Commercial Music COA

The Commercial Music Certificate of Achievement is designed to prepare students for employment in a variety of commercial music and music production settings such as music performance in rock/pop/jazz bands, music marketing, music sales, music publishing, studio recording, recording studio assistant, and live sound engineering.

Program Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this certificate students will be able to identify, analyze and interpret the fundamental aspects and principles of music and the music industry, including but not limited to: music theory, notation, performance practices, publishing, royalties, and contracts; Students will be able to perform and demonstrate their understanding of working in partnership with people at different levels and proficiencies.

Required Courses (16 units)

Required Core: 10 units

MUSC-P101 Music Theory and Musicianship I 4 units

CMUS-P100 Introduction to Music Technology 3 units

CMUS-P140 Music Business 3 units

List A: 6 units

Select a minimum of six units from the following:

CMUS-P150 Songwriting 2 units

CMUS-P130 Introduction to Recording 2 units

MUSC-P109 History of Rock and Roll 3 units

MUSC-P143A Beginning Class Piano 2 units

MUSC-P143B Intermediate Class Piano 2 units

MUSC-P143C Advanced Class Piano 2 units

MUSC-P117 College Choir* 1 unit

MUSC-P127 Concert Band* 1 unit

MUSC-P129 Guitar Ensemble* 1 unit

MUSC-P130 College Orchestra* 1 unit

BSAD-P160 Introduction to Entrepreneurship 3 units

*Note: MUSC P117, P127, P129 & P130 are 1 unit per semester and can be repeated 3 times to earn 4 units

Current enrollment in the Porterville College music classes is sufficient to justify the addition of this certificate program. It is conservatively estimated that once the program is fully established that there will be no fewer than 8 annual completers. There are currently at least 12 current PC students are within 3 or 4 units of completing the standard, with more students enrolling in music classes every semester.

Note: Spring 2020 was the start of the COVID-19 global pandemic. All courses were moved into a fully online format. Because of the online format enrollment dropped during the semesters online, especially with performance ensembles. Though there were dips in enrollment, music classes were able to pick up this past year including the new Music AA-T required courses which are preparing music majors for transfer into four-year music programs.

Below are the enrollment numbers for 2020-2021 and 2021-2022:

There are currently no other programs available at Porterville College in Commercial Music. This certificate offers an achievable goal for students who have an interest in music technology and music business. By utilizing existing curricular offerings and planning for minimal curricular expansion, a Commercial Music Certificate of Achievement program will address the needs of students, many of whom are leaders and outstanding students outside of music, and whose presence will contribute meaningfully to the academic climate at Porterville College. Porterville is nicknamed “Band Town, USA” and is known throughout the country for its excellence in high school music. The current “Pathway Academy of Performing Arts” program in the local high school district provides music education through grade 12. This program will serve as a completion program for many of the students who have identified with this pathway. The last three program reviews in the Fine Arts Division have called for an expansion in the offerings in music, which would enable the college to offer its students a commercial music certificate program with no capital expenditures (the existing facilities are adequate at this time); and will encourage students to continue as transfer-level students in music at 4-year colleges and universities.

Due to the nature of this program as a CTE program, there are no restrictions in terms of the availability of facilities. Students will be able to learn the mechanics of commercial music and apply these skills to various settings in and around the central valley.

Place of Program in Curriculum/Similar Programs

A. There will be no changes to inventory records in connection with the establishment of this COA program.

B. The proposed COA program does not replace any other current program at Porterville College.

C. There is no similar or related program currently offered by the college.

Similar Programs at Other Colleges in Service Area

There are no other colleges in the service area of Porterville College. For reference purposes only, the next closest colleges are College of the Sequoias (40 miles north) and Bakersfield College (55 miles south). The Porterville College music faculty maintain healthy communication with the faculty of California State University, Fresno Music Department (the closest transfer institution for music), and has used CSUF Music Department curricula as a model in establishing Porterville College’s lower-division Music department offerings

Program Requirements

Required Courses (16 units)

Required Core: 10 units Units

MUSC-P101 Music Theory and Musicianship I             4

CMUS-P100 Introduction to Music Technology            3

CMUS-P140 Music Business                                           3

List A: 6 units Units

Select a minimum of six units from the following:

CMUS-P150 Songwriting                                                  2

CMUS-P130 Introduction to Recording

MUSC-P143A Beginning Class Piano 2                           2

MUSC-P143B Intermediate Class Piano                         2

MUSC-P143C Advanced Class Piano                              2

MUSC-P117 College Choir*                                             1

MUSC-P127 Concert Band*                                            1

MUSC-P129 Guitar Ensemble*                                       1

MUSC-P130 College Orchestra*                                     1

BSAD- P160 Introduction to Entrepreneurship             3

*Note: MUSC P117, P127, P129 & P130 are 1 unit per semester and can be repeated 3 times to earn 4 units

Required Major Total 16 units

Total Units 16 units

The above requirements meet the recommendations of the commercial music advisory committee.

Recommendations can be found in the minutes attached