COURSE POLICY STATEMENT AND SYLLABUS

MUS 629—Introduction to Commercial Music 9:30-10:45 TR

Dr. John Prescott, Ellis 308 (Campus phone 836-5748)
Office Hours TWRF 8:00, 9:00 M
Spring, 2018

A. Purpose: To expose the student to a wide variety of techniques and aspects of the
commercial music field.

B. Absence Policy: Students should not miss class. They will be held responsible for any
materials covered on days missed. Tests may not be made up except in cases of extenuating
circumstances. Projects turned in after the due date will be lowered one letter grade for each
class session they are late.

C. Missouri State University is a community of scholars committed to developing educated

persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal and academic integrity. You are
responsible for knowing and following the university’s student honor code, Student Academic
Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at http://www.smsu.edu/acadaff/AcademicIntegrity.html
and also available at the Reserves Desk in Meyer Library. Any student participating in any form of
academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in this policy.

D. Missouri State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a

grievance procedure available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated
against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns about possible discrimination
to the Office of Equal Opportunity Officer, Siceluff Hall 296, (417) 836-4252. Other types of
concerns
(i.e., concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed directly with your instructor and can
also be brought to the attention of your instructor’s Department Head.

E. As a member of the learning community, each student has a responsibility to other students
who are members of the community. When cell phones or pagers ring and students respond in
class or leave class to respond, it disrupts the class. Therefore, the Office of Academic Affairs
prohibits the use by students of cell phones, pagers, or similar communication devices during
scheduled classes. All such devices must be turned off or put in a silent mode and cannot be
taken out during class. Violation of this policy may include a student being dismissed from the
class. In testing situations, use of cell phones or similar communication devices may lead also
to a charge of academic dishonesty and additional sanctions under the Student Academic
Integrity Policies and Procedures. For more information, please see
http://www.smsu.edu/acadaff/AcademicIntegrity.html

F. If you are a student with a disability and anticipate barriers related to this course, it is important to
request accommodations and establish an accommodation plan with the University. Please contact the
Disability Resource Center (DRC) (https://www.missouristate.edu/disability/), Meyer Library, Suite 111,
417-836-4192, to initiate the process to establish your accommodation plan. The DRC will work with you
to establish your accommodation plan, or it may refer you to other appropriate resources based on the
nature of your disability. In order to prepare an accommodation plan, the University usually requires that
students provide documentation relating to their disability. Please be prepared to provide such
documentation if requested. Once a University accommodation plan is established, you may notify the class
instructor of approved accommodations. If you wish to utilize your accommodation plan, it is suggested
that you do so in a timely manner, preferably within the first two weeks of class. Early notification to the
instructor allows for full benefit of the accommodations identified in the plan. Instructors will not receive
the accommodation plan until you provide that plan, and are not required to apply accommodations
retroactively.

G. Grading: The final grade will be determined by the following criteria:

Animation Project: 100 points

Tests(4): 400 points
Final Project (Jingle): 100 points
Theory Research Paper: 100 points

Total Points=700.

H. There will be no smoking, food, or drink in the electronic studio. Only students enrolled in
MUS 629 or in composition courses, or guest performers (who have been approved by the
course instructor) will be in the studio at any time. All equipment is to be treated with respect and
is to be left in a normalized state at the conclusion of all lab sessions. Any personally-owned
equipment should be removed before the next student(s) use the lab. Offenders of these
policies may be dismissed from the course.

I. It is helpful if students who take this course have prior experience working with the recording
equipment in this studio, or similar equipment.

J: Text: Baskerville, Music Business Handbook, 11th Edition

WEEK MATERIAL

1/16 Introduction, Orientation, Music Copyright, Chapters 1,2,3,4

1/23 Music in Television and Movies, Chapters 20, 21. R 1/25 No Class

1/30 Music in Theatre, Chapter 23. Guest Speaker: Kim Prescott(T)

2/6 Music Licensing, Chapter 7. Guest Speaker: Jason Salazar(R)

2/13 Test 1. Songwriting, Record Production, Labels, and Promotion.

Chapters 5, 12, 13,14. Guest Speaker: Bob Lord(T)

2/20 Music Products, Chapter 24. Guest Speaker: Eric Matzat(T)

2/27 Troubleshooting Animation Projects. Agents, Venues, Arts Administration,

Chapters 8, 16, 17 Guest Speaker: Keith Boaz (R),

2/28 Test 2. R: Video Project Due

3/6 Marketplace Research, Music in Advertising, Chapter 15, 22, 25 Guest Speaker:
Darcy Stevens(R).

3/13 Spring Break

3/20 Unions and Guilds, Arts Administration, Chapters 10,18 Guest Speaker:
Mark Bilyeu. MUS 629 Papers Due.

3/27 Starting your own business, Chapter 26, Guest Speaker: Jennifer Jester

4/3 Test 3. Music Publishing, Chapter 6, Guest Speaker: Susan Labarr

4/10 Music in Radio, Chapter 19, (R, Spring Holiday)

4/17 DIY Toolkit, Chapter 26, Guest Speaker: Ed Carson. Theory Research
Paper

4/24 Artist Management, Recording Contracts, Chapters 9, 11 Guest Speaker: Robin

Luke(T)

5/1 Test 4, Troubleshoot Final Projects

5/8 Final Project Work, R 5/10 No Class

5/15 Final Project Hearings (Tuesday, May 15, 8:45-10:45)