Bachelor of Arts
Commercial Music – Teaching and Performing
Lead, Educate, and Perform
Professional Track in Teaching and Performing allows students to develop advanced skills in support of a career in professional performing, private studio lesson teaching, and ensemble leadership. This track is not intended for teaching licensure in the State of Ohio.
Program Highlights
Do you envision yourself on stage, teaching privatge lessons, or leading an ensemble? This track provides the skills and experience necessary to thrive in various musical roles. You will receive private instruction on your primary instrument (piano, bass, drums, guitar, voice or beatmaking), and learn the practical and theoretical aspects of ensemble leadership. You’ll gain hands-on teaching experience by leading rehearsals and giving private lessons. Whether you dream of performing in a band, leading a choir, or teaching the next generation of musicians, this track will help you achieve your goals. Note that this track is not intended for teaching licensure in the State of Ohio.
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: TEACHING & PERFORMING
MUS117 Private Music instruction – Secondary – 1 hour
MUS350 Ensemble Leadership & Pedagogy – 3 hours
MUS352 Private Studio Teaching – 3 hours
MUS415 Private Music Lesson – Primary – 1 hour
MUS416 Private Music Lesson – Primary – 1 hour
MUS440 Rhythm Section III 3 hours
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.
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