The program consists of a two-year core curriculum that includes private lessons, small and large ensembles, music theory, and music history classes, as well as classes dealing with creative musical expression.

Alumni from the program have gone on to study successfully in community music schools, pre-college programs, conservatories, and universities. Many have chosen music education as their passion, while others have become professional musicians in various musical styles. But all alumni have been equipped with quality musical experiences that empower them to become advocates in their communities for the value of the arts.

The idea for MAP developed in 1990 when Joseph Polisi, the President of The Juilliard School, identified the need for such a program in the wake of the massive cuts in music education at New York City public schools. Part of the goal was to help those students most affected by these cuts, whose communities are underrepresented in the classical music world.

In 1991, 40 youngsters from Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx were chosen from a competitive pool to take part in the initial program. Each student selected had at least six months of prior experience with an orchestral instrument, showed musical aptitude and a commitment to pursuing musical study, and had strong parental support. These are still the criteria for admittance to MAP today. There are now nearly 100 students in the program, coming from all five New York City boroughs.

MAP students come to Juilliard on Saturday mornings for 29 weeks, from September through May, taking part in classes from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Students study on instruments loaned to them by the school.

The faculty includes Juilliard alumni and other accomplished professionals who make a special effort to develop one-on-one relationships with their students. This unique bond provides youngsters with encouragement and support to develop the discipline and skills needed to continue their training at a more advanced level. Visits by guest artists such as Wynton Marsalis, trumpet; Giovanni Hidalgo, Latin percussionist; Christian McBride, jazz bassist; and Ida Kavakian, violin, have further inspired MAP students in their musical endeavors.

Outside of the classroom, many of the teachers take students to professional rehearsals, recording sessions, and performances. They also invite students and their parents to performances at Lincoln Center and other locations around the city. Special events have included annual trips to the New York Philharmonic's Young People's Concerts, visits by the winners of the Texaco-Sphinx Competition, and performances outside the School at venues such as churches, hospitals, and museums.