Make your mark with a music industry major

UW’s B.A. in music with an emphasis in music industry studies is an exciting new degree that’s designed to support popular music makers, entrepreneurs and recording studio engineers with the most in-demand skills in the music industry.

This uniquely flexible program is designed with double majors in mind and doesn’t require an audition or prior musical experience. Throughout the program, students have access to weekly recording studio time, take songwriting courses, learn all popular music instruments and gain production experience.

Ready to make your mark on the music industry? Apply today!

About the Music Industry Major

UW’s B.A. in music with an emphasis in music industry studies is a unique, flexible program that’s perfect for students who want to customize their skillset. All students take various core courses relating to music business, popular music instruments, recording and audio production. Then students can customize their degree by choosing electives in their area(s) of interest.

Students get hands-on learning opportunities through internships, running sound for on-campus events and by recording themselves and others in our professional recording studios. Students also learn how to put their own music on streaming platforms.

This major doesn’t require an audition or prior experience with musical instruments.

A student in an audio studio

As a music industry major, you’ll learn about careers in music, songwriting, marketing, entrepreneurship and more.

Here are some of the courses you’ll take:

  • Fundamentals of Audio for Music Production
  • Recording Lab
  • Arts Entrepreneurship
  • Live Sound Reinforcement
  • Songwriting Methods
  • Hip-Hop/Pop Music Appreciation
  • History of Rock and Roll
  • America’s Ethnic Music
  • Careers in Music
Hands up in the air during a concert

Students are required to take a variety of foundational music courses before progressing to advanced major courses. Please work with your academic advisor to ensure all prerequisites are completed.

A group of people look at their laptops in a music room

What can you do with a music industry major?

Throughout our program, students learn invaluable skills they can apply to any role in the music industry. However, our program specifically prepares students for careers as popular music makers, entrepreneurs, recording studio engineers and audio technicians.

Where Do UW Music Grads Work?

Our graduates pursue fulfilling careers as performers, educators, program managers, conductors and more! Here are a few places they’re making an impact:

  • San Francisco Symphony
  • Oregon Ballet Theatre
  • Denver School of The Arts
  • Chamber Music Northwest
  • Iowa Public Radio
  • Edison School of the Arts
  • Laramie County School District

 

 

A conductor conducts a concert

What job titles do UW music grads hold?

UW music grads hold a wide variety of job titles, including:

  • Music producer
  • Music teacher
  • Conductor
  • Vocal director
  • Performing musician
  • Artistic programs manager
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Music Industry Major Highlights

UW music students are given space to grow as artists and individual mentorship from talented faculty. Here are a few things you can look forward to as part of our program.

Notable Faculty

UW’s department of music is home to many accomplished performers and educators, including:

  • Will Flagg: Will Flagg is a producer/engineer/multi-instrumentalist who is the instructor of music production at the University of Wyoming. He brings formal education and professional experience to his students and strives to foster their creative needs while supporting their vocational options.
  • Dr. Tiger Robison: Dr. Robison is associate professor of music education at the University of Wyoming where he teaches courses in popular music pedagogy, songwriting, general music methods and aural theory. He also teaches music in the Wyoming Pathways from Prison Program.
  • Nicole Riner: Nicole Riner teaches flute and entrepreneurship classes in addition to overseeing the music entrepreneurship certificate program. Nicole has performed with orchestras and at music festivals in the United States, South America and Europe.

Hands-On Experience

Music industry majors have access to experiential learning throughout their studies. Students interested in live sound will get hands-on time in our recording studio. Once proficient, students run live sound for on-campus and off-campus events. This includes booking the acts, running live sound and recording.

Students interested in recording learn how to record live acts as well as themselves and others in a professional recording studio. Those interested in recording original music will get to bring their music to streaming platforms in our songwriting course.

Capstone Project

All students complete a capstone project prior to graduation. These projects may include live sound, recording and mixing and mastering tracks, among other topics.

Unique Courses

The music industry major consists of exciting, one-of-a-kind courses. Here are a few that you’ll have the opportunity to take:

Songwriting Methods
History of Rock and Roll
History of Hip Hop
Recording Lab

 

Since the beginning of this program, I have become more thoughtful about the future. I have looked more into future plans and seeing what needs to be done in order to achieve my goals.

- Senior B.A. Student

Contact Us

We're Eager to Help!

College of Art and Sciences

Department of Music

Department 3037, 1000 E. University Avenue

Laramie, WY 82071

Phone: (307) 766-5242

Email: musicdpt@uwyo.edu