About the Program
Students in the Commercial & Electronic Music Concentration may pursue interests in
recording arts, jazz studies, MIDI/synthesis or music for film and video. Recording
arts students work in a state-of-the-art sound recording studio in the Center for
Applied Technology.
Commercial Voice: NEW!
Commercial voice has been recently added as an applied area available to students
in the Commercial and Electronic Music program. Students in the program can now study pop,
jazz and country vocal styles as a part of their applied major in voice.
Admission to the program incudes the prerequisite of satisfactory sophomore exam after
4 semesters of foundational voice foundation study then a minimum of 2 semesters of
commercial study. C&EM voice students would study a variety of commercial vocal styles
and repertory, background harmony singing, vocal recording techniques and other elements
of commercial voice.
Catamount Singers and Electric Soul serves as a major ensemble in the School of Music
and provides performance opportunities for commercial voice students. The group performs
on campus and tours annually to public schools in our region.
Commercial Percussion: NEW!
Set drumming is a new area for performers enrolled in the C&EM program. It will aid
in fulfilling SOM ensemble needs for drum set and ethnic percussion players (5 or
6 students). It provides experience in an area that enhances the commercial percussion
skills of our students. The course of study includes 4 semesters of traditional orchestral
percussion (with Adam Groh) and then a minimum of 2 semesters of drum set and ethnic
percussion study withC&EM faculty percussionists. A successful sophomore exam is
prerequisite. Lessons and equipment are available in the recording studio and the
Belk labs. The students are exposed to various musical styles as well as recording
and session drumming techniques.
Degree Requirements
The Commercial & Electronic Music program requires eight semesters of individual lessons in a performance area and six semesters of major ensembles,
along with courses in performance skills, music theory and history. An optional internship
program provides an opportunity to earn college credit while working in a professional
commercial music setting.
Faculty members are committed to teaching the individual student, whether in lessons
or in larger courses. Because developing skills in music performance involves one-on-one
teaching, significant mentoring relationships often develop. Students who graduate
with the B.M. degree are working in Nashville in the music business, performing as freelance musicians, working for a music company in their own home towns, and pursuing professional study in graduate school.
All music degrees require a live audition performed before a panel of music faculty. Interested students should contact the department office to set up an audition for the program.
Auditions are typically held in February, but an audition may also be done by appointment throughout the year.
Students interested in a music scholarship must audition by the last scheduled School-wide audition day to receive full consideration
for an award. All students are considered for merit-based music scholarships at the time of audition,
and are eligible for additional scholarships or financial aid through the university's
regular financial aid processes.
Commercial and electronic music students must earn and maintain a 2.5 grade-point average in all
of their college work for full admission.
The music studio faculty members are all active teachers, performers producers and
composers and bring extensive experience in various aspects of the music business. Dr. Bruce Frazier arranged and composed music for 20 years in Hollywood, while Dr. Chris Best is an active jazz guitarist. Mr. Pavel Wlosok is a noted jazz performer in the United States and Europe. Dr. Damon Sink is a composer and producer, also working in the areas of recording and post production.
Dan Gonko is the recording studio engineer and also teaches classes in recording arts
and a studio practicum. Mr. Jon Henson works in areas of recording arts, field audio
production as well as live sound reinforcement.
