Music students at West Virginia University have discovered their own melodies and compositions on a journey to move their audiences and themselves.
This fall, they can start making those melodies into records and better navigate show biz with the University’s new Master of Arts degree in Music Industry, a completely online program.
Available through the WVU School of Music, the program is designed for those who wish to learn how to build a career in the music business or for working professionals who want to advance their career.
“The College of Creative Arts faculty and staff are excited to unveil this new degree offering,” said Dean Paul Kreider. “Last fall there were nearly 5,000 students enrolled in the Music Industry massive open online course (MOOC).�We expect there to be wide student interest in the degree. We know we have the right person in Darko Velichkovski to teach in and run the program.�He brings years of multi-faceted experience to the program and to WVU’s School of Music.�He has already begun our own record label.”
The director of the new Music Industry program is Darko Velichkovski, a Juilliard School graduate who has been in the music business for more than 20 years as a businessman, executive producer, and a classical and jazz clarinetist.
Velichkovski has performed a wide range of repertoire on many of the most prestigious concert stages around the world — from New York City, Amsterdam and London, to Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Beijing, as well as with many music industry greats — from Pete Fountain and Leontyne Price, to the Juilliard Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic.
From symphonic and chamber music, to alt rock, blues, gospel, and hip-hop productions, his business projects have led him not only throughout the United States and across the world, but also to collaborations and associations with a diverse range of international music industry businesses — including productions featuring a diverse spectrum of performers, from Faith Hill, Alison Kraus, Delbert McClinton, and The Chieftans, to Placido Domingo, James Galway, Joshua Bell, and the Vienna Boys Choir.
“The music industry is a vibrant, multi-billion dollar global industry and offers extensive professional opportunities to those who are trained, knowledgeable, and versed in its systems, methods and practices,” Velichkovski said.
“By offering this program exclusively online, we are making it accessible to students anywhere in the world.”
During the first part of the two-year program — Music Industry Foundations — students will explore the development of the music industry from a solely cultural phenomenon to a multifaceted commercial product, and its future direction, especially as it relates to independent artists and labels. They will study related intellectual property laws, and learn how society, culture, politics, commerce, law and technology all intersect to shape the industry.
The central module of the program is the Music Commerce, Management and Operations Module which covers commercial and operational principles and practices at both the national and international levels, from recording and publishing to product development and sales.
During the third module — Music Production Methods and Technology — students will learn the fundamental technical aspects of music recording and live music production.
After the academic modules are completed, they undertake a capstone project, demonstrating their competence to produce a working product.
“Our Master of Arts Program in Music Industry will provide students with the up-to-date, relevant knowledge and skills needed to productively operate, lead, and successfully manage the dynamic changes in the music industry,” Velichkovski said.
“At the conclusion of the program, students will be able to creatively participate in all the music industry’s sectors as national and international leaders.”
Admission into the program is selective and competitive.
In addition to the full Master of Arts degree in Music Industry, the program offers an undergraduate minor in Music Industry, an Undergraduate Certificate in Music Industry, and a Graduate Certificate in Music Industry.
For more information,see the Music Industry Program website at http://bit.ly/1Dnk3KJ,
call the WVU School of Music at 304-293-5511, or email Darko Velichkovski at Darko.Velichkovski@mail.wvu.edu.
The program is offered through WVU Online, a unit of Academic Innovation, at http://online.wvu.edu.
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