Bachelor of Music with an Emphasis in Music Recording Track

Music Recording Track Faculty

Dr. Bryan Helsel
Bliss Hall 3035
Phone: 330.941.3639
E-mail: bhelsel@ysu.edu


Music Recording Track

The Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Music Recording program provides students with the knowledge and experience to thrive in a dynamic and ever-evolving industry. Music Recording in the Dana School of Music gives our students opportunities to build skills through personal experiences that offer a competitive edge in the rapidly expanding fields of music business/industry. The investment bank and research firm Goldman Sachs estimates that revenue for the global music industry will be valued at over $130 billion by 2030, offering countless opportunities to create a lifelong career in the field of music recording and sound production. Our students learn by doing and are prepared to build enjoyable, productive careers as audio engineers in record production through engineering, producing, mixing, and mastering; in live sound as engineers or technicians; in media (e.g., TV, Film, Gaming) roles in composition, sound design, or Foley sound; as well as forensic audio, restoration, and more. The outstanding academic programs at Youngstown State University and the world-class resources at the Dana School of Music allow our students to pursue their unique educational goals and prepare for a successful and fulfilling future.

The Dana Recording Studio features a 12-core Intel Mac tower running Avid Pro-Tools, MOTU Digital Performer 7.24, and Apple Logic DAWs software. The studio utilizes Universal Audio Apollo interfaces and a Solid-State Logic Origin 32-channel recording and mixing console that is compatible for hybrid analog-digital production environments. Students have access to Kurzweil and Roland keyboards, controllers, and synths, as well as Reason 7 and the Native Instruments Komplete 10 software package. The microphone inventory includes an AEA R84 Ribbon Microphone, Shure Large Diaphragm Condenser mics, Audio Technica SDC mics, Shure Beta 58s and 57s, and a matched pair of Cascade Fathead II and Royer R-10 ribbon microphones.


Dana School of Music Contact Information

To learn more about our degree programs, scholarships, performances, faculty, and students, contact the Dana School of Music at 330-941-3635. To schedule a personalized campus visit, contact the Cliffe College of Creative Arts Program Coordinator of Admissions and Recruitment at 330-941-2346 or sawaltman@ysu.edu. We would love to hear about your interests, show you our school, and become an important part of your future. 

COURSE TITLE S.H.
FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT - STUDENT SUCCESS
YSU 1500Success Seminar1-2
or SS 1500 Strong Start Success Seminar
or HONR 1500 Intro to Honors
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
ENGL 1550Writing 13-4
or ENGL 1549 Writing 1 with Support
ENGL 1551Writing 23
CMST 1545Communication Foundations3
Any Gen Ed Math (Recommended MATH 2623)3
Arts and Humanities (2 courses)
Satisfied by 6 SH of MUHL 3773 and 3774, which are required in the major.
Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab)7
Social Science (2 courses)6
Social and Personal Awareness (need 1 additional course)3
One course satisfied by 3 SH of MUHL 3771, which is required in the major.
CORE MUSIC REQUIREMENTS
Music Theory (19-21 hours). Music Theory and Aural Theory of the same level must be taken concurrently.
MUTC 1531Music Theory 12-3
or MUTC 1531N Music Theory 1 Intensive
Students who score below 80% on the Theory Placement Exam will substitute MUTC 1531N for MUTC 1531
MUTC 1541Aural Theory 12
MUTC 1532Music Theory 22-3
or MUTC 1532N Music Theory 2 Intensive
Students who score below 80% on the Theory Placement Exam will substitute MUTC 1532N for MUTC 1532
MUTC 1542Aural Theory 22
MUTC 2631Music Theory 32
MUTC 2641Aural Theory 32
MUTC 2632Music Theory 42
MUTC 2642Aural Theory 42
MUTC 3710Orchestration and Arranging3
or MUTC 3712 Jazz Arranging 1
Keyboard Musicianship (4 hour)
MUAC 1581Class Piano 11
Keyboard majors will substitute MUAC 2691
MUAC 1582Class Piano 21
Keyboard majors will substitute MUAC 2692
MUAC 3781Jazz Class Piano 11
MUAC 3782Jazz Class Piano 21
Music History and Literature (12 hours)
MUHL 3771Music History and Literature 13
MUHL 3773Music History and Literature 33
MUHL 3774Music History and Literature 43
MUHL 3775Jazz History3
Conducting (3 hours)
MUCO 3715Choral and Instrumental Conducting3
Applied Lessons (Should be taken concurrently with an ensemble)
Applied Lessons 15012
Applied Lessons 15022
Applied Lessons 26012
Applied Lessons 26022
Applied Lessons 37012
Applied Lessons 37022
Applied Lesson 4801 (with Senior Recital)2
ENSEMBLES (7 hours)
Large Ensembles (5 hours): Select from the following (guitar majors substitute Guitar Ensemble)5
MUEN 0002, MUEN 0004, MUEN 0005, MUEN 0006 (May only be counted once as a Large Ensemble), MUEN 0007, MUEN 0008, MUEN 0023, MUEN 0025, MUEN 0027
Small Ensembles (2 hours): Select from the following2
AUDIO ENGINEERING and TECHNOLOGY FOCUS (21 hours)
MUIN 1561Music Recording Workshop4
MUIN 2662Live Sound Production2
MUIN 3762Digital Sound Production2
MUIN 3763Digital Recording and Editing2
MUIN 3764Advanced Microphone Techniques2
MUIN 3765Advanced Recording Techniques2
MUIN 4866Recording Internship3
MUIN 4867Senior Project4
MUSIC ELECTIVES (11 hours)11
Total Semester Hours120-124
  • Music students must attend 36 convocations as a graduation requirement.
  • Music students must attend 30 Dana School of Music concerts or recitals.
  • Applied lesson must be taken concurrently with an ensemble each semester.
Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallS.H.
YSU 1500
Success Seminar
or Strong Start Success Seminar
or Intro to Honors
1-2
ENGL 1550
Writing 1
or Writing 1 with Support
3-4
MUTC 1531
Music Theory 1
or Music Theory 1 Intensive
2-3
Students who score below 80% on the Theory Placement Exam will substitute MUTC 1531N for MUTC 1531
MUTC 1541 Aural Theory 1 2
MUAC 1581 Class Piano 1 1
Keyboard majors will substitute MUAC 2691
Applied Lessons 1501 2
MUEN 00XX 1
 Semester Hours12-15
Spring
ENGL 1551 Writing 2 3
MUTC 1532
Music Theory 2
or Music Theory 2 Intensive
2-3
Students who score below 80% on the Theory Placement Exam will substitute MUTC 1532N for MUTC 1532
MUTC 1542 Aural Theory 2 2
MUAC 1582 Class Piano 2 1
Keyboard majors will substitute MUAC 2692
Applied Lessons 1502 2
MUEN 00XX 1
MUIN 1561 Music Recording Workshop 4
 Semester Hours15-16
Year 2
Fall
MUTC 2631
MUTC 2641
Music Theory 3
and Aural Theory 3
4
MUAC 3781 Jazz Class Piano 1 1
Applied Lessons 2601 2
MUEN 00XX 1
MUEN 00XX (suggested music elective) 1
MUIN 3762 Digital Sound Production 2
MUIN 2662 Live Sound Production 2
CMST 1545 Communication Foundations 3
 Semester Hours16
Spring
MUTC 2632
MUTC 2642
Music Theory 4
and Aural Theory 4
4
Any Gen Ed Math 3
MUAC 3782 Jazz Class Piano 2 1
Applied Lessons 2602 2
MUEN 00XX 1
MUHL 2618 Rock n' Roll to Rock (suggested music elective) 3
MUIN 3763 Digital Recording and Editing 2
 Semester Hours16
Year 3
Fall
General Education Elective - Social Science 3
General Education Elective - Natural Science 3
MUTC 3712 Jazz Arranging 1 (Or General Education Elective - Social/Personal Awareness if taking MUTC 3710 in spring semester) 3
MUHL 3771 Music History and Literature 1 3
Applied Lessons 3701 2
MUEN 00XX 1
MUIN 3764 Advanced Microphone Techniques 2
 Semester Hours17
Spring
Applied Lessons 3702 2
MUEN 00XX 1
MUEN 00XX (suggested music elective) 1
MUTC 3710 Orchestration and Arranging (Or General Education Elective - Social/Personal Awareness if MUTC 3712 is taken in fall semester) 3
MUCO 3715 Choral and Instrumental Conducting 3
MUIN 3765 Advanced Recording Techniques 2
MUHL 3775 Jazz History 3
*MUHL 3775 is offered Spring semester of odd years (e.g., 2021, 2023, 2025)
*If MUHL 3775 is not offered in this semester, take 3-credit Music Elective
 Semester Hours15
Year 4
Fall
General Education Elective - Natural Science + Lab 4
MUHL 3773 Music History and Literature 3 3
Applied Lessons 4801 (with Senior Recital) 2
MUEN 00XX 1
MUIN 4866 Recording Internship 3
Music Electives 3
 Semester Hours16
Spring
MUHL 3774 Music History and Literature 4 3
MUHL 2624 Survey of Hip Hop (suggested music elective) 3
MUIN 4867 Senior Project 4
MUHL 3775 Jazz History (3 credits) if not taken in Spring of year 3
General Education Elective - Social Science 3
 Semester Hours13
 Total Semester Hours120-124
  • Music students must attend 36 convocations as a graduation requirement.
  • Music students must attend 30 Dana School of Music concerts or recitals.
  • Applied lesson must be taken concurrently with an ensemble each semester.

Learning Outcomes

The student learning outcomes for the major in music are as follows:

  • Students will perform a public recital in their applied area.
  • Students will analyze music, discriminate pitch, harmony, and rhythm and perform harmonic progressions at the piano.
  • Students will demonstrate critical thinking about the various historical periods, cultural contexts, and social forces that influence musical activity.
  • Students will demonstrate basic keyboard proficiency including scales, arpeggios, harmonization, repertoire, transpositions, and score reading.
  • Students will record, edit, and produce music.