Music - Audio Production Concentration

About this Composite Major

A student plays on the electronic keyboard in the Audio Production studio.

The Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with an Audio Production Concentration gives students a traditional, liberal arts education in music combined with studies of 21st-century skills in recording, editing, and mastering musical recordings. In addition to the core classes required of all music majors, students will complete a series of classes in analog and digital recording techniques and electronic music production. Students in this course of study will complete a comprehensive recording project or audio production internship as their capstone experience. Audio Production students can prepare themselves for an avocation or career in the music industry, prepare themselves for additional study, or use the degree as an effective pre-professional degree, serving as a gateway to graduate studies, law school, or medical school.

Meet a Student

A photo of VCSU Tucker Schonert working with the sound board in the audio production studio

VCSU is both my family and my home. My hope is to make my own music and teach others how to do the same. - Tucker Schonert, Valley City, N.D., audio production student

Practical Experience

Students will use cutting-edge technology in our recently renovated and updated recording/production studio suite. In both their own personal projects as well as in their course projects, students will access to some of the best hardware and software in the industry. The skills learned here can be used across the music curriculum.

Practice and Perform in the Center for the Arts

- Students study in the lobby of the Center for the Arts on the campus of Valley City State University.

The brand-new Center for the Arts houses all music classrooms including:

a state-of-the-art recording and production studio
a 350-seat performance hall
a 100-seat recital hall/choral room
a band room
a piano/computer lab
large and small practice rooms

Acoustic treatments have been designed for all performance, rehearsal and practice spaces, and the larger spaces feature adjustable acoustics and audio/video capabilities.

Contact Information

Department Chair

Dr. Kenneth Jimenez, kennethjr.jimenez@vcsu.edu, (701) 845-7381

Faculty Contact

Dr. Taylor Long, taylor.long@vcsu.edu, (701) 845-7379

Department Location

Center for the Arts

Schedule your visit today!

http://visit.vcsu.edu/

(701) 845-7101 or (800) 532-8641

General Education Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
English Composition
Select one of the following:		6
ENGL 110	College Composition I
ENGL 120	College Composition II
or ENGL 125	Introduction to Professional Writing
or
ENGL 120	College Composition II
or ENGL 125	Introduction to Professional Writing
ENGL 210	College Composition III: Persuasive Writing
Speech Communication
Select one of the following:		3
COMM 110	Fundamentals of Public Speaking
COMM 212	Interpersonal Communication
COMM 216	Intercultural Communication
Mathematics
Select one of the following:		3
MATH 103	College Algebra
MATH 104	Finite Mathematics
MATH 107	Precalculus
MATH 110	Mathematics in Society
MATH 165	Calculus I
MATH 210	Elementary Statistics
Lab Science
Select two of the following, one must come from the Natural and Physical Sciences category		8
Natural and Physical Sciences (ND:LABSC)
BIOL 111	Concepts of Biology
BIOL 150	General Biology I
BIOL 151	General Biology II
BIOL 170	General Zoology
CHEM 115	Introductory Chemistry
CHEM 116	Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry
CHEM 121	General Chemistry I
CHEM 122	General Chemistry II
GEOL 100	Introduction to Earth Science
GEOL 106	The Earth Through Time
PHYS 100	Concepts of Physics
PHYS 110	Introductory Astronomy
PHYS 211	College Physics I
PHYS 212	College Physics II
PHYS 251	University Physics I
PHYS 252	University Physics II
Additional Sciences (ND:SCI)
PSYC 240	Cognition and Brain Science
TECH 161	Technology, Engineering, and Design
TECH 165	Technology Solutions for Society
Wellness
Select one of the following:		2
HPER 100	Concepts of Fitness and Wellness
HPER 212	Introduction to Stress Management
Computer Science and Literacy
Select one of the following:		3
CIS 147	Principles of Information Security
CIS 170	Introduction to Computer Information Systems ²
CSCI 120	Introduction to Programming
CSCI 127	Introduction to Programming in Java
CSCI 160	Introduction to Structured Programming I
CSCI 289	Social Implications of Computer Technology ²
SE 110	Discovering Computing
Digital Literacy
Select one of the following:
CIS 170	Introduction to Computer Information Systems ²
CSCI 289	Social Implications of Computer Technology ²
Humanities
Literacies
Select one of the following:		3
ASL 101	American Sign Language I
ASL 102	American Sign Language II
COMM 211	Oral Interpretation
ENGL 220	Introduction to Literature
ENGL 225	Introduction to Film
ENGL 231	Bible as Literature
ENGL 232	Mythology
ENGL 236	Women and Literature
ENGL 241	World Literature I
ENGL 242	World Literature II
ENGL 261	American Literature I
ENGL 262	American Literature II
HUM 201	Civilization, Thought, and Literary Heritage
PSYC 200	Ethics and Philosophy of Science
SPAN 101	1st Year Spanish I
SPAN 102	1st Year Spanish II
SPAN 201	2nd Year Spanish I
SPAN 202	2nd Year Spanish II
THEA 110	Introduction to Theatre Arts
Art and Music
Select one of the following:		3
ART 110	Introduction to the Visual Arts
ART 115	Introduction to Digital Media
ART 210	Art History I
ART 211	Art History II
ART 233	History of Craft
HUM 202	Fine Arts and Aesthetics
MUS 100	Music Appreciation
MUS 101	Music Fundamentals
MUS 201	World Music ¹
MUS 207	History of Popular/Rock Music
Social Science
Select 6 credits from the following:		6
ANTH 111	Introduction to Anthropology
COMM 112	Understanding Media and Social Change
COMM 114	Human Communication
ECON 201	Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 202	Principles of Macroeconomics
GEOG 151	Human Geography
HIST 103	United States to 1877
HIST 104	United States to Present
HIST 211	World Civilizations to 1500
HIST 212	World Civilizations since 1500
HIST 267	Environmental History
HIST 270	Native American Studies
POLS 115	American National Government
POLS 116	State and Local Government
PSYC 111	Introduction to Psychology
SOC 110	Introduction to Sociology
SOC 111	Introduction to Anthropology
Additional Humanities or Social Science
Select one additional course from Humanities or Social Science or select from the following:		2
ART 122	Two-Dimensional Design
ART 130	Drawing I
ART 150	Ceramics I
ART 180	Photography I
ART 182	Art With a Smartphone
GEOG 111	Survey of Geography
MUS 104	Group Piano for Non-Majors
MUS 105	Group Piano for Non-Majors
MUS 130	Valkyries
MUS 131	Concert Choir
MUS 140	Athletic Band
MUS 141	Concert Band
PHYS 275	Planetarium Science
THEA 201	Theatre Practicum
Total Credits		39

¹: Required
²: CIS 170 and CSCI 289 may be used to satisfy both the Computer Science and Literacy and the Digital Literacy requirement for Gen Ed.

Major Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Application required for entry into program: application form, audition, program plan. The student must achieve a grade of C or better in each of the specified courses.
Core Courses
MUS 111	Class Piano I ³	1
MUS 112	Class Piano II ³	1
MUS 122	Music Theory I	3
MUS 123	Aural Skills I	1
MUS 124	Music Theory II	3
MUS 125	Aural Skills II	1
MUS 171	Introduction to Music Technology	1
MUS 200	Music Convocation ¹	0
MUS 205	Basic Conducting	2
MUS 222	Music Theory III	3
MUS 223	Aural Skills III	1
MUS 224	Music Theory IV	3
MUS 225	Aural Skills IV	1
MUS 301	Scoring and Arranging	2
MUS 331	Music History & Literature I	3
MUS 332	Music History & Literature II	3
Music Ensembles
Select 4 credits from the following:		4
MUS 131	Concert Choir
MUS 132	University Singers
MUS 133	Opera Ensemble
MUS 140	Athletic Band
MUS 141	Concert Band
MUS 142	Jazz Ensemble
MUS 143	Commercial Music Ensemble ⁴
MUS 144	Percussion Ensemble
MUS 145	Brass Ensemble
MUS 146	Woodwind Ensemble
MUS 149	Wind Ensemble
Performance
100 Level Applied Music (2 semesters) ²		4
200 Level Applied Music (2 semesters) ²		4
MUS 298	Sophomore Proficiency	0
Upper-Division Music Electives		5
Select from the following: ⁵
300-Level Applied Music
MUS 305	Advanced Conducting
MUS 306	Vocal Literature
MUS 307	Recording and Mixing Techniques
MUS 309	The Business of Music
MUS 312	Electronic Music Production
MUS 313	Instrumental Chamber Ensemble Literature and Leadership
MUS 314	Jazz Theory and Analysis
MUS 315	Survey of Music in the Twenty-First Century
MUS 318	Psychology of Music
MUS 319	Form and Analysis
MUS 320	Popular Composition
MUS 327	Marching and Athletic Band Methods
MUS 379	Piano Pedagogy
MUS 388	Progressive Music Education
MUS 390	Music in the Elementary School
MUS 403	Choral Methods and Literature
MUS 404	Instrumental Methods and Literature
MUS 435	Seminar in Musicology
MUS 494	Undergraduate Research
Total Credits		46

¹

Students are required to enroll in MUS 200 Music Convocation (0 credits) concurrently with Applied Music.

²

All credits of Applied Music must be taken on the same instrument.

MUS 231 Diction for Singers I and MUS 232 Diction for Singers II are required for all students whose primary instrument is voice.

³

Students whose primary instrument is piano may substitute 2 credits of MUS electives for MUS 111 Class Piano I and MUS 112 Class Piano II.

⁴

Audio Production students must take at least 2 credits of Commercial Music Ensemble.

⁵

Courses that are required as part of a student's concentration cannot also be used to complete this requirement.

Note: All students, regardless of degree program, are required to complete 120 credits in order to graduate, and 30 of those credits must be at the 300 level or above. Additional elective coursework may thus be necessary in order to meet those requirements.

Audio Production Concentration Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
MUS 209	Introduction to the Modern Recording Studio	3
MUS 307	Recording and Mixing Techniques	3
MUS 309	The Business of Music	3
MUS 312	Electronic Music Production	3
MUS 316	Audio Production Colloquium ¹	2
MUS 320	Popular Composition	2
MUS 492	Music Academic Capstone	1-3
Total Credits		17-19

¹: Course must be taken twice to fulfill requirement.

Total General Education 39 Hrs
Total Major Requirement 46 Hrs
Total Concentration Requirement 17-19 Hrs
Total Credits Needed to Graduate 120 Hrs

For degree and graduation requirements, visit degree requirements and graduation requirements.

Plan of Study

First Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
Applied Music	2	Applied Music	2
ENGL 110 (Gen Ed)	3	ENGL 120 (Gen Ed)	3
Ensemble (Gen Ed)	1	Ensemble	1
MUS 111	1	MUS 112	1
MUS 122	3	MUS 124	3
MUS 123	1	MUS 125	1
MUS 171 (Introduction to Music Technology)	3	MUS 209	3
UNIV 150	1
	15		14
Second Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
Applied Music	2	Applied Music	2
Ensemble	1	Electives	2
MUS 205	2	Ensemble	1
MUS 222	3	HPER 100 (Gen Ed)	2
MUS 223	1	MUS 224	3
MUS 307	3	MUS 225	1
MUS 331	3	MUS 298	0
		MUS 312	3
		MUS 332	3
	15		17
Third Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
Electives	6	Electives	6
Ensemble	1	Ensemble	1
Literacies (Gen Ed)	3	Lab Science (Gen Ed)	4
Mathematics (Gen Ed)	3	Speech Communication (Gen Ed)	3
		MUS 301	2
	13		16
Fourth Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
Electives	3	Art and Music (Gen Ed)	3
Ensemble (Gen Ed)	1	Electives	7
Lab Science (Gen Ed)	4	Social Science (Gen Ed)	3
MUS 309	3	Computer Science and Literacy (Gen Ed)	3
Social Science (Gen Ed)	3
	14		16
Total Credits 120

Please note: This plan is intended for general information only. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their academic advisor each semester before registration.

Music Learning Outcomes

VCSU Music Majors will:

Demonstrate competence in basic musicianship skills. (Musicianship)
Develop requisite performance skills as a soloist and ensemble member, consistent with the objectives of their degree plan. (Performance)
Interpret and analyze music from a variety of cultures and time periods. (Analysis)
Demonstrate teaching skills consistent with the objectives of their degree plan. (Pedagogy)