Bachelor of Arts
Commercial Music – Songwriting
Transforming your Ideas into Music
Professional Track in Songwriting allows students to develop advanced skills in writing and producing their own original music of any style.
Program Highlights
This track is for students who want to develop advanced skills in writing and producing their own original music of any style. Through foundational courses, collaborative workshops, and personalized instruction, students will hone their composition, creativity, and production techniques. This track prepares students for diverse careers in the music industry as songwriters and producers. You’ll learn to write music in various styles, collaborate with other songwriters, and develop your unique voice as a songwriter.
Coursework
MUS100 Music Convocation (eight semesters) – 0 hours
MUS105 Musician Success Seminar – 1 hour
MUS181/183 Instrumental Ensemble I/Vocal Ensemble I – .5 hour
MUS182/184 Instrumental Ensemble I/Vocal Ensemble I – .5 hour
MUS115 Private Music Instruction-Primary – 1 hour
MUS116 Private Music Instruction-Primary – 1 hour
MUS121 Musicianship I – Lecture – 3 hours
MUS121L Musicianship I – Lab – 1 hour
MUS130 Introduction to Music Technology – 3 hours
MUS281/283 Instrumental Ensemble II/Vocal Ensemble II – .5 hour
MUS282/284 Instrumental Ensemble II/Vocal Ensemble II – .5 hour
MUS215 Private Music Instruction – Primary – 1 hour
MUS216 Private Music Instruction – Primary – 1 hour
MUS221 Musicianship II – Lecture – 3 hours
MUS221L Musicianship II – Lab – 1 hour
MUS230 Live Sound Engineering – 3 hours
MUS240 Rhythm Section I – 3 hours
MUS299 Second-Year Project – 1 hour
MUS315 Private Music Instruction – Primary – 1 hour
MUS316 Private Music Instruction – Primary – 1 hour
MUS330 Recording Engineering – 3 hours
MUS340 Rhythm Section II – 3 hours
MUS360 Survey of Music Business – 3 hours
MUS460 Music Publishing – 3 hours
MUS499 Senior Project – 3 hours
Total – 42 hours
Students are encouraged to choose at least one professional track, may take two or more tracks and/or individual courses as electives. All three-credit hour courses in the professional track are offered only once per year.
PROFESSIONAL TRACK: SONGWRITING
MUS222 Introduction to Songwriting – 3 hours
MUS422 Songwriting Workshop – 3 hours
MUS430 Advanced Production I – 3 hours
MUS315 Private Music Instruction: Songwriting – 1 hour
MUS316 Private Music Instruction: Songwriting – 1 hour
MUS415 Private Music Instruction: Songwriting – 1 hour
Total – 12 hours
TU COMMERCIAL MUSIC INTERNSHIP SITES
The following are internships sites that Commercial Music students have been placed with since 2018.
- 50 Way Studios
- Bow to Stern
- Chicago Recording Company
- Disney College Program
- East Green Concert Series
- Firefly Studios
- MBS Music Group
- Monaco Studios
- Pinecastle Records
- Polar Entertainment, LLC
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Seven Wing Creative
- StarSound Studios
- Sweetwater Sound
- Take Notes Productions
- The Ritz Theatre
- Tiffin Music Studios
- Tiffin University
- Tragic Hero Music
Career Opportunities
- A&R Professional
- ADR Recordist
- Arranger
- Artist Manager
- Artist Relations Manager
- Audio Director
- Backup Vocalist
- Bandleader
- Booking Manager
- Church Musician
- Composer (Film & TV)
- Composer (Gaming)
- Copyist
- Cover Band Musician
- Creative Entrepreneur
- Cruise Ship Musician
- DJ/Remixer
- Foley Artist
- Freelance Musician
- Independent Artist
- Live Sound Engineer
- Mastering Engineer
- Military Musician
- Music Director (TV)
- Music Editor
- Music Librarian
- Music Supervisor
- Orchestrator (Film & TV)
- Performer
- Private Instructor
- Producer-Beatmaker
- Producer-Songwriter
- Record Producer
- Recording Engineer
- Songwriter
- Sound Designer
- Sound Editor
- Studio Manager
- Studio Musician
- Tour Manager
- Transcriptionist
An Accomplished Faculty
You’ll study with an accomplished music faculty that includes professionals with experience on the stage, in the studio, in the business and in writing music for performance and for film and other media. As the only small college specializing specifically in Commercial Music, we provide personal attention and flexibility to work in the areas that best suit your own unique career path.
Abundant Performance Opportunities
Tiffin University offers a wide variety of commercial music performing opportunities, from a cappella groups and cover bands to a hip hop collective and a songwriting ensemble. These groups perform and record extensively, giving students valuable real-world experience. TU also is home to TiffinMusic Studios, a student-run record label and music production company.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
Tiffin University’s Performing Arts Lab (The PAL) features a professional recording studio, keyboard and production lab, as well as large rehearsal spaces for TU bands, choirs, dance teams and commercial ensembles. With over 14,000 square feet of studio, rehearsal, teaching and practice space, the PAL serves the 200 students involved in our more than 20 extracurricular music ensembles and our cutting-edge commercial music degrees.
Have a Question?
“TU is a place where you have full control of what you get involved in, giving you the opportunity to make the best experience for yourself here. From my personal example, I chose the degree program that I really wanted to pursue, I’ve had the opportunities to take amazing courses and I’ve had the chance to further my own musical goals by being involved in numerous musical ensembles.”
Class of 2022
Lansing, Michigan
