Specialization in Commercial Record Production

 

Available to music production and engineering majors, the commercial record production specialization immerses the student in the most current innovations in record production, recording, and mixing, using in-depth analyses of emerging creative, technical, and entrepreneurial processes as they become present in contemporary popular music. This expansion of the music production and engineering curriculum is designed to address new media approaches in record production and to provide historical insight into the background surrounding these new media approaches. This specialization will focus on adaptive critical music thinking as it prepares the student for a career in the record industry of the near present and moving into the future.

Entrance Requirements

This specialization is only available to music production and engineering majors.

There are no entrance requirements for this specialization. Students must follow the regular declaration of minor/specialization procedure as outlined in the Registration Guide. This specialization is managed by the Music Production and Engineering Department

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of a specialization in commercial record production, students will:

  • gain a historical perspective and understanding of the popular music recording industry and the technological innovations used by popular music record producers, engineers, and programmers, from 1979 to the present;
  • facilitate both analog and digital forms of emerging creative musical expression via recording techniques, mixing processes, and distribution methods;
  • apply adaptive critical music thinking to emerging music styles, languages, techniques, and processes;
  • understand innovation as a process inherent in modern popular music and music distribution; and
  • articulate and apply the intellectual potential and creative possibilities of popular music record production.
Curriculum and Courses

Required Courses (three courses; 6 credits):

  • MP-343: Vocal Technologies for Records (2 credits)
  • MTEC-471: Remixing for the Commercial Marketplace (2 credits) or MTEC-455: Hip-Hop Production for Records (2 credits)
  • MP-460: Advanced Commercial Record Production Projects (2 credits)

Elective Courses (choose two of the following; 4 credits):

  • MP-431: Vocal Production (2 credits)
  • MP-441: Advanced Mix Lab (2 credits)
  • MTEC-471: Remixing for the Commercial Marketplace (2 credits) if not taken as a required course
  • MTEC-455: Hip-Hop Production for Records (2 credits) if not taken as a required course

Five courses (10 credits total) are required for completion of the specialization.

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