Prof.
Linda Holzer, FA 101-D, Music
Department, 569-8436.
Classroom: SUA-106E Class Hours: Th 3:05 – 4:30 PM
Office Hours:
by appointment
Required Text:
Beyond
Talent; Creating a Successful Career in Music, 2nd edition. (2010)
Oxford University Press by Angela Beeching. Available at the UALR
bookstore,
and online from amazon.com and oxford university press.
Companion
web site for textbook here.
Scope and
purpose of course:
To broaden the student's understanding of the range of careers
in the world of professional music. The course will explore music
as
both a creative endeavor and as a product. Students will learn
how music progresses from artistic creation to consumable product,
and
how the participants in the music business make a living utilizing
skills in marketing, performance, teaching, recording, technology,
venue management, etc.
Prerequisite:
upper-level standing as a music major (must have passed required
2000-level courses in performance studies,
music theory, aural skills and music history with a "C" or better,
and be enrolled in 3000-level or above music major courses).
This
course is offered both as an on-campus course and as a distance-learning
course, and is considered a “blended” course via UALR
Extended Programs. You may either attend the class in-person each
week, or you may log on to WIMBA Live Classroom via computer to take
the course via distance-learning, accessing the lectures and PowerPoints
at your convenience, and submitting assignments electronically. To
take the course via distance-learning, students must be familiar
with Blackboard Campus Edition 6. If you have not
used Blackboard
Campus Edition 6 before, please visit this link for
a short introduction to this handy technological resource.
Student Learning Objectives:
Students will discover how various professionals in the world of
music make a living, and will research details of individual career
development. Students will become familiar with relevant vocabulary
for the music business, and will apply these in writing and research
projects.
Class
attendance and participation are of fundamental importance. Demonstrate
functional grasp of relevant vocabulary and concepts
for music business on homework assignments, mid-term and final exam.
In addition, students will be expected to complete a short research
project that will result in a short oral report.
Graduate Students Please Note:
1. In addition to oral report, each graduate student will complete a business
plan for running a private lesson studio, including identification of target
markets (geographic and demographic characteristics), a
competitor analysis (name, location pricing, reputation), estimated expenses,
estimated revenue, and cash flow analysis (balance sheet for loan amortization,
income, and expenses).
2. Standards of writing are higher for graduate students than for undergraduate
students. More depth of research and more detailed analysis is expected.
3. Graduate students are expected to possess good communication and leadership
skills, and to take the lead in class discussions.
Reserve
Reading - Ottenheimer Library:
All
You Need to Know About the Music Business by Donald S. Passman
The Self-Promoting Musician by Peter Spellman
A Music Business Primer by Diane Rappaport
Working
Musicians, 1st Edition, by Bruce Pollock
This Business of Music: The Definitive Guide to the Music Industry,
9th edition. by M. William Krasilovsky, Sidney Shemel,
John Gross
Music Business Handbook, 7th edition by
David Baskerville
Requirements:
1. Readings—all assigned material must be read prior to the
corresponding classroom discussion.
2. Two online journal entries (see Discussion tool on Blackboard)
3. Five question sets from the textbook (see Assignments tool on
Blackboard)
3. Resumé, cover letter and business card—you will be
required to develop a current resumé, cover letter and business
card
4. Midterm—a midterm examination will be given online using
Blackboard.
5. Oral Report– one short oral report
6. Final Exam - a final examination will be given online using Blackboard.
Grades:
Two online journal entries - 10%
Oral Report - 10%
Five question sets from the textbook—25%
Resume, cover letter & business card - 5%
Midterm—25%
Final—25%
Policy on Late Work:
Assignments are due by the start of class on the due date, to be turned
in on Blackboard, either on the Assignments tool or the Discussion tool.
Anything turned in past that time will be marked late. Late work will be
accepted up to one week late, and a grade penalty of 1⁄2
a letter grade will be assessed for each delinquent day. It is
in your best interest to turn in all assigned work complete, on time.
Deadlines and due dates are NOT optional.
Your semester
grade will
be determined based on the following scale:
90-100% = A, 80-89%= B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D, <60% = F
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: It is the policy of the University of
Arkansas at Little Rock to create inclusive learning environments.
If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course
that result in barriers to your inclusion or to accurate assessment
of achievement-such as time-limited exams, inaccessible web content,
or the use of non-captioned videos-please notify the instructor as
soon as possible. Students are also welcome to contact the Disability
Resource Center, telephone 501-569-3143 (v/tty). For more information,
visit the DRC website at http://ualr.edu/disability/