Study Commercial Music in the Heart of the Music Industry!
Commercial Music Studies at CalStateLA offers a highly stimulating, challenging, and creative environment that prepares students with the requisite skills for writing, arranging and performing in the commercial music business. The curriculum provides preparation in a variety of additional skills, including recording, computer sequencing and notation, and composition. Graduates of the program are making their mark in music as performers, educators, composers and arrangers, producers, and in related commercial music fields.
The intimate size of the music department allows each student ample personal attention with the commercial music faculty. Commercial music students with interests in specific genres of music have opportunities to incorporate courses and ensemble experiences in those areas of study as part of their degree program. Students also have opportunities for employment in the commercial music field in the Los Angeles area during and after completion of their degree.
Faculty for the Commercial Music program are experienced professionals with active careers in commercial music. Ross Levinson and Steve Wight have both excelled as performers, composers and arrangers in the competitive world of American popular music, film and other media, and recordings. Their expertise and commercial music savvy positions CalStateLA commercial music graduates to successfully pursue their career interests.
Two degree programs are offered in commercial music:
Bachelor of Music: Commercial Music
The Bachelor of Music degree in Commercial Music is available to first time freshman students and to transfer students from community college music programs. The degree program prepares undergraduate to successfully maneuver the world of commercial music and the multi-faceted demands that the music business expects of professionals in the field. For admission and audition requirements please follow the link. For further degree program information please contact the commercial music faculty.
Master of Music: Commercial Music
The MM in Commercial Music has been preparing musicians to navigate in an increasingly complex environment for music artists and entrepreneurs. Many of our graduates have gone on to increasingly successful careers as composers, performers and producers in the commercial music world. Others are now teaching in college environments passing on their knowledge and skills to the next generation of commercial music artists. Whether your interests are in composing and arranging, performing, producing, or teaching, the Master of Music program in Commercial Music will prepare you with the skills and knowledge that will allow you to be competitive with other professionals in the field. Your success is only limited by your abilities and drive to succeed. For admission and audition requirements please follow the link. For further degree program information please contact the commercial music faculty.
Students may also take courses in commercial music as part of their Bachelor of Arts in Music degree program.
Commercial Music Facilities
There are three MAC-based music studios available only to students enrolled in the Commercial Music program. These studios can be reserved to work on individual projects and productions. Two other computer labs are used for larger class instruction. Music 220 is an 18-station lab with the latest in music technology and film scoring software. Music 211 is a 36-station lab that also has the latest in music technology and film scoring software. Both labs are available for individual student use during open lab hours to complete course assignments and music projects. Open lab hours vary each quarter depending on the courses scheduled during that quarter. Each of these labs is continually upgraded to industry standards to ensure that graduates have the professional tools they need to be competitive in commercial music.