Musicians and Vocalists check out the Music Industry Arts and Performance Program
A number of reality TV shows focus on
launching the music careers of hopeful contestants. Many dreams are
crushed during auditions, yet artists will continue to try their chances
of getting a spot on air to grab the attention of industry leaders.
Unsigned musicians find it difficult to have a breakthrough success in
this competitive playing field. There is another way for talented
singers and musicians to launch a career in the music industry: Try
Centennial College’s Music Industry Arts and Performance (6450) program
one of Ontario's new music education programs.
It is a one-of-a-kind combination music composition program of academia, music performance, and business and technology courses.
Students who wish to enter this music
college Toronto program, launching in fall 2013, will need more than a
passion for music. Admission criteria consist of common minimum college
requirements of English skills and a mature student status or an Ontario
Secondary School Diploma or equivalent; but an audition is compulsory
since the college is recruiting experienced artists. One of the main
goals of starting this unique offering is to open new career paths for
instrumentalists and vocalists within the music industry, which will
lead to a long and promising career. Unlike other music programs,
Centennial wants to create a sustainable career for artists and
musicians. The audition, based on the individual’s voice or his or her
primary instrument, will be held during the admission session where
applicants are also to undergo an assessment for their music theory
knowledge and a survey about their relevant experiences including any
training obtained.
Ethnomusicologist and multi-instrumentalist Jesse Feyen spearheads the new, music schools Toronto
at the School of Communication, Media and Design. He will connect the
students with industry experts during their course of studies. What
students need a Mac laptop with the OS X v10.8.4 operating system or
later, and have the Logic Pro X program installed for professional music
recording.
A distinguishing aspect of the program
is the mentorship provided for each student. Each semester comprises of a
weekly one-hour private lesson where students can get one-on-one
guidance from their instructors. Another prominent feature is the
six-week field placement, commencing after the student has completed the
six semesters. However, the program divides in the third year to two
model routes: the (1) music creation and business stream and the (2)
music creation and technology stream. The business stream will focus on
music's business side as students learn about topics like music
marketing and social media, music journalism, and artist management and
promotion. The technology stream will concentrate on the skills to
engineer music with advanced courses on sound mixing and editing,
digital music creation, and sound production and recording.
Careers after graduating from music degree programs
lead to music-related positions in various fields such as engineering,
journalism, and marketing, and also in different establishments
including art organizations, record labels, and performance companies.
The Music Industry Arts and Performance graduates will reap the benefits
of the Ontario Music Fund, initiated by the Government of Ontario. The
three-year investment, starting in the 2013-2014 period, will provide
grants to businesses, so they can create job positions and stay
competitive on a national and global level.