HASOM ARTICLE

Inside and outside the walls of HASOM, mainly between the students at UCLA’s school of music, there are rumors of a Music Industry Minor in the works. There are classes available at UCLA that satisfy the requisites for this degree yet the students don’t see the minor listed in the books. While you don’t see many schools with such a degree USC and UC Denver already have one. Looking at the catalog of classes that have been offered I see that with the right organization and the will power from the guys up stairs I am sure we can get something running for these students. But how many students are actually willing to minor in Music Industry at UCLA and would it be technology based or business based? With these questions in mind I went out to get my answers.


I sat down with one of my peers Ryan Guffey, and Anthropology major at UCLA and an active musician. I asked him what his thoughts might me on a Music Industry Minor and he said that it would be a pretty smart thing to do, especially since you would become more “business savy,” while still in school trying to pursue their degree. Also, he mentions that it would help to be able to comprehend the contracts active musicians like him might face further down their musical career. Lastly, I commented on the technology verses business focus of the minor and he said that he would hope to see technology become a big area of focus within the minor because he wants to see more recording classes and lessons on live sound, he feels that the minor should provide real life applications things he can learn and apply at his next gig at a club the following weekend.


My next lucky candidate to interview was Sam Augilar a Sociology Major at UCLA and an active musician in his community. When I approached him he had already heard about the possible Music Industry Minor and said he thought it wasn’t for him. When I asked him why he simply said that music is his creative outlet and wouldn’t want to make it formal and business like. Also, commented on how he doesn’t feel that the majority of the faculty can teach that subject and that he would suggests some outside help if the minor were to happen. While he doesn’t feel that this would help the students he says he still has much respect for the teachers at UCLA’s school of music.
Finally when I had run out of contacts I thought, of course there is no better person to interview than myself. I asked myself these same questions as the above text and I feel that it would be a grand idea to learn about the Music Industry from people who may have experienced it themselves. I believe this could save a lot of musicians’ time with legal or promotional problems. I myself sometimes get coached by an old friend of mine who rocked out in the sixties and is now a retired musician who owns a rehearsal and recording studio. People like them have tons of wisdom about the business and would usually charge big money for advice. Although he is an old Cat we need some new guys as well who can teach us how to use the technology around the industry. In fact I think that is a great example on how business and technology are dependent on one another these days, with the internet and new added effects and electric drums and guitars, we need a interdependent based knowledge. Furthermore one has to have the business mentality even though yes it is fun to jam out with your group; you never want to get ripped off or even placed in an awkward position.

Here are links to some schools that have a music industry minor and their prerequistes and classes
Lehigh University
University of Southern California
Saint Joseph's University
Dallas Baptist University