Music History
& Industry

Bachelor of Arts

Classically trained violinist Stephanie Economou M.A. ’14 is part of a new generation of female film composers. Photo: Pamela Springsteen

A Hybrid Pathway into Music
and the Music Industry

The Bachelor of Arts in Music History and Industry was designed as a hybrid pathway to study the history and culture of music as an artform while also gaining practical skills required to meet the challenges of today’s evolving music industry. Building upon the Herb Alpert School’s existing Bachelor of Arts in Musicology and its popular minor in Music Industry, this new program combines practical hands-on training with the study of music within the context of different societies, cultures, and theories.

NOTEAs of Fall 2023, the Music History and Industry BA is closed for application. Students seeking a professional degree in Music Industry are encouraged to consider the new BA in Music Industry. Students interested in pursuing a music history-focused pathway into the music industry are encouraged to apply to the BA in Musicology and elect the Music Industry Minor.

Program Highlights:

  • Capitalize on L.A.’s prime position as a hub for global media, music production, and independent record producers/artist managers with an industry internship
  • Gain musical literacy and real-world hands-on training by taking a holistic approach to understanding music and the music industry
  • Craft a senior year capstone course that allows you to develop music industry focused projects under the guidance of faculty
Jenny Olivia Johnson Joins Musicology Faculty
Jenny Olivia Johnson has a … different artistic process than most. The musicologist and composer, who will join The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music in Fall 2023 as associate professor of musicology, has always been known for mixing seemingly incompatible elements in her work.  By way of illustration, consider Johnson’s opera “The After Time,”
Doctoral Student Breana McCullough Connects Baroque Music and Native American Voices
McCullough has been an apprentice with the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado in 2022-23. She collaborated with the orchestra on their winter concert, re-envisioning a French carol to elevate indigenous perspectives.
They’re Changing the Music Industry (and Invite You to Listen)
When describing students and their work, it’s easy to fall back on words like “aspiring,” “hopeful” or even “amateur.” There’s the impression that they won’t be prepared to make a significant contribution until sometime in the future. That it won’t happen until after they receive a degree and secure a job that kicks off their

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