Online Prerequisite: Music Theory Placement Test with a score of 0

A practical introduction to the fundamentals of musical notation and aural skills. Course concepts include note reading, meter, rhythm, scales, key signatures, and listening and sight-reading skills. Learned concepts are applied to the keyboard.

Offered: Online

Resident Prerequisite: CMUS 105 or WMUS 103

An introduction to current music technology used in generating music for the commercial music marketplace. This includes using a digital audio workstation, recording analog music, programming digital music, triggering loops in real time, and notating music digitally.

Offered: Resident and Online

Prerequisite: CMUS 100 or MUSC 100 or Music Theory Placement Test with a score of 70

A practical introduction to melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic principles of commercial music. Course concepts include musical intervals, lead-sheet symbols, Roman Numerals, Nashville Numbers, Number Charts, musical phrases, and structural analysis.

Offered: Resident and Online

Prerequisite: CMUS 105 or WMUS 103

Continuation of CMUS 105. Course concepts include structural analysis, seventh chords, melody harmonization, non-chord tones, commercial vocal and keyboard techniques, and chromatic harmony. Includes harmonic analysis of tonal music in commercial music contexts with application to real-world situations.

Offered: Resident and Online

Prerequisite: CMUS 105 (may be taken concurrently)

Commercial music reading and sight-singing skills are developed through singing and rhythmic exercises from a variety of musical idioms. Transcription skills are refined through guided practice, instruction, and interaction with real musical excerpts.

Offered: Resident and Online

Prerequisite: CMUS 107

A continuation of CMUS 107. Commercial music reading and sight-singing skills are developed through singing and rhythmic exercises from a variety of musical idioms. Transcription skills useful for commercial musicians are refined through guided practice, instruction, and interaction with real musical examples. Seventh chords, chromatic harmony, and harmonic inversion are introduced.

Offered: Resident and Online

Applied studies in vocal technique with particular emphasis on commercial styles.

Registration Restrictions: Department Approval is needed for registration

Offered: Resident

Prerequisite: CMUS 123

Continuation of CMUS 123. Applied studies in vocal technique with particular emphasis on commercial styles.

Registration Restrictions: Departmental Approval is needed for registration

Offered: Resident

This course focuses on the musical and technological techniques of contemporary film composition. Development of fundamental skill in traditional and non-traditional composition practices using technology through the creation of short works is emphasized.

Offered: Resident and Online

Private lessons in a secondary area appropriate to commercial music disciplines, which include voice, guitar, keyboard, bass, drums, recording engineering and producing, songwriting, film scoring, and other solo instruments.

Registration Restrictions: Consent of Instructor

Offered: Online

Private lessons appropriate to commercial music disciplines, which include voice, guitar, keyboard, bass, drums, recording engineering and producing, songwriting, film scoring, and other solo instruments.

Registration Restrictions: Consent of Instructor

Offered: Resident and Online

Prerequisite: CMUS 151

Continuation of CMUS 151, private lessons appropriate to commercial music disciplines, which include voice, guitar, keyboard, bass, drums, recording engineering and producing, songwriting, film scoring, and other solo instruments.

Offered: Resident and Online

Prerequisite: CMUS 151 (may be taken concurrently)

In this course, students participate in a commercial music ensemble, receive weekly coaching from a faculty member, and present a performance during the term. Students should maintain and actively participate in a music ensemble with at least two other musicians.

Offered: Resident and Online

Prerequisite: CMUS 193

In this course, students participate in a commercial music ensemble, receive weekly coaching from a faculty member, and present a performance during the term. Students should maintain and actively participate in a music ensemble with at least two other musicians.

Offered: Resident and Online

Prerequisite: (MUSC 105 or WRSP 103 or WMUS 103) and (MUSC 106 or WMUS 104 or WRSP 104)

A continuation of MUSC 106. This course includes the study of sequences, modulations, and various commercial and jazz-based harmonic techniques. Students apply learned concepts to various musical situations through analysis, melody harmonization, and/or composition.

Offered: Resident

Prerequisite: (MUSC 105 or WMUS 103 or WRSP 103) and (MUSC 106 or WRSP 104 or WMUS 104) and (MUSC 203 or WMUS 203)

A continuation of CMUS 203. Course concepts include major forms from a variety of musical styles, post-tonal music, and sound-centric methods of analysis for commercial music. Students assess 20th- and 21st-century music through a biblical worldview.

Offered: Resident

A survey of popular and jazz music writers, influences, and trends. Emphasis is placed on a general overview of personalities and their unique influences within each of these genres.

Offered: Resident and Online

Prerequisite: CMUS 102

This course provides training in studio production techniques. Students learn studio miking for instruments and voice, digital audio workstations, and general techniques for studio production.

Offered: Resident and Online

Online Prerequisite: CMUS 140

Continuation of CMUS 140, private lessons in a secondary area appropriate to commercial music disciplines, which include voice, guitar, keyboard, bass, drums, recording engineering and producing, songwriting, film scoring, and other solo instruments.

Registration Restrictions: Consent of Instructor

Offered: Online

Prerequisite: CMUS 152

Continuation of CMUS 152, private lessons appropriate to commercial music disciplines, which include voice, guitar, keyboard, bass, drums, recording engineering and producing, songwriting, film scoring, and other solo instruments.

Offered: Resident and Online

Prerequisite: CMUS 251

Continuation of CMUS 251, private lessons appropriate to commercial music disciplines, which include voice, guitar, keyboard, bass, drums, recording engineering and producing, songwriting, film scoring, and other solo instruments.

Offered: Resident and Online

Online Prerequisite: CMUS 252 (may be taken concurrently)

This course allows the student to demonstrate their competency in a particular applied music area and complete the Sophomore Review.

Offered: Online

Students will become familiar with the responsibilities of a tour planner and a concert promoter. Students will participate in planning concerts in various size venues and learn the procedures and necessary tasks. Students will learn the processes for concert promotion. Tour planning projects are assigned, giving the students insight into the fundamental elements of tour management and production. Booking an artist will also be studied within the context of secular venues, Christian venues, festivals, large and small venues and churches.

Offered: Resident

This course covers basic Pro Tools principles applied to music recording, engineering, and producing contexts. It provides everything you need to complete a Pro Tools project from initial setup to final mix-down. The course focuses on Pro Tools software and covers a multitude of new functions and feature enhancements. Whether your project involves recording live instruments, MIDI sequencing of software synthesizers, or audio editing or region looping, this course will give you the basic skills to succeed.

Offered: Resident

This course is designed to develop the artist for a career in the music industry. Students will engage in the principles of artist branding, fanbase communication, merchandise development, and marketing and distribution of their music and artistry. Spiritual formation and personal integrity as well as stage performance, creative stage production, song selection and repertoire development will be discussed.

Offered: Resident

Prerequisite: CMUS 106

This course addresses the stagecraft necessary to serve as music director in commercial music and includes worship leadership, touring, musical theatre, and leadership needed to oversee recording studio sessions.

Offered: Resident and Online

This course is a survey of sound reinforcement and provides training in sound system setup, design, implementation and front of house and monitor mixing for venues, tours, and houses of worship.

Offered: Resident and Online

Prerequisite: CMUS 102 and CMUS 106 and CMUS 108

The study of computer applications in commercial music, including competencies in the use of music notation software, sequencing, and the fundamental technology skills for publication and producing.

Offered: Resident and Online

Prerequisite: CMUS 330

This course is the investigation of computer applications for a variety of commercial musical purposes, including the following: use of multi-track music recording software; sequencing, using loops; integrating MIDI and digital audio; digital audio data capture and editing; and sound shaping.

Offered: Resident and Online

This course develops skills in using a digital audio workstation for music production.

Offered: Online

Online Prerequisite: CMUS 335

Building on the foundation in CMUS 335, this course develops advanced skills in using a digital audio workstation for music production.

Offered: Online

A study of the music industry providing introductory material about the various areas of the industry including examination of key roles associated with the music business and how they impact one another.

Offered: Online

An examination of the background and principles of contract law as applied to the negotiation, creation, interpretation and enforcement of binding agreements in the music industry. This course also involves a study of music licensing and work for hire, royalties, and residuals.

Offered: Online

A study of the operational principles of recorded music distribution for independent artists and for mainstream record labels. This includes monetization of recorded music through streaming, special events, merchandising, and other methods.

Offered: Online

A study of the theories and techniques used in the marketing of recorded music by major and independent labels and artists to consumers. Topics include market structure and analysis, distribution methods, promotional strategies, charts, airplay, pricing, research, and legal issues specific to entertainment marketing. This course also discusses use of music in marketing other products.

Offered: Online

An analysis of the various aspects of artist development and tour management. This includes contracts with venues, riders, audience projections/demographics, and finance (budgets, corporate sponsorships, gate receipts, etc.).

Offered: Online

Prerequisite: CMUS 106

This course provides opportunity for students to develop skill in strategic areas of vocal or instrumental improvisational technique in commercial music contexts. Investigative studies include the relationship between improvisation and harmonic context in contemporary popular, rock, black gospel, and jazz idioms.

Offered: Resident and Online

Online Prerequisite: CMUS 218

This course provides the fundamentals of audio recording and producing including equipment function and application, recording console operation, microphone technique, first and second engineer skill sets, session setup, signal processing, troubleshooting, and critical listening as well as fundamentals for music production and album creation.

Offered: Online

A study of the music entrepreneur and basic principles, founded on a biblical worldview, for starting a business within the context of the commercial music community: discovering their unique value in the music marketplace, developing their brand, finding and connecting with their customer/fan, potential revenue streams, budgeting, and cost analysis of their business.

Offered: Resident and Online

This course delineates the crafting and production processes necessary for song development within music industry contexts. It addresses the musical, technological, mentoring, and business fundamentals necessary for music producers to construct songs and media content, recognizing how to generate and promote potentially viable product within commercial projects and ventures.

Offered: Resident

Prerequisite: (MUSC 368 or MUSC 369 or MUSC 396 or MUSC 398) and Sophomore Review with a score of 1

An intensive individual production project in which the graduating senior will demonstrate competence in his or her field of commercial music study. A digital portfolio will be created to showcase work done throughout the student’s program of study; this will be used for career advancement as well as academic evaluation. Artifacts of commercial music work will be posted in the portfolio that highlights audio/video components and other industry-oriented elements of value – especially online video, song leadsheets, and audio samples).

Registration Restrictions: Passing the sophomore review in a BM in Commercial Music concentration/program and either MUSC 368, MUSC 369, MUSC 396, or MUSC 398

Offered: Resident

Prerequisite: Sophomore Review with a score of 1

Students will apply their music production skills in a capstone project that will reflect a comprehensive expression of the abilities they have mastered through their commercial music course work.

Offered: Resident

Online Prerequisite: CMUS 329

This course is designed to advance the student utilizing the skills and knowledge gained in the Fundamentals of Sound Reinforcement (CMUS 329) course. Students will gain deeper training in mixing different kinds of concerts, adapting to various venues while on tour, and working with varied groups and live sound situations as an in-house engineer. Practical mixing instruction will provide repeatable workflows for working in a variety of contexts.

Offered: Online

Prerequisite: CMUS 106

This course provides training in songwriting. Emphasis is given to writing lyrics, melodies, harmonies, and rhythmic grooves for developing songs within a commercial music setting.

Offered: Resident and Online

Prerequisite: MUSC 334

Students will work to further develop and learn the techniques used in composing and scoring music for television and film productions; practical writing experience. Assignments representing realistic situations will be recorded synchronously to the specific needs of film scenes.

Offered: Resident

Online Prerequisite: CMUS 336

This course provides advanced development of real-world digital audio workstation skills and techniques for editing, mixing, and mastering.

Offered: Online

Online Prerequisite: CMUS 429 or CMUS 462

Applied study in a specialized audio production topic such as mixing or other aspects of digital audio production. This course is tailored to the student’s individual goals.

Offered: Online

Prerequisite: (CMUS 193 or CMUS 194) and CMUS 151

In this course, students participate in a commercial music ensemble, receive weekly coaching from a faculty member, and present a performance during the term. Students should maintain and actively participate in a music ensemble with at least two other musicians.

Offered: Resident and Online

Prerequisite: CMUS 493

In this course, students participate in a commercial music ensemble, receive weekly coaching from a faculty member, and present a performance during the term. Students should maintain and actively participate in a music ensemble with at least two other musicians.

Offered: Resident and Online

Prerequisite: CMUS 436

This is a capstone course usually completed near the end of the degree program. This course involves preparing a capstone commercial music project, which can be a recording project, songwriting program, film scoring program, applied performance, or research paper.

Offered: Resident and Online

Prerequisite: CMUS 436

Directed applicable work experience under the supervision of an administrator or professional at a place of business within commercial music. Applications are processed through the School of Music. Applicants must apply at least one semester prior to starting the internship.

Registration Restrictions: Junior or Senior status; 2.00 GPA; Approval of School of Music Internship Coordinator

Offered: Resident and Online