Project
TEAM
A Scenario of Co-op/Academic Integration for the Music Student
Prof. Bruce Ronkin (November 15, 2000)
"Pat"
is a music major at Northeastern University. As a student in the
music departmentís Music Industry concentration, Pat is looking
forward to developing a career in the field of artist management.
Co-op/Academic integration will play a significant role in helping
her merge the academic and artistic aspects of classroom instruction
with the practice-oriented approach of co-op. Here is a possible
scenario for her development:
Freshman
Year
Pat takes the courses "Music Industry 1" and "Music Industry 2." These
courses provide the student with a substantial introduction to the
music industry. At the same time Pat is taking music theory classes
where musical composition and analysis is studied.
Sophomore
Year
Pat goes on co-op at Rounder Records in Cambridge. Freshman year studies
in music have prepared the student with a basic amount of music and
music business literacy. On the job Pat learns about record promotion
and distribution.
Pat
then returns to class in the spring and takes the course, "The Record
Industry." Patís experiences at Rounder Records provide the class
with many real-world scenarios to learn about the modern record
industry. Pat also begins taking music history classes and business
classes (both required components of the music industry degree).
Middler
Year
After taking a course in world music, Pat became very interested in
the music of many cultures. This encourages Pat to seek a co-op position
at World Music in Cambridge. At this organization, which presents
concerts by artists from around the world, Pat has the opportunity
to learn more about what was introduced in music and business classes
by working closely with the general manager as he selects, books,
and contracts performing artists.
Pat
returns to class and continues with courses including "Artist Management,"
"Entrepreneurship," and "Historical Traditions 3: Baroque & Classical
Music." The experience gained at World Music prepared Pat to direct
a discussion in Artist Management class on the increasing diversity
of musical styles at North American performance venues.
Junior
Year
Pat applies to NUís study abroad program and goes to London. While
there, she enrolls in some music theory courses as well as some courses
that fulfill collegeís core requirements. Fortunately, Pat is able
to take advantage of a flexible course schedule to also undertake
a 5-hour per week internship in the publicity department of Sony Music
UK, a major record label.
Pat
returns to classes and at the same time agrees to assist a professor
working in Northeasternís recording studio on a new music project.
Over the summer, Pat travels to New York for a co-op at IMG, the
International Management Group. Assisting one of the managers, Pat
works with major classical performing artists in arranging world
concert tours.
Senior
Year
In the required capstone class "Seminar in the Music Industry,"
Pat and the rest of the class take time to reflect on the significance
of their co-op opportunities and the ways in which these opportunities
contributed to their college education. As a capstone class, one
important part of the class is to examine the current state of the
music industry and attempt to forecast what the future will bring.
The class consists of students who undertook co-op jobs in fields
ranging from artist management and the record industry to studio
engineering and symphony orchestra management. Each student brings
a wealth of experience to share to and enrich the course.
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