A Warning to Students of Commercial Music: Interview with Professor John Amaral

Boston, Mass., August 12, 2007 - "Music Schools: Focused Diploma or Distracted Degree?"

In a recent interview, US School of Music Director, John Amaral, said "Degrees in music are vastly overrated. They primarily serve as the basis for continuing education or as a local requirement to get a teaching credential... or to please a parent, who might be footing the tuition bill. Most students don't need the credential. What they need instead, is really good, up to date training. They don't need the general distraction from their trade studies of non-music courses that degree programs require. After all, music is a competitive business; the fewer the distractions as you prepare for your career, the better. My advice is to get a USSCM Diploma for your career. It's quicker and more focused, so you can cover a lot more music studies in the same time. And, if you really want a liberal education or degree, also get it in business, after your music studies. That will help you survive and succeed in the Music Industry."


About the US School of Commercial Music
First founded in 1915, US School of Commercial Music continues a rich tradition as the oldest, most trusted name in distance music learning. Beginning in 1995, USSCM was the first institution to offer a college-level commercial music Diploma Program via online technology. Today, USSCM offers programs in every major category of commercial music, as well as unique proprietary Certificate Courses with content unobtainable elsewhere. Recognizing that each music student has unique needs, USSCM's Matriculation™ software technology gives students the unparalleled flexibility to design online, the exact program they need in five areas: Perfomance & Improvisation, The Schillinger System, Advanced Improvisation, SongWriting & Linear Counterpoint, Arranging, Orchestration and Music Production.

USSCM is also the most economical way to acquire the knowledge and skills which a commercial musician needs to compete and collect a paycheck in today's noisy musical environment. USSCM students save considerable money by studying at home, anywhere in the world, and they actually get a better education than at typical bricks and mortar schools. While there is no substitute for working with fellow students shoulder to shoulder, peers are seldom professionals. USSCM exposes each student to a higher quality of music information and more professional material, because it upgrades materials on a semi-annual basis, the only criteria being that it be the best, most timely information and presentation available.

For more information, please contact
US School of Commercial Music
www.usschoolofmusic.com.
info@usschoolofmusic.com
617-666-4839

Benefits of a College Level Program in Commercial Music

Boston, Mass., September 29, 2007 - "What Can You Really Learn From Random Lessons in Music?"

Random music lessons and study materials are fine for backyard performers but insufficient for aspiring commercial musicians. A residential college may provide what is needed, but it can be very expensive and its benefit is difficult to predict. Tuition may be extreme, the time commitment of 4 years is often unnecessary for the material covered and classroom training is not best for many musicians because they can often learn more quickly at-home or on the 'gig' (the job). Distance learning can be great for musicians, but it has pitfalls.

Programs may place artificial limitations on time. "You're doing an 'on-your-own-time' distance music course but we want you to finish this course along with the other random courses in which you are enrolled in within the next 4 weeks without any regard to the content of the courses you are taking." Worse yet, they may let their students think that taking "Basic ProTools" or "Beginner Guitar Chords" will make them proficient musicians!

Musicians should have distance programs that can be "tempo modified." The dated methods of post-humus academia just do not work for commercial music professional education. Time constraints (such as date set semesters and classes which don't compliment each other) are artificial impositions made by music courses which borrow from other academic institutions without consideration.

Distance education programs at these schools are hard to manage and student's really can't be sure that they're not leaving gaping holes in their craft. Students are made to assemble a program out of a few unfulfilling courses here and there and soon run out of choices, wasting a lot of precious resources, such as their enthusiasm, in the process. It's really like being made to build a house one room at a time under a contract agreement which stipulates that the house is complete at a certain time, no matter if there's a roof or not.

USSCM is the sole provider of complete college-level distance learning diploma programs in commercial music. If you have the determination to make it in the music business, you have what it takes to complete a distance education with USSCM.

About the US School of Commercial Music
First founded in 1915, US School of Commercial Music continues a rich tradition as the oldest, most trusted name in distance music learning. Beginning in 1995, USSCM was the first institution to offer a college-level commercial music Diploma Program via online technology. Today, USSCM offers programs in every major category of commercial music, as well as unique proprietary Certificate Courses with content unobtainable elsewhere. Recognizing that each music student has unique needs, USSCM's Matriculation™ software technology gives students the unparalleled flexibility to design online, the exact program they need in five areas: Performance & Improvisation, The Schillinger System, Advanced Improvisation, SongWriting & Linear Counterpoint, Arranging & Orchestration and Music Production & Engineering.

USSCM is also the most economical way to acquire the knowledge and skills which a commercial musician needs to compete and collect a paycheck in today's noisy musical environment. USSCM students save considerable money by studying at home, anywhere in the world, and they actually get a better education than at typical bricks and mortar schools. While there is no substitute for working with fellow students shoulder to shoulder, peers are seldom professionals. USSCM exposes each student to a higher quality of music information and more professional material, because it upgrades materials on a semi-annual basis, the only criteria being that it be the best, most timely information and presentation available.

For more information, please contact
Registrar, US School of Commercial Music
www.usschoolofmusic.com .
info@usschoolofmusic.com
617-666-4839

The Development of Distance Education in Commercial Music: A Comparison of Current Commercial Music Programs

Boston, Mass., September 9, 2007 - "Distance Learning in Commercial Music"

Training in Commercial Music is highly specialized and only a handful of institutions with music programs even attempt it. According to USSCM Director, John Amaral, "We can understand why traditional (conservation-based) music schools tend to steer clear -- analytical tools taught by traditional music schools are more suitable for classical music.

"Classical music is often acoustically different from commercial music. Classical and commercial music styles have almost completely different 'time feels', which is no surprise to the 'man on the street'. For this reason, it can be a losing battle to train at most music schools and then expect to get along in the commercial world (translation: "make a living")."

Faculty at Berklee from 1950 to 1990, such as Herb Pomeroy, Robert Share, John LaPorta, Ted Pease, Bill Leavitt and Michael Rendish, developed a new language and approach that was designed to apply to commercial music. During that time Berklee's unparalleled success and the proliferation of Berklee graduates has spread this language far and wide among professionals, but almost not at all among classical musicians.

While there are only a few schools that successfully teach commercial music, still fewer are those schools which train commercial music at a distance. While Berklee itself is taking some steps in distance education, careful comparison may show that it's online courses do not compete with the scope of its residential courses. More limited programs such as the legacy of the Dick Grove School serve little more than an unfocused pastime for its instructors. The US School of Commercial Music is the premier distance-learning commercial music school, offering complete college-level Diploma programs. The concentrations which students use to construct their diploma programs are comprehensive. The material and methods are the newest or best available; course materials are updated twice yearly, with no departmental requirements to use older materials.


According to Professor Amaral of USSCM, "Choice and flexibility are great reasons to choose USSCM for your commercial music education." He continued,

"USSCM has an approach unlike any other:

• It mixes proprietary materials with the best of published materials, which are evaluated and upgraded twice yearly.
• There are no distracting ' {non music} academic' subjects, such as English or History.
• There is no competition for resources between a 'bricks and mortar operation' versus 'online'; USSCM has only one agenda: a student's rapid progress on a "microsemester" pace, rather than keeping him or her in a too-lengthy "semester" program.
• Students work in all four rhythm section instrumental areas each microsemester.
• Students record homework in every subject.
• Feedback about homework is greatly facilitated by online communication and often seems immediate.
• USSCM tuition is realistic.
• USSCM programs offer students a level of choice and customization very difficult to achieve and manage with a 'classroom' model of course delivery."

About the US School of Commercial Music
First founded in 1915, US School of Commercial Music continues a rich tradition as the oldest, most trusted name in distance music learning. Beginning in 1995, USSCM was the first institution to offer a college-level commercial music Diploma Program via online technology. Today, USSCM offers programs in every major category of commercial music, as well as unique proprietary Certificate Courses with content unobtainable elsewhere. Recognizing that each music student has unique needs, USSCM's Matriculation™ software technology gives students the unparalleled flexibility to design online, the exact program they need in six areas: Perfomance & Improvisation, The Schillinger System, Advanced Improvisation, SongWriting & Linear Counterpoint, Arranging & Orchestration and Music Production. USSCM is also the most economical way to acquire the knowledge and skills which a commercial musician needs to compete and collect a paycheck in today's noisy musical environment. USSCM students save considerable money by studying at home, anywhere in the world, and they actually get a better education than at typical bricks and mortar schools. While there is no substitute for working with fellow students shoulder to shoulder, peers are seldom professionals. USSCM exposes each student to a higher quality of music information and more professional material, because it upgrades materials on a semi-annual basis, the only criteria being that it be the best, most timely information, with the best presentation available.

For more information, please contact
Registrar, US School of Commercial Music
www.usschoolofmusic.com.
info@usschoolofmusic.com
617-666-4839

A Satement on Mission and Purpose: Commercial Music Career Training that's Competitive and Affordable

Boston, Mass., October 12, 2007 - "A Statement of USSCM Mission: Affordable College Education in Commercial Music"

Commercial Music Career Training that's Competitive and Affordable

When talented young people seek advice about careers in commercial music, only a few schools may first come to mind. But such education is generally expensive and historically only places about 10% of its graduates within the Music Industry. That's quite a gamble!

US School of Commercial Music offers an alternative for precocious self-starters the opportunity to get a first-class commercial music college education at home by leveraging the best features of online learning to improve the learning experience. USSCM is a leader in distance learning that has roots going back to the beginning of the 20th century. Today, it is the only distance learning institution which offers complete Diploma programs in Commercial music.

USSCM students record all their homework and send it as soon as it's finished for immediate feedback by seasoned professional musicians. This introduces two efficiencies into the learning process which are unique to USSCM: students get plenty of audio recording experience right from the beginning of their studies and, even more importantly, they get feedback about their work while it is still fresh in their minds. The USSCM approach has many other advantages, which are discussed on the school's website.

There are two common issues students and guardians face: the cost of tuition and whether the student can make a decent living in music. USSCM costs only a fraction of an equivalent college's tuition, on the order of 10% of the typical cost. While there are several components to the latter issue, such as the intangibles of talent and determination, the low cost of USSCM makes finding out whether one 'has what it takes' a much less financially-risky venture. Since USSCM issues diplomas not degrees, the primary focus is music; there are no distracting general education requirements — which shortens the learning time. For those who feel the need, this can leave time and money for getting a business together or working on another degree after they develop their trade competency.

USSCM Director, John Amaral, has said, "We often recommend that students first get themselves together musically, then get college-level training in business, because every career musician is a small-business."

There is one final point that is worth mentioning: commercial music is taught at only a few schools, despite what claims may be made! Students should be advised to study at an institution known for training professional commercial musicians, not a typical music school, which generally have traditional, conservatory (typically 'classical music') approaches.

Here is a comparison of typical tuition costs. The second number in a group indicates estimated away-from-home living expenses:

Berklee College of Music (8 semesters) $88,000/$136,000
Musician's Institute (GIT) (16 quarters) $80,000/$$100,000
USSCM (12 microsemesters) $10,125/at-home living expenses

About the US School of Commercial Music
First founded in 1915, US School of Commercial Music continues a rich tradition as the oldest, most trusted name in distance music learning. Beginning in 1995, USSCM was the first institution to offer a college-level commercial music Diploma Program via online technology. Today, USSCM offers programs in every major category of commercial music, as well as unique proprietary Certificate Courses with content unobtainable elsewhere. Recognizing that each music student has unique needs, USSCM's Matriculation™ software technology gives students the unparalleled flexibility to design online, the exact program they need in five areas: Performance & Improvisation, The Schillinger System, Advanced Improvisation, SongWriting & Linear Counterpoint, Arranging & Orchestration and Music Production & Engineering.

USSCM is also the most economical way to acquire the knowledge and skills which a commercial musician needs to compete and collect a paycheck in today's noisy musical environment. USSCM students save considerable money by studying at home, anywhere in the world, and they actually get a better education than at typical bricks and mortar schools. While there is no substitute for working with fellow students shoulder to shoulder, peers are seldom professionals. USSCM exposes each student to a higher quality of music information and more professional material, because it upgrades materials on a semi-annual basis, the only criteria being that it be the best, most timely information and presentation available.


For more information, please contact
Registrar, US School of Commercial Music
www.usschoolofmusic.com.
info@usschoolofmusic.com
617-666-4839

A Fond Look Back at Dean Earl and the Importance of Performance in the Music Industry: Interview with Professor John Amaral

Boston, Mass., October 9, 2007 - "Can he Play?" - Dean Earl

US School of Commercial Music Director, John Amaral remarked, "Back at Berklee, we had this great piano teacher, Dean Earl. He was funny! Every time things started to get bureaucratic and some new hotshot was pontificating, Dean would respond "Can he play?" and we would all crack up. We knew that the one thing no one could ever take away from us was our love for music and the soaring feeling you get playing with other musicians. That's one reason why, at USSCM, we emphasize Performance and Improvisation first. These become the basis of further studies."

There are posers and then there are players. Can you play?

Professor Amaral, continued: "If some prospective student comes in (and they do) asking 'I can't play -- but can you teach me Pro Tools?' my response is always 'we sure can -- but we won't, because we want you to succeed in the competitive music business' We want to turn out well-rounded musicians, even if they make their living as producers or entertainment executives! It's important to note that the emphasis on Performance & Improvisation during the first module continues in all the subsequent modules, supporting the material that is relevant and appropriate to each. That way, a student continually hones his or her basic craft. All this cross-pollination serves to create a rich milieu for broad musical growth."

About the US School of Commercial Music
First founded in 1915, US School of Commercial Music continues a rich tradition as the oldest, most trusted name in distance music learning. Beginning in 1995, USSCM was the first institution to offer a college-level commercial music Diploma Program via online technology. Today, USSCM offers programs in every major category of commercial music, as well as unique proprietary Certificate Courses with content unobtainable elsewhere. Recognizing that each music student has unique needs, USSCM's Matriculation™ software technology gives students the unparalleled flexibility to design online, the exact program they need in five areas: Performance & Improvisation, The Schillinger System, Advanced Improvisation, SongWriting & Linear Counterpoint, Arranging & Orchestration and Music Production & Engineering.

USSCM is also the most economical way to acquire the knowledge and skills which a commercial musician needs to compete and collect a paycheck in today's noisy musical environment. USSCM students save considerable money by studying at home, anywhere in the world, and they actually get a better education than at typical bricks and mortar schools. While there is no substitute for working with fellow students shoulder to shoulder, peers are seldom professionals. USSCM exposes each student to a higher quality of music information and more professional material, because it upgrades materials on a semi-annual basis, the only criteria being that it be the best, most timely information and presentation available.

For more information, please contact
Registrar, US School of Commercial Music
www.usschoolofmusic.com.
info@usschoolofmusic.com
617-666-4839