Commercial Music at a Glance
8 months- 2 years to complete1
$2, 079-$3,861 tuition2
- Cedar Valley3
2 years to complete1
$5,940 tuition2
- Cedar Valley3
What Can I Study?
I Want to Go to Work
-
Credit Certificates
- Music Business and Entrepreneurship Certificate $2,376 8 months
- Performing Musician Certificate $2,574 8 months
- Producer Certificate $2,475 8 months
- Recording Technology Certificate (One-Year Certificate) $2,079 8 months
- Recording Technology Level II Certificate $3,861 2 years
- Songwriter Certificate $2,673 8 months
-
Associate Degrees
- Music Business and Entrepreneurship A.A.S. $5,940 2 years
- Performing Musician A.A.S. $5,940 2 years
- Producer and Songwriter A.A.S. $5,940 2 years
- Recording Technology A.A.S. $5,940 2 years
Can I Get a Job?
Dallas College offers a variety of certificates and degrees to help you gain the skills you need to start working right away.
- These credentials are often considered Career and Technical Education (CTE).
- These credentials are established with the assistance and cooperation of representatives from local business, to meet local and regional employment needs.
- Higher level certificates and degrees will typically lead to a higher salary in the workforce.
- Workforce (CE) Certificates can often be completed faster than traditional credit certificates but typically do not offer college credit.
- Level 1, Level 2, Enhanced Skills certificates and others, offer college credit and are often stackable to help you build skills as you work towards an Associate Degree.
- Workforce credentials may give you college credit at Dallas College, but they may not transfer to other colleges or universities.
If you're unsure if this is the right path for you, you can talk to a Pathway Specialist for advice.
Pathway Specialist
- 972-669-6400
- PathwaySpecialist@DallasCollege.edu
What Can I Earn? Will There Be Plenty of Jobs?
Combine your love of music with technical skills, and you can work as a performer or behind the scenes in music production, among other options. Check out a few of the incredible career opportunities you’ll be ready for. Your future starts here!
Music Directors and Composers
$23/hr
Median Salary
145
Job Openings
+13%
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Coordination
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Persuasion
Music Therapists
$36/hr
Median Salary
126
Job Openings
+28%
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Social Perceptiveness
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Service Orientation
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Learning Strategies
- Writing
Musicians and Singers
$34/hr
Median Salary
591
Job Openings
+16%
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
- Reading Comprehension
- Coordination
- Critical Thinking
- Service Orientation
- Time Management
- Writing
Sound Engineering Technicians
$26/hr
Median Salary
44
Job Openings
+11%
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Operations Monitoring
- Judgment and Decision Making
All jobs data gathered for Dallas/Fort Worth. Source: Dallas College Labor Market Intelligence and Lightcast4.
“When you understand basic recording techniques, it really increases your value as a musician, producer or songwriter. You understand how to write what will work well, and you learn to use your time in the studio efficiently. That recording technology education that you can get at Cedar Valley is invaluable knowledge and the best music education for the money that I’ve ever heard of.” Read David A. Small's story.
A Look Inside Commercial Music
Open: Music
Voice: Two…one, two…MUSIC
Dr. Kathryn Brown, Commercial Music program coordinator:
At Cedar Valley College, we train our students for success in the commercial music industry. Whether it's recording technology, or digital music production, or performance or the music business, we give our students the tools they need to be successful in the music business.
MUSIC
Michael Robertson, Commercial Music student:
My name is Michael Robertson. I came to Cedar Valley to learn about music because it's my passion. The staff at Cedar Valley has given me the opportunity how to dream again. Even though I came to do production and composition, I became a musician from being a Cedar Valley.
MUSIC
Zantana Zuniga, Commercial Music graduate
My name is Zantana Zuniga. I graduated from Cedar Valley College with an associate in commercial recording technology. I now work as a tutor for music theory in audio. My dream would be to continue honing my skills, just getting better, building connections with the people in the industry, and hopefully one day to come and actually teach here as a professor.
MUSIC
Natalie Brown, Commercial Music student:
My name is Natalie Brown. I'm currently taking Audio Engineering 2 here at Cedar Valley. I hope to pursue a career in sound for film in the film industry. Hopefully this class will give me a good foundation on what I need to know to pursue that career.
MUSIC
Adia Hardy, Commercial Music student:
My name is Adia Hardy. I'm getting an associate in arts with a certificate in recording engineering technology. And with that I'm hoping to go to school and get a music degree, a commercial music degree where I can learn multiple aspects of the music business. I want to be a producer or a performer. I love to do it all!
MUSIC
Lyrics: Tell me what I'm supposed to do…
Reginald Buzby, Commercial Music student:
My name is Reginald Buzby. I'm here for digital music and composition. My future dreams…Ah, man, win a Grammy! Why not!? Make beautiful music. Music to empower, motivate, inspire.
Lyrics: What am I supposed to do? Talk to you about true hope in this world we're living in. I should talk to you about the Holy Ghost…
MUSIC
Daniel Muntes, Commercial Music student:
My name is Daniel Muntes. I'm here in the performing music program and possibly the others. I play mainly guitar, drums and bass, but I dabble in just about everything I can get my hands on. I like music because it's a healing thing, and I like it because …I heard someone say it elicits an emotional response. I love that articulation.
MUSIC
Johnnathan Melendez, Commercial Music student:
Hi, my name is Johnnathan Melendez. I'm studying here at Cedar Valley right now. I just love music. It's one thing that speaks to me. It's something that makes me dance, and something that's really cool that you can make other people dance with, you know.
Marica Cruz, Commercial Music student:
Hi, my name is Marica Cruz, and I'm studying music business here at Cedar Valley. I like music because it was a way for me to escape from the hardships in life and also connect with other people because it's really a universal language.
Dr. Kathryn Brown:
In the Dallas-area alone there are so many opportunities, so many venues to do live sound, or studio work, composition, performance opportunities, as well as management of those facilities. Being successful in the music business is not some magic potion. It does not generally happen, 'POOF,' and you're there. It takes a lot of work, a lot of diligence, a lot of hard work and a lot of perseverance through a lot of tough times to be successful, but the success is possible.
MUSIC
Find Out More About Commercial Music
Sign up to receive additional information about Commercial Music or call 972-669-6400.
School of Creative Arts, Entertainment and Design
- 972-860-8912
- PathwaySuccess@DallasCollege.edu
Dallas College
- 972-669-6400
- Text College to 214-978-6457
- StudentHelp@DallasCollege.edu
1Length of time is based on catalog degree plans. Prerequisites may be required, which are not included in this estimate. For most programs, full-time student status is assumed, a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester.
2Cost is based on tuition rates for program hours for Dallas County residents. The price of most required learning materials (books, software, supplies, etc.) is included with the price of tuition. Visit our Paying for College site to learn more about cost, financial aid, scholarships and more.
3Each location offers a unique combination of certificate and degree options. Not all degree and certificate offerings are available for admission/start at all campuses every semester.
4A portion of Lightcast’s data comes 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. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Lightcast has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.