Major in Commercial Music
Emphasis in Music Songwriting
The Commercial Music Major provides a broad musical base for students who wish to pursue careers in the commercial music industry. The Songwriting emphasis prepares students to create songs in a variety of commercial music styles.
NOTE: Students are confirmed in the Major in Commercial Music - Songwriting Emphasis (allowing them to take specific coursework in this emphasis) after the submission and approval of a songwriting portfolio of materials. See School of Music for portfolio requirements. This confirmation should occur during the first two semesters.
| Major in Commercial Music | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Core Requirements | 43-44 | |
| Bachelor of Music (B.M.) | ||
| Music Core | 31 | |
| Common Music Core | 30 | |
| Specific Music Core | 1 | |
| MUK 1110, Introduction to Digital Citizenshp (1) | ||
| Major Area | 13 | |
| MBU 1110, Survey of Music Business | 3 | |
| AET 1380, Survey of Recording Technology | 3 | |
| MUH 3210, Evolution of the Popular Song | 3 | |
| M__ 1110, 1120, 2110, 2120, Applied Secondary (1) | 4 | |
| MUG 2010, Piano Proficiency Examination | 0 | |
| MUG 2020, Sophomore Technical | 0 | |
| MB_ 3080, Commercial Seminar | 0 | |
| (Required each semester enrolled in Applied Principal; minimum of 8 semesters) | ||
| MB_ 3000, 25-minute recital | 0 | |
| Emphasis Area | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Songwriting Emphasis | 6 | |
| MUT 3330, Commercial Music Analysis | 3 | |
| MFK 1110, Commercial Class Composition | 1 | |
| MBK 1120, Private Commercial Composition | 1 | |
| MBK 2110, Private Commercial Composition | 1 | |
| Select one of the two following principals: | 19 | |
| a) Voice Principal | 19 | |
| MAA 1210, 1220, 2210, 2120, Classical Voice (2) (Four semesters Required) |
7 | |
| MAA 1060, Diction and Song Literature I | 1 | |
| MAA 3070, Classical Vocal Seminar (Required each semester enrolled in the MAA sequence) |
0 | |
| MBA 2120, 3210, 3220, 4210, 4220, Commercial Voice (2) | 9 | |
| MBA 3030, Commercial Styles I | 1 | |
| MBA 3040 or 3050, Commercial Styles II, III | 1 | |
| b) Keyboard and Instrumental Principals | 19 | |
| MA_ 1110, 1120, 2110, 2120, Classical Applied (2) | 4 | |
| MA_ 3070, Classical Seminar (Required each semester enrolled in the MA_ sequence) |
0 | |
| MB_ 1110, 1120, 2110, 2120, Commercial Applied (2) | 4 | |
| MB_ 3210, 3220, 4210, 4220 Commercial Applied (2) | 8 | |
| MBI 2010, 2020, Improvisation I & II (Percussion principles take MBI 2010, Improvisation I and MBI 2030, Ethnic Percussion) |
2 | |
| MBI 3030, Commercial Styles | 1 | |
| Choose one 3-hour option below: | 3 | |
| MUT4330, Contemporary Arranging (3) MUK 2180, Computer Assisted Music Notation (3) MUK 2210, Music Tech I (3) |
||
| Songwriting Courses | 12 | |
| SNG 2110, Fundamentals of Commercial Songwriting I (3) | ||
| SNG 2120, Fundamentals of Commercial Songwriting II (3) | ||
| SNG 3110, Songwriting Practicum I (3) | ||
| SNG 3120, Lyric Writing (3) | ||
| SNG 2100, Seminar, Workshops, Showcases - four semesters (0) | ||
| Electives | 5 | |
| Degree Total | 132 | |
1 Secondary applied study must be continued each semester until proficiency is passed. Piano is the required secondary for all principals except keyboard. If proficiency is passed prior to completing four semesters, students have choice of secondary area for remaining semesters. For keyboard principals, secondary area must be four semesters of classical study in same instrument or voice.
2 No more than 16 hours of the Applied Principal (MA_ and MB_ total) may count toward degree requirements.