Digital Music Production

The Digital Music Production Certificate of Achievement is designed for students who would like to learn to produce music professionally using a digital audio workstation (DAW). Students will learn music production skills such as: sequencing, working with virtual instruments, synthesis, sampling, using effects, creating sound design, writing to picture, using controllers, composing, arranging, editing, and mixing. The program focuses on hands-on learning in Cabrillo’s music technology studios and labs alongside lecture courses. This certificate provides the foundation to join the workforce in entry level jobs such as music producer, production assistant, music licensing, commercial music production, or to continue to an associate’s degree.

A total of 10 students are expected to enroll with potential for annual growth. Completion rates of the Certificate of Achievement are expected to be 7-9 per year with a potential for annual growth.

Cabrillo College is seeking approval from the Chancellor’s Office for the new Digital Music Production Certificate of Achievement in Career Education. The Digital Music Production Certificate of Achievement is designed to prepare students to take advantage of employment opportunities in the field of music production, audio engineering, music performance and composing in roles such as music producer, production assistant, audio engineer, composer, arranger, or performer.

The diverse need for workers in the field of digital music production has been advocated by local businesses in Music Technology and Recording Arts (MTRA)  program advisory boards and supported by current, regional labor market research (TOP 1005.00). The Digital Music Production Certificate of Achievement is aligned with Cabrillo’s mission, master plan, and statewide community college work in Guided Pathways. Approval of this program will benefit regional employers, fulfill the workforce needs of the local community, augment college enrollment, and support non-traditional and underserved minority students in a viable career and academic path. 

This program would give our students the knowledge and skills they need to enter the workforce or continue their studies in the field. The goal is for certificate completers to be gainfully employed within a year of program completion or to advance to an associate’s degree. Working with employers to identify earning potential is promising, with potential for a starting salary of $48,000-$59,000/yr in jobs such as music producer, production assistant, composer, audio engineer, or performer. It is critical to give community college students educational and professional experience that is necessary to be successful when they enter the workforce or continue to higher degrees or certificates.

There are 9 of required units in music technology and recording arts and 7.5 units of music electives, including 3 units of music theory.

Program Requirements

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
MUS31A	Fundamental Recording I	1.5	S1
MUS31B	Fundamental Recording II	1.5	Elective (S1/S2)
MUS31NS	Introduction to Music Notation Software and Scoring	1.5	Elective (S1/S2)
MUS31SP	Advanced Recording and Studio Production	1.5	Elective (S1/S2)
MUS31V	Audio and Music for Visual Media	1.5	S2
MUS7	Music Synthesis, Sampling, and Electronic Music	3	S2
MUS57A	Digital Music Production and MIDI	1.5	S1
MUS57B	Electronic Music Composition and Performance	1.5	S2
MUS59A	Game Audio Production I	1.5	elective (S1/S2)
MUS59B	Game Audio Production II	1.5	elective (S1/S2)
MUS5	Beginning Jazz/Pop Music Theory	3	elective (S1/S2)
MUS6	Fundamentals of Music	3	elective (S1/S2)

The Music Technology and Recording Arts program shares learning goals with the Music, Digital Media and Art Photography programs. These goals include principles of music, studio composition, commercial media and the evolving use of technology in art and culture.   MTRA participates in VAPA’s division-wide Arts Entrepreneurship initiative and the department’s AP79 Creative Careers-Discovering Self-Directed Pathways course. This course is part of the interdisciplinary certificate with the same title that also includes a section of BUS 88 Starting and Operating a New Small Business that is tailored to the VAPA cohort.

No other colleges in the Cabrillo College service area offer programs in this TOP code.