Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Certificate in Music Entrepreneurship

Over the course of its 125-year history, School of Music alumni have found success not only in the concert hall and the classroom but in a variety of music-related fields, some of which they themselves invented. This entrepreneurial spirit is in keeping with the missions of the University and the School, and with our desire to produce graduates who will not only continue our tradition of leadership in the areas of performance, research, and teaching but will find new and innovative ways to serve our field and communities.

The School of Music also recognizes that being an entrepreneur is an essential part of being a music professional. So, in the Fall of 2020, we began offering a series of new courses to help prepare you to chart your own path in the musical world. The topics will vary from business, marketing, and communications skills to networking to legal issues to recording and presentation techniques. All of these courses are designed to be taken in addition to your regular course load, and we hope that as many of our students as possible will take advantage of them. Students who complete a minimum of four of the required courses will earn a Music Entrepreneurship Certificate.

The following is a list of some of the recent courses that have been offered as part of the Music Entrepreneurship program:

MUS 427: Digital Content Production

Teaches the art and science of digital content creation. Students will learn to: set up and record multiple vocal channels at high quality (stationary and mobile); pre-produce timed “episodes” with intros, segments, and transitions; upload and distribute episodes; book and interview guests; identify and market to an audience; and monetize content through ad sales, third party platforms, and direct to consumer sales. 2 undergraduate hours. 2 graduate hours. Prerequisite: Restricted to graduates and upper-division undergraduates; freshman and sophomores by instructor approval.

MUS 428: Music Monetization

Students will learn to properly engage artists, agencies, venues, technical personnel, and PR companies in arranging a live music performance. They will learn how to talk to artists and their agents; how to appropriately offer compensation; respect art as work; and understand that the art being done as work has many facets to consider — including hiring sound and lighting engineers, security guards, and door staff; and working with bar management, PR agents, hospitality runners, etc. Summarily, this class is a real industry live performance event. 2 undergraduate hours. 2 graduate hours. Prerequisite: Restricted to Graduates and upper-division undergraduates; freshman and sophomores by instructor approval.

MUS 460: Legal Basics in Music

Explores legal principles and issues pertinent to everyone and oriented toward music students: educators, performers, composers, and business professionals. It provides a guide to navigating the legal landscape of life and, especially, a life in music. Participants will gain practical knowledge and strategies to manage legal matters pertinent to their life and careers. 1 undergraduate hour. 1 graduate hour. Prerequisite: Restricted to Junior, Senior, or Graduate standing, or with instructor approval.

MUS 461: Copyright Law for Musicians

A copyright survival guide for composers, performers, teachers, and entrepreneurs—in short, any creative professional. One of the aims of this class is to help you avoid unnecessary legal jeopardy and alert you to when you need actual legal advice. The class will discuss the foundations of US copyright law, copyrightability and ownership, the rights of copyright holders and consumers, copyright formalities, duration of copyright, copyright infringement, and copyright in the digital age. 1 undergraduate hour. 1 graduate hour. Prerequisite: Restricted to Junior, Senior, or Graduate standing, or with consent of instructor.

MUS 499 Section EE: Ensemble Entrepreneurship

This course will prepare students to creatively develop, promote, and sustain performing ensembles such as duos, trios, quartets, quintets, or larger collaborative mixed instrumental ensembles. Ancillary topics include event management (e.g., concerts, concert series, music festivals) and preparing professional portfolios. Presentations will utilize internal unit/college/campus expertise and industry and non-profit professionals from the wider music world.

MUS 539: Music in Higher Education

Provides an orientation to the organization, teaching and administration of music in the college or university. Includes topics such as preparing for and securing a college/university faculty position, promotion and tenure, faculty ethics and evaluation, and personnel/personal relations. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in music or music education.

MUS 552: Career Prep for Opera Singers and Coaches

Focuses on the practical side of becoming a professional classical singer. Meetings and coursework consist of mock auditions; student presentations on American (US) opera houses, young artists’ programs, and competitions; the keeping of an audition log; periodic self-evaluations; and discussions with faculty and guests about the structure and nature of our industry. We will discuss the roles that concert work, recitals, digital forms, and musical theatre may play in your career. 2 graduate hours. No professional credit. Prerequisite: Restricted to Graduate students in the Music Department; others with instructor approval.

THEA 451 A: Principles of Stage Management

Studies in the principles and the craft of stage management.

THEA 452 A: Principles of Arts Management

Introduction to the basic practices of theatre and arts management with emphasis on facilities management, arts marketing, and financial planning in the performing arts.

For completion of the certificate, students must do the following:

1. Complete at least four courses from the approved list.
2. Declare their intention to complete the certificate by completing the declaration form by the 10th day of the final semester of entrepreneurship coursework.
3. Academic Affairs will confirm that you are on track to complete the certificate.

Students completing the certificate will be presented with an official certificate mailed to the student’s home address. Although the certificate is not part of a student’s transcript, students may use this credential on any resumé.

Registration note:

Students pursuing the certificate are not guaranteed a seat in a course. In some cases, students may have to fill out a course override form to request a seat. Please check course availability in Course Explorer.