Music industry studies (MIS) offers a broad foundation in studio recording and live audio production, commercial music performance, and music entrepreneurship. Learn in our fully-equipped studios and performance venues, enjoy personal mentorship from professors, and record under our student-run label.
GU offers concentrations in audio engineering (including studio recording, live audio/lighting design, Audio Post Production & Game Audio Design) and commercial music performance under the umbrella of MIS as well as a Songwriting Minor.
Enter the high-tech world behind the music scene. Advance your technical skills in recording, live audio, and production.
Commercial music
Perfect your craft through performance, songwriting, technical skills, and digital media. Join a tradition of excellence including alumni music artists like Andre Anjos, Paper Route, and Augustana.
Create
GU’s production company, Playground Productions, is the centerpiece of the MIS degree where all areas of MIS (studio, live audio, songwriting, performing, promotion, touring) come together.
Why GU
Personalized attention. Experience personal growth and plan your career under the guidance of faculty who know your name and cheer your success. GU’s low 11:1 student/faculty ratio and community atmosphere allow professors to invest in their students.
Student work. See what GU’s MIS students are working on right now. Click here for videos and original songs.
Christ-centered. Integrate Christian values as you pursue your craft.
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Success Stories
I decided to come to GU because I love the community here. I was surrounded by great people that really invested in me and always pushed me to be greater than I formerly was.
This course explores digital media as an experimental cultural practice, with an emphasis on critical approaches to art and technology. Experiments in digital imaging, digital audio, digital video, and multi-media authoring will be conducted. Students will produce independent digital media production projects, individually and in groups. Course meetings include seminar-style discussion of reading and other materials, critiques of student work, tech workshops, production studios (session in which we brainstorm, research ideas, and work on projects), and screenings. (Offered every semester.)
Recital Class is designated as a requirement for all music majors, who must attend 12 concerts per semester. Music minors need to attend 9 concerts per semester and you must be registred for Recital Class during the semesters they are taking applied lessons. Music majors are required to take this course every semester they are attending classes on campus.
This course will serve as a basis for creating a foundation in keeping a connection between a students faith, how it can be used through the gift of music, and how to use those gifts to affect culture in a positive manner. Various types of music and their connection to culture as well as how todays culture affects students, music, and faith will be explored. (Offered fall semester.)
This course provides a thorough understanding of the theory and practice of studio recording and sound reinforcement.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. (Offered fall semester.)
Course Fee $50
This course focuses on the signal flow, microphone techniques, foundational and in-depth information of Pro Tools and studio recording techniques. It is based primarily on a "hands-on" approach offering substantial studio time for group and individual projects.
Prerequisite: MUSG226. (Offered every semester.)
Course Fee: $50
This course provides the student with a broad foundation to the various aspects and practices in the Music Industry. A main point of this course will be establish the working process for Playground Productions, the department production company. Also integral is the connection to Industry Partners in a collaborative opportunity to learn from current professional practices as well as creating integral networking opportunities and relationships.
Prerequisite: MUSG 226. (Offered every spring.)
In todays Music Industry market, it is quite important for each artist to be self-sufficient and look professional. Independent Artist Practices provides the foundations for the student to learn the skill set required to be a successful independent artist in todays Music Industry and to create a working plan to be implemented by the end of the semester. This course will focus on promotion, online presence, branding, budgeting, and creating and implementing a personal plan to be self sufficient in the Music Industry.
Prerequisite: DMDA 120 and MUSG 227. Offered: Fall semester
Course Fee: $50
This course will survey various styles of American popular music from the early 20th century through the present. Students will have an active role in class meetings, providing examples from personal experiences as sources for class discussion. Genres covered include jazz, country, rock, reggae, funk, hip-hop, urban fold, and more. Students are encouraged to have some experience in the fundamentals of music before enrolling. Junior or Senior standing is strongly encouraged. Meets the general education creative and performing arts requirement.
This seminar is designed as a capstone course in the CCM degree and is the bookend course to MUSG 150 Faith, Music, Culture. The goal of the course is to empower students to go out into their world after they graduate and reaffirm their ability to make a positive difference through their interactions with their culture. How students can be a Christian witness to a post-modern world will be explored. Meets the general education upper division writing intensive requirement. (Offered spring semester.)
This course will be taken for pass/fail credit.
Students complete a large recording project and research paper. This course is available only to Music Industry Study students.
Prerequisite: Students must pass the upper-division jury at least one semester prior to the semester in which they enroll in MUSG 419 (see Music Department Policies and Procedures Handbook for jury requirements).
This course provides a foundation and awareness of the processes of commercial arranging for live performances and producing music in a recording studio setting. Many of the popular styles will be explored.
Prerequisite: MUSG 227, MUSG 260, and MUTH 305. (Offered fall semester.)
Course Fee: $50
Projects in Music Industry serves as the entry level hands-on running of the Music Industry program. Students in this course will assist in various aspects while gaining a working understanding of the processes involved as they continue through the degree. This will work with all aspects of the program including entry levels of Playground Production. Music Industry Study majors need a total of eight credits of Projects in Music Industry. Offered: Every semester.
Course Fee $50
Projects in Music Industry serves as the intermediate level hands-on running of the Music Industry program. This is a prerequisite to the Playground Production course where students compete for preferred positions. Students in this course will assist in various aspects while gaining a working understanding of the processes involved as they continue through the degree. Music Industry Study majors need a total of eight credits of Projects in Music Industry.
Prerequisite: MUSG 120
Course Fee $50
This course is the central foundation to all areas of the Music Industry major. This is where all the different areas come together to play. Areas include Live Audio, Studio Recording, Management, Promotions, Lighting, Songwriting, Performing, creation and distribution of product. Performing and touring will be focused on heavily. The students will simply be running a real production company along with real, current industry partners as resources and connections. Music Industry Study majors need a total of eight credits of Projects in Music Industry.
Prerequisite: MUSG 220 and MUSG 230. Offered: Every semester.
Course Fee $50
