Music Recording Technology

The Degree

Associate in Science (A.S.)

The Outlook

The music recording industry is fast-paced and competitive. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that employment opportunities in the field will grow through the year 2008. Those with skills in technology and an overall music background will be preferred for positions. The A.S. Music Recording Technology degree program at Finger Lakes Community College can give you the edge for success by providing a musical background as well as experience using new, state-of-the-art digital recording technology.

The Program

The Associate in Science in Music Recording Technology degree program is designed to provide you the opportunity to learn your craft, both as a musician and a recording technician. You will receive the extensive hands-on training that is needed to achieve a thorough understanding of modern recording. The coursework is appropriate if you are interested in preparing to transfer to a baccalaureate degree program or beginning a career in music recording immediately after graduation. Our faculty bring real-life experience as musicians and recording technicians and play an important part in your success.

Facilities: The program is housed in four John Storyk designed state-of-the-art facilities, all with Focusrite Control 24 consoles and ProTools. An extensive array of outboard gear includes preamps and compressors by Avalon, Neve, Universal Audio, and Groove Tubes as well as a sizable high-end microphone collection with mics by Neumann, BLUE, Royer, AKG, Sennheiser, and Shure.

Honors Courses: The College offers honors courses that provide enhanced educational experiences for students who have demonstrated outstanding academic ability. Enrollment in honors courses is open to qualified students in this degree program, as well as all other qualified FLCC students. Successful completion of honors courses or an Honors Certificate may increase student transfer options to four-year institutions.

Equipment Needs:
  • REQUIRED
    • Portable Hard Drive: 80Gig or more Firewire Drive, 7200rpm, 8MB cache (Must be formatted for Mac only)
    • Headphones: AKG 240 or Sony 7506
  • RECOMMENDED
    • Computer: Mac Pro or MacBook Pro
    • Pro Tools Interface and Software: Any Digidesign 003, 002, or MBox 2 Pro w/ 7.4 Software

The Experience

The A.S. Music Recording Technology degree program includes coursework in music theory, audio recording, commercial music, applied music, and music ensemble. You will have the opportunity to broaden the scope of your classroom education by participating in performance groups such as the College Singers, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Finger Lakes Chorale, Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, and Finger Lakes Camerata.

The Graduates

Graduates from this degree program may transfer to four-year colleges and universities such as Middle Tennessee University, SUNY College at Fredonia, and Nazareth College of Rochester* to earn baccalaureate degrees and become recording engineers at studios locally and in New York City.

Salary: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average annual earnings for sound technicians in 2001-02 were $40,000.

* This is a sampling of some of the four-year colleges and universities to which our students have transferred. Please consult your advisor or the Center for Advisement and Personal Development for a complete listing of transfer agreements between Finger Lakes Community College and four-year institutions.

The Faculty

Professors and instructors in the Music and Music Recording Technology programs hold master’s and/or doctorate degrees from such institutions as The Eastman School of Music, SUNY Buffalo and Ithaca College. They are all classically trained and practicing musicians. Several are working composers and have had works commissioned. Most of the faculty perform on a regular basis. The Music Recording instructors have much professional experience in the music industry as audio engineers. They have also worked with many professional musicians throughout the country. The adjunct faculty are many, and are all musicians. Meet our faculty.

Music Recording

Curriculum Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 68 credit hours with a grade point average of not less than C (2.0).

All associate degree programs require English 101 Freshman English and English 102 Introduction to Literature. Students must pass skills assessment for entrance into these courses. Students who are well prepared may substitute ENG 104 English I Honors and ENG 105 English II Honors for ENG101 and ENG102. Students who are considering the English Honors sequence should consult the Director of Honors.

Humanities

  • ENG101 Freshman English and ENG 102 Introduction to Literature
    or
    ENG104 English I Honors and ENG105 English II Honors
  • MUS 106 Music Theory I
  • MUS 106L Music Theory I Lab
  • MUS 107 Music Theory II
  • MUS 107L Music Theory II Lab
  • MUS 206 Music Theory III
  • MUS 206L Music Theory III Lab
  • MUS 207 Music Theory IV
  • MUS 207L Music Theory IV Lab

Social Science

  • 3 credit hours of HIS history electives
  • 3 credit hours of social science elect.

Mathematics/Science

  • 5 credit hours of mathematics/science electives**** (must include one math elective)
  • PHY 105 Physics of Sound

Applied Music

  • MUS 131-135, 137, 160, 161, 163-165, 167, 168 (four semesters in one specific instrument or voice are required)

Music Ensemble

  • MUS 109, 118-120, 125-129, 229 (four semesters are required.)

Music Recording

  • MUS 170 Techniques of Audio Recording I
  • MUS 270 Techniques of Audio Recording II
  • MUS 271 Techniques of Audio Recording III
  • MUS 272 Techniques of Audio Recording IV
  • MUS 176 Music Business

Information Management

  • CSC 100 Computing in the Info. Age or higher as determined by advisement

General Elective

  • 1 credit hours of general electives***

Health/Physical Education

  • 4 credit hours of health/physical education electives

Students who are transferring to four-year institutions should follow the general education course requirements for transfer to SUNY and non-SUNY schools. View the general education requirements for more details.

** Students wishing to enter a 2+2 program should consult with their advisor regarding the specific requirements of transfer schools.

*** Students may qualify for MUS 275 Audio Recording Special Project or MUS 250 Audio Recording Practicum/Internship. Consult your advisor for the appropriate course.

**** PHY 151, 152 General Physics I and II and MAT 271 Calculus I are recommended.

Students wishing to enter a 2+2 program should consult with their advisor regarding the specific requirements of transfer schools.

Music Recording Technology

Sample Schedule

The schedule below shows how the requirements for the A.S. Music Recording Technology degree may be met in four semesters. This schedule is an example of one of many possible different schedules. It is included here only as an illustration of the type of schedule that might be followed by a full-time student. Many students attending Finger Lakes Community College who have work and/or family obligations choose a different sequence of courses and take more than four semesters to fulfill the requirements for the A.S. Music Recording Technology degree. Similarly, students who find they need to take some additional course work to prepare them to do well in the types of courses included in the A.S. Music Recording Technology degree program may plan a schedule that takes more than four semesters to complete the degree. All students should consult their advisors when they plan their schedules.

First Semester (19 Credit hours)

  • ENG 101 Freshman English (3)
  • MUS 106 Music Theory I (3)
  • MUS 106L Music Theory I Lab (1)
  • MUS 170 Techniques of Audio Recording I (3)
  • Applied Music Elective** (1)
  • Ensemble Elective** (1)
  • CSC 100 Computing in the Info Age. (3)
  • PHY 105 Physics of Sound (4)

Second Semester (16 Credit hours)

  • ENG 102 Introduction to Literature (3)
  • MUS 107 Music Theory II (3)
  • MUS 107L Music Theory II Lab (1)
  • MUS 270 Techniques of Audio Recording II (3)
  • MUS 176 Music Business (3)
  • Applied Music Elective** (1)
  • Ensemble Elective** (1)
  • Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Third Semester (16 Credit hours)

  • MUS 206 Music Theory III (3)
  • MUS 206L Music Theory III Lab (1)
  • MUS 271 Techniques of Audio Recording III (3)
  • Applied Music Elective** (1)
  • Ensemble Elective** (1)
  • History Elective (3)
  • Math Elective (3)
  • Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Fourth Semester (17 Credit hours)

  • MUS 207 Music Theory IV (3)
  • MUS 207L Music Theory IV Lab (1)
  • MUS 272 Techniques of Audio Recording IV (3)
  • Applied Music Elective** (1)
  • Ensemble Elective** (1)
  • Social Science Elective (3)
  • General Elective*** (1)
  • Math/Science Elective (2)
  • Health/Physical Education Elective (2)

**Music Ensemble Electives: MUS 109 Vocal Jazz Ensemble, MUS 118 Guitar Ensemble, MUS 119 Percussion Ensemble, MUS 120 Finger Lakes Chorale, MUS 125 Finger Lakes Camerata, MUS 126 College Singers, MUS 127 Jazz Ensemble, MUS 129 Performance Class I, MUS 229 Performance Class II (4 semesters required).

Applied Music Electives: MUS 131 Piano, MUS 132 Voice, MUS 133 Trumpet, MUS 134 Flute, MUS 135 Guitar, MUS 137 Saxophone, MUS 160 Percussion, MUS 161 French Horn, MUS 163 Jazz Bass, MUS 164 Trombone, MUS 165 Clarinet, MUS 167 Jazz Piano, MUS 168 Jazz Guitar. Four semesters in one specific instrument or voice required. Students wishing to enter a 2+2 program should consult with their advisor regarding the specific requirements of the transfer school.

***Students may qualify for MUS 250 Audio Recording Practicum/Internship or MUS 275 Audio Recording Special Project and should consult with their advisor for the appropriate course.