Harper to launch music production degree, merging creativity and technology: Harper College

Students interested in the art and business of sound will have a dynamic new pathway
at Harper College this fall. The college is introducing the 65-credit hour Associate in Fine Arts with Music Production Emphasis, a degree designed to blend creativity with cutting-edge technology.

This new program will serve students interested in music production, audio engineering
and related fields. Unlike Harper’s existing A.F.A. with Music Emphasis, which focuses primarily on performance and traditional music education, the Music
Production Emphasis degree centers on the technological aspects of the music industry.
Featuring an internship as a capstone project, the program will prepare students for
seamless transfer to four-year institutions and train the next generation of film
composers and music producers, audio engineers and beat-makers.

“The facets of what it means to be a musician today are expanding,” said Edward Hamel,
assistant professor and chair of Harper’s Department of Music. “There are so many
artists and students who are making music with technology and may not have proficiency
with a conservatory instrument. We also have music students at Harper who are taking
the Fundamentals of Audio course because they want to be able to record themselves.
We saw this degree as an opportunity to build a bridge between the music and audio
areas.”

The program’s curriculum will provide students with hands-on training in key areas
such as recording, editing, mixing and mastering music. Students will learn to use
industry-standard software and professional recording equipment, apply audio effects
and understand digital audio workstations. They will gain experience in state-of-the-art
facilities such as Harper’s modular synthesizer studio and the new, large-format audio
studio, which features two live rooms and one control room.

“We have a 24-channel console and a slew of outboard gear. It’s designed to record,
mix and master just about anything,” Hamel said. “This studio functions exactly like
a professional studio.”

Music Production Emphasis students will also explore the cultural and business contexts
of music. The degree program features a restructured Introduction to Music Careers
course rooted in key elements of the music business from contracts and residuals to
booking gigs and creating events. Hamel considers it a how-to guide for being a sole
proprietor in the industry.

Another required course is Diverse Traditions in American Music: Hip-Hop because the
genre was crucial in forging the concept of using technology to create music. The
course is set up as both a lecture and a lab for students to learn about the development
of hip-hop while exploring components like sampling and recreating iconic beats.

Program outcomes are designed to reflect the needs of today’s music and audio industries.
Students will graduate able to compose music using common techniques, edit sound files
for both technical and creative purposes and analyze recordings for balance, clarity
and instrumentation. They will also build a strong foundation in music theory and
understand how to navigate the broader music business landscape.

“Harper’s new A.F.A. with Music Production Emphasis builds on Harper’s legacy of music
education while opening the door for students who are more interested in the technical
sides of the industry,” said Jaime Riewerts, dean of Liberal Arts. “It’s a natural
extension of what Harper’s Department of Music has been doing for decades – providing
students with the skills, tools and experiences they need to thrive in a wide range
of musical careers.”

Indeed, the new degree represents an expansion of the college’s esteemed music program,
which already features instruction from more than 50 professional artists as well
as solo and ensemble performance opportunities at Harper and in the region. Harper’s ensembles range from the Jazz Ensemble and Steel Drum Bands to the Symphony Orchestra and two new groups: the Popular Music Ensemble (starting in the fall) and the Chamber
Music Ensemble (beginning in Spring 2026).

Harper’s music production degree also complements the college’s Audio/Video Arts Technology certificate, which prepares students for direct entry into live event and media production roles.
Together, these programs show how Harper supports students no matter their path –
whether they’re heading straight into the industry or advancing in their education.

“Historically, at many institutions, music and audio were two separate departments.
Harper and others are seeing the value of having these programs in one place, because
that’s what students want. It makes perfect sense,” Hamel said. “We’ve created a space
where all of these things can live in harmony.”

Click here for more information about the A.F.A. with Music Production Emphasis.