In this article, the author introduces the Beijing Contemporary Music Institute where more than 3,000 undergraduates study music and dance. In a country where most music departments and conservatories are dedicated to teaching classical Chinese and Western music, the institute is breaking new ground. The college, which opened in 1993 with just 100 students and a few departments, is the brainchild of Li Gang, an amateur guitarist and former television producer. The institute is awaiting recognition from the Ministry of Education, which would allow it to grant university degrees. Here, the author describes the institute's campus and faculty members, and the students' view of the institute.