To succeed in today’s evolving music industry requires more than just talent. A comprehensive understanding of the business of music will open up the door to a career as a music publisher, marketer or booking agent.
Program Overview
Sharpen your understanding of how the music business works.
The Music Industry emphasis will immerse you in the performance, theory and interdisciplinary training of a traditional Music degree, while adding critical coursework needed to navigate the business world. In the program, you’ll gain a critical understanding of music industry ethics, contracts, copyright regulations, marketing techniques and more. Whether your goal is to manage your own label or become a concert promoter, you’ll be prepared to enter the complex and evolving music industry with the business acumen to succeed.
Students in Western’s music programs will also be afforded the opportunity to garner group and solo performance experience in the Kincaid Concert Hall, which offers a schedule of annual concerts open to student, faculty, staff and community member attendance.
The WCU Department of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
The business behind the music
Tap into the world of music by combining your artistic skill with business acumen. Learn about contracts, copyright and marketing in the Music Industry emphasis.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
Program Requirements
The Music Industry program provides a well-balanced experience for musicians who wish to hone their vocal or instrumental abilities while gaining valuable skills in music business, technology, and production. This major emphasis prepares graduates for a wide range of careers in sought-after fields such as studio recording, live sound reinforcement, electronic composition, artist management, the non-profit sector, business development, and audio production for media.
A minimum of 67 credits is required including the 47-credit Music Industry Core:
The Music Industry emphasis requires the 47-credit Music Industry Core, 20 credits from the Performance Curriculum, and Concert and Convocation Attendance Course (must be taken each semester of residence with a “Satisfactory” grade a minimum of six semesters). A minimum grade of “C” is required in all Music courses counted toward the major. To qualify for graduation all Music majors must meet Performance Requirements and Piano Proficiency.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Music Industry Core | ||
MUS 128 | Theory of Music Laboratory I | 1 |
MUS 129 | Theory of Music I | 3 |
MUS 130 | Theory of Music Laboratory II | 1 |
MUS 131 | Theory of Music II | 3 |
MUS 140 | Introduction to Music (GT-AH1) | 3 |
MUS 212 | Introduction to Music Technology | 1 |
MUS 245 | History of Rock and Roll | 3 |
MUS 253 | Theory of Music Laboratory III | 1 |
MUS 254 | Theory of Music III | 3 |
MUS 313 | Music Production | 3 |
MUS 340 | Theory of Music Lab IV | 1 |
MUS 341 | Theory of Music IV | 3 |
MUS 400 | SENIOR RECITAL/SENIOR PROJECT | 2 |
MUS 412 | Music Technology II | 3 |
MUS 413 | Music Production II | 3 |
Music business courses chosen with your advisor | 10 | |
COM 119 | Introduction to Film | 3 |
Total Credits | 47 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Major Performance Organizations | ||
8 credits of the following as determined by instrument or voice. Courses may be repeated as needed. | 8 | |
MUS 101 | Orchestra | |
MUS 102 | Symphonic Band | |
MUS 104 | Concert Choir | |
MUS 301 | Orchestra | |
MUS 302 | Symphonic Band | |
MUS 304 | Concert Choir | |
Small Ensembles | ||
4 credits of the following as determined by instrument or voice. Courses may be repeated as needed. | 4 | |
MUS 105 | Opera | |
MUS 121 | Instrumental and Vocal Chamber Music | |
MUS 305 | Opera | |
MUS 321 | Instrumental and Vocal Chamber Music | |
Private Lessons | ||
8 credits of the following as determined by instrument or voice. Courses may be repeated as needed. | 8 | |
MUS 180 | Private Lessons (30 min) | |
MUS 181 | Private Lessons (60 min) | |
MUS 380 | Private Lessons (30 min) | |
MUS 381 | Private Lessons (60 min) | |
Total Credits | 20 |
Concert and Convocation Attendance
All Music majors must take MUS 000 Concert and Convocation Attendance each semester in residence. Six semesters of MUS 000 Concert and Convocation Attendance with a grade of "satisfactory" are required of all Music majors prior to graduation.
The Performance Curriculum consists of courses in Major Performing Organizations, Small Ensembles, and Private Lessons. The specific performing organizations required are determined by instrument or voice.
Performance Requirements for Majors
To qualify for graduation, all Music majors must pass specific levels of performance as judged by a jury of Music faculty. Majors in the Music Industry emphasis may elect MUS 400 SENIOR RECITAL/SENIOR PROJECT, or a qualifying MUS 499 Internship in Music. Please contact the Music Department for exact requirements.
Piano Proficiency
All students with a Music Major or Minor, except for the Music Technology Minor, must pass the piano proficiency examination by the end of the required theory sequence. The two-semester sequence of MUS 173 Piano class and MUS 174 Piano Class may be taken for elective credits to prepare for the exam. The specific courses are not required courses and student assessed to have sufficient piano background may prepare for the exam independently. Please contact the Music Department for exact requirements.
Partner Courses
To graduate with the Music Industry emphasis, students must earn 10 credits of music business courses selected in consultation with their advisor. At least 6 of these credits must be considered upper division. To facilitate this, Western has an agreement with the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma to offer a sequence of four music business courses online.
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
HWTR 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
MATH | prescribed MATH course | 3 |
MUS 000 | Concert and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
MUS 100 | Fundamentals of Music (GT-AH1) (if needed) | 3 |
MUS 101 or MUS 102 or MUS 104 |
Orchestra or Symphonic Band or Concert Choir |
1 |
MUS 121 | Instrumental and Vocal Chamber Music | 0.5-1 |
MUS 140 | Introduction to Music (GT-AH1) | 3 |
MUS 173 | Piano class | 1 |
MUS 180 | Private Lessons (30 min) | 1 |
Credits | 16.5-17 | |
Spring | ||
MUS 000 | Concert and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
MUS 101 or MUS 102 or MUS 104 |
Orchestra or Symphonic Band or Concert Choir |
1 |
MUS 121 | Instrumental and Vocal Chamber Music | 0.5-1 |
MUS 128 | Theory of Music Laboratory I | 1 |
MUS 129 | Theory of Music I | 3 |
MUS 174 | Piano Class | 1 |
MUS 180 | Private Lessons (30 min) | 1 |
MUS 245 | History of Rock and Roll | 3 |
Credits | 13.5-14 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
Gen Ed | General Education (Area II) | 4 |
Gen Ed | General Education (Area I) | 3 |
MUS 000 | Concert and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
MUS 101 or MUS 102 or MUS 104 |
Orchestra or Symphonic Band or Concert Choir |
1 |
MUS 121 | Instrumental and Vocal Chamber Music | 0.5-1 |
MUS 130 | Theory of Music Laboratory II | 1 |
MUS 131 | Theory of Music II | 3 |
MUS 180 | Private Lessons (30 min) | 1 |
MUS 212 | Introduction to Music Technology | 1 |
Credits | 14.5-15 | |
Spring | ||
Gen Ed | General Education (Area II) | 4 |
MUS 000 | Concert and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
MUS 101 or MUS 102 or MUS 104 |
Orchestra or Symphonic Band or Concert Choir |
1 |
MUS 121 | Instrumental and Vocal Chamber Music | 0.5-1 |
MUS 180 | Private Lessons (30 min) | 1 |
MUS 253 | Theory of Music Laboratory III | 1 |
MUS 254 | Theory of Music III | 3 |
MUS 313 | Music Production | 3 |
Credits | 13.5-14 | |
Year Three | ||
Fall | ||
COM 119 | Introduction to Film | 3 |
MUS 000 | Concert and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
MUS 301 or MUS 302 or MUS 304 |
Orchestra or Symphonic Band or Concert Choir |
1 |
MUS 321 | Instrumental and Vocal Chamber Music | 0.5-1 |
MUS 340 | Theory of Music Lab IV | 1 |
MUS 341 | Theory of Music IV | 3 |
MUS 380 | Private Lessons (30 min) | 1 |
MUS | Music Business course chosen with advisor | 2 |
Credits | 11.5-12 | |
Spring | ||
Gen Ed | General Education (Area I) | 3 |
Gen Ed | General Education (Area III) | 3 |
Elective | Upper division elective course | 3 |
MUS 000 | Concert and Convocation Attendance | 0 |
MUS 301 or MUS 302 or MUS 304 |
Orchestra or Symphonic Band or Concert Choir |
1 |
MUS 321 | Instrumental and Vocal Chamber Music | 0.5-1 |
MUS 380 | Private Lessons (30 min) | 1 |
MUS | Music Business course chosen with advisor | 2 |
MUS 413 | Music Production II | 3 |
Credits | 16.5-17 | |
Year Four | ||
Fall | ||
COM 151 or PHYS 115 |
Introduction to Mass Media (GT-AH2) or Physics of Music |
3 |
or BUAD elective |
||
or CS elective |
||
Elective | Music elective course | 3 |
Elective | Upper division elective course | 3 |
Elective | Upper division Music Business course chosen with advisor | 3 |
MUS 301 or MUS 302 or MUS 304 |
Orchestra or Symphonic Band or Concert Choir |
1 |
MUS 321 | Instrumental and Vocal Chamber Music | 0.5-1 |
MUS 380 | Private Lessons (30 min) | 1 |
Credits | 14.5-15 | |
Spring | ||
Gen Ed | General Education (Area I) | 3 |
Elective | Upper division elective course | 3 |
Elective | Upper division Music Business course chosen with advisor | 3 |
MUS 301 or MUS 302 or MUS 304 |
Orchestra or Symphonic Band or Concert Choir |
1 |
MUS 321 | Instrumental and Vocal Chamber Music | 0.5-1 |
MUS 380 | Private Lessons (30 min) | 1 |
MUS 400 or MUS 499 |
SENIOR RECITAL/SENIOR PROJECT or Internship in Music |
2 |
PHYS 115 | Physics of Music | 3 |
or BUAD elective |
||
or CS elective | 3 | |
Credits | 19.5-20 | |
Total Credits | 120-124 |
Careers
Take the first steps toward your academic and personal growth.
Fostering your intellectual development is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling and enriched life after graduation. Wondering how you can apply your program of choice to your intellectual and personal journey? Check out our “What Can I Do With This Major?” tool to explore the diverse opportunities and pathways within any degree program.
Scholarships
Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your ScholarshipsWestern’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your ScholarshipsAlumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 30 for 2024. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
Note: Students enrolled in a Western-CU Boulder Partnership Program (i.e. major) do not qualify for Western Merit Scholarship programs. See the Rady Merit Scholarship section above for scholarship opportunities.
Get Involved
Join a Music Ensemble at Western
- Band: Symphony and Varsity.
- Vocal: Concert Choir and Chamber Singers.
- Jazz: Groups include the large Jazz Ensemble, “High Altitude” Dixieland Combo and Modern Jazz Combo.
- Orchestra: Performs together regularly as a string ensemble, full orchestra and a small chamber group. Orchestra and Choir combine together to perform major works as well.
- Other: Instrumental ensembles are open to all interested performers and include Brass, Woodwind, Percussion, String, Jazz Ensembles and Flute Choir, as well as additional small ensembles.
Work Study and Internship Opportunities
- Recording Technicians
- Social Media Coordinator
- Building Monitors
- Music Production Apprenticeship
- Radio Station Support
Making music
Western Music students have the opportunity to join various ensembles and bands including the band, orchestra or instrumental ensembles such as brass, woodwind, percussion, jazz, string and flute choir, as well as additional small ensembles.
News & Research
Additional Resources
Department Information
Music Department
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Quigley Hall 202
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231