Today's music industry is evolving incredibly rapidly. For musicians, composers, producers, and educators, navigating the latest technologies, specialized skills, and emerging trends is critical to advancing in this highly competitive industry.
To meet the demand for those skills – and fill an important niche in online music education – Frost Online, the online division of the highly-acclaimed Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, through the university's UOnline division, has launched two new fully online and accredited graduate degrees: the Master of Music in Media Scoring and Production, the online version of its highly successful on-campus program since 1979, and a brand new first-of-its-kind Master of Arts in Popular Music Pedagogy.
Scheduled to launch in Fall 2023, both degree programs have been designed by Frost's award-winning faculty to provide students with practical, real-world experience and prepare them for top positions in the industry and the academy – from film, television, and commercial music production to advanced levels of teaching and leadership in the rapidly growing field of popular music education.
"With its real-world-based curriculum, the Media Scoring and Production program serves as a launchpad, propelling students into the industry by amalgamating hands-on experience, esteemed faculty guidance, and a community that thrives on collaboration and innovation," says co-director Carlos Rafael Rivera, a Grammy and two-time Emmy Award-winning composer for one of the most popular Netflix limited series of all time, The Queen's Gambit. Rivera brings a valuable element of industry exposure to the student experience. Through his unique relationship with the industry, he has secured permission to provide students with access to materials from popular, award-winning shows to examine as part of their educational process, replicating a composer's actual experience in the business.
"In today's professional music business climate, adaptability is of utmost importance in giving any graduating student the best chance to succeed in an ever-changing music business," says Media Scoring & Production professor Randy Barlow, "Opportunities can come from different situations, and the ability to recognize and identify them will set you up for success in any professional music setting. The online Media Scoring and Production program will provide students with the foundation and experience to explore the different aspects of Composing, Recording, and Mixing, as well as provide a wide array of opportunities to collaborate on the highest level with other students from all the different programs here at Frost."
Camilo Rodriguez, an award-winning producer, mixer, and songwriter, also co-director of the Media Scoring and Production Program, said graduating students who are immediately prepared for top jobs in the industry is the number one focus.
"If hired as a composer, you'll know how to place a mic. If you're an engineer, you'll also know how to write," he said. "We focus a lot on the latest technology and how the industry has changed. We want our students never to be handed a job they don't know how to do. As importantly, they will graduate with a portfolio of fully produced, high-quality studio recordings to help them land the jobs of their dreams."
Geared toward music educators and educational entrepreneurs, the Master of Arts in Popular Music Pedagogy program is the first fully online master's program of its kind, offering students a deep dive into the highly specialized, rapidly evolving field of popular music education, of which the Frost School is a nationally recognized leader and pioneer.
Graduates of the program may go on to teach at the college or university level, operate private teaching studios with a popular music focus, or develop and run innovative community music ensembles and non-profit music programs. Students are trained in popular music's latest music-related technology and business aspects, including music entrepreneurship, arts management, marketing, and more.
"This program is ideal for educators who want to enhance their knowledge beyond the traditionally taught classical pedagogy of most music education programs," said Program Director Dr. Raina Murnak, a contemporary vocalist, songwriter, and educator. "Plus, you get the boutique Frost School of Music experience – where faculty get to know their students deeply - but 100 percent online. This degree also allows students the freedom to build their capstone project around their unique musical interests."
"We're very excited to offer these two innovative programs through Frost Online; our celebrated Media Scoring and Production masters program, and in another Frost-First, the Master of Arts in Popular Music Pedagogy," said Rey Sanchez, the Frost School's Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation. "These programs offer students the opportunity to study with some of the top professionals in their respective fields and to connect with a worldwide network of passionate and successful Frost alumni."
The two new Frost Online programs join their existing catalog of top-ranked online graduate degrees and certificate programs offered through UOnline, geared toward professional development and tangible career growth, including the Master of Arts in Live Entertainment Management and the Master of Arts in Music Industry, whose alumni have gone on to top jobs across the music and live entertainment industry.
Shelly Berg, the Dean of the Frost School of Music, added, "It is important to understand that students who study online are, without a doubt, students at the Frost School of Music. The degrees they acquire, including these two new remarkable additions, carry the same weight and significance as those that our on-campus students earn. We consider our online students part of the Frost family in every way" concluded Berg.
