Courses such as Beginning Electronic Music, Introduction to Music Business and a Certificate of Achievement in Music Technology are being added to the music department at Moorpark College.

A decision approving these new music programs and certificate was approved on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at the Ventura County Community College District board meeting. The decision was motioned by Trustee Stephen Blum and seconded by Trustee Diane McKay. This decision to add new courses and a certificate is primarily designed for students seeking a career as a musician.

The Intro to Electronic Music class is designed not only to help students understand how a synthesizer works, but also learn music producing computer software such as Ableton and Logic, said Nathan Bowen, music professor at Moorpark College.

Bowen also explained that students will learn how to do things that happen regularly in a live concert environment.

“It will teach people how to make their own instruments using their own controllers,” said Bowen. “Especially concerts where music is tied into other elements like visual production and lights. If you didn’t want to just press play on music, but control it in real time, for instance using your camera on your laptop, mapping out different parts of your body to create different sounds.”

Bowen stressed the value of learning how to do these things before plunging into a professional environment.

“It’s really valuable to learn these ideas for your own job future,” said Bowen. “Whether you are being able to connect over a network or be able to tie music into an audio visual element.”

The Music Technology Certificate of Achievement will be part of the Career Technical Education program so students can gain enough experience to get their foot in the door of a business, or start their own, said Bowen.

“We are starting in a small format, and the hope is to expand,” said Bowen. “We are packaging a lot of courses together like computer programming, experience in a studio, learning things about music business, piano class, and music theory. We are requiring students to do an internship to get the certificate and really trying to make sure students are learning exactly what the industry is like.”

Lori Bennett, the executive vice president of Moorpark College, explained how the certificate will help students get jobs in this new, growing field of music technology.

“Intro to music business is a part of the music certificate, but primarily offers business techniques for people interested in the industry,” said Bennett. “Like how to make a business plan.”

Mary Rees, the president of the Academic Senate at Moorpark College, feels that these programs have been needed.

“It is so exciting for students to be able to take these new classes and the Music Technology Certificate will be fantastic for students looking to join the field,” said Rees.

Luis Sanchez, president of Moorpark College, promises these courses will add to an already rich music program.

“The music department already includes Professor Orbie Ingersol, along with others like James Song, who are very well regarded,” said Sanchez. “These two classes will only benefit students aspiring to become a part of the world of music and the industry.”

Students can look forward to these new classes such as Beginning Electronic Music and Introduction to Music Business, along with a Certificate of Achievement in Music Technology in the fall of 2016.