Certificate of Achievement in Commercial Music

The Certificate of Achievement in Commercial Music is a practical curriculum designed to equip students with musical and collaborative skills, skills that are essential for success in the modern music industry. Students learn how to compose, arrange, record, and produce. Additionally, students learn how to navigate the music industry. This connected set of courses ensures students are not only artistically developed but also well-prepared with practical skills for the competitive commercial music landscape.

We project that 10 students will complete the certificate annually. 

The goal of the Certificate of Achievement in Commercial Music is to provide experience and exposure to key components of commercial music, allowing students to combine their passions for performance, composition, and production. This certificate is intended for students who would like to perform as a working musician and provides them the necessary skills. Students will gain basic knowledge in songwriting, ensemble performance, music business and industry, and an introduction to music technology and recording.

The Certificate of Achievement in Commercial Music is a targeted program designed to equip individuals with the essential skills and knowledge required for success in today's dynamic music industry. This certificate recognizes the need for a specialized curriculum focusing on performance, composition, music production, digital marketing, copyright, and business. By emphasizing performance, composition, and industry, this program ensures graduates are well-prepared for diverse roles within the commercial music sector.

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge and familiarity with commercial music composition by composing and arranging original songs and other forms of music.
2. Demonstrate multi-track digital audio workstation (DAW) skills specific to recording and mixing.
3. Demonstrate a conceptual and practical understanding of the basics of audio engineering.
4. Demonstrate knowledge and application of key concepts in music business and industry.

The Certificate of Achievement in Commercial Music is a targeted program designed to equip individuals with the essential skills and knowledge required for success in today's dynamic music industry. This certificate recognizes the need for a specialized curriculum focusing on performance, composition, music production, digital marketing, copyright, and business. By emphasizing performance, composition, and industry, this program ensures graduates are well-prepared for diverse roles within the commercial music sector.

Butte College currently has an AA-T in Music, an AS in Recording Arts, and a proposed AA in Music, COA in Music, and COA in Music Theory and Composition. However, some students would like to only study what they need to know in order to start working professionally in the music industry, and this Certificate would help them with that. Our other degrees are much more broad in scope, and this degree is focused and narrow. 

This degree is intended for students who would like to gain the necessary skills to start a career in commercial music, specifically music performance in non-academic settings. As a highly focused certificate, it is intended to provide students a pathway to learn the skills necessary to performing music in commercial settings. This aligns with the College's mission of providing career pathways and work training through a student first degree.