Bachelor of Arts in Music: Commercial Music Emphasis (B.A.)
Combine your passion for music with industry expertise to help get your music into the marketplace.
At Colorado Christian University, you can turn your passion for music into more than a dream; you can make it your future. With a Bachelor of Arts in Music: Emphasis in Commercial Music, you’ll learn how to thrive in today’s ever-changing music world while growing in your faith and creativity.
In this program, you won’t just study music. You’ll live it. You’ll take courses in songwriting, music production, and entrepreneurship, giving you hands-on experience that prepares you for real careers in the music industry. Whether you’re drawn to performing, producing, or creating, you’ll gain the skills you need to make your mark.
You’ll dive deep into contemporary music theory, performance, and ensemble work, and you’ll learn how the music industry really works from marketing and management to the legal and ethical sides of being an artist.
At CCU, your faith and your talent come together. You’ll be equipped to lead with confidence, create with purpose, and pursue your calling in the music world, grounded in truth and driven by excellence.
Program FAQs
What are the audition requirements for the School of Music at CCU?
If you are planning to major or minor in music or theatre, you are required to audition for participation in most ensembles and for consideration for School of Music scholarships.
What is the commercial music emphasis?
The commercial music emphasis is a specialized track within the Bachelor of Arts in Music at Colorado Christian University that prepares you for careers in the modern music industry. This commercial music program combines performance skills with business knowledge and music technology to help you thrive in today's competitive music marketplace. You will study contemporary music theory, music production, songwriting, and entrepreneurship while learning how to create and lead contemporary ensembles at CCU.
This commercial music emphasis provides hands-on experience with industry-standard tools, including digital audio workstation software and audio engineering equipment, in CCU's on-campus facilities. The program addresses the realities facing musicians today, including marketing, legal and ethical considerations, and financial management. By combining your passion for music with industry expertise and CCU's Christ-centered curriculum, you will be prepared to lead with faith and excellence in the commercial music field.
What can you do with CCU's commercial music emphasis?
CCU's commercial music program opens diverse career opportunities across the music industry. You can work as a performing artist in commercial music arts, serve as a music director for churches or production companies, manage artist representation and booking, specialize as a marketing specialist for music ventures, or lead social media engagement for artists and labels.
Additional career avenues include songwriting, film scoring, producing recordings, studio work as a professional drummer or session musician, or building your career as a singer songwriter. You can also pursue roles as an entrepreneurial musician, launching your own personal brand and business ventures.
Why should you study commercial music at CCU?
Colorado Christian University is one of the few Christian universities offering a degree emphasis in commercial music. This program provides a strong foundation in music within a Christ-centered atmosphere at CCU's Lakewood campus, preparing you for success in a dynamic and ever-evolving industry by aligning your passions and talents with professional opportunities.
While you will gain top-tier technical skills and real-world experience in the field of music, CCU goes beyond simply mastering the art form and industry essentials. Music is seen as an expression of worship, a tool to point people to Jesus, and a vital part of Christian life.
CCU's experienced music faculty and staff are all active music professionals dedicated to helping you grow both spiritually and professionally, equipping you to use your musical talents to glorify Christ. At CCU, you will discover how to impact culture for Christ through commercial music while building the career you envision in the Rocky Mountain region and beyond.
What courses will you take in CCU's commercial music program?
CCU's commercial music program offers a comprehensive curriculum covering performance, theory, production, and business. You will take courses in Music Business to understand industry operations, Performance Proficiency to develop your skills as performers, and Sight Singing and Ear Training to strengthen your musical foundation. Contemporary Music Theory courses at CCU adapt traditional concepts to modern popular music contexts.
Technical courses include Digital Audio Workstation training where you learn production techniques using industry-standard software in CCU's facilities, and Audio Engineering to master recording and sound design. You will also study songwriting and lyric writing, commercial arranging, and film scoring through CCU's School of Music curriculum. The program emphasizes hands on experience with music technology essential for audio production and composition.
How does CCU's commercial music emphasis prepare you for the music industry?
CCU's commercial music emphasis provides strong emphasis on practical skills that musicians need in today's market. You will work with industry-standard software and equipment at CCU's Lakewood campus, gaining hands on experience crucial for success in the digital music landscape. The degree program at CCU combines creative development with business acumen, teaching you how to navigate the commercial music industry as both an artist and an entrepreneur guided by a Christian worldview.
Students learn from CCU's music faculty who are active in the national association networks and bring current industry experience into the classroom. You will explore marketing strategies, understand legal and ethical considerations, manage financial aspects of music careers, and develop your personal brand while at CCU. The program emphasizes networking and professional development, providing you with tools to thrive in competitive career possibilities.
What makes CCU's commercial music program different from other music programs?
CCU approaches commercial music through a Christian worldview that sets the program apart from secular music schools. You will not only develop technical skills in music production, audio engineering, and songwriting at CCU but also explore how your musical talents serve a higher purpose. The program at CCU integrates faith with industry preparation, helping you see music as worship and a tool to point others to Jesus.
The music faculty at CCU are not just instructors but active music professionals who mentor you personally. They bring real industry experience into every class at the School of Music, sharing insights from their own careers as musicians, producers, and composers. You will have access to professional-grade facilities and equipment on CCU's campus, including digital audio workstation setups for audio production and composition work.
CCU also requires prospective commercial music students to audition for consideration for School of Music scholarships, ensuring you join a community of dedicated musicians. This combination of faith integration, faculty mentorship at CCU, and comprehensive training in both creative and business aspects makes CCU's commercial music bachelor degree distinctive in Christian higher education.
What career paths can CCU commercial music graduates pursue?
Graduates of CCU's commercial music program are well-equipped to pursue careers across various sectors of the music industry. You can work as a performing artist, touring and recording your own music or performing with established acts. Many CCU graduates become producers, working in recording studios or creating content for film, television, and digital media. Others serve as music directors in churches, leading worship teams and contemporary ensembles with the spiritual foundation developed at CCU.
The business side of the industry offers career opportunities in artist management, marketing, and social media engagement for musicians and labels. You can specialize in audio engineering, mastering the technical aspects of recording and live sound. Singer songwriters can build independent careers, while composers can work in film scoring and commercial arranging using skills developed through CCU's curriculum. Some graduates from CCU become educators, offering private lessons or workshops in popular music and music technology.
View the course catalog.
