Music Production
Ever wanted to produce your own music? How about collaborate on an album or soundtrack?
Studying music production will help you learn the latest tools and techniques — so that your creative works leave a lasting impact with your audience.
Learn to use professional audio workstations
Our music production program gets you working with professional analog and digital equipment while you are a student. With our recording studio on campus, you’ll be set up for success as a future music producer, songwriter, musician, or engineer.
Study in an ideal location
Cal Lutheran’s location just outside of Hollywood in Los Angeles offers you an immersive experience into the world of music. With an emphasis on small class sizes and hands-on learning, you’ll be able to confidently manage the many roles of a music producer and navigate the industry.
Learn from esteemed faculty in industry
You’ll gain insights from the very best faculty members who have years of industry experience, including Benny Faccone, a 15-time Grammy-winning audio engineer.
Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Scholarship
Do you have superior skills in the areas of art, music, music production or theatre arts? Incoming first-year and transfer applicants for the fall semester can apply and audition for a scholarship that offers up to full tuition. Learn more
At a Glance
Degree Type
Bachelor of Arts
Department
School/College
College of Arts and Sciences
Next Steps
Interested in this major? Here's what you can do next:
With challenging and relevant courses, outstanding faculty, small class sizes, and an emphasis on hands-on learning, the music production program will position you to succeed in your chosen career.
Degree requirements
Find out what it takes to earn a degree in music production and explore the courses.
Highlighted Courses
Get familiar with some of the courses you might take in this major.
MULT 450: Mixing & Signal Processing
This is a practical course in audio mixing techniques with an emphasis on software-based signal processors and hardware-based tools. The course will utilize Avid Pro Tools software, featuring signal-processing plugins by Avid and other popular software vendors. Students will be introduced to advanced mixing concepts utilizing a large format recording console.
See descriptionMUS 305: Song Writing Lab
This is a lab course designed to develop a toolset for the creation of songs through applied practice. Students will work to combine lyrics with harmony or other musical elements and learn to notate songs through the creation of lead sheets.
See descriptionMUS 333: History and Survey of Film Music
This is a survey of film music from the advent of film sound to the 21st Century. The course will focus on dramatic scoring in primarily American feature films, including a significant examination of historically underrepresented groups in film music production, such as African-American and female composers.
See descriptionMUS 360: Studio Recording
Students will learn advanced recording techniques utilizing Music department's large-format API Vision recording console. Topics include signal flow, outboard signal processors, patchbay routing, audio monitoring technology, stereo recording techniques, and microphone placement for wind, brass, percussion, and other commonly recorded instruments. Course includes an integrated lab component for hands-on instruction.
See descriptionMUS 460: Analog Console Mixing
This course is a continuation of audio mixing with an emphasis on advanced mixing techniques utilizing a large-format recording console. The integration of external compressors, reverbs, and modulation effects will be creatively utilized to produce professional-level song mixes.
See descriptionMUS 470: Music Publishing & Distribution
his is an advanced course exploring the role, business model, and legal framework of music publishing and distribution in the current music industry. This course will provide practical information for content creators, entrepreneurs, or others aspiring to understand the modern system for monetizing music. Emphasis will be placed on topics relating to intellectual property, royalties and income streams in the music industry.
See descriptionRecommended Minors
Want to add even more value to your degree? Consider one of these minors to gain a unique combination of skills and perspectives.
Check out the spaces and tools you'll have access to in this major. Explore the entire Cal Lutheran campus with our virtual tour
Studio A features an all-discrete, state-of-the-art 48-channel API Vision recording console with recall automation and additional outboard equipment. The console connects to a 48-channel Pro Tools HD Accel system featuring pristine Antelope audio interfaces.
Studio A features a 1000 square-ft live room with 15-ft ceilings. Resident instruments include a Bösendorfer grand piano and a DW drum set. The department's large microphone collection includes mics from AKG, Neumann, Royer, Mohave, Sure, Audio Technica, Sennheiser, Yamaha, Electrovoice, and Crown.
Studio B features an Avid C-24 control surface with a 16-channel Universal Audio Apollo interface, outboard equipment, and monitors by KRK.
Studio C is a small collaboration studio located in the Zimmerman Music Studios facility. It features a UAD duo interface, external preamps and other outboard gear, midi drums, analog synthesizers, beat pads, and other MIDI equipment.
Studio D features a cinematic scoring workstation with software instruments by Vienna Symphonic Library, Spitfire, Cinesamples, and Embertone.
We offer hands-on opportunities that give you the freedom to explore your passion through real-world work and prepare for a fulfilling career.
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Valuable Internships
Our proximity to Los Angeles and Hollywood allows you to pursue music industry internships, networking, and career opportunities. Companies where students have interned include:
- Atlantic Records
- Mirrorball Entertainment
- Whirly-Girl Productions
- mVibe
- Revolver Recording
- Chris Hardin Entertainment
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State-of-the-art Facilities
Our campus facilities are optimized to give students hands-on access, with an emphasis on collaborative music-making. Our four primary production studios range from a single-workstation film scoring lab to a 2,000 square-ft recording studio.
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Studio Tours
You’ll get to tour local studios throughout the Los Angeles area to see how working professionals work with artists and apply the same recording techniques you will learn in your courses.
The most impactful classes I’ve taken in the music production major are Studio Recording I and Studio Recording II. These classes both have labs where we get to spend up to three hours in the studio, recording students and faculty using techniques we learn during our class time. It’s a really awesome and fun experience to be able to work in the studios on campus and use all of the professional equipment.
Dylan Herrera '23
A degree in music production can open doors to careers inside and outside the music industry. Recording arts professionals work in studios as sound engineers, mixers and editors. Musicians on the creative side enjoy careers as songwriters, touring musicians and entrepreneurs. You might also work in one of the many music-industry careers that support creative artists, such as A&R, music supervision, music management, recording services and many others.
Potential Careers
Talent Directors
Audition and interview performers to select most appropriate talent for parts in stage, television, radio, or motion picture productions.
See descriptionMedia Technical Directors/Managers
Coordinate activities of technical departments, such as taping, editing, engineering, and maintenance, to produce radio or television programs.
See descriptionMusic Directors and Composers
Conduct, direct, plan, and lead instrumental or vocal performances by musical artists or groups, such as orchestras, bands, choirs, and glee clubs; or create original works of music.
See descriptionMusicians and Singers
Play one or more musical instruments or sing. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for sound or video recording.
See descriptionAudio and Video Technicians
Set up, maintain, and dismantle audio and video equipment, such as microphones, sound speakers, connecting wires and cables, sound and mixing boards, video cameras, video monitors and servers, and related electronic equipment for live or recorded events, such as concerts, meetings, conventions, presentations, podcasts, news conferences, and sporting events.
See descriptionBroadcast Technicians
Set up, operate, and maintain the electronic equipment used to acquire, edit, and transmit audio and video for radio or television programs. Control and adjust incoming and outgoing broadcast signals to regulate sound volume, signal strength, and signal clarity. Operate satellite, microwave, or other transmitter equipment to broadcast radio or television programs.
See descriptionSound Engineering Technicians
Assemble and operate equipment to record, synchronize, mix, edit, or reproduce sound, including music, voices, or sound effects, for theater, video, film, television, podcasts, sporting events, and other productions.
See descriptionAgents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
Represent and promote artists, performers, and athletes in dealings with current or prospective employers. May handle contract negotiation and other business matters for clients.
See descriptionLooking for more career paths? Search these related areas to discover more options.
Employers
Some of the organizations our graduates work for include:
- Capitol Records
- Conway Recording
- Creative Audiovisual Production + Integration Company
- East-West Studios
- KTLA 5
- Momentum Audio
- mVibe Music Licensing Services
- NRG Recording Studios
- United Recording
Graduate Schools
Our alumni have pursued advanced degrees at:
- Berklee School of Music
- Cal State Northridge
- New York University
- Northwestern University
- Stanford University
- University of California, Santa Barbara
- University of New Mexico
- University of Southern California
As a student, Dr. Spraggins recommended me for an internship with the music supervision company Whirly Girl Music. The experience and information I gained in this internship allowed me to find a job in the industry immediately after graduation!
Kimberly Hamilton '17
Music Licensing and Administration Manager, mVibe
This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Some occupations listed above may require a related graduate degree.
How We Prepare You for Success
We have 20,000+ employer contacts for jobs and internships, with over 200 listings posted each week.
Our excellent career counselors in the Career Services center will get in touch with you during your very first term on campus. They offer over 50 workshops each year on resume writing, interviewing, salary negotiations, applying to graduate schools, and other critical skills to help you begin your career successfully.
After you graduate from Cal Lutheran, you receive free access to Career Services for life, as a valued member of our alumni family.
of Cal Lutheran graduates find a job or enroll in graduate school within nine months
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