Minor in Contemporary Music
Have you wondered what it takes to be successful in today's music industry while standing firm and continuing to grow in your faith? If you have a passion and talent for pointing people to Jesus through music, CCU's Contemporary Music minor is the place to begin. Offered through CCU's School of Music, and in collaboration with the Contemporary Music Center in Nashville, TN, this minor offers a concentrated area of contemporary music coursework, biblical teaching, invaluable mentoring, and real-world music industry experiences.
The Contemporary Music minor exposes you to different career possibilities in the modern entertainment world. The program prepares you to be effective as a believer in the entertainment industry while challenging you to live out your faith unwaveringly and to worship Him through your gifts and talents.
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 contemporary music minor at CCU?
The contemporary music minor at Colorado Christian University is offered through CCU's School of Music in collaboration with the Contemporary Music Center in Nashville, Tennessee. This music minor provides concentrated contemporary music coursework, biblical teaching, mentoring, and real-world experience in the music industry. The contemporary music minor requires a Digital Music Sequencing course taken at CCU, combined with a 16-credit-hour semester away study at the Contemporary Music Center, credited through Greenville University.
The program is open to students in all majors with no prior music experience required. You must apply for acceptance first by the School of Music and second by the Contemporary Music Center, as space is limited. The semester away is available starting in your sophomore year. College credits are granted by Greenville University and directly transferred to CCU. Tuition and housing costs are paid to the Contemporary Music Center, and federal financial aid may apply.
What can you do with a minor in contemporary music?
The contemporary music minor prepares you for diverse career paths in the music industry. You can work as a music producer creating recordings, a songwriter crafting original compositions, an audio engineer or programmer managing technical production, a worship leader or worship arts director serving churches, a session musician performing on recordings, a performing artist touring and recording your own music, or a music publicist managing artist promotion and media relations.
The program at CCU prepares you to be an effective believer in the entertainment industry through coursework and hands-on experience. You will gain skills and knowledge for careers in music performance, music production, or music business while learning to worship God through your gifts and talents. The contemporary music minor challenges you to live out your faith unwaveringly in professional settings, equipping you to impact culture for Christ through contemporary music.
What interesting classes will you take in the contemporary music minor?
At CCU's campus, you will take Digital Music Sequencing to learn production technology essential for contemporary music creation. During your semester away at the Contemporary Music Center in Nashville, you will take Essentials of Songwriting to develop composition skills; Faith, Music and Culture, exploring the intersection of Christian faith and the entertainment industry; Inside the Music Industry, learning business operations and career paths; and Studio Recording, gaining hands-on music production experience.
The courses are designed to provide both technical skills and spiritual formation. You will explore how to integrate your faith with your musical gifts while gaining practical knowledge for career success. Three tracks are available: the Artist Track, where you write, record, and perform music; the Business Track, where you learn to manage, promote, and market within the industry; and the Technical Track for those with a passion for sound, lighting, and audio.
Why should you study contemporary music at CCU?
The focus of CCU's School of Music is to teach you how to impact your culture for Christ using excellence in music and music production. As a contemporary music minor student, you will receive personal attention from exceptional, creative, and caring faculty who are music industry professionals desiring not only to teach but also to mentor you. You will develop your gifts and talents in the music field while learning to worship God in all facets of life.
The partnership with the Contemporary Music Center in Nashville provides invaluable real-world experience in the heart of the music industry. You will gain an understanding of how to live out your faith unwaveringly while pursuing a career in entertainment. The program challenges you to grow spiritually while building professional skills, preparing you to serve God through contemporary music wherever He calls you in the industry.
What qualifies as contemporary music?
Contemporary music encompasses modern musical styles and genres that reflect current culture and innovation in the music industry. In CCU's contemporary music minor program, you will study popular music forms such as rock, pop, worship music, hip hop, electronic music, and other genres relevant to today's entertainment landscape. Contemporary music emphasizes current production techniques, digital technologies, and styles that resonate with modern audiences.
The program combines classical musical foundations with jazz improvisation and contemporary styles, all grounded in a Christian worldview. You will learn how contemporary music serves as a tool to impact culture for Christ while meeting the technical and artistic standards of the professional music industry. The Contemporary Music Center in Nashville provides immersion in the contemporary music scene, teaching you to navigate the modern music business while maintaining your faith and artistic integrity.
View the course catalog.
