Student Portfolio

Image MADDragon on CMJ Unleashed 2 Cover Art Hoots & Hellmouth XYX @ World Cafe Live Hoots & Hellmouth Hoots & Hellmouth

More Examples

New Creativity Sampler

Westphal Creativity Sampler

The New Westphal Creativity Sampler

Click to view a fast paced video sampler of our award-winning student work

Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design

Music Industry Program

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I. The Application Process

A.Do you use an “early admissions” or “early decision” policy?

We use “rolling admissions”, which means that starting in early November, we start to admit qualified applicants with completed applications. This is different from “early admissions” or “early decision” in that we do not require admitted students to commit to our program before the normal May 1st deadline. What this does mean is that it is important for interested applicants to apply as early as possible.

B.I hear the program is very competitive. What type of student are you looking for?

We are lucky enough to have a great program with exceptional students, faculty, and staff. Music Industry at Drexel is a community of people, all of whom share a passion for music and the music industry. We’re looking for students who will bring something to this community. Of course, we check transcripts for a competitive GPA and test scores. We read all of the recommendations, and look closely at extracurricular activities.

We also look at applications to see what music or industry-related activities a student has participated in. Maybe they are in a band, or manage their friend’s band. They might do recording or composing in their basement, or participate in street team activities for their favorite artists. We’ve had applicants who have done industry-related internships or have been very involved with school music productions and concerts as a musician, technician, or promoter. Participation in these types of activities shows us that an applicant is really interested in what we’re about.

C.Do I need to submit a portfolio with my application?

The program no longer requires portfolios, and no longer accepts hard copy portfolios. That being said, we are very interested in pertinent activities, and would like to see and hear examples of things you’ve done via a MySpace or Facebook page. We’ll look at videos, listen to songs, look at photos, slide shows, presentations or other visual media, etc. If you choose to create a special page or site just for us to look at, that’s even better. If you have a page you’d like us to look at, mention the link in your essay.

D.What are you looking for in an essay?

You might have written a fantastic essay about how special your grandma is or the life lessons you learned doing your 9th grade science project, but that’s not what we’re looking for. We want to know why you’re interested in Music Industry at Drexel, and why we should be interested in having you join the community here. Tell us who you are, what excites you, and why you are interested in working in one of the most challenging and exciting industries in the world.

E.If I’m not admitted as a freshman, what are my chances of transferring into the program?

The chances of being admitted as a transfer are very, very small. Transfer applications are ONLY considered after all qualified freshmen (including those on the waiting list) have been offered admission. As an example, the MI program has admitted NO transfer students in the last two years. Additionally, anyone applying as a transfer will need to expect to complete a full four-year program, as very few credits would transfer into our program.

F.What percentage of applicants typically gain admission to the Music Industry Program?

In a typical year, we receive between 500 and 700 applications and enroll 50-60 freshmen in the fall.

G.What is the BS/MBA program, and how to I apply to it?

Students have the option of applying to Accelerated Degree programs. For complete information, please visit this link: http://www.drexel.edu/em/undergrad/academic-programs/accelerated-degrees/default.aspx

II. Music and Musicianship

A. Do I have to play a musical instrument to be considered for admission?

It's helpful, but not absolutely necessary. We have students who range from having studied music all of their lives to those who have never picked up an instrument.

B.Is there an audition?

This is a Music INDUSTRY program, not a music performance program. No audition is required, and many of our students are not accomplished musicians.

C.I play an instrument or sing pretty well. Is there any scholarship money available for me?

The Performing Arts programs at Drexel offer performing ensemble scholarships to qualified incoming students in every major in the university. Every year, scholarships are given to students who participate in ensembles in Music, Dance, and Theater (performance and tech). Auditions and interviews generally take place over the Accepted Students weekend in April.

D.I took Music Theory in high school. Is it possible to place out of the theory requirement?

A placement test is offered during freshmen orientation, and it is possible for students to place out of Music Theory I. It is unlikely that anyone would place out of any subsequent theory courses.

E.I don’t play an instrument or read music. How difficult will it be for me to complete the theory requirement?

For those students with little musical experience, a Music Fundamentals course is offered that runs concurrently with Music Theory I and is designed to help those students move successfully through their theory requirement.

F.In addition to Music Industry, I'm also interested in Music. Can I major in Music Industry and minor in Music?

Not only can you choose between one of four Music minors (Music, Music Performance, Music Theory and Composition, or Jazz and African-American Music), but as a Music Industry student, you will be completing most of the required course work for the Music minor as part of your major. You can see the required courses for the minors here: http://www.drexel.edu/catalog/ug/all-minors.htm

III.The Program

A.I’m also looking at other schools with Music Industry programs. How is Drexel’s different from the others?

The short answer? Drexel’s Music Industry program is unique and a cut above competing programs. In addition to a faculty comprised of award winning music industry professionals, a course sequence that encourages all students to get a full industry education by doing coursework in the business, law, technology, theory, and performance of music, a coop program which allows students to gain real world professional experience, five fully professional recording studios and two computer music labs, and immersion in the vibrant Philly music scene, our program features MAD Dragon UNLTD, a group of student-run business entities that allow all of our students to participate in the music industry BEFORE they graduate.

B.How does the coop program work?

The summers after sophomore and junior years, all MI students do a ten-week coop in which they work in the music industry. Students have worked at major and independent record labels, recording studios, venues, radio stations, and management and promotion companies all over the United States and abroad, to name a few. The MI program has coop education advisors who can help to place students in appropriate coops.

C.Can I find my own coop, or do I have to use the coop office?

Music Industry students tend to be a high energy, proactive, and enthusiastic bunch, and many of them secure coop opportunities independently. Once these jobs have been secured, all students work through the coop office to make everything “official” between the university and the employer.

D.I’m interested in both music business/law and music technology. Will I be able to take courses in both areas even if I concentrate on one?

Absolutely! Many of our students are interested in both the business and creative sides of the music industry, and take courses from all areas of our curriculum using their free elective credits.

E.Can students use the recording studios and labs for extracurricular projects?

Yes they can. All of our recording studios and labs are available for extracurricular projects. Students can qualify for studio access by taking and passing a skills test offered to all MIP sophomores as part of Recording II. Freshmen are automatically given 24/7 access to the computer labs and further studio access on a case-by-case basis. Most of our facilities are open to qualified students 24/7.

IV.The MAD Dragon Business Entities (MAD Dragon UNLTD)

A.What are the MAD Dragon businesses?

The MAD Dragon UNLTD entities include MAD Dragon Records (the only college label in the U.S. with major distribution), MAD Dragon Publishing, MADKo Concert Promotions, DraKo Booking, our new Digital Label, MADFire Music Video Productions, MADMerch merchandising, a Digital Media/2D and 3D Animation team, and MDU Legal and Business Affairs. As part of our curriculum, MIP students work in all aspects of the business, in contact with labels, publishers, managers, venues, retailers, and distributors all over the country. As a point of reference, MAD Dragon Records was recently given the "College Record Label of the Year" award for the second consecutive year by the Independent Music Awards (IMAs).

B.How can I get involved with them?

All students concentrating in Music Business do work for MAD Dragon Records, our new Digital Label, MAD Dragon Publishing, MADKo, and DraKo as part of their required curriculum. Students concentrating in Entertainment Prelaw work for MDU Legal and Business Affairs, and Music Technology students do production, recording, mixing, and live recording for various MDU projects. ALL MIP students are encouraged to get involved with our label and businesses in both official (curricular) and more informal capacities. Lots of things need to be done in our businesses, and there is always room for a student to get involved.

C.What kinds of things do the students do in the businesses?

Anything that happens in the music industry happens in our businesses. Here are a few examples of the activities that take place within MAD Dragon UNLTD: the students organize and promote major regional concerts; they interact with major film and TV music supervisors for song licensing; they book national tours for recording artists; they do remixes of MAD Dragon artists' tracks; they contact radio stations across the USA on behalf of our artists; they create and implement online marketing campaigns; they select, engineer and produce a yearly compilation of cutting edge artists released under MAD Dragon Records; they write press releases and deal with all media for publicity; they negotiate business deals, review and draft legal agreements, and identify legal issues; they create unique merchandise for each artist; they record, produce, mix and master not only in-studio, but live performance, tracks; they do post-production audio engineering and editing for music videos; they find the next great artists to sign to MAD Dragon; they engage in trying out innovative business models to better serve recording artists. !

D.Can I work for a MAD Dragon business for one of my summer coops?

There are always summer coop opportunities for our students at MDU.

E.Will MAD Dragon Records consider signing my band or me?

Are you or your band really, really good?

V.Important Links