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Music & Technology

A Collaborative Approach to the Future of Music

Carnegie Mellon University's Music and Technology program was established in 2009 as a joint project between three of the schools: The School of Music, School of Computer Science, and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Building on this interdisciplinary approach, Carnegie Mellon University's Music and Technology program gives students everything they need to become the future of the music industry.

Students at the undergraduate and graduate levels are able to hone their skills in an interdisciplinary environment, focusing on a chosen area of study, such as Recording Technology, Audio Engineering, Computer Music, Music Composition, Music Performance, and Music Theory. Our expert faculty promotes a collaborative approach to cutting-edge education that gives our students both the specialized knowledge and breadth of skills to foster development in the field of music.

This program consists of a set of courses that span music, electrical engineering, and computer science, as well as a capstone composition/design/performance project. The goal of the core coursework in music and technology is to provide a comprehensive undergraduate understanding of all three areas of study: music, computer science and electrical engineering. In other words, regardless of the entry point – an interest in computer science, electrical engineering, or music – the coursework prescribed will allow each student to gain the requisite knowledge and experience in all three areas. Students will work closely with advisors and will be guided in both course selection and capstone projects. This program is for students who want to pursue music technology as a career. These may be students who are accomplished musicians, have a keen interest in science and engineering, and want to explore the musical applications of technology. These may also be students with experience in recording or electronic music composition/production who desire to study these areas along with the technological underpinnings of audio engineering and computer science.

For more specific information regarding the curriculum for the undergraduate Music & Technology program please refer to the Undergraduate Course Catalog or the details section on this page.

If you are a current Carnegie Mellon undergraduate student, you may apply for internal transfer into this degree program.

B.S in Music and Technology Curriculum

In the Music and Technology undergraduate program, students complete either the Music Concentration or the Technical Concentration.

General Requirements

SEMINAR

57-570 Music and Technology Seminar (8 semesters) 8 units

UNIVERSITY REQUIRED COURSE

99-10x Computing @ Carnegie Mellon 3 units
76-101 Interpretation and Argument 9 units
79-104 Introduction to World History 9 units

MUSIC CONCENTRATION

57-5xx Studio (4 semesters) 36 units
57-417 or 57-418 Major Ensemble (4 semesters) 24 units

EMPHASIS ON ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

18-220 Electronic Devices and Analog Circuits 12 units
18-240 Structure and Design of Digital Systems 12 units
15-2xx/18-3xx or above Electives in ECE or CS 12 units

EMPHASIS ON COMPUTER SCIENCE

15-128 CS Freshman Immigration 1 unit
15-210 Parallel and Sequential Data Structures and Algorithms 12 units
15-323 Computer Music Systems and Info Proc 9 units
15-2xx/18-3xx or above Electives in ECE or CS 12 units

TECHNICAL CONCENTRATION

21-127 Concepts of Mathematics 9 units
15-213/18-243 Introduction to Computer Systems 12 units

In the technical concentration, students also complete a set of courses with an emphasis on Electrical Engineering or Computer Science.

MUSIC CORE

57-152 Harmony I 9 units
57-153 Harmony II 9 units
57-151 Principles of Counterpoint 6 units
57-408 Form and Analysis 6 units
57-258 20th and 21st Century Techniques 6 units
57-257 Orchestration I 6 units
57-189 Repertoire & Listening I 3 units
57-190 Repertoire & Listening II 3 units
57-289 Repertoire & Listening III 3 units
57-290 Repertoire & Listening IV 3 units
57-181 Solfege I 3 units
57-182 Solfege II 3 units
57-183 Solfege III 3 units
57-184 Solfege IV 3 units
57-161 Eurythmics I 3 units
57-162 Eurythmics II 3 units
57-173 Survey of Western Music History 9 units

MUSIC AND TECHNOLOGY CORE

15-112 Principles of Programming 10 units
15-122 Principles of Imperative Computation 9 units
15-322 Introduction to Computer Music 9 units
18-100 Introduction to ECE 12 units
18-202 Math Foundations of EE 12 units
18-290 Signal and Information Processing 12 units
57-101 Introduction To Music Technology 6 units
57-347 Electronic and Computer Music 6 units
57-337 Sound Recording 6 units
57-338 Editing and Mastering 6 units
57-438 Multitrack Recording 9 units
57-571 Project 12 units
57-572 Project 12 units

Internal Transfer Admission Procedures

Submit the application for internal transfer to School of Music, CFA 108, attn: Sharon Johnston, by October 1 or March 1.

Note: You must choose a Music (includes Composition) Concentration or a Technical Concentration.

If you are a music major and you choose the music concentration, you must be enrolled in or have completed the following courses with a C grade or better:

  • 15-110 Introduction to Programming
  • 18-100 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • 21-120 Differential and Integral Calculus

If you are a music major and you choose the technical concentration, you must be enrolled in or have completed the following courses with a C grade or better:

  • 15-110 Introduction to Programming
  • 18-100 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • 21-120 Differential and Integral Calculus

If you are not a music major and you choose the music concentration, you must pass an audition and you must be enrolled in or have completed the following courses with a C grade or better:

  • 15-110 Introduction to Programming
  • 18-100 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • 21-120 Differential and Integral Calculus

If you are not a music major and you choose the technical concentration, you must pass an audition or submit a portfolio that will document your music activities and pass placement tests in harmony and solfege or complete Harmony I and Solfege I with a C grade or better:

  • 57-149 or 57-152 Basic Harmony I or Harmony I
  • 57-180 or 57-181 Basic Solfege I or Solfege I

You must be enrolled in or have completed the following courses with a C grade or better:

  • 15-110 Introduction to Programming
  • 18-100 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • 21-120 Differential and Integral Calculus

Internal transfer admission decisions, which will be effective as of the following semester, will be made later in October or March after midterm grades are published.

Internal Transfer Admission Policies

  • You must not be on probation or suspension in your current college.
  • You must have at least a 3.0 cumulative QPA.
  • First-year students cannot apply for transfer until the spring semester.
  • Students must be in residence in the program for a minimum of four semesters.

Because students must be in residence in the program for a minimum of four semesters, transfer beyond the end of the sophomore year will require enrollment for additional semesters beyond the usual eight semesters expected for completion of an undergraduate degree.