Program Description
This certificate program introduces students to the skills necessary for a career in commercial music. It focuses on media production, music performance, and platform development. Instruction concentrates on computer technologies used for entrepreneurial efforts in the music industry.
The Certificate in Commercial Music and Technology is taught at Central State University and consists of thirty credits.
Course Names, Numbers, and Descriptions
MUS 1200 Introduction to Music Technology
This class introduces technology used by professional musicians to compose, produce, and distribute music. It focuses on notation software, MIDI sequencing, multi-track recording, and the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). This course also explores the physics of sound, critical listening, musical analysis, and generative music systems.
MUS 1301 Navigating the Music Industry
This class identifies and describes the methods and processes used to make money with music. It explores professional undertakings like commercial-music performance, media production, worship-music services, artist promotion, and private instruction. This course also investigates the economic realities of the music industry and the entrepreneurial skills required to achieve success in this field.
MUS 1190 Commercial Music Ensemble I
This class entails the formation of an ensemble focused on American popular music, including rhythm and blues, rock ‘n’ roll, musical theater, and hip-hop. Class time is devoted to learning songs, rehearsing parts, and preparing for performance. This course features an end-of-the-semester concert to which participation is mandatory.
MUS 2301 Music Publishing, Marketing, and Networking
This class outlines the strategies used for publishing, marketing, and networking music. It discusses the practice of developing and maintaining an online presence, and it introduces the methods of presenting and selling media objects.
MUS 2302 Audio Recording
This class investigates the tools and techniques used to record, mix, and finalize professional audio. It is designed to acquaint students with the microphone procedures utilized in capturing and producing music, speech, and sound effects. This class also inspects the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and its proper use in capturing, refining, and finalizing media objects like songs, podcasts, and sound designs.
MUS 2810 Computer Music Applications
This class covers the computer applications used to produce, analyze, and assess music. It concentrates on notation software, music-education tools, and computerized performance assessment. This course explores emergent technologies like artificial intelligence (AI ) and brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) in the context of computer music.
MUS 2290 Commercial Music Ensemble II
This class builds on the skills developed in Commercial Music Ensemble I by introducing more advanced instrumental and vocal techniques like improvisation, reharmonization, and transposition. It focuses on American popular music, including rhythm and blues, rock ‘n’ roll, musical theater, and hip-hop. Class time is devoted to learning songs, rehearsing parts, and preparing for performance. This course features an end-of-the-semester concert to which participation is mandatory.
MUS 3330 Multimedia Audio
This class covers sound and music used in games, videos, podcasts, apps, and social networks. Coursework focuses on the production of audio files designed to accompany multimedia projects. Topics such as the history of sound design, film scoring, and television production are explored for context.
MUS 3325 Mixing and Mastering
This course covers the techniques of modern sound mixing and mastering. Coursework entails balancing, finalizing, and platforming commercially consumable audio, including musical performances, sound designs, and speech recordings. Students participate by assembling a portfolio of songs, podcasts, and other mixed-media productions.
MUS 3320 Sound Reinforcement
This course offers training in live sound production. It focuses on the equipment and techniques used to capture and transmit musical performances in locations like halls, theaters, clubs, and other venues. Coursework covers the proper use of microphones, audio interfaces, control surfaces, amplifiers, and loudspeakers. For context, this course explores acoustics, high-end audio, and venue installation.
MUS 3490 Commercial Music Ensemble III
This class refines the skills developed in Commercial Music Ensemble I and II. It covers advanced instrumental and vocal techniques like arranging and song-writing as well as strategies for developing band leadership. This ensemble focuses on American popular music, including rhythm and blues, rock ‘n’ roll, musical theater, and hip-hop. Class time is devoted to learning songs, rehearsing parts, and preparing for performance. This course features an end-of-the-semester concert to which participation is mandatory.
MUS 4410 Commercial Music Technology Practicum
This class entails the supervised application of music-industry skills to professional occupations like sound engineering, music production, media publishing, audio recording, podcasting, video blogging, etc. It is designed to exercise the theoretical knowledge gained through the commercial-music-and-technology curriculum. To participate in this class, students devise a viable work plan and perform a set of relevant activities—for example, students may create a semester-long podcast series, engineer sound for all student recitals, produce and platform an album, publish original compositions, and so on. All plans must have instructor approval.
About Central State University
Central State University is a Historically Black University (HBCU) that prepares students with diverse backgrounds and experiences for leadership, research, and service. The University fosters academic excellence within a nurturing environment and provides a strong liberal arts foundation leading to professional careers and advanced studies.
Contact
If you have questions about this certificate program, or about Central State University, please email me:
bjump@centralstate.edu
Chasing the Chords 