The Institute of Hawaiian Music’s second class had the opportunity to learn from professional Hawaiian musicians.

KAHULUI – Are you interested in learning the craft of Hawaiian music? Need to develop your instrumental, vocal and technical skills, and learn from award-winning recording artists and composers? You can do all of this and much more in the Institute of Hawaiian Music, which is recruiting new students who will begin in fall 2016.

An informational session for prospective students, parents and other interested parties will be held on Friday, Feb. 19, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Ka’a’ike Building, Room 105 CD, at the University of Hawaii Maui College.

Auditions will be held on Saturday, March 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the same location. Prospective students will be expected to perform for six minutes, introduce themselves and their song(s), sing and play their instruments, and carry themselves in a professional manner.

Reservations are required; prospective students may select from the following time slots: 9 to 11 a.m. or noon to 3 p.m. Attendance at the informational session is not required to audition. Private auditions may be scheduled for those unable to attend the scheduled audition on March 12.

The Institute of Hawaiian Music is a one-of-a-kind musical mentorship program dedicated to the perpetuation and preservation of Hawaiian music. Formal university classes are supplemented with direct mentorship sessions led by professional Hawaiian musicians.

Students selected for the IHM program will receive exclusive opportunities to receive personal training, guidance and knowledge through these mentor-mentee relationships with performers, composers and other industry professionals.

Visiting mentors have included Keali’i Reichel, Kenneth Makuakane, Mailani Makainai, Keola Beamer, Kainani Kahaunaele, Aaron Sala, Raiatea Helm, Jake Shimabukuro, Barry Flanagan, Mark Yamanaka and former IHM Director and Grammy Award-winning slack key guitarist George Kahumoku Jr.

The staff and students of the Institute of Hawaiian Music have produced two compilation CDs: “Pukana” in 2013 and “Aloha ‘Ia No ‘O Maui” in 2015. The latter features all songs about Maui – some well-known and others obscure. It has been submitted as an entry for “Best Compilation Album” in this year’s Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.

“Starting a career in Hawaiian music can be a challenge,” said IHM Faculty Coordinator Dr. Keola Donaghy.

“Aspiring musicians are often left to their own devices to locate willing mentors and performance partners, receive personal training, find gigs, gain performance experience, produce a recording, and learn the steps necessary to break into the industry. Many don’t reach their true potential because they don’t receive career guidance from experienced, professional musicians.”

IHM offers classes in guitar, ukulele, singing, keyboard, composition, music theory, repertoire development, dance, music industry business and marketing, and recording.

Students will be given training on their instruments, voice and harmony. They will be directed in repertoire growth, stage presence and recording techniques. Students will also complete courses in Hawaiian studies and Hawaiian language to understand the cultural roots of their art.

Students who successfully complete the two-year program will receive an Academic Subject Certificate (A.C.S) in Hawaiian Music. Scholarship support is available for students in the program.

E-mail ihm@hawaii.edu or call (808) 984-3570 to receive additional information about the program and to reserve a spot in audition.

For more information on the Institute of Hawaiian Music, visit maui.hawaii.edu/ihm.