Bachelor of Music: Emphasis in Music Industry

Heidelberg College offers a Bachelor of Music degree in Music, with an emphasis in Music Industry. This special program allows students to combine the active study of music with additional significant study in the field of business. While it is possible to major in both music and business under the BA program, the BM alternative provides additional hours of music study that are not provided by the BA degree.

Career Opportunities:

• Students in this degree are very interested in the serious study of music, but do not see themselves as music educators or music performers in the traditional sense. They hope to find a different way to involve music in their career plans.
• One alternative is to find ways to work with music in the world of business.  Students who have entered this program have considered careers in some of the following areas:
  • Owning/managing a music-related firm (ex. Recording company)
  • Representation for musical acts (solo artists, rock groups)
  • Music Merchandising: local music store operation, careers with a larger music corporation/music business
  • Arts Administration/arts advocacy: Working with professional arts organizations (ex. professional symphonies, opera companies, museums, state arts commissions, etc.)

The Heidelberg Advantage: Music Industry emphasis

• More than 100 years of active service in the education of the musician
• Music Industry emphasis program is fully accredited by NASM (National Association of the Schools of Music)
• The BM degree option allows for a more advanced study of music than the BA degree; this more in-depth study of music, combined with a solid educational background in business offers graduates a number of options to investigate for future careers, as well as the possibility of future graduate study in a variety of areas.
• Program performance emphasis may be in instrumental, keyboard or vocal: applied studies lead to a senior recital during the last year of study
• No additional fees for applied study, a potential savings of thousands of dollars
• In addition to business courses, a separate course in Music Business works to bring the world of music and business together.
• A senior year internship experience sends students out into the world outside the college campus for professional experiences. Students have worked with such organizations as the Toledo Symphony and Tiffin’s Ritz Theater, in addition to other opportunities with radio stations, music businesses and arts organizations.
• A strong, dedicated faculty, with regional, national and international reputations. Faculty members combine a personal commitment to teaching with continuing scholarship, research and professional performance activities.
• Low faculty-student ratio allows for more personal attention to student progress and development
• An active College Preparatory Department offers students the opportunity to gain valuable experience by teaching members of the surrounding communities, children and adults.
• Special music scholarships available, in addition to Heidelberg financial aid

Curriculum:

The Heidelberg College Catalog features a series of course grids in the Music section of the Catalog; the grids outline each degree program’s course of study. Sample four-year plans are also available for each music degree. The curriculum is divided into four primary areas:

• Performance: Study related to the art of performance in any way. Applied study with the student’s major instrument, or voice is included here. Also included in this area are ensemble and recital requirements, in addition to other forms of performance-related instruction.
• Theoretical Music: Courses in Music Theory, Aural Training and Music History/literature in the first two years of study prepare students for later advanced studies in counterpoint, orchestration, and analysis.
• Additional course in Music Business, along with an Internship experience, unite the two disciplines of music and business.
• Music Electives: additional music electives will provide other courses, including related applied study, additional ensemble/performance credits
• General Education: Courses from disciplines outside of the Department of Music provide a broad and varied educational experience, a vital part of the mission of Heidelberg College. Some of the courses in this part of the curriculum will also serve as completed courses for the business portion of the degree.
• Business Courses: Specific courses taught by the faculty of the Departments of Business Administration, Accounting and Economics, including study in accounting, economics, managerial finance, marketing operations, management and public relations. For more information on these courses, please consult the Heidelberg College catalog.