»BA in Music, Music Industry Studies Emphasis
Chapman’s Music Industry Studies program is dedicated to giving you a broad expertise in all aspects of the music industry and a focus on your specific passion within the industry.
You will graduate with the skills to wear many different hats to maximize your hiring potential, to be promoted up the ladder, and arrive where you want to be.
The Music Industry Studies program will prepare you for careers in:
- Music management.
- Music marketing.
- Music publishing.
- Music production.
- Music recording.
- Music editing.
- Music supervision.
- Film and media music composition — if combined with additional music theory classes or with a BM in Music Composition degree.
An audition is required for this degree. However, we welcome applicants with little
music performance background. What matters most is your passion for music, the music
industry, and your eagerness to learn.
Curriculum
The curriculum combines core courses in:
- Music studies and performance.
- Music business.
- Music technology.
- Film and media music.
AND gives you the opportunity to focus on one of three tracks:
- Recording and Production.
- Music Business.
- Film and Media Music.
For more information on the curriculum, contact Dr. Amy Graziano at graziano@chapman.edu.
The program includes frequent lectures and workshops with prominent national and global music industry professionals, with particular focus on the Los Angeles area (just north of our Orange County campus).
By the time you graduate...
You will have a network of connections to professionals across the industry and for
your chosen track.
And you will have the opportunity to...
For the Recording and Production track :
- Work with industry-standard equipment and software using the latest music production techniques in our state-of-the-art studios.
- Record, mix, and edit a variety of live performances.
- Record, mix, and edit live studio recordings of original film scores.
- Work on individual production projects.
- Create a portfolio from these projects.
For the Music Business track:
- Aquire expertise in the Legal Aspects of the music business.
- Aquire expertise in Leadership and Ethics, a topic that is increasingly important in the International Music Industry.
- Gain in-depth skills in Music Management, Marketing, and Publishing.
- Learn from industry experts in all these areas, who come from major studios to do extensive guest lectures in our classes.
For the Film and Media Music track:
- Collaborate with students in Chapman’s renowned Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, composing scores to original student films.
- Participate in scoring sessions of your scores with live studio musicians, both at Chapman and in professional scoring studios in the Los Angeles area.
- Create a portfolio from these projects.
Music facilities
In the Music Industry Studies program, you’ll have access to our state-of-the-art
facilities and equipment beginning in your first year.
Oliphant Hall, Bertea Hall, and the Musco Center for the Arts
Oliphant Hall and Bertea Hall house our music facilities for most classes, which include several recording studios, a tech lab, and live performance venues with audio/video integration.
We also partner with Chapman’s Musco Center for the Arts, a 1,044-seat proscenium theatre/concert hall that includes a rigging system, the latest lighting, sound, and projection equipment, and internet connectivity available for performance. Our partnership with the Musco Center allows students to gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art audio/video equipment in a professional performing arts venue.
You can check out the Musco Center yourself from wherever you are, and explore the rest of our campus virtually, on this guided 360-degree tour.
Start my tour
Music Tech Studios
While all of our music tech spaces feature the latest software (Logic, Ableton Live, Pro Tools, and more), each studio also offers unique specialties:
The first of our Music Tech Studios overlooks the Crean rehearsal hall. This acoustically treated room is ideal for mixing and mastering. The connectivity with Crean rehearsal hall makes it excellent for recording collaborations with the Chapman Orchestra and the Chapman Wind Symphony.
The second of our Music Tech Studios overlooks Salmon Recital Hall. Divided into two rooms, the studio has one side dedicated to video production and the other to audio mixing. This room includes post-production workstations, recording equipment, and gear designed for livestreaming.
Our third Music Tech studio is connected to our larger Music Tech Lab and is ideal for more advanced projects, including recording and mixing. The specialized space is optimized for musical collaboration and recording with an array of acoustic instruments, including guitars, bass, ukulele, mandolin, cello, and even a cat piano.
Music Tech Lab
Our large Music Tech Lab is the central location for all music technology and film music composition courses.
Each student workstation is equipped with cutting-edge software and hardware, including a multi-pattern condenser microphone, MIDI keyboard, and MIDI grid controller (Launchpad Pro).
Workstations are ideal for composing, editing, and general music technology needs.
The Music Tech Lab also features several specialty stations:
- Tech “Kitchen” - Houses a collection of tech “ingredients” to create “recipes”. Custom tech projects are built using microphones, effects pedals, MIDI hardware, and other equipment. We use “recipes” to teach the fundamentals, then students invent their own recipes showcasing their knowledge in new and creative ways.
- Museum of Mixers - This collection covers the entire evolution of mixing consoles, ranging from ancient analog boards to modern digital boards. Students gain hands-on experience with everything from compact mixers used for recording on set for film, to a tablet-controlled wireless mixer, to a gigantic, large-format 96-input mixing console.
- Synth City - This collection encompasses a range of hardware synths, from basic to complex and from analog to digital. A portion of the Conservatory’s instrument budget is routinely used to acquire more synthesizers and build the collection.
Music scholarships
The Chapman Celebrates Music Scholarship is open to all music students at Chapman. No separate application is required.
Next steps
Interested in connecting with Chapman? Take one of the next steps below to get started:
- Learn how to apply to Chapman
- See the additional application steps for the BA in Music program
- If you plan to transfer to Chapman, check our transfer prerequisites.
- We are always available for tours and information sessions. We have in-person and virtual options available.
