Music Producing & Recording

Bachelor of Music - 191.5 Credits

Competency: Literacy
Course Number: GE-100
Credits: 3

Course Description
Understanding the writing process with proper use of grammar and APA or MLA formatting are useable and integral skills for college students. Planning, preparing, writing, and editing will be important aspects of this course and students can expect to develop their skills within narrative, descriptive, and persuasive writing projects. Supporting evidence and research for these projects will be conducted from articles, journals, and books pertaining to musical topics such as genre, artists, theory, and history. Music students will be able to explore their musical topics of interest and use their composition skills to demonstrate their ability to effectively communicate in writing. This course consists of a hybrid combination of on campus meetings and online coursework.

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
MUS-1000
Credits: 3

Course Description
Applied Theory Lab 1 consists of five primary elements: Music theory, ear training, basic piano, sight singing and music notation. The class will cover the fundamentals of all the aforementioned elements. Some of the topics covered will be major keys/scales, intervals, transposition, sight-reading, and hand notation skills. Ear training components will consist of melodic, rhythmic and interval dictation. The students will sit at a workstation with a computer and piano keyboard. The dissemination of the material will be interactive and hands on. The ear training, sight singing, piano and notation are all used in such a way as to reinforce the music theory goals for the course. This course consist of four weekly, one-hour labs.

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-1000
Credits: 3

Course Description
In Pro Tools 101 students explore introductory level Pro Tools hardware and software functionality while studying the supplementary coursework provided. Through studying the basic Pro Tools principles, students gain the skills needed to complete a Pro Tools project from initial set-up to final mix-down. Whether the project involves recording live instruments, MIDI sequencing of software synthesizers, or audio looping, this course provides the basic skills needed to succeed. At the conclusion of this course students will be given the official Pro Tools 101 certification exams. This course consists of a weekly, two hour lecture and two-hours of lab. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-113
Credits: 3

Course Description
A successful producer must truly know the tools used in production, and this course introduces students to the primary building blocks used in signal processing. Topics include compression/limiting, reverb, pitch-based effects, and delay/echo. This course consists of a weekly, three-hour lecture. This course may be taken as an elective

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: 
PROD-114
Credits: 2

Course Description
This course serves as an accompaniment to the “Drums for Producers 1” course, and aims to create a physical understanding of the act of playing drums and percussion. Students work on core drumming concepts during weekly private lessons with a LACM drum instructor. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour private lesson.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: 
PROD-115
Credits: 1

Course Description
This course focuses on the skills needed for producers to communicate/ convey their ideas to a drummer. Students learn drumming vocabulary, tuning, and recording techniques, as well as drum set technique basics, functions, and grooves. The course aims for students to emerge better able to communicate, demonstrate and compose drum parts. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture.

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-120
Credits: 2

Course Description
Just as an instrumentalist must be familiar with various styles and techniques, so must a producer know different production styles and genres. With that goal in mind, this course analyzes commercial recorded musical examples in a variety of different musical and production styles, providing both the background necessary to emulate these styles and the information necessary to blaze new territory. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture. This course may be taken as an elective.

QUARTER SUMMARY

Competencies Covered: Literacy, Musicianship, Instrument & Music Technology.

Total Credits: 17

Competency: Literacy
Course Number: 
GE-101
Credits: 3

Course Description
Thinking critically is a logical art of understanding how to evaluate circumstances, judgments, situations, and texts. Escaping ambiguity within writing and deterring from fallacy within logic is this course’s objective. Critical thinking in combination with English composition offers dynamic features that include professional writing of resumes, business letters, and proposals. The grammatical concepts learned in English 100 will be emphasized and applied and MLA citation format will be introduced. Music students will be able to explore how to effectively use critical thinking skills and composition while working within the music industry. Topics include philosophical, psychological, historical, and social approaches to thinking critically. Effectively knowing how to critically think allows for successful communication and logical problem solving in a student’s career and everyday life. This course consists of a weekly, three-hour lecture.

Prerequisite: GE-100: English Composition

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
MUS-1001
Credits: 3

Course Description
Applied Theory Lab 2 continues with the five primary elements of Applied Theory 1. Diatonic harmony, chord construction and progressions as well as chromaticism are introduced. Added requirements for ear training will be chord progression and chord recognition dictation. Students are asked to perform on the piano all ear training material to better comprehend the information. Computer notation is introduced. This course consist of four weekly, one-hour labs.

Prerequisite: Applied Theory Lab 1.

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-1001
Credits: 3

Course Description
Pro Tools 110 continues building on the concepts learned in Pro Tools 101. Students focus on the key concepts and skills needed to operate a Pro Tools system, and provides the foundation for later post-production courses within the program. At the conclusion of both levels, students will be given the official Pro Tools 101 and 110 certification exams. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture and two-hours of lab. This course may be taken as an elective

Prerequisite: Pro Tools 101

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-107
Credits: 2

Course Description
Level 1 of this course serves as an introduction to MIDI and virtual instrument-based composition using a digital audio workstation (Pro Tools). Students are taught both the best practices and the workings of MIDI systems, which subsequently lays the groundwork for their own MIDI-based productions. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture and two-hour lab. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-117
Credits: 1

Course Description
This course introduces students to the world of microphone technology and technique. Topics include the various classes of microphones, their construction and application, and how to achieve the desired results from various acoustic sources. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lab. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-121
Credits: 2

Course Description
This course teaches essential skills for the modern producer. Topics covered include techniques for troubleshooting, cabling/wiring, and an introduction to basic soldering and simple electronics. Also included are the internal workings of computers and hard drives, small studio ergonomics and design, speaker choice and placement, room treatment, and the concepts of maintaining a recording/production environment. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: 
PROD-122
Credits: 1

Course Description
This course provides the skills needed for producers to communicate/ convey their ideas to a guitarist, as well as teaches the basics of guitar and bass playing. Topics include technique, strumming, chords,slapping and finger picking. Special emphasis is placed on obtaining the skills necessary for songwriting, arranging and recording. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: 
PROD-126
Credits: 2

Course Description
This course serves as an accompaniment to the “Strings for Producers 1” class, and aims at creating a physical understanding of the act of playing guitar and bass. Students study guitar for half of the course with a LACM guitar instructor, and the other half of the course studying bass with a LACM bass instructor. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour private lesson.

QUARTER SUMMARY

Competencies Covered: Literacy, Instrument, Musicianship, & Music Technology.

Total Credits: 17

Competency: Literacy
Course Number: 
GE-200
Credits: 4

Course Description
Effective communication is a necessity for any industry and is used as a fundamental tool that connects individuals and determines the quality of an interaction. This course will provide music students with an applied knowledge of how to improve communication skills with others for their future success as music professionals. Some of the topics that will be covered are communication styles, listening skills, providing and processing feedback, metacognitive reflections and cognitive communication, and interpersonal, non-verbal, and verbal communication. Special attention will be paid to the relevancy of this course to students’ interactions with other music professionals. Major course assignments will provide practical applications for music students to demonstrate the speaking and listening skills they’ve acquired for their careers. Topics in this course will be relevant to music students’ needs and interests. This course consists of two weekly, two-hour lectures.

Prerequisite: GE-101: English Composition & Critical Thinking

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
MUS-1002
Credits: 3

Course Description
Applied Theory 3 continues to build on the five primary elements of Applied Theory 1 and 2. Minor keys/scales, modes, progressions in major and minor tonality, modulation, constitutes some of the new information in Applied Theory 3. Melodies, rhythms, intervals, progressions, chord qualities continue to grow in complexity as we move through these upper levels of Applied Theory 3. This course consist of four weekly, one-hour labs.

Prerequisite: Applied Theory Lab 2. 

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-116
Credits: 3

Course Description
Building on the skills learned in “Introduction to Signal Processing,” this course delves even deeper into the world of signal processing. Students explore matrixed effects, specialty-use devices and plugins, and creating soundscapes. This course consists of a weekly, three-hour lecture. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-118
Credits: 2

Course Description
MIDI Production 2 digs even deeper into the world of computer MIDI- based production. This level focuses on advanced MIDI editing, routing and creating multi/stacks, and synth programming. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture and two-hour lab. This course may be taken as an elective.

Prerequisite: MIDI Production 1. 

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-119
Credits: 2

Course Description
The goal of this course is to teach techniques for editing of musical performances, specifically singing, drumming, and guitar playing. The focus will be on vocal and drum editing, using Melodyne, Auto Tune, and Beat Detective. Students will develop editing skills that allow them to deliver interventions ranging from the subtle to the very processed. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture.

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-125
Credits: 4

Course Description
As we move further into the new millennium, it has become increasingly more important that producers know how to engineer properly. Oftentimes they may be the only engineer available on a project, or they may be in a situation where modern technology allows recording remotely from a different continent. Level 1 of this course begins the recording technology discussion, while Level 2 delves deeper into the subject by studying complex signal processing, multing tricks and techniques, and sound replacement/augmentation. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture, and two-hour lab.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course.

QUARTER SUMMARY

Competencies Covered: Music Technology, Literacy, & Musicianship.

Total Credits: 18

Competency: Literacy
Course Number: GE-306
Credits: 4

Course Description
This is a compact and focused course of Physics with special emphasis on Motion, Waves and Sound/Voice. Topics cover Motion, Newton’s Laws, Energy, Temperature and Heat, Electromagnetism and Electromagnetic Waves, and understanding the elements, mechanisms and the dynamism of Waves and Sound. This course consists of two weekly, two-hour lectures.

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
MUS-2000
Credits: 3

Course Description
Applied Theory 4 continues to build on the five primary elements of Applied Theory 1, 2 and 3. Tri-tone substitutions, composition, atonal music, modal interchange and secondary dominants are some of the new concepts in Applied Theory 4. Upon completion of Applied Theory 4, the student should arrive at level of musicianship expected of a working professional. This course consist of four weekly, one-hour labs.

Prerequisite: Applied Theory 3. 

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-216
Credits: 4

Course Description
As we move further into the new millennium, it has become increasingly more important that producers know how to engineer properly. Oftentimes they may be the only engineer available on a project, or they may be in a situation where modern technology allows recording remotely from a different continent. Engineering for Producers 2 delves deeper into the subject by studying complex signal processing, multing tricks and techniques, and sound replacement/augmentation. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture, and two-hour lab.

Prerequisite: Engineering for Producers 1.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: 
PROD-220
Credits: 2

Course Description
During quarters four, five, and six, students are given the opportunity to work one-on-one with an instructor of their choice. Students may choose to continue studying drums, string instruments, or vocals, or may decide to further develop their skills in engineering or songwriting. This flexibility gives music producing and engineering students the power to choose the direction of their studies in senior quarters. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour private lesson.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: PROD-224
Credits: 2

Course Description
Pop music has become more perfect than ever, and a modern producer needs to know how to use technology to correct or modify the pitch of a voice or instrument. This course explores various methods ranging from the gentle/non-invasive to more drastic methods, giving each producer the tools to be effective in both reparative and creative uses. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture, and one two-hour lab. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: PROD-226
Credits: 3

Course Description
Producing other artists requires an altogether different set of skills than working alone. In this three-level course, students learn how to manage the process of producing someone else, as both the producer and the engineer/producer. Topics include creating conducive environments, managing multiple people at once, headphone mixes and their resulting effects, the application of songwriting class work, and motivational techniques. This course consists of a weekly, two- hour lecture and two-hour lab.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course

QUARTER SUMMARY

Competencies Covered: Literacy, Instrument, Music Technology & Musicianship

Total Credits: 18

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
COMP-100
Credits: 1.5

Course Description
This course is designed to improve (or uncover) each student’s songwriting ability through a study of the craft of songwriting, and to inform their careers by focusing on the various business aspects of songwriting. Students broaden their historical perspective of songwriting through a study of definitive songwriters of popular music, while performing and recording their own compositions weekly. Melody, structure, lyrics, collaboration, and the development of a “hook” are all looked at in great detail. This course consists of a weekly one-hour lecture and one-hour lab. This course may be taken as an elective.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course. 

Competency: Entrepreneurship
Course Number: 
COMP-207
Credits: 2

Course Description
This course focuses on music publishing with an introduction to the various income sources found in the music industry. Topics include: choosing between BMI and ASCAP, how to protect your song or song performance through copyright, recording artist deals and record companies production deals and song splits, mechanical and sync licensing, as well as understanding the varying types of common publishing deals. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture.

Competency: Literacy
Course Number: 
GE-202
Credits: 3

Course Description
Compared to many other nations, the United States is relatively young; however, this doesn’t mean that this country’s history, with its interesting figures, significant events, and transformative shifts in ideology, doesn’t offer an important perspective students can use when making sense of our nation’s past and its influence on contemporary society. This course begins with a brief look at the Country post-Civil War, and when quickly moves into a more in depth examination of the country from the Industrial era through WWII. The course ends with a critical discussion of the country during the 1950s post-war era, a time that many people fondly recall as America’s golden age, but students will learn to view in a more nuanced light. Throughout this course, the nation’s social, economic, and cultural climate will be discussed from a historical context and our nation’s diverse populations and their historical experiences will be emphasized. This course consists of two weekly, one and a half hour lectures.

Prerequisite: GE-101: English Composition & Critical Thinking

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
MUS-2001
Credits: 3

Course Description
Applied Theory 5 is project based to ensure that all the information disseminated through levels 1-4 have been completely absorbed and understood. Tasks will include piano performance, composition, transcription, orchestration, transposition, analysis and computer notation. This course consist of four weekly, one-hour labs.

Prerequisite: Applied Theory 4. 

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-214
Credits: 1.5

Course Description
Despite historical delegitimization of DJ-ing as a musical art, DJ-style music and techniques have evolved to the point where they are now a respected part of mainstream production. This course teaches the basics of using finished mixes and samples to create an effective DJ- style production. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture and one-hour lab. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Instrument 
Course Number: 
PROD-221
Credits: 2

Course Description
During quarters four, five, and six, students are given the opportunity to work one-on-one with an instructor of their choice. Students may choose to continue studying drums, string instruments, or vocals, or may decide to further develop their skills in engineering or songwriting. This flexibility gives music producing and engineering students the power to choose the direction of their studies in senior quarters. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour private lesson.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course.

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
PROD-223
Credits: 1

Course Description
This course focuses on arranging from the perspective of creating an effective recorded production. Analysis of parts and elements, from both older and more recent recordings, are used to demonstrate how best to approach the building of a successful production. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
PROD-227
Credits: 3

Course Description
Producing other artists requires an altogether different set of skills than working alone. In this three-level course, students learn how to manage the process of producing someone else, as both the producer and the engineer/producer. Topics include creating conducive environments, managing multiple people at once, headphone mixes and their resulting effects, the application of songwriting class work, and motivational techniques. This course consists of a weekly, two- hour lecture and two-hour lab.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course.

QUARTER SUMMARY

Competencies Covered: Entrepreneurship, Literacy, Instrument, Music Technology & Musicianship

Total Credits: 17

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
COMP-101
Credits: 1.5

Course Description
This course will continue the study of popular song construct, but will be applied directly to varied genres of music and the requisite shift in stylistic approach. Each genre demands varied approaches as applies to lyric, melody, hook construct and delivery, structure and chord progressions. Popular genres to be analyzed will include Pop, Pop/Rock, Modern Rock, Hip Hop, Dance/Electronica, Indie/Folk and Alternative Country. This course consists of a weekly one-hour lecture and one-hour lab. This course may be taken as an elective.

Prerequisite: Songwriting 1. 

Competency: Entrepreneurship
Course Number: 
COMP-208
Credits: 2

Course Description
Building on the concepts presented in Music Business for Songwriters 1, this course will delve into the aspects of writing for varied media platforms and the practices and contracts associated with each. Topics will include: writing for music libraries, title replacement, single-song agreements, licensing deals, catalog acquisition, videogame custom composition agreements, film trailer and/or theme song composition and contracts. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture.

Prerequisite: Music Business for Songwriting 1. 

Competency: Literacy
Course Number: 
GE-403
Credits: 3

Course Description

This is a comprehensive course of basic Psychology structured upon the biological, cognitive, developmental and social foundations of human behavior. Additionally, it also covers the basic and most common mental health disorders. Topics include neuroscience, sensation and perception, motivation and emotion, learning and memory, human development, social psychology and personality. This course consists of two weekly, one and a half hour lectures.

Prerequisite: GE-100: English Composition

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
MUS-104
Credits: 2

Course Description
This course is designed so that students gain the ability to arrange and orchestrate a coherent vocal/instrumental composition for a rhythm section with three horns (specifically: piano, bass, drums, guitar, trumpet, tenor sax, and trombone). Students learn the musical relationship between the rhythm and horn sections, various techniques used in voicing horns, as well as their appropriate ranges and transpositions. The class will also focus on the melodic and harmonic roles played by the rhythm and horn sections, and the various ways in which to score a horn section. By the conclusion of this course, each student will have arranged and orchestrated a musical composition and have it professionally recorded. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture. This course may be taken as an elective.

Prerequisite: Applied Theory Lab 2. 

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-217
Credits: 2

Course Description
The true strength of synthesizers is their ability to have their sound tailored to best suit any musical situation. Students will move beyond the “hunt-for-an-acceptable-preset” and learn first-hand how to unlock the true potential of the instrument. From the classic analog subtractive synth of yesterday to the computer based virtual instruments of today, this course will review the various synthesis engines, their strengths, and applications within music production. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture, and one two-hour lab.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: 
PROD-222
Credits: 2

Course Description
During quarters four, five, and six, students are given the opportunity to work one-on-one with an instructor of their choice. Students may choose to continue studying drums, string instruments, or vocals, or may decide to further develop their skills in engineering or songwriting. This flexibility gives music producing and engineering students the power to choose the direction of their studies in senior quarters. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour private lesson.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course.

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
PROD-228
Credits: 3

Course Description
Producing other artists requires an altogether different set of skills than working alone. In this three-level course, students learn how to manage the process of producing someone else, as both the producer and the engineer/producer. Topics include creating conducive environments, managing multiple people at once, headphone mixes and their resulting effects, the application of songwriting class work, and motivational techniques. This course consists of a weekly, two- hour lecture and two-hour lab.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-230
Credits: 3

Course Description
This class explores the vast options of Logic Pro X. This DAW puts a complete recording and MIDI production studio on your Mac, with everything a pro musician needs to write, record, edit, mix, and notate like never before. All in an intuitive interface that puts the tools you need right where you need them. The course focuses on the creative aspects of using this DAW with an emphasis on scoring applications. There are numerous creative projects culminating to creating a fully produced score. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture and two-hour lab.

QUARTER SUMMARY

Competencies Covered: Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Music Technology, Instrument & Musicianship.

Total Credits: 18.5

Competency: Entrepreneurship
Course Number: 
COMP-301
Credits: 2

Course Description
Following Music Business for Songwriters 2, this course will cover topics including: work-for-hire agreements, understanding the Musicians Union when contracting with demo session players, common agreements with major Film and TV companies, advanced royalty allocation and distribution, when to seek an attorney or manager/agent and how to make most effective use of the relationship with each, along with catalog compilation in varied genres/formats. A study of international markets applied to royalties, copyright, and contracts will also be a focus in this course. This course will consist of one weekly two-hour lecture.

Prerequisite: Music Business for Songwriters 2. 

Competency: Literacy
Course Number: 
GE-303
Credits: 3

Course Description
Spanish 1 is an introductory course, which emphasizes the basic skill of listening comprehension and speaking ability, writing simple grammatical sentences and grammar exercises. Short reading selections emphasize new vocabulary and grammar structures. Grammar and vocabulary are used to develop the four main skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. The basics of verb usage and conjugation, greetings, numbers, professions, colors, adjectives, and phrases related to work, nationalities, family, home, and a restaurant will be covered. This course consists of two weekly, one and a half hour lectures.

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
MUS-200
Credits: 2

Course Description
This course is designed so that students gain the ability to arrange and orchestrate a coherent vocal/instrumental composition for a rhythm section with six horns (plus doubles, more specifically: piano, bass, drums, guitar, 2 trumpets and/or flugelhorns, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax with any combinations of flutes and clarinets, and 1 trombone). This course will starts students on the road to listening to music through color as well as sound. Students learn about the various roles of the woodwind section and the most effective techniques in which to voice them. Students also explore the many colors achieved by the blending of saxes, flutes, and clarinets, and the possibilities from blending the woodwinds with each other as well as with the brass section. In addition, students learn the various ways in which to score the woodwind and brass sections, whether accompanying a vocalist or in an instrumental arrangement. By the conclusion of this course, each student will have arranged and orchestrated a musical composition and have it professionally recorded. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture.

Prerequisite: Arranging & Orchestration 1.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: 
PROD-301
Credits: 2

Course Description
Students are given the opportunity to work one-on-one with an instructor of their choice. Students may choose to continue studying drums, string instruments, or vocals, or may decide to further develop their skills in engineering or songwriting. This flexibility gives music producing and engineering students the power to choose the direction of their studies in senior quarters. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour private lesson.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course.

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-300
Credits: 2

Course Description
Fundamental of Audio Mixing 2 explores different genre- specific mixing approaches and introduces more advanced techniques (e.g. master buss processing, etc.). Students will study advanced sonic stamp with in-depth comparisons of microphones, mic pre-amps, and amplifiers, as well as stereo mic configurations. Students will learn to monitor and apply critical listening to their mixes, be able to add character to the mix by using “Lo-Fi” techniques, use multi-band compression in mastering. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture and two-hour lab.

Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Audio Mixing 1.

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-314
Credits: 3

Course Description
This course covers the core concepts and skills needed to operate an Avid Pro Tools | HD 12 system in a professional studio environment. This course builds on the Pro Tools Fundamentals I and II series of courses (PT101, PT110) providing intermediate and advanced-level Pro Tools concepts and techniques. Students learn to customize the configuration of Pro Tools | HD Native systems to maximize results and improve recording, editing, and mixing workflows. The hands-on exercises provide experience optimizing system resources, configuring I/O, navigating and color-coding sessions, managing session media, using advanced selection and auditioning techniques, working with clip gain, applying advanced automation techniques, creating submixes and applying parallel processing, advanced mixing and finishing techniques for a final mixdown. This course provides the foundational training for the Avid Certified Operator: Pro Tools | Music Candidates wishing to sit either of these certification exams must have firstly passed the Avid Certified User: Pro Tools certification exam. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture and two-hour lab.

Prerequisite: Pro Tools 101, Pro Tools 110.

QUARTER SUMMARY

Competencies Covered: Literacy, Instrument, Entrepreneurship, Music Technology & Musicianship.

Total Credits: 14

Competency: Entrepreneurship
Course Number: 
COMP-302
Credits: 2

Course Description
The independent songwriter must learn how to be a viable and efficient business person. This course will cover concepts of business accounting procedures and tools, state and federal tax laws for the independent contractor, business investments and growth plans, strategic partnerships with like-minded professionals and companies, corporate music opportunities and more. The course series will conclude with a practical, hands-on application of concepts in the compilation of all needed business agreement and contract templates, a complete short and long term business plan, along with a song catalog that is ready for promotion to the varied media sources addressed in Music Business for Songwriters 1-3. This course will consist of one weekly two-hour lecture.

Prerequisite: Music Business for Songwriters 3. 

Competency: Literacy
Course Number: 
GE-400
Credits: 3

Course Description
This is a comprehensive course of World Geography structured upon a World regional approach. Topics include World physical processes, regions divided and organized into Europe, Russia & the Near Abroad, Middle East, North & Sub-Saharan Africa, South & East Asia, Oceania & Antarctica, Latin America & North America (US & Canada). This course consists of a weekly, three-hour lecture

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
MUS-201
Credits: 2

Course Description
This continuation of the “Arranging & Orchestration 2” course is designed to prepare students to arrange and orchestrate for an augmented ensemble. This includes oboe or English horn, bassoon, French horn, tuba or bass trombone, and percussion. This course presents the possibilities one can achieve when combining jazz and classical elements to form a cohesive musical work. Students learn about the various colors of the newly introduced instruments, their ranges and transpositions, and explore the art of combining the vast array of colors each instrument has to offer. Students also continue to learn the art of linear vs. block writing, while gaining a better understanding of arranging and orchestration through listening and analysis. By the conclusion of this course, each student will have arranged and orchestrated a musical composition and have it professionally recorded. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture.

Prerequisite: Arranging & Orchestration 2

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
PROD-218
Credits: 1

Course Description
By tracking the birth and development of sound recording and playback technologies, the first level of this course provides the springboard to discuss and analyze the parallel evolution of the producer and his/her many roles in the process of crafting music. During the second level, students focus on the rise of the producer from a “behind-the-scenes facilitator” to an increasing spot in the limelight. This course consists of a weekly, 1.5-hour lecture. This course may be taken as an elective.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course. 

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-338
Credits: 2

Course Description
Pop music has become more perfect than ever, and a modern producer needs to know how to use technology to correct or modify the pitch of a voice or instrument. This course explores various methods ranging from the gentle/non-invasive to more drastic methods, giving each producer the tools to be effective in both reparative and creative uses. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture, and one two-hour lab. This course may be taken as an elective.

Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Audio Mixing 2

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: 
PROD-302
Credits: 2

Course Description
Students are given the opportunity to work one-on-one with an instructor of their choice. Students may choose to continue studying drums, string instruments, or vocals, or may decide to further develop their skills in engineering or songwriting. This flexibility gives music producing and engineering students the power to choose the direction of their studies in senior quarters. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour private lesson.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-315
Credits: 3

Course Description
Pro Tools 210M covers techniques for working with Pro Tools systems in a professional music production environment. Concepts and skills learnt in the Pro Tools Fundamentals I (PT101), Pro Tools Fundamentals II (PT110) and Pro Tools Production I (PT201) courses are reinforced with practical music-specific examples. This course prepares candidates for the Avid Certified Operator: Pro Tools | Music certification exam. Candidates wishing to take this certification exam must have firstly passed the Avid Certified User: Pro Tools certification exam. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture and two-hour lab.

Prerequisite: PT101, PT110, PT201. 

QUARTER SUMMARY

Competencies Covered: Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Music Technology, Instrument & Musicianship.

Total Credits: 15

Competency: Literacy
Course Number: 
GE-305
Credits: 4

Course Description
This course provides the basic concept of statistics: Topics include Data, Sampling, Experiments, Distributions, Relationships, Chance and Probability, Simulation & Expected Values, and Inference. This course consists of two weekly, two-hour lectures.

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
PROD-219
Credits: 1

Course Description
By tracking the birth and development of sound recording and playback technologies, the first level of this course provides the springboard to discuss and analyze the parallel evolution of the producer and his/her many roles in the process of crafting music. During the second level, students focus on the rise of the producer from a “behind-the-scenes facilitator” to an increasing spot in the limelight. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture. Each course may be taken as an elective.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course. 

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: 
PROD-303
Credits: 2

Course Description
Students are given the opportunity to work one-on-one with an instructor of their choice. Students may choose to continue studying drums, string instruments, or vocals, or may decide to further develop their skills in engineering or songwriting. This flexibility gives music producing and engineering students the power to choose the direction of their studies in senior quarters. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour private lesson.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course.

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-304
Credits: 2

Course Description
Students will learn and experience the basic building blocks of audio post-production for picture. Audio sweetening, Foley, FX editing, and an introduction to mixing in surround are all included topics. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture and two-hour lab.

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
PROD-305
Credits: 3

Course Description
Each Bachelor in Music Production candidate is required to present a 3-song originally composed, produced and recorded project to a panel of faculty and music industry professionals. Students will work in their private lesson and in other applicable courses to plan their project. This project will be presented on the LACM campus in a recording studio setting.

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-306
Credits: 3

Course Description
This class explores the vast creative options of Ableton Live. This DAW is designed for creating musical ideas, turning them into finished songs, and even taking them onto the stage. It is a fast, fun, intuitive way to make music with efficient workflow enhancements to audio improvements and a new technology called Link which works under the hood, allowing you to instantly play in perfect sync with multiple instances of Live as well as a growing number of iOS apps. There are numerous creative projects culminating to creating a fully produced demo of an original song. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture and two-hour lab.

QUARTER SUMMARY

Competencies Covered: Literacy, Instrument, Music Technology & Musicianship.

Total Credits: 15

Competency: Literacy
Course Number: 
GE-102
Credits: 3

Course Description
This course is an introduction to finance as it relates to musicians and to all creative entrepreneurs. Students will learn the most important aspects of finance including time value of money concepts, financial calculations, budgeting and financial planning and will develop critical money management skills to help them thrive in the music business. The class will be introduced to financial spreadsheet applications such as Microsoft Excel but students will also discover how use these tools to create customized budgets and financial plans. This course consists of a weekly, three-hour lecture.

Competency: Literacy
Course Number: 
GE-404
Credits: 3

Course Description
This is a comprehensive and focused course of Health and General Well-Being. Topics cover achieving wellness, eating and exercising towards a healthy lifestyle, building healthy relationships, understanding and preventing disease, drug use and abuse and making health and healthy choices. This course consists of two weekly, two-hour lectures.

Competency: Entrepreneurship
Course Number: 
IND-207
Credits: 2

Course Description
This course will cover creative and business concepts associated with the role of the Music Supervisor, including: what a music supervisor’s primary job is, how to interact with the music supervisor on a Film/TV assignment, what a music supervisor needs to know and be qualified to do, and how to pursue becoming a music supervisor. Qualities a music supervisor must have will be studied extensively, as this can be a viable career path for many musicians and songwriters. Topics will include: critical “song to picture” analysis, expansive music genre and artist knowledge, ability to organize song clearances and cue sheets, confidence in communicating with directors and producers of Films and TV shows along with expressing specific needs to composers in regard to musical direction, tempo, keys, song edits and “sound alike” references. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture.

Competency: Literacy
Course Number: 
MUS-302
Credits: 2

Course Description
Each course offers a broad survey of musical masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the Baroque era. Emphasis is on major composers, rhythmic, harmonic and melodic inventions, form, period instruments, secular and sacred music, and listening awareness. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture.

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
PROD-106
Credits: 2

Course Description
Given the ever-growing prominence of video in modern media, this course provides students with a basic understanding of the full video production process by teaching “do-it-yourself” video production, beginning with shooting and editing, and concluding with post production. Students also learn about file formats, cameras, lighting, planning, and video/sound editing. By the conclusion of the course, students will produce both a music video and a commercial promoting said music video. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: 
PROD-123
Credits: 1

Course Description
This class is designed to help students develop their vocal skills, as well as gain the knowledge needed to successfully work with singers in a recording setting. In addition, students study vocal technique and qualities of sound. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: 
PROD-124
Credits: 2

Course Description
This course serves as an accompaniment to the “Vocals for Producers 1” class, and aims at creating a physical understanding of the act of singing. Students work on core vocal concepts during weekly private lessons with a LACM voice instructor. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour private lesson

QUARTER SUMMARY

Competencies Covered: Literacy, Instrument, Entrepreneurship & Musicianship.

Total Credits: 15

Competency: Entrepreneurship
Course Number: 
ELE-104
Credits: 1

Course Description
In weekly meetings, students will create their professional resume and explore topics related to general career development. Topics will include essential computer programs used in an office setting, apps and social media platforms that will be required knowledge when working with an entertainment company, interview skills and preparation, time management skills, office communication protocol, and more. These weekly classes will be designed to prepare the students for interviewing and placement in a professional internship while enrolled in the Internship course. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture.

Competency: Literacy
Course Number: 
GE-402
Credits: 3

Course Description
Political science is a study of political policy, behavior, process, systems, and overall government structures. This course will cover the concepts of political economy, ideology, theory, and philosophy. It will further elaborate on political analysis, comparative politics, and international relationships. An examination of both humanistic and scientific approaches, perspectives, and tools will be used throughout the course. The political dynamics of American governmental structures as well as comparisons with other regions of the world will be applicable. Students will be able to understand and compare different countries from around the world and firmly understand the integration of government and policy within multiple societies. This course consists of two weekly, two-hour lectures.

Prerequisite: GE-100: English Composition

Competency: Literacy
Course Number: 
MUS-303
Credits: 2

Course Description
Each course offers a broad survey of musical masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the Baroque era. Emphasis is on major composers, rhythmic, harmonic and melodic inventions, form, period instruments, secular and sacred music, and listening awareness. This course consists of a weekly, two-hour lecture.

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
MUS-416
Credits: 1

Course Description
Many composers in the “real world” choose to conduct their own works. This course teaches students the technique and knowledge needed for successful conducting, as well as provides an opportunity to conduct fellow musicians. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture. This course may be taken as an elective.

Competency: Music Tech
Course Number: 
PROD-215
Credits: 2

Course Description
This course studies and analyzes both human-played and electronic- recorded drum performances, and teaches the elements necessary to create an effective programmed drum track. Both electronic music (e.g. dance, house) and traditional music (e.g. rock, country, R&B, pop) are explored, and students learn to create their own recorded performances. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture and two-hour lab. This course may be taken as an elective

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
PROD-225
Credits: 1

Course Description
This course focuses on creating musical productions using only found musical sounds. As no virtual instruments or commercial samples are allowed in this class, students are forced to listen to everything in their environment for sonic and tonal inspiration. The next step is to capture and manipulate those sounds into a successful production. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour lecture. This course may be taken as an elective

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: 
PROD-402
Credits: 2

Course Description
During quarters ten, eleven and twelve, students are given the opportunity to work one-on-one with an instructor of their choice. Students may choose to continue studying drums, string instruments, or vocals, or may decide to further develop their skills in engineering or songwriting. This flexibility gives music producing and engineering students the power to choose the direction of their studies in senior quarters. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour private lesson.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course

QUARTER SUMMARY

Competencies Covered: Literacy, Instrument, Entrepreneurship, Music Technology & Musicianship.

Total Credits: 12

Competency: Literacy
Course Number: 
GE-302
Credits: 3

Course Description
Philosophy is considered to be the history of human thinking. Philosophy teaches how to think and attempts to unravel concepts of life through the practice of questioning. Philosophical questions examine what reliable knowledge is, what is God and does it exist, what is truth, what are right and wrong, what makes something beautiful or unattractive, what is reality, what happens when we die, and in totality, what does it mean to study philosophy. This course will act as a guide for conducting life and every major can benefit from philosophical learning. Students will be able to gain relevant connections from philosophy to their daily life. This course consists of a weekly, three-hour lecture.

Prerequisite: GE-101: English Composition & Critical Thinking

Competency: Literacy
Course Number: 
GE-406
Credits: 3

Course Description
This course is a comprehensive and focused study of the structure and function of the human body at the cellular, histological, and organ level. The emphasis of study includes microscopic and macroscopic anatomy and physiology of the Integumentary, Skeletal, Muscular, Nervous, Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Immune, Gastrointestinal, Renal and Reproductive Systems. This course consists of two weekly, one and a half hour lectures.

Competency: Instrument
Course Number: 
PROD-403
Credits: 2

Course Description
During quarters ten, eleven and twelve, students are given the opportunity to work one-on-one with an instructor of their choice. Students may choose to continue studying drums, string instruments, or vocals, or may decide to further develop their skills in engineering or songwriting. This flexibility gives music producing and engineering students the power to choose the direction of their studies in senior quarters. This course consists of a weekly, one-hour private lesson.

Prerequisite: Students must complete each level in order to continue into the subsequent level of the course

Competency: Musicianship
Course Number: 
PROD-405
Credits: 3

Course Description
Each Bachelor in Music Production candidate is required to present a 6-song originally composed, produced and recorded project (EP) with requisite digital materials (EP cover design, bio of composer(s)/producer(s) and general description of project) to a panel of faculty and music industry professionals. Students will work in their private lesson and in other applicable courses to plan their project. This project will be presented on the LACM campus in a recording studio setting.

Competency: Entrepreneurship
Course Number: 
COMP-404
Credits: 4

Course Description
Students will be evaluated according to their skill sets and career objectives, to be placed in a practical internship with an active Los Angeles music company. Students will work on location at this company for a minimum of four hours per week and will be supervised and evaluated by that staff. Throughout the quarter, the student will report to a faculty advisor regarding specific challenges and receiving guidance on improving their competitive edge for future employment possibilities.

QUARTER SUMMARY

Competencies Covered: Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Instrument & Musicianship.

Total Credits: 15