, music production, and legal issues. Students will also complete a graduate project that may include a large-scale recording project, live performance, or a musical application for the web. Upon graduation individuals will be ready to move on to work as music professors, recording studio producers, music editors, and music producers for TV, film, and video games. Entrance requirements include the submission of undergraduate transcripts, a letter of intent, and reference letters. The total cost of education will vary depending on the university being attended but it ranges from $30,000 to $120,000 for the full two years.
Doctoral Degrees in Music & Audio Production
An advanced degree in the field of music or audio production is tailored to individuals interested in extensively studying the relationship between music and technology. Over the course of five to seven years, doctoral students will be involved in researching music theory, artificial intelligence, and computer science to figure out advanced ways to enhance music through the use of technology. Upon graduation a career in research and development, audio computation, multimedia, and teaching at the university level will be available for individuals. Some graduates may even open up their own private recording studios. Students will participate in classes such as specialized research methodology, programming languages, music criticism, advanced computer music composition, audio for games and immersive environments, java music systems, and computer vision. Course work also includes a dissertation. Students will also be required to complete one semester working as a teaching assistant along side a full time faculty member followed by a semester of independent teaching to prepare them for teaching careers in higher education and also to equip them with mentoring skills that will be relevant should they choose to pursue a career other than teaching. Applicants who are interested in this level of program should hold a master's degree in a related field. They may also be required to submit a preliminary research proposal along with two letters of recommendation. Total cost of education averages $76,608.
Aspiring music or audio production professionals should keep accreditation in mind when choosing a post-secondary program to attend. While there are no programs that specifically accredit programs in this field, students should still seek to attend a school that has received regional accreditation. Regional accreditation is the process through which a school is evaluated by an outside organization in order to see if it meets a certain set of quality standards. This plays an important role in a number of ways, the first being the confidence it gives students that they are earning an education that is going to prepare them for their future career. Accreditation also makes the transfer process much easier because most institutions only accept transfer credits if they have been earned through an accredited program. Additionally, many graduate programs won't accept students who don't have an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution. Lastly, federal student financial aid is only available to programs that are accredited so those who think they may need assistance will need to look for accredited programs exclusively.