Commercial Music

Tiffin University’s cutting-edge bachelor’s degree in commercial music balances coursework in musicianship, music technology and music business, so that students build a set of practical and employable skills.  The program is unique among small private colleges, as TU can give students hands-on opportunities that larger schools may not be able to offer — and is designed for students whose musical experiences, tastes and aspirations have been underserved by other colleges.

The program uses a diversity of musical styles – including popular music, jazz, rock, roots and classical music – to teach musicianship, and is flexibly designed to maximize personal growth, giving students the opportunity to both excel in strength areas and develop secondary skill areas that pertain to their individual career goals. All students develop their musicianship skills at the piano keyboard and all rhythm section instruments, take courses in music technology and music business, as well as a capstone project individually designed for each student. Each semester they also have the chance to work with a successful professional producer, who spends a week each semester in residence helping students with their studio projects. Tiffin University also regularly hosts music industry professionals who lead discussions about their work and give demonstrations of their craft. 

Students may pair the commercial music major with a professional music concentration made up of advanced coursework available in their junior and senior year:

• Concentration in Performance & Entrepreneurship allows students to develop advanced skills in support of a career professional performing or writing career, or for building their own independent music business. 
• Concentration in Production & Engineering allows future studio producers to focus on the technology that is at the heart of so much of today’s music industry.
• Additionally, students can build a custom secondary area of study that supports their own unique career goals. These might include business management, marketing, or digital media and design.

MUS100 Music Convocation (eight semesters) – 0 hours
MUS105 Musician Success Seminar – 1 hour
MUS181/183 Instrumental Ensemble I/Vocal Ensemble I – .5 hour
MUS182/184 Instrumental Ensemble I/Vocal Ensemble I – .5 hour
MUS115 Private Music Instruction-Primary – 1 hour
MUS116 Private Music Instruction-Primary – 1 hour
MUS121 Musicianship I – Lecture – 3 hours
MUS121L Musicianship I – Lab – 1 hour
MUS130 Introduction to Music Technology – 3 hours
MUS281/283 Instrumental Ensemble II/Vocal Ensemble II – .5 hour
MUS282/284 Instrumental Ensemble II/Vocal Ensemble II – .5 hour
MUS215 Private Music Instruction – Primary – 1 hour
MUS216 Private Music Instruction – Primary – 1 hour
MUS221 Musicianship II – Lecture – 3 hours
MUS221L Musicianship II – Lab – 1 hour
MUS230 Live Sound Engineering – 3 hours
MUS240 Rhythm Section I – 3 hours
MUS299 Second-Year Project – 1 hour
MUS315 Private Music Instruction – Primary – 1 hour
MUS316 Private Music Instruction – Primary – 1 hour
MUS330 Recording Engineering – 3 hours
MUS340 Rhythm Section II – 3 hours
MUS360 Survey of Music Business – 3 hours
MUS460 Music Publishing – 3 hours
MUS499 Senior Project – 3 hours
Total – 42 hours

Students are encouraged to choose at least one professional track, may take two or more tracks and/or individual courses as electives. All three-credit hour courses in the professional track are offered only once per year.

PROFESSIONAL TRACK: SONGWRITING

MUS222 Introduction to Songwriting – 3 hours
MUS422 Songwriting Workshop – 3 hours
MUS430 Advanced Production I – 3 hours
MUS315 Private Music Instruction: Songwriting – 1 hour
MUS316 Private Music Instruction: Songwriting – 1 hour
MUS415 Private Music Instruction: Songwriting – 1 hour
Total – 12 hours

PROFESSIONAL TRACK: STUDIO WRITING

MUS321 Studio Writing I – 3 hours
MUS336 Music for Media – 3 hours
MUS422 Songwriting Workshop – 3 hours
MUS430 Advanced Production I – 3 hours
Total – 12 hours

PROFESSIONAL TRACK: STUDIO PRODUCTION

MUS238 Beatmaking – 3 hours
MUS234 Sound Design – 3 hours
MUS430 Advanced Production I – 3 hours
MUS431 Advanced Production II – 3 hours
Total – 12 hours

PROFESSIONAL TRACK: TEACHING & PERFORMING

MUS117 Private Music instruction – Secondary – 1 hour
MUS350 Ensemble Leadership & Pedagogy – 3 hours
MUS352 Private Studio Teaching – 3 hours
MUS415 Private Music Lesson – Primary – 1 hour
MUS416 Private Music Lesson – Primary – 1 hour
MUS440 Rhythm Section III 3 hours
Total – 12 hours

• Video Production
• Digital Photography
• Website Development
• Marketing
• Small Business Management
• Event Marketing & Management
• Public Relations
• Accounting
• ​Business Law

The following are internships sites that Commercial Music students have been placed with since 2018.

• 50 Way Studios
• Bow to Stern
• Chicago Recording Company
• Disney College Program
• East Green Concert Series
• Firefly Studios
• MBS Music Group
• Monaco Studios
• Pinecastle Records
• Polar Entertainment, LLC
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• Seven Wing Creative
• StarSound Studios
• Sweetwater Sound
• Take Notes Productions
• The Ritz Theatre
• Tiffin Music Studios
• Tiffin University
• Tragic Hero Music

• A&R Professional
• ADR Recordist
• Arranger
• Artist Manager
• Artist Relations Manager
• Audio Director
• Backup Vocalist 
• Bandleader
• Booking Manager
• Church Musician
• Composer (Film & TV)
• Composer (Gaming)
• Copyist
• Cover Band Musician
• Creative Entrepreneur
• Cruise Ship Musician
• DJ/Remixer
• Foley Artist
• Freelance Musician
• Independent Artist
• Live Sound Engineer
• Mastering Engineer 
• Military Musician
• Music Director (TV)
• Music Editor 
• Music Librarian 
• Music Supervisor 
• Orchestrator (Film & TV)
• Performer
• Private Instructor
• Producer-Beatmaker
• Producer-Songwriter
• Record Producer
• Recording Engineer
• Songwriter
• Sound Designer
• Sound Editor 
• Studio Manager
• Studio Musician
• Tour Manager
• Transcriptionist​​​

You’ll study with an accomplished music faculty that includes professionals with experience on the stage, in the studio, in the business and in writing music for performance and for film and other media. As the only small college specializing specifically in commercial music, we provide a lot of personal attention and flexibility to work in the areas that best suit your own unique career path.

Tiffin University offers a wide variety of commercial music performing opportunities, from a cappella groups and cover bands to a hip hop collective and a songwriting ensemble. These groups perform and record extensively, giving students valuable real-world experience. TU also is home to TiffinMusic Studios, a student-run record label and music production company. 

Tiffin University’s Performing Arts Lab (The PAL) features a professional recording studio, keyboard and production lab, as well as large rehearsal spaces for TU bands, choirs, dance teams and commercial ensembles. With over 14,000 square feet of studio, rehearsal, teaching and practice space, the PAL serves the 200 students involved in our more than 20 extracurricular music ensembles and our cutting-edge commercial music degrees.