Sound Recording and Music Technology

Combining Music with State-of-the-Art Technology

Use the latest technology in creating and recording music. You will learn to use sophisticated equipment, work with professional software, create music for multimedia and film, use a mixing board and learn various microphone techniques, run and record live sessions, and print your own music for publication. The College’s program also offers you internship opportunities at local recording studios, individual computer stations with extensive technology for recording and composing, an introduction to the music industry as a business, and training on the same equipment that music industry professionals use. This program is ideal for anyone who wants to pursue a career in music production and studio recording, musicians who want to be able to record and publish their own music, and music teachers.

Career Options

Careers

Find your path.

Music Directors and Composers – est. salary $54,751
Sound Engineering Technician – est. salary $82,009*

 

**EMSI Data, 2022; The greater Philadelphia region; a percentage of people in these jobs may have a bachelor's degree or higher.
map animation where the the Community College of Philadelphia is centered, the map zooms out to show the surrounding counties highlighted representing the areas of job and career growth.
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Videos & Multimedia

Music student using equipment at CCP.
CCP student using music technology in class.
Music Technology students learning about field in CCP class.
Student using sound technology at Community College of Philadelphia.

Courses and Completion Sequence

The following courses and sequence of courses is designed for the optimal success and completion of the Sound Recording and Music Technology degree/certificate. Any alterations should be discussed with your academic advisor.

Semester 1

Course Number and Name Credits Advisory Notes Course Type
MUS 100 - Music Reading 3 credits

Students with a foundational music theory background should contact the Music Department Chair to complete the MUS 100: Music Reading course requirement as a credit by exam. MUS 100 covers key signatures, major scales, intervals, music language and rhythmic recognition.

 Major Course
MUS 101 - Piano I 1 credit Students must take three one-credit courses (MUS 101, MUS 102, MUS 108, MUS 109, or ensemble courses) to meet the Oral Communication/Creative Expression requirement for general education. The requirement may also be met by MUS 115. Major Course
MUS 115 - Introduction to Music Technology 3 credit Students must take MUS 115 to keep on the Music Tech Course Sequence.  Oral Communication/Creative Expression
FNMT 118 - Intermediate Algebra 3 credits   Quantitative Reasoning
ENGL 101 - English Composition I 3 credit ENGL 101 must be passed with a "C" or better to move onto ENGL 102. Writing, Research, Info Lit 1

MUS 196B - Brass Ensemble I or
MUS 196C - Chamber Music Ensemble I or
MUS 196E - Electronic Ensemble I  or
MUS 196G - Jazz Guitar Ensemble I or
MUS 196H - Hip Hop Ensemble I or
MUS 196J - Jazz Ensemble I or
MUS 196P - Pop & Rock Ensemble I or
MUS 196SA - Soprano/Alto Ensemble I* or
MUS 196SV - Studio Voice Ensemble I or
MUS 196TB - Tenor/Bass Ensemble I*

 1 credit Students can register for any ensemble at the 196 level.

All students must complete at least one semester of Soprano/Alto or Tenor/Bass Vocal Ensemble as part of the curriculum. This can be at the MUS 196, 197, 296 or 297 course level.

Students must take three one-credit courses (MUS 101, MUS 102, MUS 108, MUS 109, or ensemble courses) to meet the Oral Communication/Creative Expression requirement for general education. The requirement may also be met by MUS 115.

 

 Major Course
  • This program is designed to provide students with the option of entering the workforce or transferring to a bachelor's degree program after earning their associate's degree
  • Follow this course schedule each semester and you’ll earn your associate’s degree in two years
  • Make sure you discuss your first semester schedule and your educational plan with an advisor or counselor when you register.

Semester 2

Course Number and Name Credits Advisory Notes Course Type
MUS 180 - Music Business 3 credits Registration in MUS 180 allows students to participate with Spring Garden Records, the College's record label. Humanities 
MUS 116 - Theory I 4 credits Prerequisite: MUS 100 Major Course
MUS 215 - Advanced Music Technology and Multimedia 3 credit Prerequisite: MUS 115  Major Course
MUS 102 - Piano II 1 credits Prerequisite: MUS 101 Major Course
ENGL 102 - The Research Paper 3 credit Prerequisite: ENGL 101 with a grade of "C" or better ENGL 102, Info Lit
MUS 197B - Brass Ensemble II or
MUS 197C - Chamber Music Ensemble II or
MUS 197E - Electronic Ensemble II or
MUS 197G - Jazz Guitar Ensemble II or
MUS 197H - Hip Hop Ensemble II or
MUS 197J - Jazz Ensemble II or
MUS 197P - Pop & Rock Ensemble II or
MUS 197SA - Soprano/Alto Ensemble II* or
MUS 197SV - Studio Voice Ensemble II or
MUS 197TB - Tenor/Bass Ensemble II*		 1 credit Students can register for any ensemble at the 197 level.

All students must complete at least one semester of Soprano/Alto or Tenor/Bass Vocal Ensemble as part of the curriculum. This can be at the MUS 196, 197, 296 or 297 course level.
 
Students must take three one-credit courses (MUS 101, MUS 102, MUS 108, MUS 109, or ensemble courses) to meet the Oral Communication/Creative Expression requirement for general education. The requirement may also be met by MUS 115.		 Major Course

Semester 3

Course Number and Name Credits Advisory Notes Course Type
MUS 118 - Theory II   Prerequisite: MUS 116 Major Course
MUS 220 - ProTools - Digital Audio Editing 3 credits Prerequisite: MUS 215 
MUS 220 is typically only offered in the Fall semester.		 Major Course
MUS 103 - Introduction to Music 3 credits   Cultural Analysis & Interpretation
MUS 280 - Music Entrepreneurship, Licensing and Marketing 3 credits Prerequisite: MUS 180

Fulfills Tech Competency
MUS 296B - Brass Ensemble III or
MUS 296C - Chamber Music Ensemble III or
MUS 296E - Electronic Ensemble III or
MUS 296G - Jazz Guitar Ensemble III or
MUS 296H - Hip Hop Ensemble III or
MUS 296J - Jazz Ensemble III or
MUS 296P - Pop & Rock Ensemble III or
MUS 296SA - Soprano/Alto Ensemble III* or
MUS 296SV - Studio Voice Ensemble III or
MUS 296TB - Tenor/Bass Ensemble III*		 1 credit Students can register for any ensemble at the 296 level.

All students must complete at least one semester of Soprano/Alto or Tenor/Bass Vocal Ensemble as part of the curriculum. This can be at the MUS 196, 197, 296 or 297 course level.
 
Students must take three one-credit courses (MUS 101, MUS 102, MUS 108, MUS 109, or ensemble courses) to meet the Oral Communication/Creative Expression requirement for general		  

Semester 4

Course Number and Name Credits Advisory Notes Course Type
MUS 260 - Sound Reinforcement and Recording Session 4 credits Prerequisite: MUS 215
MUS 260 is only offered in the Spring semester.
Prerequisite for MUS 290		 Major Course
MUS 290 - Music Internship 2 credits Prerequisites: MUS 180, MUS 260 which may be taken concurrently
MUS 290 is only offered in the Spring semester.
Requires 10 hours of Internship experience per week in the field + 1 hour lecture course per week.		 Major Course
PHYS 125 - Musical Acoustics 3 credits PHYS 125 is always offered during the Spring semester, though there have recently been offerings in the Fall as well. Natural Science
ACCT 101 - Financial Accounting 4 credits   Major Course
ADC 176 / HIST 176 - Philadelphia History: Architecture and Planning or
ANTH 112 - Cultural Anthropology or
GEOG 103 - Introduction to Human Geography or
HIST 101 - United States History: Colonial America through the Revolutionary Era or
HIST 102 - United States History: The 19th Century or
HIST 103 - United States History: The 20th Century or
 HIST 103H - United States and Pennsylvania History: The 20th Century (Honors) or
HIST 121 - Global History I HIST 122 - Global History II or
HIST 142 - Food History or
HIST 146 - Latino American History or
HIST 150 - History of American Health Care or
SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology or
SOC 115 – Gender and Society 		 3 credits SOC 101 recommended due to the fact that it fulfills many Gen Ed requirements and is transferrable if pursuing a 4-year degree. Social Sciences American/Global Diversity Interpretive Studies Writing Intensive
MUS 297B - Brass Ensemble IV or
MUS 297C - Chamber Music Ensemble IV or
MUS 297E - Electronic Ensemble IV or
MUS 297G - Jazz Guitar Ensemble IV or
MUS 297H - Hip Hop Ensemble IV or
MUS 297J - Jazz Ensemble IV or
MUS 297P - Pop & Rock Ensemble IV or
MUS 297SA - Soprano/Alto Ensemble IV* or 
MUS 297SV - Studio Voice Ensemble IV or
MUS 297TB - Tenor/Bass Ensemble IV*		 1 credit Students can register for any ensemble at the 297 level.

All students must complete at least one semester of Soprano/Alto or Tenor/Bass Vocal Ensemble as part of the curriculum. This can be at the MUS 196, 197, 296 or 297 course level.
 
Students must take three one-credit courses (MUS 101, MUS 102, MUS 108, MUS 109, or ensemble courses) to meet the Oral Communication/Creative Expression requirement for general education. The requirement may also be met by MUS 115.		 Major Course
  • Congratulations, this is your final semester! Don’t forget to complete your graduation application.
  • Meet with an advisor when registering for your classes
  • Finalize your transfer plans:
  • Take advantage of our scholarship opportunities for transferring students and apply for a scholarship
  • Visit Career Connections to learn about internships and your future career possibilities

General Education Requirements:

All general education requirements necessary for graduation are met through the courses in the program as indicated above. Students who wish to take courses that differ from the general education courses indicated above must complete a course substitution request form. To access the form, login to the MyCCP portal, and in the Student tab, under Electronic Forms, click on the Records and Registration Forms link, then choose Request For Course Substitution Of Graduation Requirement link. A more detailed explanation of the College’s general education requirements is also available.

View the College Catalog for More Information

Featured Career

Sound Engineering Technician

Operate machines and equipment to record, synchronize, mix, or reproduce music, voices, or sound effects in sporting arenas, theater productions, recording studios, or movie and video productions.

Median Salary
$82,009
Number of Jobs
272
in the region in 2022
10 Year Job Outlook
+16%
in the region

Typical Tasks

  • Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.
  • Prepare for recording sessions by performing activities such as selecting and setting up microphones.
  • Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
  • Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
  • Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds later during the mixing or postproduction stage.

How well does it pay?

New workers generally start around $29,627. Normal pay for Sound Engineering Technicians is $82,009 per year, while highly experienced workers can earn as much as $166,510.

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Program Information

Sound Recording and Music Technology

Degree Type:

Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)

Credits Needed to Graduate:

60

Online Learning Availability:

30% or Greater

Related Programs:

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