Jobs With a Music Technology Degree

Whether you want to mix in the studio or direct a live performance, jobs with a music technology degree are plentiful. This broad term can mean anything from editing to mixing and even composing.

PennWest California’s Commercial Music Technology program combines traditional approaches to music performance and theory with modern-day applications, such as audio engineering, sound synthesis and digital media creation.

1. Audio Engineer

Technological advances in music have made it easier for people from all walks of life to manipulate sound, from professionals in state-of-the-art studios to kids with their laptops. A degree in music technology can be a way to turn those interests into a career.

Audio engineers work with musicians, producers, directors, and other creative individuals to record professional sound for music, movies, television, video games, and live performances. They must have a strong understanding of sonic dynamics and music theory, as well as the technical capabilities to operate studio equipment and handle specialized recording techniques.

Because of this, it is important that audio engineering students get hands-on experience working as an assistant or intern in a professional studio while they are still in school. This can also help them connect with industry leaders and make connections that can lead to future jobs.

2. Digital Media Content Creator

Using music to promote brands and businesses can be an interesting career option for people with musical skills. Developing this line of work into a full-time job requires creativity, business savvy and often additional training.

CU Denver offers an array of undergraduate degrees that help students carve out their own paths within the music industry. The music business program helps prepare graduates for a constantly evolving field with a curriculum that encompasses finance, law, marketing and more. The recording arts degree offers a more hands-on approach to studying contemporary music production with an emphasis on audio engineering. And the singer/songwriter degree helps cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit while connecting students to Denver’s vibrant music scene.

Our commercial music technology program is a close-knit community where professors know their students well. They meet regularly with degree seekers to gauge their progress, listen to their passions and concerns and help them build a comprehensive education.

3. Music Composer

Music composers create new melodies, harmonies and rhythms by improvising or using musical composition software. Playing an instrument is often required, as is the ability to transcribe (write down the notes of a song).

Composers can work on any number of projects from theatre orchestrations to video games. They generally need to be versatile as not every director, producer or editor will want the same thing.

Keeping directors and music supervisors happy is crucial for a successful career in film and TV composing. Many aspiring composers will start out small, working on independent films or student films for little or no pay, in order to build up their portfolio and reputation. Some also hold down another job to support themselves in the early stages of their career.

4. Music Producer

While many people assume that a performer is responsible for all creative decisions in a song, this is not always the case. The music producer is often the person who works hand in hand with the artist to ensure all goals are met and that a quality product is delivered on time and on budget.

A good music producer can see potential in raw ideas and reshape those concepts into timeless compositions. They understand how to use and navigate Digital Audio Workstations (DAW) as well as other common studio equipment. They also know how to manage recording sessions, maintain schedules, and keep track of budgets. This is not an easy job and it requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and skill to get it right.

5. Sound Designer

From the splashes and sprays of an ocean documentary to the action-packed thumps of a fighting video game, sounds are an essential element in many artistic productions. It’s the job of sound designers to meticulously craft these sonic elements.

In a theatre context, the sound designer is responsible for obtaining all the sonic effects for a production and setting up the playback equipment. They will usually need to be present for all the acting and technical rehearsals, as well as any specific meetings with the director.

A successful career in this area requires a great deal of creativity, excellent time management and organisational skills to meet delivery specifications and deadlines. It’s also vital that you build up a portfolio through gaining experience at live events and working with amateur stage, student film and radio projects.

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How Much Does Music Producer Make?

Producers are in charge of the technical side of the recording process. Depending on their skillset, they can charge a flat fee or hourly rate to produce a song.

Branding, connections, and skill are a few of the main factors that influence music producer pay. Some producers become household names after building their reputations and honed their signature sound over time.

How Much Money Can a Music Producer Make?

Producers have a unique and essential role in the music industry, and as such, are highly sought after for their skills. Producers are responsible for taking raw talent and transforming it into a professional recording that brings the artist’s vision to life. As such, producers are paid a high rate for their services.

The amount a producer makes depends on many factors, including their experience level and reputation, their location, the type of projects they work on, and more. Producers who work on bigger projects and with more established artists earn higher rates than those who work on smaller independent projects.

In addition to upfront fees, producers can also make money through royalties on their works. This is a passive income stream that can add up quickly, especially with streaming revenue. Music producers can also make money by securing synchronization licenses for their recordings.

Upfront Fees

Some producers work on a contract basis and may be paid an upfront fee in exchange for their services. This can be a flat rate or based on a percentage of the master monies or both. This is often the case with independent artists and producers with no prior credit in the industry.

Alternatively, some producers charge a per hour rate and bill their clients as they work. Producers who work this way should have clear processes for tracking hours to avoid any disputes or accusations of overcharging.

Other sources of income include royalties, which are payments a producer receives when the song they produced is streamed or played on the radio or TV. This is a common way for top-tier producers to make money and can be a huge source of revenue for established producers. Royalty payments can also be made from the sale of digital and physical copies of a song. Royalty payments can also be a result of being commissioned to produce music for other content like video games or original film scores.

Royalties

Depending on the contract, producers can receive some back-end royalties from sales. This can range anywhere from a few thousand dollars for smaller projects to tens of thousands or even millions for high-profile producers working on major label releases. Often times producers will negotiate a percentage of either the SRLP (suggested retail list price) or the PPD (published price to dealers) for each record sold. The producer will then also likely get a share of the publishing and songwriting royalties if they did any work on the track.

It is important for producers to try to push for higher mechanical and performance royalties as well as a larger publisher split for any songs they contributed to or co-wrote. Additionally, it is important for them to push for sync royalties from the usage of their master recordings in things like film, television and video games. This is an area where a producer can really make big money and should be included in any agreements.

Publishing

Producers and songwriters are some of the most underappreciated but vital components of music. However, the compensation and payment structure for these key creatives is often confusing to those outside the industry. Without the help of a knowledgeable entertainment attorney, producers and songwriters can be taken advantage of.

Developing a distinct sonic signature is one of the best ways for producers to secure a stable income stream. Producers with recognizable sounds are efficient for labels seeking a particular vibe, making them an attractive prospect for future projects.

The line between a producer and a songwriter is blurrier than ever, with many multihyphenates earning publishing in addition to their points and fees. Producers should seek higher songwriter levels for performance and mechanical royalties, and strive to retain master rights when hired by labels to build long-term income. They can also leverage their clout to set up their own production companies or label imprints to maintain ownership of their work.

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Top 5 Music Technology Projects For High School

Music Technology students create a portfolio of projects to showcase their skills. This is a great way to prepare them for applying for jobs in the industry or college music programs.

Students will use AUDACITY and BandLab for Education (available on Chromebooks) to compose, record and edit music with an emphasis on incorporating loops, beats and effects. Students will also learn how to mute, adjust volume and EQ to manipulate soundscapes.

Composing Digital Music

Adding a music technology project to your curriculum is an exciting and engaging way to engage young students. Whether your goal is to teach students about coding, music production, or both, there are a variety of projects that can help students learn the basic skills of creating and editing digital music.

Educators need to be prepared for some of the challenges associated with using this type of technology in the classroom. A school’s network capability should be the first concern, as many of these online music making tools are flash-based and require a stable internet connection. If a school’s network is not designed with the heavy traffic that often accompanies online education, the tools will not work as intended.

New technology is transforming the field of music and making it more accessible than ever to musicians who are looking for ways to express themselves creatively. MIT’s MusicTech program is one example of the innovative ways that music and technology come together.

Creating a Music Album

An album is a great way to showcase your musical talent. It allows you to create a narrative and tell a story through song. A well-chosen album will contain a wide variety of sounds and styles to keep your listeners engaged. Choose songs that fit your concept and complement each other. Aim for a minimum of eight songs, but include more if you can.

Start by brainstorming a concept for your album. It can be as loose or as detailed as you like, but it should bind your music together. The theme could be something that relates to your personality, life experiences or interests.

Sketch a design for the album cover. Make sure to take into account the fact that many people will see your album art in small sizes, such as on smartphones and tablets. Make sure your album artwork is high quality.

Creating a Music Video

A music video is a great way to use creative visual elements that compliment the mood of an original music track. Some music videos are very small productions and others may be big multimillion dollar productions. Regardless of the size of the music video budget, it is always important to plan ahead.

When planning a music video, it is good practice to keep a notebook for collecting ideas and sketching scenes. It is also helpful to have a pencil and eraser available for quick writing notes. This will help to ensure that storyboards are converted into filmed scenes.

One of the most important aspects of a music video is the audio. Whether it is the produced track being overlaid or copyright-free music that is used, quality is very important. The most successful music videos are those that have the highest quality audio. This is especially important when the video is being viewed on a television or computer screen.

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Take a Music Technology Class at Oakland University

Our state-of-the-art facilities let you become proficient with professional-caliber microphones, recording software, digital audio workstations, and mixing boards. You’ll also be able to operate the sound board in Oakland’s recital hall during live performances.

Our program teaches you to design new music technologies. This combines rigorous professional training in music with study in electrical engineering, computer engineering, and arts entrepreneurship.

Introduction to Music Technology

Whether you’re an accomplished musician looking to connect your engineering side with your musical talents or an aspiring beat maker, our music technology classes will help you hone your skills. Learn more about our program, one of the first in the country, and register for a virtual tour of our state-of-the-art studios.

In this hands-on course, you’ll use MIDI and digital audio editing software to create your own music compositions. You’ll also learn how to operate a range of keyboards and other hardware devices in the lab.

Our music technology students are at the forefront of an industry that needs composers for everything from video games to film and television to sound design and ministry. Our bachelor’s degree equips you to make your mark in a career that is constantly evolving and demanding new skills.

Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs)

Digital audio workstations are software programs that allow producers to record and edit multiple tracks of music and voice. They can also control MIDI, an electronic musical instrument protocol that lets you play and create music with your computer keyboard.

While DAWs are used to create all kinds of music, they are most commonly used for recording and producing pop songs, dance music, hip hop, and electronic music. They’re also useful for podcasts, commercials, and voice overs.

A DAW can record and play back 32, 64, or even hundreds of channels of audio at once. These channels are called “tracks,” and they can contain everything from a single guitar track to an entire orchestra. They can be cut, copied, and pasted just like text in a word processing program, and tracks can be muted and crossfaded into each other. In addition, DAWs usually come with a variety of effects processing options for both audio and MIDI.

Digital Signal Processing (DSP)

A DSP is a specialized microprocessor chip optimized for signal processing. The processor performs a series of operations on the digital signal in a fixed amount of time called an instruction clock cycle. A DSP’s control unit coordinates the execution of instructions fetched from memory and responds to external devices by controlling the flow of data in and out.

DSPs can offer a variety of advantages in a music production setup. Many can pack multiple functions into a smaller form factor than their analog counterparts, which can reduce both equipment costs and space concerns. In addition, DSP-capable devices are usually synchronized to each other and can be programmed to perform a specific task such as feedback elimination or noise cancellation.

For the modern producer/engineer, DSP is probably most associated with plugins. These are additional bits of software that can be added to a sequencer. Once added, they can alter or manipulate the audio resting on the timeline using a variety of algorithms.

Music Theory

Music theory is the study of how music works. It encompasses a range of topics including key signatures, chord progressions and other musical grammar that help musicians understand and create new music. Music theory also helps musicians communicate with each other.

Many music theorists seek to answer questions like how and why certain patterns of notes sound right to listeners. They might pursue careers as researchers, or work for a company that develops new music technologies. Some theorists find teaching jobs at colleges, universities or conservatories.

Whether you’re a professional recording engineer or aspiring hip-hop beatmaker, you can take your skills to the next level at Cabrillo’s state of the art studios and with our cutting-edge music technology classes. To get started, you can apply online, submitting a music-related essay and completing our supplemental music form. Then, you can choose from a variety of our noncredit courses or start earning college credits by registering for a degree program.

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Music Technology Careers

Music technology careers can give you an exciting, creative work life. It can also be a rewarding, collaborative field.

Tech entrepreneurs need music, sound design and interactive mixed media to bring their ideas to life. It’s an increasingly important sector.

Our commercial music technology degree program offers private vocal and instrumental training, 11 on-campus ensemble groups and a state-of-the-art production lab with studio-quality equipment.

Music Composer

People compose music for many reasons – to impress their friends, to win fame or awards, or simply because they love the process of writing. Some are naturally talented and do it well, but for others, the composing world can be very intimidating and it takes time to develop musical skills.

Composers can work in a variety of different areas, from classical music and commercial advertising to video games and film. Versatility is a key skill, as each brief has its own musical requirements and needs.

A career as a composer can also be quite lucrative, especially if you choose to focus on the production of commercial music. This can be done on a freelance basis and many composers do it alongside their performing careers.

Music Producer

There are tens of courses across the country and world that focus on music production and engineering, but few promise a clear career path. Those that have a passion for music and enjoy learning about new technology will probably find the work fun, but it isn’t easy.

The hours can be long, and you’ll spend most of your time in a studio. You’ll collaborate with musicians, recording/sound engineers and A&R managers to create the final product. You’ll also have to understand how the music industry works and be able to negotiate contracts and legal issues.

Future Producers should start by familiarizing themselves with their digital audio workstation (DAW), which will be their main tool. The more they play around with it, the quicker they’ll learn how to use it effectively. They should also study the recordings of bigger Producers, dissecting their tracks to see how they do it. This will give them the confidence to tackle any project they come up against.

Music Engineer

Music engineers use computer software and equipment to capture, edit, manipulate and reproduce electronic audio data. This includes a range of different things like recording sounds, adjusting their tone (using techniques such as equalization or compression), mixing the recorded sound with other instruments and voice and removing noise or other distortions to create a finished product for distribution.

They also may work with the Producer to help sculpt the musical vision for the song and make it come to life in the studio. This is a very hands on, creative role that requires someone who is multifaceted and is comfortable working with many different types of people.

It’s also a highly collaborative role so being flexible with schedules, deadlines and the music industry in general is important. This type of job tends to be quite rewarding and fun for those who enjoy new technology, learning about how it works and understanding how the latest advancements impact the way musicians can create their art.

Musician

Musicians perform in live performances, such as symphonies and concerts. They may also write and arrange their own musical compositions. The career of a musician requires significant dedication and practice.

Music professionals can use a range of software applications to improve their work, including Pro Tools, the standard in professional audio production software. In addition, a wide variety of online resources are available to help musicians stay on top of industry developments.

For example, Music Jobs catalogues a number of job opportunities for music professionals, such as studio directors and conductors. Similarly, the American Federation of Musicians provides representation for professional musicians and helps them secure fair contracts and benefits.

As the music industry evolves, music professionals need to continually learn new technology for music production. Many attend continuing education (CE) programs to sharpen their skills and expand their knowledge base. Others pursue postgraduate degrees in a related field, such as teacher training or music therapy.

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The Modern Music Technology Workshop

The world of music is becoming more and more tech-focused, and it’s not just musicians that are affected. Streaming drives the industry, data tells labels what to promote next and everything is produced electronically (well, almost).

Discover how to transform your ideas into finished tracks with Ableton Live, an industry-standard music production software. This course offers clear, step-by-step instruction and is very affordable.

Basics of Composing

Composition is the creative process of assembling musical elements including melody, rhythm, harmony and lyrics. It is the basis of all music, and is the foundation for the modern music industry. Students who study composition learn the basics of musical forms, as well as a variety of popular styles and genres.

Students learn to compose for various instruments and ensembles in their private composition lessons, eventually writing full works for orchestra, band, choir, and chamber groups. They also learn about advanced digital audio workstation (DAW) operations and virtual instrument orchestration through upper-level coursework.

In addition to their extensive academic study, students in the music technology program are strongly supported in their efforts to develop a distinct and original musical voice. They regularly interact with and learn from renowned guest composers of international renown, such as John Adams, Oliver Knussen, Kaija Saariaho, and others. Additionally, they benefit from a weekly Composition Colloquium, a forum where professors and students present and discuss their own compositions.

Basics of Mixing

Mixing is the process of blending multiple recorded audio tracks into a single song. It includes balancing levels (making some sounds louder than others) and adjusting their frequencies, brightening some sounds and darkening others. It also involves adding depth, a technique that sends different signals to the left and right speakers in varying amplitudes and delays, to simulate an actual acoustic space.

Another common mixing tool is compression, which can level out dynamics and shape a sound. For example, a bass guitar may need some extra clarity in its mid-range by cutting frequencies between 150Hz and 500Hz to take out any boxy congestion. Finally, reverb is often added to music mixes to create the illusion of distance and place by mimicking the sound of waves hitting hard surfaces. However, these tools are just the basics of what goes into a good mix. Most importantly, the best mixes are always creative and take risks. So don’t be afraid to break all the ‘rules’ of mixing!

Basics of Digital Media

Digital media is any form of content or promotion that relies on electronic and digital technology to reach a target audience. It can include digital images, video, and music. It can also be found in online newspapers, magazines, podcasts, and applications.

The digital media revolution is changing the way audiences consume music. Streaming services like Spotify, Tidal and Pandora allow users to listen to a database of millions of songs on demand. These streaming services have redefined the industry by moving away from the concept of a musical product and shifting to the idea of music as a service.

This has impacted the traditional music companies in an unforeseen and profound way as their business model has become less and less centered around physical distribution of recorded music. This has required them to reinvent themselves and build new capabilities into their organization including live music, publishing and management. This has also made them into 360-degree music companies.

Basics of Teaching Music Concepts

Each melodic musical passage that can be sung or played on a instrument relies on a specific pattern of tones and semitones known as a scale. Different scales provide a variety of musical qualities and evoke different emotions.

Learning scales and chords will help students understand how a melody works. It will also give them a deeper understanding of the basics of music theory, allowing them to see how notes work together and why composers choose particular notes to create their compositions.

Students will have the opportunity to network with renowned music, technology and business experts. Engage in thought-provoking discussions and debates that explore the dynamic fusion of music and technology.

This summer program takes a detailed tour of the world of music production, recording and sound for picture. Students will learn how a song is conceived, constructed and produced; from the initial inspiration to the rough sketch and demo to the final recording and “mixdown”.

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