Music academy announces Bachelor's degree program in Music History & Trade
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music has expanded its offerings with the introduction of a new major: Music History & Industry. This program combines rigorous music scholarship with practical engagement in the music industry, preparing students for contemporary music careers.
The curriculum emphasizes music performance, musicology, ethnomusicology, global jazz studies, and music industry studies, fostering an interdisciplinary understanding of music as a vital cultural and economic force in a global society.
Key elements of the curriculum include:
- Music History and Musicology: In-depth study of musical traditions, historical contexts, and critical scholarship.
- Music Industry: Coursework on the business practices, marketing, and cultural dynamics of the music industry preparing students for professional music careers.
- Performance and Ensembles: Active participation in diverse ensembles reflecting global musical traditions, enhancing practical musicianship.
- Interdisciplinary Approach: Integration of ethnomusicology and jazz studies, reflecting the school's commitment to all musical traditions and the evolving global music scene.
- Community Engagement: Opportunities to engage with the music culture of Los Angeles, a leading center for the music industry.
The program equips graduates with the analytical skills of a music historian along with practical knowledge of music business, aiming to develop versatile professionals prepared for evolving 21st-century music careers.
Los Angeles, being a hub for global media companies, music production houses, and independent record producers/artist managers, offers ample opportunities for internships. The Music Industry minor at UCLA is highly competitive, with many students interested in applying.
Robert Fink, chair of the Music Industry minor program and vice-chair of Musicology, emphasized the need for well-trained, culturally-literate students with strong leadership potential in the music industry. The Music History & Industry major combines practical, hands-on training with study of the sociocultural and theoretical contexts of music-making.
Current Music Industry course offerings at UCLA include Music Industry Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Audio Technology for Musicians, Rock/Pop Studio Ensemble, D.I.Y. Punk as Organizational Practice, Songwriter's Workshop, and Forensic Musicology. These courses are taught by active industry professionals.
Eileen Strempel, inaugural dean of the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, stated that the degree is designed for students with a strong interest in studying music while preparing for the music industry. With the addition of the new Music History & Industry major, the Herb Alpert School of Music aims to deepen its impact on the global music industry. Students are required to complete at least one internship as part of the Music History & Industry major.
The existing bachelor of arts in Musicology and the highly successful Music Industry minor program form the basis for the new Music History & Industry major. This program requires wide-ranging music literacy and awareness of the cultural contexts of diverse sonic environments, making it a popular area of the industry.
- Pursuing the Music History & Industry major at UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music, students will not only gain an in-depth understanding of music history and musicology but also learn about the practical aspects of the music industry, thereby balancing their education-and-self-development in music with an introduction to entertainment.
- In addition to their musical studies, students enrolled in the Music History & Industry major at UCLA will be exposed to various forms of entertainment, as the curriculum includes courses like Music Industry Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Audio Technology for Musicians, and Rock/Pop Studio Ensemble, fostering an appreciation for the role of music in entertainment.
