Commercial Music, B.M.
Visit the Music Department page for more information on the program and access to advising.
Program Description
The Bachelor of Music in Commercial Music prepares students for professional work in the music media industry. Students may select from two tracks, one in media composition and the second in music technology and production.
Matriculation Requirements
1. Pass performance audition, portfolio review, and interview with music faculty.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
| General Education Requirements | 30 Credits | |
| ENGL 1010 | Introduction to Academic Writing | 3 |
| or ENGH 1005 | Literacies and Composition Across Contexts | |
| ENGL 2010 | Intermediate Academic Writing | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: (Note: A higher level MATH course may substitute for this requirement) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (3) (recommended for Humanities or Arts majors) | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning with Integrated Algebra (6) | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| American Heritage (3) | ||
| US History to 1877 and US History since 1877 (6) | ||
| American History (3) | ||
| US Economic History (3) | ||
| American National Government (3) | ||
| Distribution Courses: | ||
| Biology | 3 | |
| Physical Science | 3 | |
| The Acoustics of Music (3) (recommended) | ||
| Humanities Distribution | 3 | |
| Fine Arts Distribution | 3 | |
| American Popular Music (3) (recommended) | ||
or MUSC 1236 | Survey of Jazz History | |
| Social/Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| Personal, Professional and Civic Growth | 3 | |
| Discipline Core Requirements | 90 Credits | |
| Musicianship Courses: | ||
| MUSC 1110 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUSC 1115 | Music Notation and Score Preparation | 1 |
| MUSC 1120 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUSC 1130 | Aural Skills I | 1 |
| MUSC 1140 | Aural Skills II | 1 |
| MUSC 1150 | Group Piano I | 1 |
| MUSC 1160 | Group Piano II | 1 |
| MUSC 1350 | Studio Conducting | 1 |
| MUSC 2110 | Music Theory III | 3 |
| MUSC 2125 | Music Theory IV | 3 |
| MUSC 2130 | Aural Skills III | 1 |
| MUSC 2140 | Aural Skills IV | 1 |
| MUSC 2170 | Jazz and Contemporary Keyboard Skills I | 1 |
| or MUSC 2150 | Group Piano III | |
| MUSC 2180 | Jazz and Contemporary Keyboard Skills II | 1 |
| or MUSC 2160 | Group Piano IV | |
| MUSC 3490G | Global Musical Styles and Ideas | 3 |
| MUSC 3450 | Music History and Literature I | 3 |
| MUSC 3451 | Music History and Literature II | 3 |
| Individual Musicianship Studies: | ||
| MUSC 2500R | Private Lessons for Music Majors (Repeated 4 times on major instrument or voice. Includes completion of sophomore review) | 4 |
| MUSC 2510R | Performance Class (Repeated 4 times on major instrument or voice. Includes completion of sophomore review) | 4 |
| MUSC 3600R | Commercial Music Private Lessons | 4 |
| Large Ensembles: | ||
| Complete 4 credits from the following on your major instrument: | 4 | |
| Chamber Choir (1) | ||
| Deep Green-Tenor/Bass Choir (1) | ||
| Emerald Singers-Soprano/Alto Choir (1) | ||
| Wind Symphony (1) | ||
| Jazz Orchestra (1) | ||
| Symphony Orchestra (1) | ||
| Complete 4 credits from the following on your major instrument(s): | 4 | |
| Chamber Choir (1) | ||
| Deep Green-Tenor/Bass Choir (1) | ||
| Emerald Singers-Soprano/Alto Choir (1) | ||
| Percussion Ensemble (1) | ||
| Small Jazz and Commercial Ensembles (1) | ||
| Advanced Small Ensembles (1) | ||
| Complete the following: | ||
| MUSC 1400 | Music Technology I | 2 |
| MUSC 1402 | Music Technology II | 2 |
| MUSC 1410 | Survey of Commercial Music Careers | 1 |
| MUSC 1810 | Contemporary Theory and Improvisation I | 3 |
| MUSC 2190 | Rhythm Section Workshop | 1 |
| MUSC 2210 | Contemporary Theory and Improvisation II | 2 |
| MUSC 2400 | Music Technology III | 2 |
| MUSC 2402 | Music Technology IV | 2 |
| MUSC 3025 | Songwriting I | 2 |
| MUSC 3026 | Songwriting II | 2 |
| or MUSC 3031 | Jazz and Contemporary Arranging II | |
| MUSC 3030 | Jazz and Contemporary Arranging I | 2 |
| MUSC 3412 | Music Career Development | 3 |
| MUSC 3790R | Studio Recording Workshop (Repeated 2 times) | 2 |
| MUSC 4240 | Vocal Pedagogy | 2 |
| or MUSC 3415 | Instrumental Pedagogy and Literature I | |
| MUSC 4700R | Studio Arranging and Producing (Repeated 2 times) | 6 |
| MUSC 4810R | Internship in Music II | 1 |
| MUSC 4920R | Advanced Topics in Music (Repeated 2 times, 2 credits each) | 4 |
Graduation Requirements
- Completion of a minimum of 120 semester credits, 40 credits must be upper-division.
- Overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) or above. MUSC 2500R Private Lessons for Music Majors and MUSC 3600R Commercial Music Private Lessons require a grade B or higher. All other MUSC courses require a C grade or higher.
- Residency hours- minimum of 30 credit hours through course attendance at UVU, with at least 10 hours in the last 45 hours.
- Completion of GE and specified departmental requirements, including a sophomore review and concert attendance requirements.
- Successful completion of at least one Global/Intercultural course.
- Successful completion of at least two Writing Enriched courses.
Graduation Plan
This graduation plan is a sample plan and is intended to be a guide. Your specific plan may differ based on your Math and English placement and/or transfer credits applied. You are encouraged to meet with an advisor and set up an individualized graduation plan in Wolverine Track.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 1010 or ENGH 1005 | Introduction to Academic Writing or Literacies and Composition Across Contexts | 3 |
| MAT 1030 or MAT 1035 | Quantitative Reasoning or Quantitative Reasoning with Integrated Algebra | 3 |
| MUSC 1110 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUSC 1130 | Aural Skills I | 1 |
| MUSC 1150 | Group Piano I | 1 |
| MUSC 1400 | Music Technology I | 2 |
| MUSC 1410 | Survey of Commercial Music Careers | 1 |
| MUSC 2500R | Private Lessons for Music Majors | 1 |
| MUSC 2510R | Performance Class | 1 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| Concert Attendance | ||
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ENGL 2010 | Intermediate Academic Writing | 3 |
| MUSC 1115 | Music Notation and Score Preparation | 1 |
| MUSC 1120 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUSC 1140 | Aural Skills II | 1 |
| MUSC 1160 | Group Piano II | 1 |
| MUSC 1350 | Studio Conducting | 1 |
| MUSC 1402 | Music Technology II | 2 |
| MUSC 2500R | Private Lessons for Music Majors | 1 |
| MUSC 2510R | Performance Class | 1 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| Concert Attendance | ||
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester 3 | ||
| MUSC 1810 | Contemporary Theory and Improvisation I | 3 |
| MUSC 2110 | Music Theory III | 3 |
| MUSC 2130 | Aural Skills III | 1 |
| MUSC 2170 or MUSC 2150 | Jazz and Contemporary Keyboard Skills I or Group Piano III | 1 |
| MUSC 2400 | Music Technology III | 2 |
| MUSC 2500R | Private Lessons for Music Majors | 1 |
| MUSC 2510R | Performance Class | 1 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| Concert Attendance | ||
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| American Institutions Distribution | 3 | |
| MUSC 2125 | Music Theory IV | 3 |
| MUSC 2140 | Aural Skills IV | 1 |
| MUSC 2180 or MUSC 2160 | Jazz and Contemporary Keyboard Skills II or Group Piano IV | 1 |
| MUSC 2190 | Rhythm Section Workshop | 1 |
| MUSC 2210 | Contemporary Theory and Improvisation II | 2 |
| MUSC 2402 | Music Technology IV | 2 |
| MUSC 2500R | Private Lessons for Music Majors | 1 |
| MUSC 2510R | Performance Class | 1 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| Concert Attendance | ||
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Semester 5 | ||
| Humanities Distribution | 3 | |
| Fine Arts Distribution (MUSC 1030 or 1236 recommended) | 3 | |
| MUSC 3025 | Songwriting I | 2 |
| MUSC 3030 | Jazz and Contemporary Arranging I | 2 |
| MUSC 3450 | Music History and Literature I | 3 |
| MUSC 3600R | Commercial Music Private Lessons | 1 |
| MUSC 3790R | Studio Recording Workshop | 1 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| Concert Attendance | ||
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| Social/Behavioral Science Distribution | 3 | |
| MUSC 3451 | Music History and Literature II | 3 |
| MUSC 3490G | Global Musical Styles and Ideas | 3 |
| MUSC 3026 or MUSC 3031 | Songwriting II or Jazz and Contemporary Arranging II | 2 |
| MUSC 3790R | Studio Recording Workshop | 1 |
| MUSC 3600R | Commercial Music Private Lessons | 1 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| Concert Attendance | ||
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Semester 7 | ||
| Physical Science Distribution (PHYS 1750 recommended) | 3 | |
| Personal, Professional and Civic Growth Distribution | 3 | |
| MUSC 3600R | Commercial Music Private Lessons | 1 |
| MUSC 4240 or MUSC 3415 | Vocal Pedagogy or Instrumental Pedagogy and Literature I | 2 |
| MUSC 4700R | Studio Arranging and Producing | 3 |
| MUSC 4920R | Advanced Topics in Music | 2 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| Biology Distribution | 3 | |
| MUSC 3412 | Music Career Development | 3 |
| MUSC 3600R | Commercial Music Private Lessons | 1 |
| MUSC 4700R | Studio Arranging and Producing | 3 |
| MUSC 4810R | Internship in Music II | 1 |
| MUSC 4920R | Advanced Topics in Music | 2 |
| Ensemble | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Program Learning Outcomes
- Analyze the elements, forms, and processes in music.
- Evaluate the elements, forms, and processes in music.
- Describe the major historical periods, composers, styles, and genres of music.
- Categorize the major historical periods, composers, styles, and genres of music.
- Assess the major historical periods, composers, styles, and genres of music.
- Develop musical judgements and self-assess their efforts.
- Defend musical judgements.
- Perform associated repertoire with technical proficiency and artistic expression on their instrument or voice.
- Use collaboration skills in making music.
- Apply music technology to various commercial music contexts.
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Total Positions127,400
- Field Growth2.7%
- Median Salary$80,360
- Average Openings9.9
Music directors and composers
- Total Positions50,300
- Field Growth2.7%
- Median Salary$62,590
- Average Openings5.1
Disc jockeys, except radio
- Total Positions21,000
- Field Growth5.1%
- Median Salary$N/A
- Average Openings2.0
Sound engineering technicians
- Total Positions18,000
- Field Growth-0.5%
- Median Salary$59,430
- Average Openings1.5