Music department announces new business track
ROBERTO CURTIS, Associate Spectrum Editor
Issue date: 8/23/07 Section: Spectrum
The department of music has spruced up its surroundings by offering more opportunities to the school’s professional musicians of the future.
In addition to accruing new sources of funding, continuing renovations to the James W. Black Music Center, hiring new professors and accepting the largest freshman class in recent years, this semester the department is offering a Bachelor of Arts degree with an emphasis in music business.“
Most parents are terrified that their little Johnny wants to major in music,” said Antonio Garcia, director of jazz studies. “This new emphasis helps parents feel safe in their decision.”
The new track features the option of pursuing a minor in either marketing or business. Students may take electives such as Survey of the Music Industry, Computers and Digital Recording and music internships, which focus on music publication, arranging, performance, recording and arts management.
Alex Powers, 21, a senior majoring in jazz studies, said the program could have benefited long ago from the additional curriculum. “We already have a strong music program, so I think it’s time to start branching out,” Powers said. “I know a few people who would have come here if they could have majored in (music business).”
One elective, Computers and Digital Recording, will be hosted at the esteemed In Your Ear Studios, in Shockoe Bottom. Because of costs students are expected to pay to the studio, Garcia has worked closely with In Your Ear and VCU to cut the price for college credit to absolutely nothing.
Collaboration between the studio and VCU will soon yield state-of-the-art software allowing students to recreate the studio setting on their home computer or laptop. This software is currently exclusive to VCU but will eventually be marketed to other recording programs around the country.
Powers spoke highly of Garcia, who is no novice when it comes to the business aspect of the music scene. Few musicians in the tightly-woven Richmond music community know the ins and outs of the biz the way he does. Being able to pass along this knowledge to students is indispensable.“
He definitely knows what he’s talking about,” Powers said. “It’s sometimes overwhelming since he has so much information to offer, but he’s really well-known in the musical world, and he knows how to be successful with a musical career.”
This can be attributed to Garcia’s unique perspective.
“Ironically, what I try to tell parents is that job markets are now safer for musicians than they once were,” Garcia said.
He pointed out that with companies downsizing and merging left and right, a solid performing musician has a lot less to worry about than the average working American, if that musician knows his or her way around the business.
Reggie Chapman, 20, a senior majoring in music education, respects Garcia’s mantra.“There are so many killing musicians that suck at the business aspect,” Chapman said.Garcia recognizes the importance of teaching music business and has made it his mission to equip as many musicians as possible with the ability to stay afloat in a constantly changing job market. “
I told (VCU) that I can’t sleep at night teaching at a place that doesn’t offer a music business class,” Garcia said.Since blowing the dust off the previously shelved music business curriculum years ago, Garcia has done much to widen the avenues that music majors can take. He is also behind plans for more emphases for the B.A. including music history and composition.“
Simply put, knowledge is power,” Garcia said.
In addition to accruing new sources of funding, continuing renovations to the James W. Black Music Center, hiring new professors and accepting the largest freshman class in recent years, this semester the department is offering a Bachelor of Arts degree with an emphasis in music business.“
Most parents are terrified that their little Johnny wants to major in music,” said Antonio Garcia, director of jazz studies. “This new emphasis helps parents feel safe in their decision.”
The new track features the option of pursuing a minor in either marketing or business. Students may take electives such as Survey of the Music Industry, Computers and Digital Recording and music internships, which focus on music publication, arranging, performance, recording and arts management.
Alex Powers, 21, a senior majoring in jazz studies, said the program could have benefited long ago from the additional curriculum. “We already have a strong music program, so I think it’s time to start branching out,” Powers said. “I know a few people who would have come here if they could have majored in (music business).”
One elective, Computers and Digital Recording, will be hosted at the esteemed In Your Ear Studios, in Shockoe Bottom. Because of costs students are expected to pay to the studio, Garcia has worked closely with In Your Ear and VCU to cut the price for college credit to absolutely nothing.
Collaboration between the studio and VCU will soon yield state-of-the-art software allowing students to recreate the studio setting on their home computer or laptop. This software is currently exclusive to VCU but will eventually be marketed to other recording programs around the country.
Powers spoke highly of Garcia, who is no novice when it comes to the business aspect of the music scene. Few musicians in the tightly-woven Richmond music community know the ins and outs of the biz the way he does. Being able to pass along this knowledge to students is indispensable.“
He definitely knows what he’s talking about,” Powers said. “It’s sometimes overwhelming since he has so much information to offer, but he’s really well-known in the musical world, and he knows how to be successful with a musical career.”
This can be attributed to Garcia’s unique perspective.
“Ironically, what I try to tell parents is that job markets are now safer for musicians than they once were,” Garcia said.
He pointed out that with companies downsizing and merging left and right, a solid performing musician has a lot less to worry about than the average working American, if that musician knows his or her way around the business.
Reggie Chapman, 20, a senior majoring in music education, respects Garcia’s mantra.“There are so many killing musicians that suck at the business aspect,” Chapman said.Garcia recognizes the importance of teaching music business and has made it his mission to equip as many musicians as possible with the ability to stay afloat in a constantly changing job market. “
I told (VCU) that I can’t sleep at night teaching at a place that doesn’t offer a music business class,” Garcia said.Since blowing the dust off the previously shelved music business curriculum years ago, Garcia has done much to widen the avenues that music majors can take. He is also behind plans for more emphases for the B.A. including music history and composition.“
Simply put, knowledge is power,” Garcia said.
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