事办公室、市教委外事处、市公安局外管处四家单位联合审查并授予了迷笛聘请外国专家执教的资格。
系统优秀的教材在任何教学体系都是极其重要的。迷笛十五年来不断地引进、翻译、更新教材。根据已设立的教学纲要，迷笛陆续翻译了五十余套教材，并按照各专业的课程进度及教师要求，迷笛还为学生提供百余种不同风格类型的辅助教学资料。
从 2007 年开始，迷笛学校开始计划并实施迷笛现代音乐全国考级计划： 目前中国社会正在进行着广泛的“标准化”的建立、修改、管理、完善与立法工作。由于国家的政策支持和财政投入，建国五十年来，古典音乐、民族音乐的考级制度已经逐步建立、健全，而现代音乐的声乐、器乐考级制度在中国还近乎为“零”。现代音乐（包括：流行音乐、摇滚音乐、爵士音乐、电子音乐等）在全世界音乐产业中占有 90% 以上的份额，由此可见，这里存在一个巨大的商机—— 制定标准、宣传标准、推广标准，让中国广大的年轻人在我们制定的标准下，接受教育、培训、考核、认证、并获得资质证书、文凭，并通过我们十几年所争取到的教育口碑和优秀的考级机制（引进版权并汉化国际上优秀的考极系统及教程），使音乐产业界中的各类用人单位依据并认可我们的考级标准。 迷笛音乐考级计划按计划分为：电吉他考级、电贝司考级、鼓考级、现代钢琴考级、萨克司考级、声乐考级、音乐电脑考级以及音响制作考级。每门考级共分为八级。
目前考级教材即将全国发行。
三 、良好的校风及学习生活条件鼓励学生自创前途
迷笛校园占地面积 30 亩，包括办公教学楼、宿舍楼、专业数字录音棚及 20 亩种满果树的绿化教学排练区，内含小演奏厅、大演奏厅、国内设备一流的各专业教室。为确保每一位学员有充足和高效的自修时间，建立了 100 余间独立的琴房、鼓房及大小排练室，并为每位吉它、贝司专业的学生配备练习音箱。不同专业的学生可进行全天候互不干扰的课后练习。新校址紧邻北京著名的香山旅游风景区及北京植物园，四面由 600 亩果园及绿地环抱，风景如画。迷笛还积极参与国内外的现代音乐交流活动，为每一位学生争取更多的观摩机会。迷笛与众多外国驻华使馆的文化处建立了长期友好稳固的合作关系，每年都有十余次来北京访问演出的优秀现代音乐家及乐队经文化处的联系安排来到迷笛进行讲学、演出及文化交流活动，同时还通过多种渠道邀请国外优秀的音乐家来迷笛做中短期的驻校讲学。
四、凭借音乐资源优势打造中国最好的露天音乐节
在保证日常的教学工作顺利进行之外，迷笛学校还不遗余力地为学生及所有优秀的年轻音乐人创造并争取各种演出的机会，使他们能够青春勃发地走向舞台。北京迷笛音乐节 www.midifestival.com
与北京爵士音乐节 www.beijingjazz.cn 由迷笛学校全资成立的北京迷笛演出有限公司策划并执行，迷笛演出公司依托迷笛的优良品牌、丰富的艺术管理和技术资源，经过连续 8 年的举办和发展，打造出了北京迷笛音乐节这一中国最大的露天音乐节，她被海外媒体誉为全球最大的华语音乐节。迷笛音乐节每年 5 月 1 日至 4 日在海淀公园举行。 2007 年有 100 支国内乐队、 25 支国外乐队及 60 名中外民谣、舞曲、电子实验音乐家在五个舞台为每天两万名观众奉献出丰富多彩的音乐生活。 2007 年，迷笛演出公司在海淀文委的大力支持下，于九月又创办了崭新的北京国际爵士音乐节，至此，世界现代音乐范围内的所有风格的音乐都被囊括在这两大音乐节中。 2007年迷笛音乐学校获得由海淀区政府文化委员会资助的文化创意产业扶持资金，该项资金将完全用于支持两大音乐节的制作投资。
北京迷笛音乐学校
2008 年 3 月 13 日
The Beijing Midi School of MusicRegistered with the Education Committee
of Beijing's Haidian District, the Beijing Midi School of Music is the
first school in China devoted to modern music. Upon the school's establishment
in 1993, its mission was decided: To promote an artistic and humanistic
theory of modern music while offering students classes is advanced
musical techniques. The definition of modern music covers the genres
that have developed since the beginning of last century - blues, jazz,
rock, pop, Latin, country, funk, fusion and the various styles that
derived from them. Since its birth, modern music has been absorbing
a great deal from European classical music and the traditional music
of all of the nations in the world. However, as "new" music,
it has already achieved independence and maturity. As a result, the
study of modern music must encompass an analysis of its styles and characteristics,
and students must obey its rules of study and practice. Because of the
school's innovative approach, we guarantee that we are China's best
professional school of modern music. An Intensive, Proven Teaching
System Before joining Midi's two-year (1200-hour) program, students
participate in a year-long prepatory course. During this year, the students
of all departments acquire basic skills in and knowledge of modern and
traditional music as well as English language learning. Through comprehensive
and strict training, the two-year program at Midi aims at promoting
the professional levels of students in music theory, ear training and
sight reading, style and technique, rhythm, improvisation, arrangement,
ensemble playing and production (including sound engineering and computer
courses). In the first semester of the first year, students of all departments
are required to study traditional music theory and basic harmony,
as well as a host of other basic skills. Courses include a history of
jazz and blues, which provides the students with an understanding of
the birth and development of modern music; Latin music and Latin dance
(a compulsory course throughout the two-year program), which reinforces
the students' sense of rhythm and adds a layer of sensibility to students'
approaches to music. There is also a compulsory English language course
taught by foreign teachers. The second semester of the first year sees
an expansion of the study and research of technique, singing and music
theory across genres. In this phase the students focus on the blues
in order to develop their improvisation skills. Simple ensemble playing
also begins during this period. An additional course - basic jazz theory
- is set for students majoring in guitar and bass, preparing them for
an indepth study of harmony in the second year. In the first semester
of the second year, students decide upon their area of concentration
by studying a wide range of music styles. The courses in ensemble work
are conducted at this time, and students are required to form their
own groups, entering the most "fascinating" phase of their
study. Ensemble work is intensified in the following semester with
courses in arrangement and jazz improvisation in order to upgrade
students' practical skills. Compulsory courses in sound engineering
and computerised music are also conducted to promote the students'
understanding and abilities in the control of production equipment.
Music publishers, producers, agents, recording engineers, editors, promoters
and distributors visit the classroom, giving students the chance
to learn first-hand from professionals in the music industry. Beginning
in September of 2003, the Midi School established a partnership with
the Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT), which has the largest
and professional contemporary music and jazz department in Australia.
We will use 30 per cent of their courses and invite their teachers to
visit, allowing second-year students to benefit from their approach
to modern music teaching. In accordance with NMIT's course outline,
our revised program consists of both lectures and practical classes.
Year 1 - Full-time PA740 Addressing Copyright Issues PA741 Music Industry
Overview PA742 Music Industry Application PA743 Simple Musical Accompaniment
PA744 Onstage Skills PA745 Improvisation PA746 Performance Evaluation
PA747 Ensemble Work PA748 Critical Listening PA749 Computerised Music
PA750 Sound Mixing PA751 Performance Rehearsal PA752 Simple Composition
PA753 Ensemble and Soloing PA754 Computerised Performance PA755 Music
Theory PA756 New Technology Year 2 - Full-time PA762 Composition PA776
Arrangement PA764 Performance Technique and Repertoire Expansion
PA765 Performance Rehearsal PA766 Artistic Development PA767 Applying
Musical Knowledge and Artistic Judgement PA768 Harmony Analysis PA769
Musical Analysis PA770 Electronic Composition for the Screen PA771
Performance Improvisation PA772 Creating a Performance Program PA773
Leading a Rehearsal PA774 Sound Recording Production PA775 Promotion
Upon successful completion of the two-year course of study, students
of guitar, bass, drums, saxophone, piano, vocals sound production and
MIDI composition will be awarded an Advanced Diploma of Music from
NMIT, a degree recognised throughout Australia as part of the Australian
Qualifications Framework. High Quality Teachers and Texts After nine
years of exploration and practice, Midi has established a strong team
of teachers which include some of Beijing's most famous rock, blues
and jazz musicians of both Chinese and foreign origins. Their solid
theoretic basis and rich music experience provide a reliable guarantee
of the school's education quality. The current principal teaching staff
are: Yang Feng (heavy metal guitar), Zhao Wei (rock guitar), Long Long
(ensemble playing and arrangement), Li Jie (blues guitar), Lawrence
Ku (jazz guitar), Huang Yong (bass), Yuan Bo (bass), Lu Xun (drums),
Lu Tingquan (saxophone), Xia Jia (jazz piano), Tara Shingle (jazz theory,
modern piano), Yasmina (Latin dance and music), Zhao Su (piano), Wang
Hua (vocal), Zuo Jia (harmony, rhythm), Zhao Sitong (music theory, SOLFEGGIO??),
Xin Hongmei (computer composition), Wang Mengyun (sound engineering
and recording production). In addition to the musicians in our faculty,
Midi invites world-renowned musicians from at home and abroad to guest-lecture,
providing students the chance to gain a multifaceted understanding
of different musical styles. In 1997, the State Administration for
Foreign Experts Affairs, the Office for Foreign Affairs of the Beijing
Municipal Government, the Office for Foreign Affairs of the Beijing
Municipal Committee of Education and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of
Public Security authorized Midi to employ these foreign experts. Systematic
and high-quality textbooks are very important in any teaching system.
Throughout its history, Midi has always been introducing, translating
and renewing its textbooks. Midi has translated over ten books, including
Richard Daniels's Blues Guitar Inside and Out, Troy Stetina's Heavy
Metal Lead Guitar, John Scofield's Jazz-Funk Guitar, Jamey Aebersold's
Jazz Rhythm Section, Thom David Mason's Ear Training for Improvisers
and more. According to the development of the courses and demands of
the teachers, the school also provides the students assistant teaching
materials of various music styles. A Total Learning Environment Since
Midi moved to its current campus in 2001 the school has experienced
a major upgrade in teaching facilities, student accommodations and
sustainable development potential. The new campus covers an area of
almost 5 acres with space for an office and teaching building, a dormitory
building, a recording studio and over 3 acres teaching and rehearsal
space, a large performance hall and fully equipped professional classrooms.
To ensure that all students have the opportunity to practise what they
learn in class, students have 24-hour access to over 100 rehearsal rooms.
The new campus is located next to Xiangshan (Fragrant Hills) park and
the Beijing Arboretum, and is surrounded by almost 100 acres of orchards
and fields. Outside the school gate is the West Fifth Ring Road, where
public transportation provides access to the city centre. Midi also
takes part in international music exchanges, providing each student
with opportunities to experience music from around the world. We
have established long-term partnerships with the cultural sections of
foreign embassies and each year at least 10 prestigious musicians or
groups come to Midi to teach, perform and exchange with the help of
their respective embassies. Meanwhile, through various other channels,
Midi also invites outstanding foreign musicians to come as short-term
resident tutors. As the result of Midi's continual educational efforts,
Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company (publisher of Guitar magazine and
others) has set up a yearly scholarship for the school's best students.
Additionally, Beijing Blue Thrash Musical Instrument Company provides
a "Blue Thrash Scholarship", and Beijing Liao Shi Guitar Company
awards the best students with high-quality hand-made guitars and basses.
The teaching and promotion of modern music is still a new undertaking
in China. And while youth implies a lack of experience, it also represents
the ability to gain pure pleasure from studying, exploring and progressing.
The Midi Modern School of Music, along with our students, takes great
pleasure with every new challenge and success on the road to a modern
musical education.
