Running head: INVESTIGATING A MAJOR AND PROFESSION

Investigating a Major and Profession Paper

Kyndal L. Braswell
The University of Texas at El Paso

Running head: INVESTIGATING A MAJOR AND PROFESSION

Investigating a Major and Profession Paper

If you Want to become a Bachelor of Music in Commercial Music at UTEP, the first thing you
need to do is audition. The audition can be instrumental, voice, or composing/arranging music
orientated. According to Dr. Leinberger, the advisor for the whole music department, the sheet
music for the audition is posted on the department of music page on the UTEP website.
The second step to becoming a commercial music major is taking the music theory placement
test. I was told by Dr. Leinberger that the tests are usually in January, about week before school
starts. You must take a music theory class, and the class you take will be decided by whatever
score you get on the placement exam. You will also take some special courses in improvisation,
commercial arranging and composition and music technology. Now for core classes you must
have 6 - 9 hours of english composition. You are only required to take one math class, and that
could be either math 1319 or 1320. You must also take 6-8 hours of natural science. The lost
core classes you must take are 2 semesters of political science and 2 semesters of history. To get
into or stay in this major, you must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
The commercial music major is perfect people who are interested in getting careers as
performers, managers, promoters, arrangers, or composers. To be more specific, you could
pursue a career in radio/tv/film music, music publishing, contemporary church music, or music
business. If you pursue this degree you will have a higher chance of getting jobs in the music
industry.
Lets say for example, you wanted to be a record producer. To start off you could get an
internship at a recording studio, maybe as secretary, just so that you can see how everything
works and get accustomed to it. You could either do unpaid interning or paid interning. the best

Running head: INVESTIGATING A MAJOR AND PROFESSION

time to intern is either sophomore or junior year. record producers (audio engineers) are in high
demand right now. the average salary for a record producer is $39,866 per year. at first the pay
is very low, But the more experience you have in this field, the higher the pay. one of the
benefits of being a music producer is the fame. Once you get enough recognition, a lot of people
will want you to produce them. You may not become as famous as bands or singers, but you'll be
pretty well known. And some of the people you produce could recommend you to other music
artists. At times being a music producers can be very stressful, because of course, you have to
create the cd and theres a deadline, but once you get the cd finished, its worth all the stress. Just
make sure you manage your time right.
that is just one example of a job you could apply for if you get a bachelor in commercial. the
music industry is a tough business, but with hard work and dedication, you can make it.

Running head: INVESTIGATING A MAJOR AND PROFESSION

References

Bachelor of Music in Commercial Music. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2014, from
http://academics.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=68779

Gohil, M. (2007, February 22). Music Producer Salary. Retrieved November 18, 2014, from
http://www.payscale.com/career-news/2007/02/music_producer_

Is Audio Engineering In Demand As a Career? (2012, February 10). Retrieved November 17,
2014, from http://www.recordingconnection.com/reference-library/recording-entrepreneurs/isaudio-engineering-in-demand-as-a-career-feb2012/

Kokemuller, N. (2014, January 1). Benefits of Being a Music Producer. Retrieved November 17,
2014, from http://work.chron.com/benefits-being-music-producer-4151.html