Music Technology
Write and record your own music. Learn on-site and studio recording skills and how to build an effective home digital recording studio. Continue to develop your skills as a singer or an instrumentalist. Learn basic digital manipulation and editing techniques through synthesis, signal processing, software-based systems, and interactive computer music, acoustics, perception, basic electronics, invention, trends, aesthetics and the history of electro-acoustic music. Take advantage of our internship and partnership opportunities.
Learn aspects of the music business including Intellectual Property, Copyright and Artist Contract Laws. Study abroad for five weeks, one semester or a full year.
Late-Breaking News: Become Pro Tools Certified!
The Bellarmine University Music Technology Program is in the process of becoming a sponsored school to teach Pro Tools. Students willhave the opportunity to take courses that will lead to Pro Tools certification. Stay tuned for the official announcement.
Our Philosophy Effective competition in the music fields of today and tomorrow requires strong musical skills linked with ability and artistry in the use of electronic media.
A lot of music technology programs focus on hardware and software and little time is devoted to other areas of music study. We believe that success in the music technology field also requires knowledge in these other areas.
Our program develops the whole musician: your ear (crucial for success!); skills on an instrument;
competency in music theory; knowledge of music history; experiences in world music; and study abroad.
Program Overview
Students study a core music curriculum that includes music technology, music theory, music history, world music and private lessons on a musical instrument. The Music Technology Program has seven goals for its degree program:
Students should be prepared for a career in music, graduate study or teacher certification in music.
Students should develop an understanding of music history and theory in western musical compositions from all eras.
Students should develop the ability to perform in one performance medium.
Students should develop skills in music composition in both the electronic and acoustic domains.
Students should develop skills in on-site and studio recording in a variety of genres, and styles with an emphasis on the home digital recording studio.
Students should develop skills in computer music including basic digital manipulation and editing techniques through synthesis, signal processing, software-based systems, and interactive computer music.
Students should develop an understanding of historical and theoretical aspects of electronic music: acoustics, perception, basic electronics, invention, trends, aesthetics and the history of electro-acoustic music.
Entrance Requirements All music technology majors will be accepted into the Music Technology Program upon successful completion of the following:
an interview with the program director, a music portfolio and/or audio CD and audition on an instrument or voice. These requirements are designed to allow the music technology faculty members an opportunity to assess your musical skills and background so that we may better advise you to the most suitable courses upon entry to the music department. Successful completion of the course requirements for the degree and consistent improvement of your musical and technological skills are necessary to maintain major status.
Now Let's Talk Gear
Our primary teaching lab is equipped with both Macs and PCs so students learn cross platform to prepare them for real world situations and making choices when designing their own home studio.
PC workstations are set up with a Korg Triton Keyboard, MBox 2 MIDI interface, Finale, Cakewalk Sonar 4, Ableton Live, Sony Acid Pro, Sony Vegas, Digidesign ProTools, Sony Soundforge, Steinberg CuBase, Steinberg Wavelab, Audacity, Mixed in Key and Propellerhead Reason.
Mac workstations are set up with MBox 2 MIDI interface, Novation ReMOTE 49 SL MIDI Controllers, and dual-boot OS X and Windows XP, with Garage Band, Ableton Live, Digidesign ProTools, Steinberg CuBase, Popellerhead Reason, Logic Pro 8 and iMovie.
Virtual Synths for both: Native Instrumentas, Antatre, FXpansion, IKMultimedia, iZotope, Melodyne and various other brand synths, drum machines and vococers.
For on-site and home studio recording, we use a variety of microphones depending on the set up. Some of our favorites are the Crown Sass-P MKII Stereo PZM, Neumann KM 184, Shure KSM Series mics and AKG C-Series mics. For live recording we run the mics into a preamp, (Symetrix is our favorite), and then into a Digi-design Mbox to a G4 Powerbook or direct to Cubase or Abelton Live. We use a lot of different recording techniques depending on the situation and venue including
firebox -> macbook -> cubase/ableton/audacity
symetrix -> 002 -> G4 powerbook -> protools/cubase firebox -> g3 ibook -> cubase/audacity.
What music courses will you take?
Block
Courses
Hours
Music Technology
16 credit hours
MUST 173: Music Technology I: Basic MIDI.
An introductory course in computer music. Topics include computer applications for audio synthesis, recording and processing, sequencing, layering and MIDI.
2
MUST 174: Music Technology II: Advanced MIDI.
A. continuation of MUST 173. Advanced applications in computer music synthesis and sequencing. Topics focus on obtaining greater technical and creative control of computer music parameters.
2
MUST 273: Music Technology III: Recording Technology I.
An introduction to the basics of recording technology with an emphasis on on-site recording. Topics include analog and digital recording systems, microphone design, microphone placement, venue and acoustic considerations, basic mixing techniques.
2
MUST 274: Music Technology IV:
Recording Technology II.
An introduction to the basics of recording technology with an emphasis on studio recording and building the home recording studio. Topics include multi-track recording, multi-channel mixing, signal processing, and problems in multiple microphone arrays and stereo imaging.
2
MUST 373: Music Technology V:
Composition and Practices in Electro-Acoustic Music.
A Survey of the development of composition using the electronic medium. Topics include the study of electronic instruments, the analysis of music forms and structures in electronic and electro-acoustic compositions, and the study of computer-assisted composition, processing, and computer control.
2
MUST 374: Music Technology VI: Junior Project/Recital.
An advanced course in technical application of music production oriented toward independent projects. In consultation with MUST faculty, projects may take the form of a composition recital, lecture recital, or significant development project with lecture presentation.
2
MUST 473: Music Technology VII: Soundtrack Music.
A survey of musical styles in film with a focus on current trends in electronic music within film genres.
2
MUST 474: Music Technology VIII: Senior Project/Recital.
The senior project/recital, in consultation with MUST faculty, requires a production product such as a technical demonstration, an audio CD, or a multi-media performance.
2
Music Theory
15 credit hours
MUSC 101: Music Theory I
3
MUSC 102: Music Theory II
3
MUSC 105: Aural Skills I
1
MUSC 201: Music Theory III
3
MUSC 202: Music Theory IV
3
MUSC 205: Aural Skills II
1
MUSC 206: Aural Skills III
1
Music History
6 credit hours
MUSC 211 or 231: Music History I,II
3
MUSC 311: Music History III
3
Other Music Courses
5 credit hours
MUSC 110: Introduction to the Study of Music
2
MUSC 304: Music of the World's Cultures
3
Music Electives
6 credit hours chosen from
MUST 111 - 412 Voice and Modern Technology
1 - 2
MUST 380: Inside the Music Industry
2
MUSC 312: History of Jazz
3
MUSC 320: Basic Conducting
2
MUSC 341: Chamber Orchestration
2
MUSC 343: Jazz Harmony and Arranging I
2
MUSC 344: Jazz Harmony and Arranging II
2
MUSC 403: Choral Writing and Arranging
2
MUSC 423: Independent Study
1 - 3
MUSC 444: Internship I
1 - 3
MUSC 445: Internship II
1 - 3
Applied Music Courses
4 semesters of study on an instrument or voice. Students are encouraged to develop their skills on a musical instrument beyond the required four hours of study.
4
Related required courses: 15 credits
PHYS 110: Electrical Principles
3
C.S. 117: Website Development
3
B.A. 103: Introduction to Business
3
ECON 111: Principles of Microeconomics
3
Foreign Language Elective (preferably German)
3
Additional requirements
All students must pass a sophomore proficiency examination, taken upon completion of the fourth semester of study in the applied major, in order to retain their major status.
All students must pass a piano proficiency examination to fulfill the keyboard skill requirement for degree conferral
All students are highly encouraged to participate in departmental ensembles including the Music Technology Improvisation Ensemble.
Study Abroad
Participation in a study abroad program is strongly recommended.
Students who study in the KIIS Salzburg Program fulfill the MUST 473 and MUSC 304 requirements of the major. Other courses may also be fulfilled depending upon course offerings in Salzburg.
What some of our Graduates are doing.
Graduates of the program have completed graduate degrees in music at the University of Louisville, University of Maryland, NYU, SUNY College, Purchase NY, or other graduate degrees at the Savannah College of Art and Design and Minnesota State University in other fields including Film and Video, Computer Animation and Experiential Education. Others have gone on to careers in Studio Recording and Engineering as well as successful free lance musicians and composers living and working in Louisville, New York City, Pittsburgh, Nashville and Los Angeles.
