Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Recording Arts

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program in Recording Arts introduces students to current trends in traditional analog and digital technology as they apply to studio recording, sound reinforcement and electronic music. Students can apply their knowledge and have an opportunity to master the skills of recording, composition and performance to help prepare them for careers in the audio recording industry.

The Recording Arts degree program begins by teaching music theory, an essential element in establishing a career in the audio industry. Students also practice advanced recording and mixing and mastering techniques, as well as the principles of sound design for CD production, film and video, and DVD (Digital Versatile Disks) production. Each Recording Arts training class builds upon concepts taught in the previous term, leading up to a final studio project encompassing all material studied in the program.

Not only are Recording Arts degree students given the opportunity to gain the knowledge to create professionally mastered music tracks, but also DVD and 5.1 surround sound pieces. This unique degree program places a strong emphasis on digital audio production and technique, an area somewhat overlooked by traditional audio programs that focus on analog production.

Recording Arts Degree Program

Your Recording Arts training includes the following courses:

Digital Image Editing and Creation
Music Theory I
Keyboarding
Music Theory II
Audio Recording Techniques
Sound Design and Synthesis
DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) Authoring
Surround Sound Techniques
Studio Design and Maintenance I
MIDI - (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
Recording On Location
Studio Concentration
Mixing and Mastering
Portfolio: Marketing and Presentation
Portfolio: Marketing and Distribution
Introduction to Audio
Studio Design and Maintenance II
Special Topics in Audio
Advanced MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
Foley for Film and Television
Advanced Synthesis and Sampling
Digital Composition
Understanding the Music Business
Session Recording and Mastering I
Session Recording and Mastering II
Live Sound Reinforcement
Sound Dynamics
Internship

* Recording Arts curriculum subject to change.

What You Can Learn in the Recording Arts Degree Program

Successful graduates of the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program in Recording Arts will have had the opportunity to:

Understand music concepts, history, theory and reading notation.
Learn note-reading and piano-playing techniques.
Understand microphone placement, proper gain stages, proper equalization and frequency balancing.
Understand the roots of synthesis, electronic sound effects and the controls of vintage and modern synthesizers.
Understand the dynamics of sound, including vibrations, waves, the perception and the measurement of sound, musical instruments, the human voice, the acoustics of rooms, electronic music technology and environmental noise.
Mix for surround sound mastering.
Develop a working knowledge of basic studio construction, electronic wiring, troubleshooting and maintenance.
Become involved with producing songs using modern MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) synthesizers and samplers.
Develop an understanding of on-site audio recording techniques for news reporting, live concerts and movie production.
Compose, mix and master a custom music CD.
Market themselves and their work effectively through presentation, interviewing skills and résumé writing.
Create and record live sound effects for film and television.
Develop an understanding of the music business, including music publishing and record labels.
Record a band, small group or solo artist and master the track.
Participate in an 11-week internship with a recording studio or other approved audio industry agency.