DETROIT — Detroit Institute of Music Education, a music college dedicated to teaching the next generation of modern musicians, has officially opened its new permanent space today in downtown Detroit and will welcome its inaugural class of full-time students.
Christened the new DIME Building, the former Bamlet Building at 1265 Griswold St. was built in 1896 in downtown Detroit’s Capitol Park area. It has been completely renovated and now houses the college, which occupies more than 20,000 square feet of classroom and performance space, outfitted with state-of-the-art music equipment and sound design.
Students and visitors can also patronize DIME’s retail guitar strings and vinyl record shops as well as hear live music weekly in DIME’s unique 300 capacity live venue, “Underground@DIME”.
Founded by music industry and music education veterans Kevin Nixon, Sarah Clayman, and Bruce Dickinson, DIME offers advanced music students a college-style experience in contemporary music, with expert musicians and industry professionals teaching courses in guitar, bass, vocals, drums, songwriting and music entrepreneurship. Prospective students may pursue a bachelor’s degree or diploma in creative music performance, creative songwriting or innovation in music entrepreneurship.
“Detroit is the fifth city in which we have built Music Colleges and our first in America,” said Nixon, DIME president. “Since we began in music education in England in 2001, nearly 10,000 graduates have come through our colleges. We are very proud that more than 70 percent of our students have full-time music related careers — everyone from U.K. stars like The Kooks, Tom Odell, and George Ezra — to music lawyers, label employees and managers.
“Without question, the raw talent in Detroit is the highest level we have seen to date,” Nixon said. “The challenges that Detroit is now rapidly overcoming means that we are taking a long-term view on bringing the new DIME building to capacity, and in the process we hope that Capitol Park will become the new hub of Detroit’s widespread and fantastic musical community.”
Instructors include musicians, songwriters and music business experts who are working in today’s ever-changing music industry.“We work with the very best musicians who are active in the industry so that they can bring their relevant experience back into the classroom to inspire the next generation of young professional musicians,” Clayman added.
Prospective students are encouraged to sign up by contacting the admissions office at 313-223-1600 or dime-detroit.com. Student recruitment takes place year round.
