Music and Technology Certificate of Achievement

The Music Technology certificate provides students with the foundation for composing and performing music using a range of technology such as music software, computer coding, analog synthesizers, as well as a variety of creative approaches. Students learn how to incorporate traditional and contemporary electronic music techniques into their own work as well as analyze the way that other artists utilize these techniques for concert performances and other mediums. Students who complete this certificate are prepared for entry-level work in electronic music facilities, musical performance spaces, and other music technician-related fields.

The projected number of annual completers for the Music Technology Certificate is 15-20 students. This estimate is based on the enrollment data for the required courses from prior semesters.

The goals of the Music and Technology Certificate are to provide students with a foundation for further study in electronic music at a four-year institution and prepare them for career opportunities which employ skills at the intersection of technology and music.

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Analyze the processes involved in composing a piece of electronic music.
• Describe the work of electronic musicians on a creative, technical level.
• Create effective, playable electronic music projects for performance or recording.
• Apply the technical and fundamental skills necessary for effective use of contemporary electronic music tools.
• Display professionalism and effective application of workforce protocol, communication skills, and behavior in the music technology environment.

The program consists of six required courses to be completed in two semesters.

Semester 1

MUS 29 – Electronic Music I 3 units

BCST 119 – Digital Media Skills 3 Units

MUS 100 – Music Fundamentals 3 units

 

Semester 2

MUS 30 – Electronic Music II 3 units

BCST 120 Audio Production 4 units

MUS 128 – History of Electronic Music 3 units

 

                                                Total 19 units

This certificate gives students a strong foundation in skills that can lead in several directions of success. Students who are transferring to a four-year school will have skills developed for majoring in music, Audio Production and multimedia studies. For students who are not transferring, the ideal student already has a 4-year degree or is working, and is using the certificate for career advancement or staying current in a related or line of work. Relevant lines of work include working musician or artist, any line of work that uses audio production skills or studio production skills, any line of work that requires the implementation of music software.

This certificate is a standard music and technology program. It covers the fundamental use of studio equipment for making and recording music. Other schools have similar programs with courses distributed through various departments in different ways; however, the subject is the same. What is unique about the program at CCSF is that it reflects the city around it, which has a history in the development of audio and electronic music. The curriculum from the music department specifically reflects the work of experimental music pioneers from San Francisco such as the San Francisco Tape Music Center.