Commercial Music, B.M.

The Commercial Music Major provides a broad musical base for students who wish to pursue careers in the commercial music industry. Students pursuing this degree select from one of the following five emphasis areas: Performance, Composition and Arranging, Music Business, Songwriting and Music Technology.

The Composition and Arranging Emphasis prepares students to be composers and arrangers in a variety of commercial music styles. The Music Business Emphasis provides students exposure to various business aspects of the commercial music industry. The Music Technology Emphasis prepares students to create and/or recreate music using the latest technology available. The Performance Emphasis prepares students to be performers in a variety of commercial music styles. The Songwriting emphasis prepares students to develop skills in songwriting.

The table below lists the common courses for the Major in Commercial Music. Follow the red links above to view coursework required for each emphasis area.

BELL Core Requirements: 38 Hours (minimum)

Bachelor of Music (B.M.)

Music Core: 31 Hours

Common Music Core: 30-33 Hours

^IAll classical majors take MUT 2310 and MUT 2340 and commercial majors and Music Therapy majors take MUT 2315 and MUT 2350 .

^II Commercial Music majors, Music Therapy majors, and Musical Theatre majors do not have this requirement.

^III All students seeking the Bachelor of Music degree must participate in at least one ensemble each semester enrolled as a full-time student and earn a minimum of eight (8) hours credit except Music Education majors and Music Therapy majors who earn a minimum of seven (7) hours credit and Musical Theatre (BFA) majors who earn a minimum of ten (10) hours credit. This number of credits only may count toward degree requirements. See specific Ensemble Requirements for each principal area.

^IVCommercial Music majors only

MUT 1310 Theory I 3 Hours
MUT 1320 Theory II 3 Hours
MUT 1330 Aural Skills I 1 Hours
MUT 1340 Aural Skills II 1 Hours
MUT 2310 Theory III–Classical 3 Hours ^(I) (Classical or Commercial)
or
MUT 2315 Theory III - Commercial 3 Hours ^(I) (Classical or Commercial)
MUT 2320 Theory IV - Post-tonal theory 3 Hours
MUT 2330 Aural Skills III 1 Hours
MUT 2340 Aural Skills IV Classical 1 Hours ^(I) (Classical or Commercial)
or
MUT 2350 Aural Skills IV Commercial 1 Hours ^(I) (Classical or Commercial)
MUH 2200 History of Western Music: 1700 - Present 3 Hours and
Choose one course (3 hrs) from the following:
MUH 2220 History of Electro-Digital Music 3 Hours
MUH 3200 History of Western Music: Ancient - 1700 3 Hours
MUH 4110 History of Commercial Music 3 Hours
MUE 3230 Basic Conducting Techniques 3 Hours
or
MUE 3320 Commercial Conducting 3 Hours ^(IV)
MUN Ensembles 5-10 Hours ^(III)
MUG 2000 Recital Attendance 0 Hours (4 semesters required)
MUG 3010 The Professional Musician 1 Hours

Specific Music Core: 1 Hour

MUK 1110 Introduction to Digital Musicianship 1 Hours

Major Area: 13 Hours

MBU 1110 Survey of Music Business 3 Hours
AET 1380 Survey of Audio Engineering Technology 3 Hours
MUH 4110 History of Commercial Music 3 Hours
, Applied Secondary (4 semesters) ⁽¹⁾
MUG 2010 Piano Proficiency Examination 0 Hours
MPR 30_ Half Music Recital 0 Hours
MSM 20_ Commercial Lower Seminar (3 semesters) 0 Hours
MSM 40_ Commercial Upper Seminar (5 semesters) 0 Hours

Emphasis Area

Total Required for the Program: 132 Hours

¹ Secondary applied study is not required for keyboard principals. Secondary applied study must be continued each semester until proficiency is passed. 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. Keyboard principals take 4 semesters in secondary area of choice.

² No more than 16 hours of the Applied Principal (MA_ and MB_ total ) may count toward degree requirements.

³No more than 20 hours of the Applied Principal may be counted toward degree requirements.

⁴ No more than 22 hours of the Applied Principal may be counted toward degree requirements.