Music Industry
Monday, July 15th- Friday, July 19th
Early Bird Pricing NOW through February 28, 2024 = $1000
Regular tuition March 1st through May 31st = $1300
Late Registration June 1st through June 30th = $1500
There will also be a 2 hour orientation held the Sunday early afternoon before your week begins. More details to come once a student is accepted.
About the program
Recorded Music is more than the performer and performance. It is the intersection of business and technology. Behind every artist is a team of professionals recording and mixing sound, marketing and promoting the artist to consumers and media; publishers working to expand the music’s reach through other entertainment outlets, and dozens more individuals crafting virtually every aspect of what will be seen and heard.
Drexel’s Music Industry Summer Program is an intensive one-week program for high school students who are serious about acquiring a head start on understanding the basics and the nuances of this incredibly competitive and energetic industry.
Drexel’s faculty of music industry professionals teach the summer program and draw course work from the undergraduate curriculum that addresses music recording, production, marketing, management, publishing and more. Through practical classroom lectures and hands-on experience, students are ensured valuable insight into this one of a kind program.
Program format
Classes will run Monday through Friday.
Students will take classes from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM with a lunch break from 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM (Eastern Time).
9:00 AM–9:45 AM, Studio Recording and Mixing:
By exploring the latest recording equipment and techniques, students will be better prepared to record, mix, and master their own music. Topics will include studio design, microphone selection and placement, and mixing and mastering techniques utilizing industry standard Pro Tools software.
10:00 AM–10:45 AM, Digital Audio Workstations:
By analyzing a current popular song, students will get a hands-on experience trying to recreate its production. In addition, students will be introduced to the use various sound effects, vocal techniques, specialized recording methods pertaining to the art of creating music using a Digital Audio Workstation (ProTools and Logic Pro X).
11:00 AM–11:45 AM, Producing Electronic Music With Ableton Live:
You will spark your curiosity in Electronic Music Production through the lens of Ableton Live. Learning the origins of DAW’s in the making of EMP, your will learn how to create beats, craft compositions, and understand how modern electronic music is made. Students will get the chance to both learn and play with the concepts in an inquisitive friendly space that encourages open dialogue and creativity.
1:00 PM–1:45 PM, Inside the Label and Artist Prospective; Music Business 101:
In the ever-changing music industry landscape, artists and musicians need to be up to date on the current emerging technologies. This course will be covering topics that vary from how record labels are finding new talent through strategies such as data analyzation, algorithms, and play-listing, to how you can find your voice in digital marketing and branding, and the importance of live performance and touring from both a DIY and major label approach. The course will cover the essential information for all artists on record labels, publishing and copyright, marketing and promotion, and the concert and touring industry.
From 2:00 PM–3:20 PM, each day there will be a choice of open sessions available for students in order to give you time to collaborate with other students, get feedback on projects from faculty, hear from industry professionals, and work through any roadblocks you may be having with a song/production:
- Open Lab Time: Open time for students to work on their music and instructors will be there for trouble shooting and advice.
- Pass the Aux: Students present their current recordings and have them critiqued for recording, production, and mix quality by their peers and a faculty member.
- Visiting Artist/Music Industry Professional Series: Each day a different professional from the music industry will host an open format speaking engagement where students will get a 360 degree behind the scenes look at every angle of the industry.
Orientation:
The orientation will be the Sunday before your scheduled session.
Closing Reception:
The Program is concluded with a reception on Friday afternoon.
Details to follow.
Housing:
This is NOT a residential program and you will need to find lodging for the week if you are not local. Here is the site with discounted hotels. In addition, there is campus housing available for students doing summer commuter programs. Bear in mind, summer Intern Housing eligibility requires individuals to be over the age of 18, otherwise, must be accompanied by parent/guardian during their stay. If you would like more information, please contact bll42@drexel.edu.
Registration
Apply Online Please follow this Link to fill out the application.
We welcome mature high school students, at least 16 years old, who have completed their sophomore year by July.
All applications will be reviewed upon completion and applicants will be notified within in four weeks of receiving a completed application. Students who are not accepted into the program will receive a full refund of their $300 application deposit. Please pay your $300 deposit at the time you apply via this link.
The $300 deposit will be credited towards the full tuition cost. Upon acceptance, your deposit is non-refundable.
How soon will you hear from us? All applications will be reviewed as we receive them and applicants will be notified within 4 weeks from receipt. Admissions decisions are based upon academic preparation and a commitment to learn. Enrollment is limited and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis upon review and acceptance of the application.
Questions? Email: bll42@drexel.edu
Faculty
Ryan Moys (Instructor for Studio Recording)
After graduating from the Art Institute of Seattle and spending several years working as a freelance engineer at recording studios and clubs in the Seattle area, Ryan eventually made his way back to Philadelphia and continued his career in the local music scene as the personal engineer for Grammy Award winning record producer James Poyser (Jimmy Fallon Show, Erykah Badu, Common, The Roots, D’Angelo). Over the years, he has earned an impressive credit list working with renowned artists such as Common, Joss Stone, Anthony Hamilton, Jazmine Sullivan, Andra Day, and Jill Scott. Working at The Studio, the famed Philadelphia recording facility owned by award-winning arranger and composer Larry Gold, he recorded and mixed notable major label and independent client projects, as well as recorded string arrangements for artists such as Kanye West. He has engineered on several Grammy Award winning albums including Kirk Franklin’s 2009 Best Contemporary RnB Gospel Album “Fight of My Life” and Tye Tribbett’s 2013 Best Gospel Album “Greater Than”. Ryan has also recorded and mixed scores for feature films such as VH1’s “Totally Awesome”, as well as mixing concert TV series for VH1, MTV, and TVOne.
Ryan currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Producers & Engineer’s Wing of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Recording Academy.
Joe Steinhardt (Instructor for The Label Prospective; Music Business 101)
Joe Steinhardt is the owner of Don Giovanni Records, a label that he co-founded in 2003 with Zach Gajewski. Initially, their intent was to document the independent music scene then emerging from New Brunswick, New Jersey. However, the label’s focus has since broadened to include a geographically diverse community of artists, including Screaming Females, Moor Mother, Mal Blum, Native American Music Award “Best Artist” winner Keith Secola, and Holy Modal Rounders founder, Peter Stampfel. It has also released formative works by nationally recognized groups like Waxahatchee, Priests, and Downtown Boys, as well as the comedian Chris Gethard.
Don Giovanni Records remains committed to furthering alternative culture and independent values, providing resources for artists who prefer to work outside of the mainstream music industry.
In 2016, Steinhardt founded and curated the New Alternative Music Festival, a two day concert held at New Jersey’s Asbury Park Convention Hall. NAMF was an intentional event, gathering a bill composed entirely of musicians acting without ties to major labels or corporate distribution.
Steinhardt studied at Boston University and earned a Ph.D. in communication at Cornell. He currently resides in Philadelphia, where he is an Assistant Teaching Professor at Drexel University’s Music Industry Program.
Please note instructors are subject to change based on availability during the summer months. Accepted students will receive a list of all confirmed faculty and their corresponding bios in a future mailing. The instructors listed above have historically taught courses during our summer program.
Our degree program
Drexel’s four-year Music Industry major combines both the business and technology aspect of the music field with continued study in the art of music. Students complete a well-rounded program beginning with courses in music theory, ear training, music history, orchestration and arranging, piano, songwriting, and world music. They continue with professional coursework in music business, recording industry operations, marketing management, recording, sound production, acoustics, and computer applications for music, complemented by continued liberal arts studies. The program features two three-month co-op experiences that allow students to work in the field and the opportunity to work for Drexel’s student-run record label, MAD Dragon Records.
For more information, visit: Music Industry Degree Program