Music
Area of Study

Music

The Music and Recording Program prides itself in preparing students for the music careers of the present and the future. 

An Associate’s Degree in Music from Northeastern will allow you to springboard into numerous different careers in Music and Recording. 

Whether it’s Audio Production, Music Performance, Live Audio Engineering, Music Education, Songwriting, Post Production, Music Business, and beyond – Northeastern is the place for you!

Our high quality, state-of-the-art equipment and technology, combined with professional caliber instruction by professors that are actively working in the music industry make Northeastern a standout institution for studying music.

There are no entry requirements for the Music and Recording programs, a background in vocal and/or instrumental music is beneficial but not required.

Students in the Music and Recording program will find themselves immersed in innovative, state-of-the-art facilities that keep students engaged in daily hands-on activities.  Spend time in Northeastern’s cutting-edge recording studio, private practice rooms, state-of-the-art theater, digital grand piano lab, and iMac computer lab.

Students will learn the real world experience of running a professional recording studio, which focuses on recording multiple styles of music on a daily basis.  Develop as a musician taking private instruction and perform in the four different choirs and bands that Northeastern offers. Learn composition and songwriting in various classes, while gaining the skills to record and produce your creations. As an iPad college, Northeastern focuses on cutting-edge technology and apps that are music industry standards.

Students in the Music Program are featured each semester in large scale, fully produced concerts. Students often collaborate with outside entities like The Air Force Falconaires and The Colorado Ballet, and hire out to gig professionally throughout Northeast Colorado. Students in the Recording Program are often hired to work as Audiovisual Technicians in the Campus Theater and Recording Studio, in addition to being hired for live sound engineering gigs throughout the region.

Northeastern’s recording studio features industry standard software tools such as Pro Tools, FL Studio, Ableton and Reason. It also boasts top-of-the-line equipment like AKG 414 microphones, Yamaha HS-8 Nearfield monitors and a Roland DA-88 MIDI controller to name a few.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of musicians and singers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 20,800 openings for musicians and singers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Digital downloads and streaming platforms make it easier for fans to listen to recordings and view performances. Easier access to recordings gives musicians more publicity and grows interest in their work, and concertgoers may become interested in seeing them perform live. Moreover, some musicians and singers license their music for use in advertisements or for other commercial purposes, creating more exposure and revenue opportunities.

There may be some additional demand for musicians to serve as session musicians and backup artists for recordings and to go on tour. Singers may be needed to sing backup and to make recordings for commercials, films, and television.

However, employment growth will likely be limited in orchestras, opera companies, and other musical groups because they can have difficulty getting funding. Some musicians and singers work for nonprofit organizations that rely on donations, government funding, and corporate sponsorships, in addition to ticket sales, to fund their work. During economic downturns, these organizations may have trouble finding enough funding to cover their expenses.

  • App Development                                                          
  • Broadcast Engineer                                                        
  • Engraving                                                           
  • Music Teacher/Professor            
  • Live Sound Engineer
  • Songwriter                                                                                         
  • Music Therapist                                                               
  • Session Musician                             
  • Video Game Composer
  • Audio Engineer
  • Conductor
  • Jingle Writer      
  • Music Journalist
  • Piano Tuner
  • Tour Director    
  • Artist Manager
  • Concert Promoter
  • Film Conductor
  • Location Sound Engineer
  • Marketing
  • Performer
  • Social Media Strategist 
  • Website Designer

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the median hourly wage for musicians and singers was $30.49 in May 2021.

Alex sitting at in a library
Student Profile
Alexander J. Norell

I choose NJC for its affordability and its rather informal education style. Because it is a small college you have more one on one opportunities with your instructors.

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