Commercial Music Associates in Science

A degree or certificate in Commercial Music prepares students for entry-level work in the commercial music industry. The program includes music and audio courses that cover the performance, creative, technical, and business concepts needed to succeed in the field of commercial music.  Students will learn to write, compose, and arrange modern commercial music; perform commercial music in live and recording settings; produce, record, and mix commercial music; collaborate effectively in commercial music settings; and integrate commercial music practices in a variety of musical and non-musical settings. This program is distinct from our Music program because it addresses modern, commercial music rather than traditional music genres.  It also relies on digital music technologies more than traditional instruments.  It differs from our Audio Arts program in that it is focused on the creation and production of music rather than the technical operation of audio equipment.  The Commercial Music degree provides a balance of performance, creative, and technical skills not found in these related programs on campus. Because the commercial music industry is highly competitive, job placement is not guaranteed.  However, the Los Angeles area is the center of the industry and graduates will be well-positioned for jobs and careers such as musical performer, music producer, music director, songwriter, sound designer, disc jockey, music scorer, copyist, and sound editor.  Enrollment is open to all interested students although previous experience with musical performance and music technology is recommended.

We project that we will have 50 majors in the program by Fall 2023 and are targeting to have 20 completers per year beginning Spring 2024.  The development of our program has been endorsed by the Centers of Excellence do to the fact that there is a supply gap, graduates will be able to attain a living wage, and the Bureau of Labor lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry-level education for the entry level positions in the field.  This COE reports that there will be more than adequate demand for our graduates (See Appendix A for the COE Labor Market report).

The goal of the Commercial Music program is to develop student competencies in commercial music performance, composition and arranging, audio engineering, and business so that they are prepared for immediate placement in the commercial music industry.   Graduates from the program will be prepared for entry-level positions and careers as musical performers, music producers, directors, songwriters, sound designers, disc jockeys, scorers, copyists, and sound editors. This program is distinct from our Music program because it addresses modern, commercial music rather than traditional music genres.  It also relies on digital music technologies more than traditional instruments.  It differs from our Audio Arts program in that it is focused on the creation and production of music rather than the technical operation of audio equipment.  The Commercial Music degree provides a balance of performance, creative, and technical skills not found in these related programs on campus. 

 

The program’s student learning outcomes are:

 

• Students will be able to write, compose, and arrange modern commercial music.
• Students will be able to perform commercial music in live and recording settings.
• Students will be able to produce, record, and mix commercial music recordings and performances.
• Students will be able to collaborate effectively in commercial music settings.
• Students will be able to integrate commercial music practices in a variety of settings.

Our program is robust and requires 39 major units for a degree. Audio Arts classes focused on music technology make up of 21 of these units.  Traditional music theory, keyboarding, and instrumental courses make up 11 of these units. Performance ensembles make up 4 of these units. And GE classes in the music area make up 3 of these units.   The program can be completed in two years.

Spring1

Course	Title	Units	Sem
MUSA100  (C-ID: CMUS 100)	Fundamentals of Audio Technology	3	Fall1
MUSA 120  (C-ID: CMUS 110)	Electronic Music	3	Fall1
MUSA 150  (C-IC: CMUS 140)	Audio Recording	3	Win1
MUSA 160  (C-ID: CMUS 120)	Live Sound Engineering	3	Spr1
MUSA 130  (C-ID: CMUS 140)	Business of Audio Production	3	Spr1
MUSA 230  (C-ID: CMUS 150)	Songwriting	3	Fall2
MUS 110 (C-ID: MUS 110)	Music Fundamentals	3	Fall1
MUS 115 (C-ID: MUS 115)	Musicianship Fundamentals	1	Fall1
MUS 120 (C-ID: MUS 120)	Harmony	3	Spr1
MUS 125 (C-ID: MUS 125)	Harmony Fundamentals	1	Spr1
MUS 10a (C-ID: MUS 170)	Keyboard Skills	1	Sum1
MUS 16	Individual Instruction	2	All
MUSA 200, 210, or 220	Audio Production, Audio for Multimedia, or Sound Design for Live Performance	3	Spr2
MUS 12, 14a, 14b, 15, 100, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106	History of Jazz, World Music, American Folk Music, Rock Music History, Intro to Music Appreciation, Women in Music, Film Music Appreciation, Music and Culture of Hip Hop, Music Literature I, or Music Literature II	3	Fall2
MUS 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 36, 38, 39, 4, 45, 47 ,48 ,49 ,50 ,51 ,52 ,180 ,181 , and/or 185	Chamber Music, Choral Workshop, Collegiate Choral, Concert Choir, Opera Scenes, Women’s Vocal Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Ensemble, Laboratory Band, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Singers, Jazz Ensemble, Men’s Vocal Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Improvisation and Performance Choir, Contemporary A Cappella Ensemble, Madrigal Singers, DJ Performance, Pop/Rock Band, and/or Advanced Commercial Music Ensemble	4	Fall2, Spr2
GE requirements		21
Total Units		60

Music. Audio Arts

Citrus College Recording Arts, Chaffey College Commercial Music

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