Commercial Music, AA Degree

This program provides the student acomprehensive study in commercial music and recording arts. It is designed toaward the Associate in Arts degree to those students who have completed aspecialization in Commercial Music and Recording Arts.   The requirements are chosen to optimizestudent preparation for upper-division coursework at a four-year institutionleading to the major of Music or a field related to the discipline ofMusic.  The degree program can lead tocareers as an audio/sound engineer, broadcast technician, theater/stagetechnician, sound mixer, audio equipment expert, music composer, song writer, musicperformer, music producer, music business entrepreneur, or educator.  

20 Sections of core courses each year.

15 student headcount each year.

10 Program completers after second year.

As students become aware that they can obtain a degree in their field of interest that will prepare and assist them to going into a four-year college or university in their major. Our faculty expects section offerings to increase to meet the demand.

number of estimated program completers per year at the end of the fifth year of program operation

This program provides the student a comprehensive study in commercial music and recording arts. It is designed to lead to careers/jobs as an audio/sound engineer, broadcast technician, theater/stage technician, sound mixer, audio equipment expert, music composer, song writer, music performer, music producer, music business entrepreneur, or educator.  

The program adequately prepares students for transfer in Commercial Music and Recording Arts.   Students learn sound engineering: recording, sound mixing, for theatre productions, recording studios, and movie and video productions.  Students analyze and evaluate audio equipment: microphones, sound speakers, recording equipment, and sound and mixing boards.  Students compose and arrange music for films, recordings, television, jingles, radio, Internet presentations, video games, video productions, background music for offices and retail stores. This AA also prepares the music copyist and music desktop publisher. 

Classes include the following topics:

Melodic construction, song writing, specific commercial harmonic structures used to compose pop songs, jazz, ballads, blues, Hip Hop, smooth jazz, funk, rock, zydeco, etc. are offered in the Commercial Harmony classes and Songwriting Workshop classes. Arranging and orchestrating for assorted instrumental ensembles is offered in Commercial Music Techniques I. The skill of composing and synchronizing music to film or video projects is offered in Commercial Music Techniques II.  

Digital composing, song writing, and recording music using software are offered in the computer sequencing class and song writing workshop. Computer notation skills are offered in Music 241 and 242. Music business practices and procedures are taught in the Business of Commercial Music class (Music 280). Entrepreneurial strategies, fees, contracts, resumes, eportfolios, and protocols are also discussed.

Recording studio technology and recording techniques are covered in Music 165 and Music 261.

This program provides current and relevant academic course content, giving the student a comprehensive base of knowledge for success in the field of Computer Music and Recording Arts.

East Los Angeles College is in close proximity to the Los Angeles entertainment business, which is the largest entertainment industry in the world. Major film studios, television networks, recording labels and music production studios are just eight miles from the campus. Our program prepares students for the Commercial Music workforce as audio equipment technicians; broadcast technicians; and sound engineering technicians.  This includes multiple aspects of movie production, television shows, video productions, animated works, and video games.  This degree helps students develop knowledge and skills needed in music composition, music producing, music arranging, orchestration, sound designing, recording and mixing engineering, and for audio technicians.  Further, it produces musicians who are needed in orchestras, jazz bands, symphonic bands, and choral ensembles.

Technology has created new and advanced methods for music creation that have vastly improved music production, composing, arranging, orchestrating, and preparing music to be performed, recorded or added to video media. Music creation traditionally relied on composers and music producers writing the notes for all the vocalists and instrumentalists on score paper, then a “copyist” would transcribe and transpose each part for the individual player or singer to perform or record. Recording and mixing engineers relied solely on tape machines, expensive consoles and studio spaces to record and mix music for release and distribution. Now music creators have the ability to create unique musical landscapes with the latest technology to improve, heighten and manipulate sound. These technological advances include: 1) MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) sequencing which allows one to create and record the music and parts at the same time, 2) Recording, editing, and mixing digitally directly on the computer hard disk, 3) Notation arranging, orchestrating, and copying directly onto the computer. These new methods have tremendously streamlined the process and allow the musician to work faster and more efficient than ever before. In addition, technology has created new advances in audio recording, editing, and mixing that make the process faster and more efficient than ever. The Digital Audio Workstation software Pro Tools and the notation software Sibelius, both by Avid, have become the standard tools for recording studios, post-production studios, producers, composers and orchestrators around the world. We offer Pro Tools and Sibelius courses that will soon include their professional certifications from Avid. Our graduates can easily create, edit, mix, notate, arrange, and orchestrate their musical works. 

In addition to the preparation for the Commercial Music workforce environment, this program adequately prepares students for transfer in Commercial Music and Recording Arts to a four-year university. Students learn to compose and arrange music for recordings, films, television, jingles, radio, podcasts, music libraries, Internet presentations, video games, video productions, and background music for offices and retail stores. The AA is designed to prepare the student in each of the above segments of the music industry and provides current and relevant academic course content, giving the student a comprehensive base of knowledge for success in the field of Commercial Music and Recording Arts.

The program requirements are as follows: Music 161, Introduction to Music Technology, and its sequel Music 261 offer instruction in using digital audio work station software, recording with digital interface hardware, programming and recording MIDI with modern sequencers. These two courses will soon offer Avid Pro Tools User certification as a component. Recording studio technology and recording techniques is covered in Music 165. Music 205 (Commercial Harmony I) and Music 206 (Commercial Harmony II) offer the necessary instruction for creating music that is based on melodies and chord patterns used in commercial music. Music 241 and 242 (Computer notation I and II) enlighten the student on how to use the computer to create and edit their score as well as copy out the individual parts for the players. Furthermore, this will soon include an Avid, Sibelius certification. Music 281 (Commercial Music Techniques I) provides the student the opportunity to create a hand-written composition, then copy and edit the parts on the computer, and conduct a live recording session with a seven-piece band to perform it. Music 282 (Commercial Music Techniques II) continues Commercial Music Techniques I in more detail with recording sessions but also includes scoring for films using software and live musicians. Music 271 (Songwriter’s Workshop I) offers students song-writing composition techniques for the current market. Several professional composers who want to develop further writing techniques, learn current software programs and procedures have enrolled in our commercial music classes. 

In order for students to be successful in the music business they need to learn about the Commercial Music business. Music 280 (The Business of Commercial Music) fills that need and is a vital component in this program. Subjects covered include: copyrights, publishing, marketing, promotion entrepreneurial strategies, fees, contracts, resumes, eportfolios, and standard protocols. The course also suggests strategies for Internet marketing and sales, including how to use social media to promote and market music.  Pop Music Workshop (Music 783-1, Music 783-2, Music 783-3, Music 783-4) is one of the most beneficial courses in which the class is divided into "bands," and new song assignments are given every week. The bands perform for each other each week in a master-class setting and the strongest material makes it to the midterm and final concert performances.

The program supports the college’s mission in providing transfer programs to a culturally diverse community in a dynamic urban setting. By supporting students in achieving an Associate of Arts degree in Commercial Music and Recording Arts, the college seeks to fulfill the potential of each student by ensuring appropriate background, preparation and training in a chosen field.  

MUSIC101                                  Fundamentalsof Music (3.0)

MUSIC 116                            Survey and Historyof Rock, Pop and Soul Music (3.0)

OR       MUSIC141                            JazzAppreciation (3.0)

MUSIC 161                            Introduction toMusic Technology (3.0)

MUSIC 165                            Introduction to Recording Arts(3.0)

MUSIC 205                            Commercial Harmony I (3.0)

MUSIC248                            MusicNotation: Sibelius Fundamentals (2.0)

MUSIC 271                            Songwriters’ Workshop I (3.0)

MUSIC 280                            The Business of Commercial Music(3.0)

MUSIC 281                            Commercial Music Techniques I (3.0)

MUSIC 321                            Elementary Piano I (2.0) 

MUSIC 322                            Elementary Piano II (2.0)

MUSIC 783-1                         Pop Music Workshop I (1.0)

MUSIC 783-2                         Pop Music Workshop II (1.0)

MUSIC 783-3                         Pop Music Workshop III (1.0)

MUSIC 783-4                         Pop Music Workshop IV (1.0)

Ensemble Electives (Complete 2courses form the following): 2 units

(Ensemble courses are repeatable.The same course may be taken twice to fulfill the unit requirement.)

MUSIC 205                            Commercial HarmonyI (3.0)

MUSIC 531                            Philharmonic Choir(1.0)

MUSIC 721                            Orchestra(1.0)

MUSIC 745                            Symphonic Band(1.0)

MUSIC 775                            Jazz Ensemble(1.0)

Total required units for major:                    36 units

Total Units thatmay be Double-Counted:      3 units

LACCD GeneralEducation Plan:                       21 units

Elective (CSU or UCTransferable) Units:               6units

Total units indegree:                                                60 units 

There is a similar program at the college that offers an Associate of Arts degree to prospective Music majors. All major requirements are music courses that are mostly offered at the college. Applied Music in Commercial Music is a crucial class/program in four-year institution music degrees. The program provides consistency and guidance for the student in their preparation as a computer music and recording arts major. This program does not replace any existing program at East Los Angeles College.

Within the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), only four campuses currently offer a transfer degree in Commercial Music: Valley College, Pierce College, Los Angeles City College, and Harbor College. The geographic distance between the schools that already offer these curricula and East Los Angeles College is notable. The student populations at each of these colleges are divergent, and do not represent the specific ethnic diversity of ELAC’s campus. The only nearby community colleges outside of the LACCD that offers a Music Associate Degree is Cerritos College, Pasadena City College, Mount San Antonio College, and Glendale College. ELAC is geographically located at a sufficient distance from these other schools and therefore students would not be inclined to take classes at them

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