Pacific Music Institute is a safe place for learning through music education. In building a robust music community full of enthusiasts and lovers of creating music, PMI has attracted students who prioritize growth and improvement. “Students in PMI always rise to the occasion,” Chris Cabrera, percussion faculty member remarks. “There’s something about the energy and the amount of focus and attention to detail that happens during PMI that really facilitates students to reach well beyond their normal capacities.”
What exactly is it about PMI that drives our students to rise to the occasion? We’re breaking down four aspects of our summer intensive that facilitate this growth and learning mindset.
Diverse Student Population
From students to faculty, PMI’s community is beautifully diverse, creating unique learning opportunities for all our keiki. PMI is for intermediate and advanced-level students from Hawai‘i and beyond, and each student is given the same opportunities to learn and grow.
“PMI helps build bridges,” explains Wayne Fanning, MS All-State Band Conductor, “so whether you’re in middle school, high school, younger, older, all of that does not matter. Everybody is given the same opportunity to make music with each other.” These bridges and connections allow for learning opportunities that don’t exist for students in the regular school year, where ensembles typically consist of students of the same level and ability. The variety of skill levels allows each student to feel comfortable and confident where they’re at. PMI 2023 trumpet student, Micah, expressed that the wide range of skill levels of students at PMI ensures that you’ll be able to fit in. At the same time, it provides more opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, which can inspire students in new ways, motivating them to practice and improve. We love seeing our students learn from each other, help each other, and mentor each other!
Variety of Instruction
We strive to provide a variety of opportunities during each student’s time at PMI so they can all take away a range of lessons and experiences. Our Strings Program offers individual lessons, chamber music lessons, and large ensemble rehearsals, similar to our Winds, Brass & Percussion Program which offers small and large ensemble rehearsals. Horn faculty member Marie Lickwar shares, “I love coming together with the horn students and giving them these opportunities to have a space where they can test things out, try all the things they’ve been working on in their ensembles, and just take risks and learn how to become the next musicians that are going to be taking over the world.”
Jazz Intensive students are placed into one of two groups in which they rehearse and perform. They also have the chance to participate in a daily, student-led Jam Session, open to both groups, where they can practice improvisation, leading a group, and more.
Students who participate in the Strings Program, Winds, Brass & Percussion Program, Jazz Intensive, or MS All-State Band can also participate in our ‘Ukulele Workshop (students who do not play another instrument can also join!). Learning another instrument and other genres of music only broadens the learning experiences of our students.
No matter which program students participate in, all work together towards showcasing their hard work in end-of-PMI concerts, as well as other performing opportunities throughout the community. Performing offers students another set of lessons from which to grow, and they can share their progress with friends, loved ones, and other music enthusiasts.
PMI students also receive a robust music education through access to multiple music teachers; our esteemed faculty is comprised of a variety of music professionals. “It’s cool to meet professionals in this summer program,” says PMI 2023 viola student, David, “you can spend multiple hours a day with them.” Students have access to multiple faculty members throughout their PMI journeys, allowing them to see different perspectives and experience different teaching styles.
Program Intensity
One facet of PMI’s program that students appreciate is its intensity. Elizabeth, a PMI student from 2023, shares how PMI’s focused environment helps students learn music faster: “You [essentially] have the span of three days to learn, practice, and perform the music. It really helps you step up your game.”
PMI program’s intensity creates a learning environment that fosters exceptional student growth. With a concentrated timeframe and immersive schedule, keiki have limited distractions and can dedicate themselves fully to the craft of their instruments. This allows them to absorb information quickly, refine skills efficiently, and build strong technique in a short period.
Along with guidance from our experienced faculty members, the rigor of PMI’s programs encourages consistent practice, more so than throughout the regular school year. This focused intensity, along with our supportive musical community, pushes students beyond their comfort zones, inspiring deeper exploration and higher levels of musical improvement.
Our students’ progress is tangible, and we are always proud of the commitment they show to PMI, each other, and their instruments. A past PMI parent, Nadine Shrivastava, commented that “how much your child will learn is astonishing!”
Supportive & Engaged Community
Unlike programs during the regular academic year, PMI is full of students who truly love music and want to spend time honing their craft. Our faculty is full of supportive professionals who enjoy teaching and mentoring students. Year after year, students consistently remark that their favorite part of PMI is its supportive community full of like-minded individuals–friends!–they may not have met otherwise. Mia, a cello student who has participated in PMI for several years, says, “I think it’s a really great way to connect with everyone because, despite everything that is going on in everyone’s life, we still all come together to play music as one.”
Our motivated students even inspire our faculty. Iggy Jang, SSQ Program Director, shares that “as much as we strive to inspire [the students], we are equally amazed at their enthusiasm and drive for excellence. Seeing the students playing alongside peers from all walks of life, with a shared love of music, is inspiring to behold. It strengthens our conviction that our future is in great hands.”
We are inspired by the determination and commitment our students show each summer. If you’re interested in joining the PMI community, be sure to follow us for updates on PMI 2025.