Contemporary and Commercial Music Major
A study of popular music culture
Cornell’s contemporary and commercial music major evolved from observations of students’ creating music together and a Cornell Summer Research Institute project where music professor Nakielski built a recording studio in Armstrong Hall. This major equips students with the practical skills that can be used to gig out as working musicians, to prepare for advanced degrees in audio engineering or acoustics, supplement a major in business, or help entrepreneurs find their niche.
“One by one, I would see all these people waltz in [Armstrong Hall] with guitars, portable keyboards, or portable recording setups and just find a corner of the building to write songs when I was here late grading papers,” Nakielski said. “I thought to myself, and I would later bring it up to my department, what are we doing to serve these students?”
Contemporary and commercial music course and degree requirements
This program requires a foundation in music theory and exploration of musical genres as well as hands-on creation of music from writing to recording, mixing, and performance. You’ll have the opportunity to explore two levels of contemporary songwriting, audio engineering, and electronic music composition as well as more traditional courses such as vocal pedagogy and fundamentals of music.
To expand your talents in the way that most excites you, you’ll have the opportunity to take elective courses from Cornell’s theatre department offerings that meet your specific goals and interests such as sound design, lighting design, production design and filmmaking.
Contemporary and commercial music capstone
Seniors pursuing a contemporary and commercial music degree will be required to complete a capstone experience in their final year and may choose between a recital performance or a project in an area of performance practices or some phase of music history, theory, or education.
