School of Entertainment
& Design Technology

Yes. Though a basic understanding of music or proficiency on a musical instrument would be advantageous and preferred, MDC is an open college and students may study anything they like as long as they comply with the academic entrance requirements, maintain satisfactory academic standing and meet the pre-requisites for any given course. In some instances such as the Commercial Music Ensemble (CME) and advanced sound recording courses, students must receive permission to register for the course from the respective instructor or department chair.

The answer is "yes," but there are no guarantees. Much of an individual's success depends on their drive, their ability to work with other people, and their willingness to do what has to be done to get ahead. The A.S. degree is simply a very good starting point. There are some "overnight wonders," but many people who are involved and successful in the music business have been seriously working in the music business for many years. It is often rewarding and financially advantageous to earn higher education degrees such as a Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate in music or music related fields at colleges or universities offering programs in music business, technology, production, performance, education, composition and music therapy to name a few.

Many of these programs require a strong foundation in basic music, such as theory, ear-training, piano, applied instrumental skills and ensembles in addition to some music history. Each program is different. As an interested student, you must contact each school individually and discuss your objectives and their programs with the specific program representative regarding the program's requirements. This includes what courses they will and will not accept from MDC. This is the best way to know what classes completed at MDC will count towards other degrees.

Absolutely not. The music business department is part of the School of Entertainment and Design Technology. The music business degree is designed to prepare students for careers in the commercial music industry. The commercial music industry includes all styles of commercial music including pop, rock, country, folk, jazz, classical, Latin, R&B, Hip Hop, Christian and World music. Additionally, MDC music business majors are trained for careers in record companies, management, public relations, sales, retail, promotion and management. All MDC music business students are taught the skills necessary to become artistically and financially successful producers, freelance musicians, performers, composers, arrangers, singer/songwriters, solo artists, managers and music industry entrepreneurs.

MDC offers Associate in Science (A.S.) degrees in Music Business Management (25019), Music Business Creative Performance (25043) and Music Business Creative Production (25044).

Music business attorneys charge between $300 and $600 per hour. The more a student knows about the music business, the greater chances for success and profitability. Additionally, musicians who choose music as a profession are by definition music business professionals. The history of popular music is replete with commercially successful artists and bands who have been left penniless by poor or unethical management and unscrupulous business people and record company executives. Contracts and royalties are serious business and students must become expert in the subject of the business of music.

Yes. MDC offers Sound Recording 1, Sound Recording 2 and Advanced Sound Recording. In some instances, sound recording classes meet simultaneously with the Commercial Music Ensemble at Studio-M on the Kendall Campus in order to afford sound recording students hands-on experience, recording vocalists and instrumentalists in a real-world setting.

No. We do not offer a DEGREE in sound engineering or sound recording. MDC's Music Business Department offers a variety of sound recording and production oriented classes. A large majority of MDC Music Business Students want to become producers because producers retain creative control, enjoy an entrepreneurial career, earn royalties and have the opportunity to write and place songs and earn lucrative royalties from songwriting royalties. Due to the availability and affordability of professional home recording technology, producers, musicians, arrangers and creative music professionals often engineer their own projects. If your goal is to get a job being a sound engineer, you may want to explore the idea of starting your own sound company or recording studio.

Yes. MDC students learn the skills necessary to produce, protect and profit from all styles of commercial music. The skills acquired and technology used by MDC music business students are the music industry standard tools needed to make all types of commercial music. Students learn to use these tools and to enhance their creativity in order to produce tangible recordings of their musical ideas.

Yes. We offer students the opportunity to intern at companies such as Sony Music, Warner Brothers Records, BMG, Universal Music, MTV Latin, The American Federation of Musicians, Crescent Moon Studios, Clear Channel, NARAS, LARAS, IMC, Turi's Music Enterprises and a variety of other music industry companies.

Yes. We offer MIDI 1 and MIDI 2 courses. These courses are taught in the MIDI labs and offer students hands-on experience at individual, state of the art MIDI stations featuring MIDI software such as Reason, Pro Tools, Cubase, Nuendo, Digital Performer, Finale, Reason, SampleTank and many others. MIDI is a terrific resource for musicians and songwriters. The basic keyboard courses (MVK1111 & MVK1112) are most helpful prerequisites for this course.

Yes. Pro Tools is the standard format used in all of our recording facilities and taught in Sound Recording 1 and Sound Recording 2.

Yes. All three music business degree tracks (25019, 25043 & 25044) offer singer/songwriters the opportunity to learn how to produce and record their own music in addition to teaching them how to protect their intellectual property, market, distribute, promote, negotiate contracts and even create artist websites. The MDC SEDT program is an outstanding choice for all aspiring artists, writers, managers and producers.

Full Sail offers an outstanding, very expensive program. MDC offers an outstanding, very affordable program.

Yes. One local staging company, IMC, actively recruits MDC music business students for its workforce. MDC students have garnered publishing and composition contracts with BMG, have auditioned and been offered jobs on cruise ships, recording sessions and live performances and others have been offered recording contracts. Many of our interns garner employment with their respective internship partners and many more start their own businesses. We encourage and prepare our students for entrepreneurial opportunities upon graduation.

Please see Professor Calle. The Commercial Music Ensemble (CME) is a performing group based at the North and Kendall Campuses. Students in the CME learn musical skills such as sight reading, harmonizing, ensemble performance, rhythmic accuracy, solo performance, improvisation and correct stylistic interpretation of many commercial musical styles including pop, rock, Latin, jazz, country, R&B, easy listening and others. For a repertoire list and performance schedule please click on this CME (MUM 2030) link. Please click here for a list of Commercial Music Ensemble (MUM 2030) course competencies.