FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I. The Application Process
A. Link to Drexel's Admissions Guide
http://drexel.edu/admissions/overview/
II. Music and Musicianship
A. Do I have to play a musical instrument to be considered for admission?
You don't have
to, but it sure helps to have participated in some musical activities. Since
all MIP students are required to complete a Music Core of courses that includes
Music Theory, Music History, Ear Training, Class Piano or Guitar and more, some
familiarity with instrumental or vocal performance helps students get through
the Music Core of the MI program.
B. Is there an audition?
This is a Music
INDUSTRY program, not a music performance program. No audition is required, and
many of our students are not accomplished musicians.
C. I play an instrument or sing pretty well. Is there any scholarship money
available for me?
The Performing
Arts programs at Drexel offer performing ensemble scholarships to qualified
incoming students in every major in the university. Every year, scholarships
are given to students who participate in ensembles in Music, Dance, and Theater
(performance and tech). Auditions and interviews generally take place over the
Accepted Students weekend in April.
D. I took Music Theory in high school. Is it possible to place out of the
theory requirement?
A placement
test is offered during freshmen orientation, and it is possible for students to
place out of Music Theory I. It is unlikely that anyone would place out of any
subsequent theory courses.
E. I don't play an instrument or read music. How difficult will it be for me
to complete the theory requirement?
For those
students with little musical experience, a Music Fundamentals course is offered
that runs concurrently with Music Theory I and is designed to help those
students move successfully through their theory requirement.
F. In addition to Music Industry, I'm also interested in Music. Can I major
in Music Industry and minor in Music?
Not only can
you choose between one of four Music minors (Music, Music Performance, Music
Theory and Composition, or Jazz and African-American Music), but as a Music
Industry student, you will be completing most of the required course work for
the Music minor as part of your major. You can see the required courses for the
minors here: http://www.catalog.drexel.edu/undergraduate/collegeofmediaartsanddesign/musicminor/
III. The Program
A. I'm also looking at other schools with Music Industry programs. How is
Drexel's different from the others?
The short
answer? Drexel's Music Industry program is unique and a cut above competing
programs. In addition to a faculty comprised of award winning music industry
professionals, a course sequence that encourages all students to get a full
industry education by doing coursework in the business, law, technology,
theory, and performance of music, a coop program which allows students to gain
real world professional experience, five fully professional recording studios
and two computer music labs, and immersion in the vibrant Philly music scene,
our program features the MAD Dragon Music Group of student-run enterprises that
allow all of our students to participate in the music industry BEFORE they
graduate.
B. How does the coop program work?
The summers
after sophomore and junior years, all MI students do a ten-week coop in which
they work in the music industry. Students have worked at major and independent
record labels, recording studios, venues, radio stations, and management and
promotion companies all over the United States and abroad. The MI program has
coop education advisors who can help to place students in appropriate coops.
C. Can I find my own coop, or do I have to use the coop office?
Music Industry
students tend to be a high energy, proactive, and enthusiastic bunch, and many
of them secure coop opportunities independently. Once these jobs have been
secured, all students work through the coop office to make everything
"official" between the university and the employer.
D. I'm interested in both music business/law and music technology. Will I be
able to take courses in both areas even if I concentrate on one?
Absolutely!
Many of our students are interested in both the business and creative sides of
the music industry, and take courses from all areas of our curriculum using
their free elective credits.
E. Can students use the recording studios and labs for extracurricular
projects?
Yes they can.
All of our recording studios and labs are available for extracurricular
projects. Students can qualify for studio access by taking and passing a skills
test offered to all MIP sophomores as part of Recording II. Freshmen are
automatically given 24/7 access to the computer labs and further studio access
on a case-by-case basis. All of our facilities are open to qualified students
24/7.
IV. The MAD Dragon Music Group
A. What are the MDMG enterprises?
The MAD Dragon
Music Group includes MAD Dragon Records (the only college label in the U.S.
with major distribution), MAD Dragon Publishing, MADKo Concert Promotions,
DraKo Booking and BANTIC Media. As part
of our curriculum, MIP students work in all aspects of the business, in contact
with labels, publishers, managers, venues, retailers, and distributors all over
the country. As a point of reference, MAD Dragon Records was recently given the
"College Record Label of the Year" award for the second consecutive
year by the Independent Music Awards (IMAs).
B. How can I get involved with them?
All students
concentrating in Music Business do work for MAD Dragon Records, BANTIC Media,
MAD Dragon Publishing, MADKo, and DraKo as part of their required curriculum. Music
Technology students do production, recording, mixing, and live recording for
various MDMG projects. All MIP students are encouraged to get involved with our
enterprises in both official (curricular) and more informal capacities. Lots of
things need to be done in our enterprises, and there is always room for a
student to get involved.
C. What kinds of things do the students do in the enterprises?
Anything that
happens in the music industry happens in our enterprises. Students do A&R
work, make lots of phone calls, book shows, record and mix shows, market our
acts, produce and record tracks, promote concerts, do mailings…you name it, our
students do it!
D. Can I work for an MDMG enterprise for one of my summer coops?
Generally there
are a few MDMG coop opportunities over the summer.
E. Will MAD Dragon Records consider signing my band or me?
Are you or your
band really, really good?
V. Important Links
Drexel Music
Industry program's Co-Op Experience
The Music
Industry program's co-op program (which occurs in two, three-month periods
during the summers in between sophomore and junior years and then again in
between the junior and senior years) offers a wide range of opportunities in
the music and entertainment industries. Each member of our faculty works
closely with our students in order to ensure meaningful co-op experiences. We
place our students in entities such as:
- major and
independent record labels
- artist management
companies
- recording
studios
- music
publishing companies
- touring and
concert promotion companies
- video game
companies
- live sound
companies
- music and
entertainment venues
- entertainment
publicity companies
- theatrical
booking agencies
- policy-making
organizations (such as the Future of Music Coalition and the Recording
Industry Association of America)
- radio
stations (terrestrial, Internet and Satellite radio)
- music and
entertainment organizations such as the National Academy of Recording Arts
and Sciences (the Grammy Awards organization)
- performing
rights organizations (such as ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and SoundExchange)
- television
stations, such as VH1 and MTV
Career
Opportunities
Drexel's Music
Industry Program prepares students for employment in diverse music industry
positions such as:
- record label
executive
- music
marketing director
- radio
station/broadcast industry executive
- recording
engineer
- press relations
and publicity director
- music
publisher
- music
supervisor for film and TV
- venue
owner/manager
- theatrical
agent
- music
producer
- sound editor
for film and TV
- entertainment
attorney
- artist
manager
- concert
promoter
- tour manager
- live sound
engineer
- .......and
many more.
Explore your
passion here, in Drexel's Music Industry Program.
The Music
Program and MAD Dragon Records receive generous support from the Kal and
Lucille Rudman Institute for Entertainment Industry Studies.