NEW DIPLOMA PROGRAM MODULES ANNOUNCED BY US SCHOOL OF COMMERCIAL MUSIC

The new modular structure makes possible comprehensive customizable program choices.

NEWARK, Delaware, November 2, 2007 - USSCM announced today several new Diploma Program Modules. According to the USSCM catalog, the descriptions of the modules are:

"Performance & Improvisation (P&I) Module
4 microsemesters: In the USSCM Performance & Improvisation Program, you will acquire a firm foundation in such essential areas of music as:

* Eartraining, the skill to know and musically name what it is you are hearing.
* Harmony, the skill to recognize the harmonic sequences and practices associated with historical musical styles.
* Notation, the art of clearly writing music which will be played by yourself and others.
* Arranging, the art and skill of creating modern charts for performance by small groups or as overdubs.
* Instrumental Technique, the art of rapidly acquiring skill on your primary and secondary instruments.
* Improvisation, the art of real-time composition on your primary and secondary instruments.
* Ensemble Training, the essential experience of playing with other great professional musicians through the exclusive USSCM Faculty Minus One(tm) process.
* Repertory, the experience of exposure to and immersion in a wide variety of commercial musical styles. (design your program now)

"Continue your program by choosing up to six other professional areas:
The core categories of study in each of the subsequent modules remain the same (Eartraining, Harmony, etc.), but with increasing sophistication; to these are added the relevant module materials for a well-rounded program.

Schillinger System of Musical Composition ("Schillinger") Module
4 microsemesters: The world-famous Schillinger System is the advanced tool for music analysis and generation that has been used very successfully by such songwriters as George Gershwin, such improvisors as Howard Roberts and a great many Hollywood film composers; for example, it was the Schillinger System that Gershwin used to compose "I Got Rhythm," and which HR used to develop the vocabulary of his well-known solo style.

USSCM has modernized the Schillinger System for today's composers and improvisors who wish to have a special professional edge in their understanding of melodic and rhythmic development (which is perhaps the most important shaping force in music). In the Schillinger Program, USSCM brings the Schillinger System up to date; within the SSMC Module, students also cover and compare such esoteric systems as JS Bach's System of Chordscales, the George Russell Lydian Chromatic Concept, Bill Leavitt's Melodic Chordscale System, Charlie Parker's System of Jazz Improvisation, and several other useful approaches. To elect Schillinger, you should have a working fluency with the subjects covered in Melody/Songwriting/Linear Counterpoint and be prepared to rapidly realize your work and record it as MP3 audio files.

Concentrations which require Arranging / Orchestration or Media Scoring also require Schillinger. It should be noted that SSMC is a helpful tool; not a major concentration.

Because every professional musician is a small business, the Schillinger Module now includes music business courses such as economics, financial management and investments, as they apply to the music business. The Schillinger Module is the most appropriate one to incorporate business studies, because its study stimulates the mathematical functions of the brain.

Advanced Improvisation (AI) Module
4 microsemesters: In Performance & Improvisation, we have laid the technical and stylistic groundwork which includes Standards, Duke/Miles, Classics/Ballads, Latin/Bossa. Advanced Improvisation continues, with the development of skills for further important styles: Blues, Bebop, Fusion, Modern Jazz, etc. Stylistic repertoire is continued appropriately in all the other modules. While building repertoire, we continue the subject structure outlined in Performance & Improvisation above, but the content becomes increasingly advanced, covering all sorts of improvisational approaches and theories applicable to modern commercial music.

Melody, Songwriting & Linear Counterpoint (MSLC) Module
4 microsemesters: To elect MSLC, you should have a working fluency with Commercial Music Eartraining, Harmony, Notation, MP3 Recording Techniques, a substantial Performance Repertory of important Commercial Music styles, experience with Performance & Improvisation in Ensemble settings and familiarity with the fundamentals of Arranging, all of which are features of the USSCM P&I Module.

* as you build upon your P&I foundation, in the MSLC Module you will acquire powerful techniques of melodic and thematic analysis with which to explore a substantial but focused library of important music. Equipped with new analytical skills and musical conditioning, you will then turn to linguistic analysis and apply it to both rapid song composition and real-time improvisation.

Finally, as an essential component of the development of a personal style, you will explore the balance between the vertical and linear aspects of music through the creation of a wide range of projects from modern 'chorales' to contemporary 'fugues'. In the MSLC Module, not only songwriters and composers, but also guitarists and keyboardists will benefit from a full elaboration of these techniques on their primary and secondary instruments.

Business courses included in the SongWriting Module include Selling and Sales, which are essential professional tunesmith activities.

Arranging / Orchestration (A/O) Module (prerequisite: Schillinger System Module)
4 microsemesters: Students who elect A/O should have a working fluency with the concepts of the MSLC and SSMC Modules. In the USSCM A/O Program, you will acquire dexterity in your creative use of the mechanics of ensemble expression within various musical settings and production situations.

* You will acquire the techniques of Jazz Composition, Arranging for Large Ensembles, Writing for Strings and Principles of Orchestration. Projects include writing and realizing scores of various size ensembles and studio orchestras.

Media Scoring (MS) Module (prerequisites: Schillinger System (S) and Arranging/Orchestration (Ork))
4 microsemesters: USSCM students who elect Media Scoring will have achieved, as a prerequisite, the subjects covered in P&I, MSLC, SSMC, A/0 and, as an important byproduct of their studies, a practical understanding of the recording and overdubbing process. In the MS Program, you will take your skills to the next level as you learn how to synchronize musical recordings to visual media such as film, video, etc. You will accomplish projects in several important Commercial Music forms and styles, including Jingles (the art of musical merchandising), Commercials (the art of audiovisual persuasion), Trailers (coming attractions) and Filmscores (the art of enhancing the audience's emotional experience of a movie).

By artfully blending the skills of the arranger, composer, performer and engineer, today's film, video and CD-ROM composers are specialists who command good salaries and have interesting work in the fastest growing area of the music business. Multimedia composers are found everywhere the visual and aural arts meet.

Music Production & Engineering (MPE) Module
4 microsemesters: For maximum flexibility, the MP&E module may be added to any USSCM program, or taken right after P&I.

USSCM's philosophy is to train musicians first and engineers second, because engineers who are musicians understand the needs of clients and the intricacies of the medium much better than those who don't play. Secondly, USSCM aims for its students to understand the underlying principles of the sciences of vibration, acoustics and electronics so that they can make informed purchase decisions and acquire the skills to use music technology despite changes in the technological terrain which always progress with time. Thirdly, Production & Engineering students are given business studies unique to the recording/distribution business which are not covered as business studies in the Schillinger program.

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 Diploma 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 Matriculate™ online technology gives students the unparalleled flexibility to design the exact program they need by sequencing seven basic areas called "Modules": Performance & Improvisation, Schillinger System/LineWriting/Music Business, Advanced Improvisation, Melody/SongWriting & Linear Counterpoint, Arranging & Orchestration, Media Composition & Scoring and Music Production & Engineering. Each Module consists of 4 microsemesters of concentrated studies.

At the start of each microsemester, US School of Commercial Music students receive a large package of customized materials covering all their study subjects. Projects are recorded and returned to the college via the internet for rapid feedback. 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 internal 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 each subject.
• Feedback about homework is greatly facilitated by online communication and often seems immediate.
• USSCM tuition is realistic, with generous scholarships and discounts.
• USSCM programs offer students a level of choice and customization very difficult to achieve and manage with a 'classroom' model of course delivery."

US School of Commercial Music is the most economical way to acquire the knowledge and skills 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 may 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, student peers are seldom professionals. In comparison with many other schools and other approaches to commercial music study, USSCM exposes each student to a higher quality of music information, better accompaniments and professional presentations, because it upgrades materials on a semi-annual basis, with the primary requirement that it be the best information and most effective presentation available. By rising above the typical noise in music education, USSCM saves its students time, money and energy.

At www.usschoolofmusic.com, prospective students may read about course offerings, initiate inquiries, design their program, determine tuition costs, scholarship elgibility, financing options and aid, fill out and submit their application, print their learning agreement for faxing, and much more. Also from the college homepage, students, alumni and industry professionals may access several useful resources: Music Industry News, USSCM News, MI Jobs, USSCM Forum and USSCM Internet Radio.

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

posted by director@usschoolofmusic.com at

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US SCHOOL OF COMMERCIAL MUSIC ANNOUNCES CERTIFICATE COURSES

Radically different music courses contain 'holy grail' information and training tools unobtainable outside of entertainment capitals such as Hollywood or New York.

NEWARK, Delaware, December 4, 2007 - US School of Commercial Music today announced new Certificate Courses which can save students years of private study. They may be taken individually or as part of a USSCM Diploma Program. Each course is complete in itself and covers hard to find information which functions as a through grounding in its subject, without unnecessary 'busy work'. Students, in confidence of not wasting their resources, need only add their creative energy, will, determination, strong wishes and goals!

Because not everyone has the need or the time for a full college program, US School of Commercial Music staff has designed several "Certificate" courses which concentrate deeply on important essential subjects for *all* Commercial musicians, without requiring pre-requisites to study. These courses also function as electives for Diploma students (who choose at least two). For more information, please go to www.usschoolofmusic.com.

MUSIC UNIVERSALS
Perfect Pitch Conditioning
Relative Pitch Eartraining (for non-Diploma students only)
Personality Resonance Practicum for Performers, Songwriters & Composers

TRAININGS
Physical Conditioning for Musicians
Emotional Development for Musicians
Vibrational Sensitizing for Musicians
Intellectual Training for Musicians
Spiritual Evolution for Musicians

WORKSHOPS
SuperChops for Guitarists
SuperChops for Soloists
Chordology for Guitarists
Chordology for Keyboardists

INTENSIVES
Performance Boot Camp
('get up to speed' for USSCM Diploma Programs;
open to entering Diploma students who are good music sight readers)


Descriptions of the Certificate Courses:
________________________
UNIVERSALS:
PERFECT PITCH
10 Weeks
While some highly-advertised courses are 'snake oil', it is possible for most of us to overcome years of Relative Pitch conditioning and experience increasing levels of Absolute Pitch sensitivity, but training must be very precise to succeed. USSCM has assembled and organized all the relevent research, surveyed all the historical and currently available methods, evaluated and put it all into a fun but 'no-punches-pulled' perspective. This information has been judiciously combined with the most efficient methods and USSCM's proprietary approach for acquiring Absolute Pitch, organized as a serious regimen. For lasting results, you must be prepared to work daily for short but concentrated periods (one hour minumum)! You may not take this course at the same time as Relative Pitch Universals! Students who complete both Relative Pitch and Perfect Pitch will receive bonus instructions on how to sustain both skills. This is an evolving course, with new information and techniques added periodically. Students who complete both Relative Pitch and Perfect Pitch will receive bonus instructions on how to sustain both skills and may retake either for half tuition.


RELATIVE PITCH
10 Weeks
Most of us experience Relative Pitch, but our sensitivity is often not high enough to be truly useful. Starting from the beginning and progressing rapidly, USSCM has assembled all the tradtional approaches, organized and modified them, then combined them with USSCM's proprietary approach into the most efficient professional RP training system ever devised. This is the most comprehensive approach to making our Relative Pitch skills more intense and useful and simultaneously trains many important other tonal harmonic and melodic skills. You may not take this course at the same time as Perfect Pitch Universals! This is an evolving course, with new information and techniques periodically added. Students who complete both Relative Pitch and Perfect Pitch will receive bonus instructions on how to sustain both skills and may retake either for half tuition.


PERSONALITY RESONANCE PRACTICUM FOR PERFORMERS, SONGWRITERS AND COMPOSERS
10 Weeks
All musicians can benefit from the skills of reading people (consider live audiences, owners, demos, auditions, target audiences and colleagues). Personality reading and an understanding of personality interaction is another one of those special skills such as Perfect Pitch which can give a musician a distinctive competitive edge, increase his or her ability to negotiate the difficulties of relationship and enhance management skills, while interacting with them musically or in life settings. Musicians generally already have the advantage that they understand the principle of resonance, in which sound energy transfers from one system to another through an interposing medium such as wood, water, or air, but not a vacuum. Nevertheless, the principle of resonance extends to massless systems as well, such as can be seen with tuned radio or tv antennas for electromagnetic radiation, or the chakras and latifas of the human body for energies not known to western science. (Resonance also figures into the principles discussed by GI Gurdjieff, where 'foods' that enter us from outside our organism are resonant with materials already within us – enzymes, for example – after which they are digested. This is in contrast with the internal stages of digestion, which he describes as a 'blending' of non-resonant materials to get a material of an order and having a state falling between the other two.)

Students will learn to identify the typical personality resonances and make efforts to objectively sense the nature of their relationships with people having other personality types as their centers of gravity. Various exercises will be introduced to assist the student to experience unfamiliar types in their healthy upside, which is invaluable. Adventurous students, primarily songwriters and composers, may also briefly explore the unhealthy downsides of these personalities for the purpose of depiction in their art. Emphasis will also be placed on techniques for avoiding the downsides of one's own personality and that of others, which is of particular usefulness to performing artists who would be masters of themselves, their instruments and their art.

Students will also learn to objectively and scientifically type personality using cutting-edge database research coupled with ancient Eastern systems and to apply it to musical instrument preferences, musical aptitudes and preferential styles. Students will further learn to access these aspects of themselves for the purpose of becoming better musicians and human beings. Interactions between personalities will be explored, within the context of musical production. This is a not-to-be-missed study for serious musicians from all ethnic backgrounds, instruments, musical styles and experiences that has life changing and career enhancing implications.

TRAININGS:
PHYSICAL CONDITIONING FOR MUSICIANS
10 Weeks
"Mens sana in corpore sano." ("A sound mind in a sound body.")

Music making, like other arts, is a highly distilled composite expression of our three functional brains (physical, emotional, intellectual*); the result of many successively finer processes within each of the brains and their associated 'bodies'. For these processes to all function well, there must be available to us a tremendous amount of biological energy, which is sourced by the physical body.

Physical conditioning is concerned with having a strong generator of this energy and a solid platform for support of the higher functions of each functional brain. After an explanation of the mechanisms whereby this energy is created, we will look at a number of approaches to building, conserving and utilizing it, by no means exhaustive but nevertheless extraordinary, because no one method is sufficient for the quantity of energy and support required for mastery or artistry. Students will develop a daily regimen designed to build attention and will, and to strengthen the functioning of their physical organisms.

EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR MUSICIANS
10 Weeks
Expression in music, whether, of the second brain (through tone, fine motor movement of the hands, smooth movement and gesture, posture, facial expression), of the first brain (through rhythmic movement, percussion and percussive sounds), or of the third brain (in melody, tonality, interesting harmony, counterpoint, lyrics, arranging & orchestration), requires careful attention to the elements of musical styles and one's ability to resonate with them. Such resonance is complicated by struggling with our general incapacities to feel and empathize, that is, to know what and how we are feeling at all times, to know how others are feeling or emoting as often and as best we can, and to realize our relationship with others at all times. These capacities must be identified and grown for us to successfully resonate in all situations. Music, which has been characterized as "the language of emotion" is actually a language of expression for all three brains. It is first of all, pre-verbal or imitative of speech, but may also have lyrics. Finally, messages in music may be mixed, just as they are in real life. A true professional human musician will be able to sort out these messages and to understand and employ the effects of their expression.

Students will complete assignments and be given exercises for the thorough exploration of these matters for the development of emotional expression. Mixed messages, while possibly fascinating, destroy emotional coherence; students will also explore their causes and preventions.

VIBRATIONAL SENSITIZING FOR MUSICIANS
10 Weeks
Music is based on vibration but why do musicians need to study it, what is it and what is the 'vibrational world'? This is best described by example:

What's the vibe? Are you the least bit superstitious? Have you ever felt you're being watched? Did you ever feel "I have to get out of here."? Do you have any experience of luck? Have you ever felt deja vu? Have you ever met a person or seen a place that immediately seems to have extraordinary significance to your life? Do you experience the presence of supernatural entities?

In addition to the examples above, the 'vibrational world' also concerns the so-called 'higher emotions' or impulses, such as peace/tranquillity, fairness, orderliness, individuality and good judgement. Ignoring these aspects is tantamount to ignoring the 25% of your audience whose personalities call the vibrational world "home," which a professional or serious musician cannot afford to do. Attending to them, can allow you your musical expression of all styles to contain these higher elements and thus resonate with and appeal to more people outwardly and help you resonate with them internally for yourself. (It should be noted that, while important, the impulses of the vibrational world are subordinate to such functions as faith, hope and love and conscience.)

Students will strive to identify, in real-time, the emanations of the 'vibrational world', both human and musical. This effort is particularly useful for students who wish to develop a spiritual side to their music and/or identify aspects of music which may be beyond the ordinary manifestations of human life, that is, extraordinary. About this, see "Spiritual Evolution."

INTELLECTUAL TRAINING FOR MUSICIANS
10 Weeks
While in the physical and emotional aspects of music making, will and attention are very important, the intellectual aspect cannot be expressed at all without them. Melody, tonality, interesting harmony, counterpoint, lyrics, arranging & orchestration are fundamentally dependent on the third brain's ability to abstract and symbolize through the focusing of attention, directed by will. In fact, an excess of attention is necessary, if one is to attend at once to the expressions of each brain, but nowhere is it so obvious as in fugue, in which multiple melodies weave through each other.

Students work with various attention-building and focusing exercises, then apply them to music, in order to begin to identify the taste of the workings of will and attention in the intellectual aspects of music. The capacities of attention are explored and exercised with respect to music making.

SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION FOR MUSICIANS
10 Weeks
There is music which belongs to none of the ordinary worlds: physical, vibrational, emotional, intellectual.

Careful reading of the previous descriptions may lead the serious student to an inkling of why it is necessary to prepare by studying the above subjects as a foundation, for exploring the esoteric spiritual possibilities which certain music may embody and provide. For example, while some impressions contained in music may be food for ordinary development, some may be food for extraordinary assimilation. While some individuals may be sufficiently advanced to realize extraordinary expression directly, we usually need some help.

Musicians instinctively realize that music can be a door to many extraordinary experiences, including the normal and abnormal and beyond them.

There is no overlap between the Workshops. Precocious students who elect multiple courses really have their hands (and minds) full.

WORKSHOPS:
SUPERCHOPS FOR GUITARISTS
10 weeks
SuperChops has been greatly expanded from the core foundation originally developed by Howard Roberts, legendary guitarist and founder of the Guitar Institute of Technology (now Musician's Institute), as the basic training and learning philosophy there. Howard was known for having the strongest hands of any professional. These are the techniques that helped him maintain his position for many years as the number one studio call in Los Angeles, often working three sessions a day.

SUPERCHOPS FOR SOLOISTS
10 weeks
SuperChops/Solo is for players of all instruments who want to rapidly develop and maintain superior technical chops in the four essential areas critical to solo mastery: arpeggios, embellishment, intonation and thematic development. Many top players use this system daily to keep their edge.

CHORDOLOGY FOR GUITARISTS
10 weeks
Chordology/Gtr is the course we designed for Howard Roberts' Playback Publishing, now expanded to include advanced harmonic applications of sparse voicings and linear voiceleading which was pioneered by George Van Eps and Howard, but imitated by many pros.

CHORDOLOGY FOR KEYBOARDISTS
10 weeks
Chordology/Kbd is for all instrumentalists who want to have a large harmonic palette at their disposal.

INTENSIVES
PERFORMANCE BOOTCAMP
5 weeks
Designed for high-school level musicians who need get up to speed for USSCM Diploma programs.

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 Diploma 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 Matriculate™ online technology gives students the unparalleled flexibility to design the exact program they need by sequencing seven basic areas called "Modules": Performance & Improvisation, Schillinger System/LineWriting/Music Business, Advanced Improvisation, Melody/SongWriting & Linear Counterpoint, Arranging & Orchestration, Media Composition & Scoring and Music Production & Engineering. Each Module consists of 4 microsemesters of concentrated studies.

At the start of each microsemester, US School of Commercial Music students receive a large package of customized materials covering all their study subjects. Projects are recorded and returned to the college via the internet for rapid feedback. 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 internal competition for resources between a 'bricks and mortar' operation versus 'online'
• USSCM has only one agenda: a student's rapid progress on a personal "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 each subject.
• Feedback about homework is greatly facilitated by online communication and often seems immediate.
• USSCM tuition is realistic, with generous scholarships and discounts.
• USSCM programs offer students a level of choice and customization very difficult to achieve and manage with a 'classroom' model of course delivery."

US School of Commercial Music is the most economical way to acquire the knowledge and skills 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 may 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, student peers are seldom professionals. In comparison with many other schools and other approaches to commercial music study, USSCM exposes each student to a higher quality of music information, better accompaniments and professional presentations, because it upgrades materials on a semi-annual basis, with the primary requirement that it be the best information and most effective presentation available. By rising above the typical noise in music education, USSCM saves its students time, money and energy.

At www.usschoolofmusic.com, prospective students may read about course offerings, initiate inquiries, design their program, determine tuition costs, scholarship elgibility, financing options and aid, fill out and submit their application, print their learning agreement for faxing, and much more. Also from the college homepage, students, alumni and industry professionals may access several useful resources: Music Industry News, USSCM News, MI Jobs, USSCM Forum and USSCM Internet Radio.

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

Labels: commercial music, diploma, distance music, jazz, online learning

This message was sent from Registrar, US School of Commercial Music to macmidi1.schoolnews@blogger.com. It was sent from: John Amaral, 113 Barksdale Professional Center, Newark, DE 19711-3258. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.

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FLEXIBLE PRIMARY INSTRUMENT CONSIDERATIONS AT THE US SCHOOL OF COMMERCIAL MUSIC

USSCM students broaden their perspectives by training on all four rhythm section instruments as well as their major instrument.

NEWARK, Delaware, November 6, 2007 - An important feature of USSCM studies, is that all students learn all four rhythm section instruments. This gives USSCM students the advantage that they can view music as multidimensional in timbre and unidimensional in pitch, which speeds up many studies.

While many USSCM students choose Guitar, Keyboard or Bass as their primary instrument, all students, regardless of their major, receive training with the four rhythm section instruments. They may major instead in a contemporary melodic instrument. If they major in a 'melodic' instrument, students pick a rhythm section instrument as a secondary and also work with the other rhythm section instruments.

instrumental majors:
Guitar
Bass
Keyboard
Percussion
Other (strings, brass, wind, reed, mallet, etc.)

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 Diploma 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 Matriculate™ online technology gives students the unparalleled flexibility to design the exact program they need by sequencing seven basic areas called "Modules": Performance & Improvisation, Schillinger System/LineWriting/Music Business, Advanced Improvisation, Melody/SongWriting & Linear Counterpoint, Arranging & Orchestration, Media Composition & Scoring and Music Production & Engineering. Each Module consists of 4 microsemesters of concentrated studies.

At the start of each microsemester, US School of Commercial Music students receive a large package of customized materials covering all their study subjects. Projects are recorded and returned to the college via the internet for rapid feedback. 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 internal competition for resources between a 'bricks and mortar' operation versus 'online'
• USSCM has only one agenda: a student's rapid progress on a personal "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 each subject.
• Feedback about homework is greatly facilitated by online communication and often seems immediate.
• USSCM tuition is realistic, with generous scholarships and discounts.
• USSCM programs offer students a level of choice and customization very difficult to achieve and manage with a 'classroom' model of course delivery."

US School of Commercial Music is the most economical way to acquire the knowledge and skills 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 may 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, student peers are seldom professionals. In comparison with many other schools and other approaches to commercial music study, USSCM exposes each student to a higher quality of music information, better accompaniments and professional presentations, because it upgrades materials on a semi-annual basis, with the primary requirement that it be the best information and most effective presentation available. By rising above the typical noise in music education, USSCM saves its students time, money and energy.

At www.usschoolofmusic.com, prospective students may read about course offerings, initiate inquiries, design their program, determine tuition costs, scholarship elgibility, financing options and aid, fill out and submit their application, print their learning agreement for faxing, and much more. Also from the college homepage, students, alumni and industry professionals may access several useful resources: Music Industry News, USSCM News, MI Jobs, USSCM Forum and USSCM Internet Radio.

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

This message was sent from Registrar, US School of Commercial Music to macmidi1.schoolnews@blogger.com. It was sent from: John Amaral, 113 Barksdale Professional Center, Newark, DE 19711-3258. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.

Comment on this message

Manage your subscription

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NEW DIPLOMA PROGRAMS ANNOUNCED BY US SCHOOL OF COMMERCIAL MUSIC

An expansive restructuring has resulted in comprehensive student-customizable offerings with increased relevance to individual goals.

NEWARK, Delaware, November 1, 2007 - US School of Commercial Music is pleased to announce today the restructuring of its Diploma Programs so that students can choose custom study programs to acquire the musical backgrounds they need to achieve their personal musical goals. Nine typical programs are listed on the USSCM website, but students are free to design their own using helpful online tools (see http://www.usschoolofmusic.com/catalog/musicianType.html). Typical programs are:

DIPLOMAS

Performance Diploma
Songwriting Diploma
Arranging & Orchestration Diploma
Multimedia Composition Diploma
Music Production & Engineering Diploma

Composer-Performing Artist Diploma
Professional Arranger Diploma
Professional Composer Diploma
Professional Musician Diploma

Another approach to constructing a USSCM program is to pick a musical persona called a "Concentration," such as:

Performer-Soloist
Performer-Sideman
Songwriter-Player/Performer
Performer-Singer/Songwriter
Arranger-Producer
Multimedia Scoring Composer
Music Production Engineer
Music Business Professional

No matter what the definition is, US School of Commercial Music has a program for every serious student of Popular music.

A fully-constructed USSCM program consists of a series of focused concentrations called "Modules," Each four-microsemester Module deals with a particular area of musical tools and experience. The following Modules are the 'heart and soul' of USSCM's programs:

MODULES

Performance & Improvisation
Schillinger System, LineWriting & Music Business
Advanced Improvisation
Melody/Songwriting & Linear Counterpoint
Arranging & Orchestration
Media Composition & Scoring
Music Production & Engineering

USSCM Diploma students also choose at least two Certificate Courses as electives. Students may choose from two to seven 4-microsemester modules, taken in the order of their preference. This sequencing changes the character of student's programs and tailors it to a personal requirements. First in the sequence for all programs is the "Performance & Improvisation" module, which is a requirement for all Diploma Program students. They may then choose their preferred order for the Advanced Improv, Songwriting-Linear Counterpoint or Schillinger System modules. The Schillinger System enhances various musical skills, suggests new creative possibilities and is prerequisite to Arranging/Orchestration, which is, in turn, prerequisite to MediaScoring. This approach allows students to design an academic program which best suits their skills and goals.

The first elective is taken between the 3rd & 4th microsemeters and second elective between the 7th & 8th microsemesters (MI FA and SI DO). The second octave of studies may include electives in the same way.

When students are ready to start their studies, they are encouraged to call to discuss their program design.

At the end of their studies, USSCM students are awarded a Diploma citing all the Modules and electives they have thus far accomplished. Students taking only Certificate courses are awarded a Certificate.

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 Diploma 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 Matriculate™ online technology gives students the unparalleled flexibility to design the exact program they need by sequencing seven basic areas called "Modules": Performance & Improvisation, Schillinger System/LineWriting/Music Business, Advanced Improvisation, Melody/SongWriting & Linear Counterpoint, Arranging & Orchestration, Media Composition & Scoring and Music Production & Engineering. Each Module consists of 4 microsemesters of concentrated studies.

At the start of each microsemester, US School of Commercial Music students receive a large package of customized materials covering all their study subjects. Projects are recorded and returned to the college via the internet for rapid feedback. 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 internal competition for resources between a 'bricks and mortar' operation versus 'online'
• USSCM has only one agenda: a student's rapid progress on a personal "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 each subject.
• Feedback about homework is greatly facilitated by online communication and often seems immediate.
• USSCM tuition is realistic, with generous scholarships and discounts.
• USSCM programs offer students a level of choice and customization very difficult to achieve and manage with a 'classroom' model of course delivery."

US School of Commercial Music is the most economical way to acquire the knowledge and skills 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 may 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, student peers are seldom professionals. In comparison with many other schools and other approaches to commercial music study, USSCM exposes each student to a higher quality of music information, better accompaniments and professional presentations, because it upgrades materials on a semi-annual basis, with the primary requirement that it be the best information and most effective presentation available. By rising above the typical noise in music education, USSCM saves its students time, money and energy.

At www.usschoolofmusic.com, prospective students may read about course offerings, initiate inquiries, design their program, determine tuition costs, scholarship elgibility, financing options and aid, fill out and submit their application, print their learning agreement for faxing, and much more. Also from the college homepage, students, alumni and industry professionals may access several useful resources: Music Industry News, USSCM News, MI Jobs, USSCM Forum and USSCM Internet Radio.

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

This message was sent from Registrar, US School of Commercial Music to macmidi1.schoolnews@blogger.com. It was sent from: John Amaral, 113 Barksdale Professional Center, Newark, DE 19711-3258. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.

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US SCHOOL OF COMMERCIAL MUSIC IMPROVES STUDENT HOMEWORK MOTIVATION AND TRACKING

USSCM students who have the opportunity for 'infinite feedback': no limit to the number of questions or extra relevant homework they may send for review, now also have a new motivation system and automated homework tracking.

USSCM has revised its motivation and student tracking methods for easier accomplishment of student aims. Said US School Director, John Amaral, "One of the most important issues in distance learning is how to encourage students to pace their instruction. We can give expert guidance, but students often need to newly learn to exercise self-discipline; they need our help in order to maintain a critical rate of learning. Our new system is designed to encourage a fun learning pace, without being rigid. As usual, students are encouraged to forward recordings and ask questions on a daily basis, whenever possible. There is no limit to the number of questions USSCM students may ask. This opportunity to get near-real-time feedback at the student's convenience is one of several characteristics which sets USSCM apart from other schools, particularly of the 'bricks and mortar' variety."

Professor Amaral continued, "We've been working on our technology infrastructure to make it easier for students and faculty to interact. The result is a very efficient automated database system that receives and organizes student work for review."

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 Diploma 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 Matriculate™ online technology gives students the unparalleled flexibility to design the exact program they need by sequencing seven basic areas called "Modules": Performance & Improvisation, Schillinger System/LineWriting/Music Business, Advanced Improvisation, Melody/SongWriting & Linear Counterpoint, Arranging & Orchestration, Media Composition & Scoring and Music Production & Engineering. Each Module consists of 4 microsemesters of concentrated studies.

At the start of each microsemester, US School of Commercial Music students receive a large package of customized materials covering all their study subjects. Projects are recorded and returned to the college via the internet for rapid feedback. 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 internal 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 each subject.
• Feedback about homework is greatly facilitated by online communication and often seems immediate.
• USSCM tuition is realistic, with generous scholarships and discounts.
• USSCM programs offer students a level of choice and customization very difficult to achieve and manage with a 'classroom' model of course delivery."

US School of Commercial Music is the most economical way to acquire the knowledge and skills 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 may 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, student peers are seldom professionals. In comparison with many other schools and other approaches to commercial music study, USSCM exposes each student to a higher quality of music information, better accompaniments and professional presentations, because it upgrades materials on a semi-annual basis, with the primary requirement that it be the best information and most effective presentation available. By rising above the typical noise in music education, USSCM saves its students time, money and energy.

At www.usschoolofmusic.com, prospective students may read about course offerings, initiate inquiries, design their program, determine tuition costs, scholarship elgibility, financing options and aid, fill out and submit their application, print their learning agreement for faxing, and much more. Also from the college homepage, students, alumni and industry professionals may access several useful resources: Music Industry News, USSCM News, MI Jobs, USSCM Forum and USSCM Internet Radio.

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

This message was sent from Registrar, US School of Commercial Music to macmidi1.schoolnews@blogger.com. It was sent from: John Amaral, 113 Barksdale Professional Center, Newark, DE 19711-3258. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.

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ANNOUNCING **SPECIAL FINANCING** DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER

ANNOUNCING **SPECIAL FINANCING** DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER

December 2007 is an ideal time to begin studies with USSCM. There is enough time to get a real head-start on your studies while it's winter outside (assuming you live north of the equator) and December 2007 is doubly special for students who don't want to pay for their tuition in a full lump sum. USSCM is experimenting with a no-interest program for partially delayed tuition payment. Here's how it works:

New students whose tuition is received by 12 December 2007 will receive their first installment of materials by 25 December. If received later, shipment is guaranteed to be prior to 8 Jan 08. There will be a hiatus in shipping between 8 Jan and 22 Jan, due to the MacWorld and NAMM Shows. Homework supervision will continue unabated.

• Design your program and determine how many microsmesters it will contain. (http://www.usschoolofmusic.com/catalog/musicianType.html)
• Add one microsemester for every two electives you plan to take.
• Divide the sum by three to give the number of microsemesters in each segment.
• Also divide by three, your total tuition minus deductions for scholarships and discounts (but not the 10% discount for payment in full).

•• Your three equal installments are due in the last week of the microsemester prior to the next segment.

For more information, please go to http://www.usschoolofmusic.com/catalog/apply3.html

This message was sent from Registrar, US School of Commercial Music to macmidi1.schoolnews@blogger.com. It was sent from: John Amaral, 113 Barksdale Professional Center, Newark, DE 19711-3258. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.

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MUSIC SCHOOLS: FOCUSED DIPLOMA OR DISTRACTED DEGREE?

NEWARK, DELAWARE, December 7, 2007 - In a recent interview, US School of Music (www.usschoolofmusic.com) 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 with studies of non-music courses that degree programs require. After all, music is a competitive business; the more focused your preparation for the career, the better. My advice is to get a Diploma. It's quicker and more focused. If you want a liberal education, also get a degree in business after the diploma. This will help you survive 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 Diploma 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 Matriculate™ online technology gives students the unparalleled flexibility to design the exact program they need by sequencing seven basic areas called "Modules": Performance & Improvisation, Schillinger System/LineWriting/Music Business, Advanced Improvisation, Melody/SongWriting & Linear Counterpoint, Arranging & Orchestration, Media Composition & Scoring and Music Production & Engineering. Each Module consists of 4 microsemesters of concentrated studies.

At the start of each microsemester, US School of Commercial Music students receive a large package of customized materials covering all their study subjects. Projects are recorded and returned to the college via the internet for rapid feedback. 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 internal 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 each subject.
• Feedback about homework is greatly facilitated by online communication and often seems immediate.
• USSCM tuition is realistic, with generous scholarships and discounts.
• USSCM programs offer students a level of choice and customization very difficult to achieve and manage with a 'classroom' model of course delivery."

US School of Commercial Music is the most economical way to acquire the knowledge and skills 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 may 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, student peers are seldom professionals. In comparison with many other schools and other approaches to commercial music study, USSCM exposes each student to a higher quality of music information, better accompaniments and professional presentations, because it upgrades materials on a semi-annual basis, with the primary requirement that it be the best information and most effective presentation available. By rising above the typical noise in music education, USSCM saves its students time, money and energy.

At www.usschoolofmusic.com, prospective students may read about course offerings, initiate inquiries, design their program, determine tuition costs, scholarship elgibility, financing options and aid, fill out and submit their application, print their learning agreement for faxing, and much more. Also from the college homepage, students, alumni and industry professionals may access several useful resources: Music Industry News, USSCM News, MI Jobs, USSCM Forum and USSCM Internet Radio.

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

This message was sent from Registrar, US School of Commercial Music to macmidi1.schoolnews@blogger.com. It was sent from: John Amaral, 113 Barksdale Professional Center, Newark, DE 19711-3258. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.

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COMMERCIAL MUSIC CAREER TRAINING THAT'S COMPETITIVE AND AFFORDABLE

NEWARK, DELAWARE, December 7, 2007 - 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 technology 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 you develop your 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 approaches.

Here is a comparison of typical tuition costs. The second number in each group includes living expenses: Berklee (8 semesters) $88,000/$136,000
USSCM (12 microsemesters) $10,125/$10,125
GIT (16 quarters) $80,000

This message was sent from Registrar, US School of Commercial Music to macmidi1.schoolnews@blogger.com. It was sent from: John Amaral, 113 Barksdale Professional Center, Newark, DE 19711-3258. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.

Manage your subscription

US SCHOOL OF COMMERCIAL MUSIC SUMMARIZES THE HISTORY OF GUITAR SEMINARS

[www.usschoolofmusic.com]
Seminars have led to the most efficient means of music college course delivery at a distance, which is exclusive with USSCM.

NEWARK, Delaware, November 10, 2007 - Johnny Smith, one of the greatest technical artists of the plectrum guitar held the first seminar in 1970 in Colorado Springs. US School of Commercial Music DIrector, John Amaral, had this to say about it: "We were about 60 people, mostly young, and some very fine guitarists, including 15 year old Tim May and HR imitator Bobby Montoya. Howard Roberts (HR), Johnny's favorite guitarist, was the guest artist. Howard took one look at me and said 'I know you!' As it happened, we did know each other from the Hollywood studios of Bill Putnam: United Recording and Western Recorders on Sunset Boulevard. During the seminar, HR and I conversed at night about his love of teaching, so I suggested that he start some seminars of his own, and he did. Two years later, I drove for three days from Berklee in Boston and attended his Hollywood seminar which featured Joe Pass as a guest artist. The following year Barney Kessel held his own, which I also attended. HR was the greatest of all as teacher, artist and person; as one of the greatest music educators of the 20th Century, he emanated love, attention and inspiration. Howard (who had taught previously at Westlake Conservatory) continued holding several seminars a year in the US and abroad, three of which I organized in the Boston area while I was still a student at Berklee College of Music. When he grew tired of that, he founded and wrote the the Guitar Institute of Technology which became Musician's Institute.

A benefit of the seminar format is to clearly outline the steps necessary to accomplish a chunk of essential work; a process which leads to a tangible results in a short time. USSCM's philosophy of education continues the tradition of these fine musicians in seminar by employing concentrated learning techniques first developed for the Hollywood elite. In Hollywood, as in other locations where music is taken seriously, your musical reputation is made not by who you know or whether you have a college degree, but by what others say you can do.

Because of the essential role of a student's personal drive to achieve musical goals, college music studies lend themselves particularly well to the seminar model, in which a big chunk of information and assignments is given in a short time, followed by a concentrated period of rapid disciplined learning by the student. In music, this is known as "going into the woodshed," or simply, "'shedding." USSCM takes this principle several steps further by customizing some aspects of each student's study materials every microsemester and by providing nearly instantaneous feedback on their work.

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 Diploma 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 Matriculate™ online technology gives students the unparalleled flexibility to design the exact program they need by sequencing seven basic areas called "Modules": Performance & Improvisation, Schillinger System/LineWriting/Music Business, Advanced Improvisation, Melody/SongWriting & Linear Counterpoint, Arranging & Orchestration, Media Composition & Scoring and Music Production & Engineering. Each Module consists of 4 microsemesters of concentrated studies.

At the start of each microsemester, US School of Commercial Music students receive a large package of customized materials covering all their study subjects. Projects are recorded and returned to the college via the internet for rapid feedback. 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 internal competition for resources between a 'bricks and mortar' operation versus 'online'
• USSCM has only one agenda: a student's rapid progress on a personal "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 each subject.
• Feedback about homework is greatly facilitated by online communication and often seems immediate.
• USSCM tuition is realistic, with generous scholarships and discounts.
• USSCM programs offer students a level of choice and customization very difficult to achieve and manage with a 'classroom' model of course delivery."

US School of Commercial Music is the most economical way to acquire the knowledge and skills 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 may 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, student peers are seldom professionals. In comparison with many other schools and other approaches to commercial music study, USSCM exposes each student to a higher quality of music information, better accompaniments and professional presentations, because it upgrades materials on a semi-annual basis, with the primary requirement that it be the best information and most effective presentation available. By rising above the typical noise in music education, USSCM saves its students time, money and energy.

At www.usschoolofmusic.com, prospective students may read about course offerings, initiate inquiries, design their program, determine tuition costs, scholarship elgibility, financing options and aid, fill out and submit their application, print their learning agreement for faxing, and much more. Also from the college homepage, students, alumni and industry professionals may access several useful resources: Music Industry News, USSCM News, MI Jobs, USSCM Forum and USSCM Internet Radio.

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



**************************************
Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products.
(http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001)

US SCHOOL OF COMMERCIAL MUSIC ANNOUNCES NEW M...

[www.usschoolofmusic.com]
USSCM fulfills the need for business training because every commercial musician must function as a small business.

NEWARK, Delaware, November 5, 2007 - US School of Commercial Music announced today that, because every professional musician is a small business, its Schillinger Module, electable by all students, now includes music business courses such as economics, financial management and investments, as they apply to the music business. The Schillinger Module is the most appropriate one to incorporate business studies, because both involve mathematical reasoning.

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 Diploma 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 Matriculate™ online technology gives students the unparalleled flexibility to design the exact program they need by sequencing seven basic areas called "Modules": Performance & Improvisation, Schillinger System/LineWriting/Music Business, Advanced Improvisation, Melody/SongWriting & Linear Counterpoint, Arranging & Orchestration, Media Composition & Scoring and Music Production & Engineering. Each Module consists of 4 microsemesters of concentrated studies.

At the start of each microsemester, US School of Commercial Music students receive a large package of customized materials covering all their study subjects. Projects are recorded and returned to the college via the internet for rapid feedback. 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 internal competition for resources between a 'bricks and mortar' operation versus 'online'
• USSCM has only one agenda: a student's rapid progress on a personal "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 each subject.
• Feedback about homework is greatly facilitated by online communication and often seems immediate.
• USSCM tuition is realistic, with generous scholarships and discounts.
• USSCM programs offer students a level of choice and customization very difficult to achieve and manage with a 'classroom' model of course delivery."

US School of Commercial Music is the most economical way to acquire the knowledge and skills 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 may 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, student peers are seldom professionals. In comparison with many other schools and other approaches to commercial music study, USSCM exposes each student to a higher quality of music information, better accompaniments and professional presentations, because it upgrades materials on a semi-annual basis, with the primary requirement that it be the best information and most effective presentation available. By rising above the typical noise in music education, USSCM saves its students time, money and energy.

At www.usschoolofmusic.com, prospective students may read about course offerings, initiate inquiries, design their program, determine tuition costs, scholarship elgibility, financing options and aid, fill out and submit their application, print their learning agreement for faxing, and much more. Also from the college homepage, students, alumni and industry professionals may access several useful resources: Music Industry News, USSCM News, MI Jobs, USSCM Forum and USSCM Internet Radio.

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



**************************************
Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products.
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US SCHOOL OF COMMERCIAL MUSIC ANNOUNCES NEW S...

Qualifying USSCM students have more opportunities than ever for financial assistance.

Newark, Delaware, November 4, 2007 - US School of Commercial Music today announced new scholarships for qualifying students in the names of some individuals who have had a profound effect on the Music Industry:

Bill Putnam - 'father' of the music recording industry, founder of UREI
Ruth Phillips - innovative choral educator
John P. ('Jack') McGree - educator who inspired Lucky Virtuoso: Pianogenii.
Howard Mancel Roberts - most influential electric guitarist of the 20th century, founder of the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT)
Joe Pass - consummate jazz guitarist
Barney Kessel - innovative jazz guitarist
Johnny Smith - innovative guitar technician, inventor of the guitar seminar
Carol Kaye - groundbreaking Fender bass studio musician, harmonic foundation of the 'Wrecking Crew'
Ray Charles - most influential popular musical performer of the 20th century

These new scholarships are in addition to those named after:

Larry Berk - authorized teacher of the Schillinger System and founder of Schillinger House (Berklee School of Music, Berklee College fo Music)
Atlantic Records - one of the more influential record companies in American Popular Music, original 'home' of Ray Charles
Voice of America - at one time, the most influential musical ambassador of the United States
BlueBird Cafe - the motherhouse of songwriting in America today, in Nashville TN

For details about how to qualify for USSCM scholarships, please visit www.usschoolofmusic.com.




**************************************
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(http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001)

A CAVEAT ABOUT AUDIO RECORDING ('ENGINEERING') PROGRAMS

[www.usschoolofmusic.com]
Thorough musical training is more important than ever in the recording industry.

NEWARK, Delaware, November 11, 2007 - US School of Commercial Music today announced its new Music Production & Engineering Diploma Module with a warning about technical schools. In a recent interview, USSCM Director, John Amaral, had this to say:

"As most people realize, the cost of professional equipment has dropped in fields such as photography, videography and audio recording. This has made it possible for many more individuals to go into debt to purchase quality equipment with the idea of creating a commercial profitable studio, only to find that they lack sufficient experience to operate the equipment or the small business management skills needed to survive. It's a story that often sadly repeats itself, causing good people to leave the recording industry and good equipment to sit unused or to be sold at a loss on eBay. While equipment is more affordable and easier to use than ever, investing in equipment without training can be a costly mistake. USSCM's approach to audio engineering studies is more rigorous than that of other schools; the program is only for the most serious. The result is that graduates have an advantage in the marketplace. This happens three ways:

Number one, the school's philosophy is to train musicians first and engineers second, because engineers who are musicians understand the needs of clients and the intricacies of the medium much better than those who don't play. Secondly, USSCM aims for its students to understand the underlying principles of the sciences of vibration, acoustics and electronics so that they can make informed purchase decisions and acquire the skills to use music technology despite changes in the technological terrain which always progress with time. Thirdly, students are given business studies unique to the recording business which are not covered as business studies in the Schillinger program."

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 Diploma 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 Matriculate™ online technology gives students the unparalleled flexibility to design the exact program they need by sequencing seven basic areas called "Modules": Performance & Improvisation, Schillinger System/LineWriting/Music Business, Advanced Improvisation, Melody/SongWriting & Linear Counterpoint, Arranging & Orchestration, Media Composition & Scoring and Music Production & Engineering. Each Module consists of 4 microsemesters of concentrated studies.

At the start of each microsemester, US School of Commercial Music students receive a large package of customized materials covering all their study subjects. Projects are recorded and returned to the college via the internet for rapid feedback. 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 internal competition for resources between a 'bricks and mortar' operation versus 'online'
• USSCM has only one agenda: a student's rapid progress on a personal "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 each subject.
• Feedback about homework is greatly facilitated by online communication and often seems immediate.
• USSCM tuition is realistic, with generous scholarships and discounts.
• USSCM programs offer students a level of choice and customization very difficult to achieve and manage with a 'classroom' model of course delivery."

US School of Commercial Music is the most economical way to acquire the knowledge and skills 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 may 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, student peers are seldom professionals. In comparison with many other schools and other approaches to commercial music study, USSCM exposes each student to a higher quality of music information, better accompaniments and professional presentations, because it upgrades materials on a semi-annual basis, with the primary requirement that it be the best information and most effective presentation available. By rising above the typical noise in music education, USSCM saves its students time, money and energy.

At www.usschoolofmusic.com, prospective students may read about course offerings, initiate inquiries, design their program, determine tuition costs, scholarship elgibility, financing options and aid, fill out and submit their application, print their learning agreement for faxing, and much more. Also from the college homepage, students, alumni and industry professionals may access several useful resources: Music Industry News, USSCM News, MI Jobs, USSCM Forum and USSCM Internet Radio.

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


**************************************
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NEW DIPLOMA PROGRAM MODULES ANNOUNCED BY US SCHOOL OF COMMERCIAL MUSIC

The new modular structure makes possible comprehensive customizable program choices.

NEWARK, Delaware, November 2, 2007 - USSCM announced today several new Diploma Program Modules. According to the USSCM catalog, the descriptions of the modules are:

Performance & Improvisation (P&I) Module
4 microsemesters: In the USSCM Performance & Improvisation Program, you will acquire a firm foundation in such essential areas of music as:

* Eartraining, the skill to know and musically name what it is you are hearing.
* Harmony, the skill to recognize the harmonic sequences and practices associated with historical musical styles.
* Notation, the art of clearly writing music which will be played by yourself and others.
* Arranging, the art and skill of creating modern charts for performance by small groups or as overdubs.
* Instrumental Technique, the art of rapidly acquiring skill on your primary and secondary instruments.
* Improvisation, the art of real-time composition on your primary and secondary instruments.
* Ensemble Training, the essential experience of playing with other great professional musicians through the exclusive USSCM Faculty Minus One(tm) process.
* Repertory, the experience of exposure to and immersion in a wide variety of commercial musical styles. (design your program now)

"Continue your program by choosing up to six other professional areas:
The core categories of study in each of the subsequent modules remain the same (Eartraining, Harmony, etc.), but with increasing sophistication; to these are added the relevant module materials for a well-rounded program.

Schillinger System of Musical Composition ("Schillinger") Module
4 microsemesters: The world-famous Schillinger System is the advanced tool for music analysis and generation that has been used very successfully by such songwriters as George Gershwin, such improvisors as Howard Roberts and a great many Hollywood film composers; for example, it was the Schillinger System that Gershwin used to compose "I Got Rhythm," and which HR used to develop the vocabulary of his well-known solo style.

USSCM has modernized the Schillinger System for today's composers and improvisors who wish to have a special professional edge in their understanding of melodic and rhythmic development (which is perhaps the most important shaping force in music). In the Schillinger Program, USSCM brings the Schillinger System up to date; within the SSMC Module, students also cover and compare such esoteric systems as JS Bach's System of Chordscales, the George Russell Lydian Chromatic Concept, Bill Leavitt's Melodic Chordscale System, Charlie Parker's System of Jazz Improvisation, and several other useful approaches. To elect Schillinger, you should have a working fluency with the subjects covered in Melody/Songwriting/Linear Counterpoint and be prepared to rapidly realize your work and record it as MP3 audio files.

Concentrations which require Arranging / Orchestration or Media Scoring also require Schillinger. It should be noted that SSMC is a helpful tool; not a major concentration.

Because every professional musician is a small business, the Schillinger Module now includes music business courses such as economics, financial management and investments, as they apply to the music business. The Schillinger Module is the most appropriate one to incorporate business studies, because its study stimulates the mathematical functions of the brain.

Advanced Improvisation (AI) Module
4 microsemesters: In Performance & Improvisation, we have laid the technical and stylistic groundwork which includes Standards, Duke/Miles, Classics/Ballads, Latin/Bossa. Advanced Improvisation continues, with the development of skills for further important styles: Blues, Bebop, Fusion, Modern Jazz, etc. Stylistic repertoire is continued appropriately in all the other modules. While building repertoire, we continue the subject structure outlined in Performance & Improvisation above, but the content becomes increasingly advanced, covering all sorts of improvisational approaches and theories applicable to modern commercial music.

Melody, Songwriting & Linear Counterpoint (MSLC) Module
4 microsemesters: To elect MSLC, you should have a working fluency with Commercial Music Eartraining, Harmony, Notation, MP3 Recording Techniques, a substantial Performance Repertory of important Commercial Music styles, experience with Performance & Improvisation in Ensemble settings and familiarity with the fundamentals of Arranging, all of which are features of the USSCM P&I Module.

* as you build upon your P&I foundation, in the MSLC Module you will acquire powerful techniques of melodic and thematic analysis with which to explore a substantial but focused library of important music. Equipped with new analytical skills and musical conditioning, you will then turn to linguistic analysis and apply it to both rapid song composition and real-time improvisation.

Finally, as an essential component of the development of a personal style, you will explore the balance between the vertical and linear aspects of music through the creation of a wide range of projects from modern 'chorales' to contemporary 'fugues'. In the MSLC Module, not only songwriters and composers, but also guitarists and keyboardists will benefit from a full elaboration of these techniques on their primary and secondary instruments.

Business courses included in the SongWriting Module include Selling and Sales, which are essential professional tunesmith activities.

Arranging / Orchestration (A/O) Module (prerequisite: Schillinger System Module)
4 microsemesters: Students who elect A/O should have a working fluency with the concepts of the MSLC and SSMC Modules. In the USSCM A/O Program, you will acquire dexterity in your creative use of the mechanics of ensemble expression within various musical settings and production situations.

* You will acquire the techniques of Jazz Composition, Arranging for Large Ensembles, Writing for Strings and Principles of Orchestration. Projects include writing and realizing scores of various size ensembles and studio orchestras.

Media Scoring (MS) Module (prerequisites: Schillinger System (S) and Arranging/Orchestration (Ork))
4 microsemesters: USSCM students who elect Media Scoring will have achieved, as a prerequisite, the subjects covered in P&I, MSLC, SSMC, A/0 and, as an important byproduct of their studies, a practical understanding of the recording and overdubbing process. In the MS Program, you will take your skills to the next level as you learn how to synchronize musical recordings to visual media such as film, video, etc. You will accomplish projects in several important Commercial Music forms and styles, including Jingles (the art of musical merchandising), Commercials (the art of audiovisual persuasion), Trailers (coming attractions) and Filmscores (the art of enhancing the audience's emotional experience of a movie).

By artfully blending the skills of the arranger, composer, performer and engineer, today's film, video and CD-ROM composers are specialists who command good salaries and have interesting work in the fastest growing area of the music business. Multimedia composers are found everywhere the visual and aural arts meet.

Music Production & Engineering (MPE) Module
4 microsemesters: For maximum flexibility, the MP&E module may be added to any USSCM program, or taken right after P&I.

USSCM's philosophy is to train musicians first and engineers second, because engineers who are musicians understand the needs of clients and the intricacies of the medium much better than those who don't play. Secondly, USSCM aims for its students to understand the underlying principles of the sciences of vibration, acoustics and electronics so that they can make informed purchase decisions and acquire the skills to use music technology despite changes in the technological terrain which always progress with time. Thirdly, Production & Engineering students are given business studies unique to the recording/distribution business which are not covered as business studies in the Schillinger program.

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 Diploma 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 Matriculate™ online technology gives students the unparalleled flexibility to design the exact program they need by sequencing seven basic areas called "Modules": Performance & Improvisation, Schillinger System/LineWriting/Music Business, Advanced Improvisation, Melody/SongWriting & Linear Counterpoint, Arranging & Orchestration, Media Composition & Scoring and Music Production & Engineering. Each Module consists of 4 microsemesters of concentrated studies.

At the start of each microsemester, US School of Commercial Music students receive a large package of customized materials covering all their study subjects. Projects are recorded and returned to the college via the internet for rapid feedback. 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 internal 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 each subject.
• Feedback about homework is greatly facilitated by online communication and often seems immediate.
• USSCM tuition is realistic, with generous scholarships and discounts.
• USSCM programs offer students a level of choice and customization very difficult to achieve and manage with a 'classroom' model of course delivery."

US School of Commercial Music is the most economical way to acquire the knowledge and skills 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 may 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, student peers are seldom professionals. In comparison with many other schools and other approaches to commercial music study, USSCM exposes each student to a higher quality of music information, better accompaniments and professional presentations, because it upgrades materials on a semi-annual basis, with the primary requirement that it be the best information and most effective presentation available. By rising above the typical noise in music education, USSCM saves its students time, money and energy.

At www.usschoolofmusic.com, prospective students may read about course offerings, initiate inquiries, design their program, determine tuition costs, scholarship elgibility, financing options and aid, fill out and submit their application, print their learning agreement for faxing, and much more. Also from the college homepage, students, alumni and industry professionals may access several useful resources: Music Industry News, USSCM News, MI Jobs, USSCM Forum and USSCM Internet Radio.

For more information, please contact
US School of Commercial Music
www.usschoolofmusic.com
info@usschoolofmusic.com
617-666-4839
Labels: commercial music, diploma, distance music, jazz, online learning





**************************************
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FLEXIBLE PRIMARY INSTRUMENT CONSIDERATIONS AT THE US SCHOOL OF COMMERCIAL MUSIC

USSCM students broaden their perspectives by training on all four rhythm section instruments as well as their major instrument.

NEWARK, Delaware, November 6, 2007 - An important feature of USSCM studies, is that all students learn all four rhythm section instruments. This gives USSCM students the advantage that they can view music as multidimensional in timbre and unidimensional in pitch, which speeds up many studies.

While many USSCM students choose Guitar, Keyboard or Bass as their primary instrument, all students, regardless of their major, receive training with the four rhythm section instruments. They may major instead in a contemporary melodic instrument. If they major in a 'melodic' instrument, students pick a rhythm section instrument as a secondary and also work with the other rhythm section instruments.

instrumental majors:
Guitar
Bass
Keyboard
Percussion
Other (strings, brass, wind, reed, mallet, etc.)

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 Diploma 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 Matriculate™ online technology gives students the unparalleled flexibility to design the exact program they need by sequencing seven basic areas called "Modules": Performance & Improvisation, Schillinger System/LineWriting/Music Business, Advanced Improvisation, Melody/SongWriting & Linear Counterpoint, Arranging & Orchestration, Media Composition & Scoring and Music Production & Engineering. Each Module consists of 4 microsemesters of concentrated studies.

At the start of each microsemester, US School of Commercial Music students receive a large package of customized materials covering all their study subjects. Projects are recorded and returned to the college via the internet for rapid feedback. 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 internal competition for resources between a 'bricks and mortar' operation versus 'online'
• USSCM has only one agenda: a student's rapid progress on a personal "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 each subject.
• Feedback about homework is greatly facilitated by online communication and often seems immediate.
• USSCM tuition is realistic, with generous scholarships and discounts.
• USSCM programs offer students a level of choice and customization very difficult to achieve and manage with a 'classroom' model of course delivery."

US School of Commercial Music is the most economical way to acquire the knowledge and skills 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 may 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, student peers are seldom professionals. In comparison with many other schools and other approaches to commercial music study, USSCM exposes each student to a higher quality of music information, better accompaniments and professional presentations, because it upgrades materials on a semi-annual basis, with the primary requirement that it be the best information and most effective presentation available. By rising above the typical noise in music education, USSCM saves its students time, money and energy.

At www.usschoolofmusic.com, prospective students may read about course offerings, initiate inquiries, design their program, determine tuition costs, scholarship elgibility, financing options and aid, fill out and submit their application, print their learning agreement for faxing, and much more. Also from the college homepage, students, alumni and industry professionals may access several useful resources: Music Industry News, USSCM News, MI Jobs, USSCM Forum and USSCM Internet Radio.

For more information, please contact
US School of Commercial Music
www.usschoolofmusic.com
info@usschoolofmusic.com
617-666-4839
Labels: commercial music, diploma, distance music, jazz, online learning






**************************************
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A FOND LOOK BACK AT DEAN EARL AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PERFORMANCE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY: Interview with Professor John Amaral

"Can he Play?" - Dean Earl

NEWARK, DELAWARE, December 4, 2007 - 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 just Pro Tools?' my response is "sure we can -- but we won't do just that, because we want you to succeed in the competitive music business." We want to turn out well-rounded musicians, who are respected by their peers as musicians first, 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 as he or she expands their horizons. 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



**************************************
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US SCHOOL OF COMMERCIAL MUSIC ANNOUNCES CERTIFICATE COURSES

Radically different music courses contain 'holy grail' information and training tools unobtainable outside of entertainment capitals such as Hollywood or New York.

NEWARK, Delaware, December 4, 2007 - US School of Commercial Music today announced new Certificate Courses which can save students years of private study. They may be taken individually or as part of a USSCM Diploma Program. Each course is complete in itself and covers hard to find information which functions as a thorough grounding in its subject, without unnecessary 'busy work'. Students, in confidence of not wasting their resources, need only add their creative energy, will, determination, strong wishes and goals!

Because not everyone has the need or the time for a full college program, US School of Commercial Music staff has designed several "Certificate" courses which concentrate deeply on important essential subjects for *all* Commercial musicians, without requiring pre-requisites to study. These courses also function as electives for Diploma students (who choose at least two). For more information, please go to www.usschoolofmusic.com.

MUSIC UNIVERSALS
Perfect Pitch Conditioning
Relative Pitch Eartraining (for non-Diploma students only)
Personality Resonance Practicum for Performers, Songwriters & Composers

TRAININGS
Physical Conditioning for Musicians
Emotional Development for Musicians
Vibrational Sensitizing for Musicians
Intellectual Training for Musicians
Spiritual Evolution for Musicians

WORKSHOPS
SuperChops for Guitarists
SuperChops for Soloists
Chordology for Guitarists
Chordology for Keyboardists

INTENSIVES
Performance Boot Camp
('get up to speed' for USSCM Diploma Programs;
open to entering Diploma students who are good music sight readers)


Descriptions of the Certificate Courses:
________________________
UNIVERSALS:
PERFECT PITCH
10 Weeks
While some highly-advertised courses are 'snake oil', it is possible for most of us to overcome years of Relative Pitch conditioning and experience increasing levels of Absolute Pitch sensitivity, but training must be very precise to succeed. USSCM has assembled and organized all the relevent research, surveyed all the historical and currently available methods, evaluated and put it all into a fun but 'no-punches-pulled' perspective. This information has been judiciously combined with the most efficient methods and USSCM's proprietary approach for acquiring Absolute Pitch, organized as a serious regimen. For lasting results, you must be prepared to work daily for short but concentrated periods (one hour minumum)! You may not take this course at the same time as Relative Pitch Universals! Students who complete both Relative Pitch and Perfect Pitch will receive bonus instructions on how to sustain both skills. This is an evolving course, with new information and techniques added periodically. Students who complete both Relative Pitch and Perfect Pitch will receive bonus instructions on how to sustain both skills and may retake either for half tuition.


RELATIVE PITCH
10 Weeks
Most of us experience Relative Pitch, but our sensitivity is often not high enough to be truly useful. Starting from the beginning and progressing rapidly, USSCM has assembled all the tradtional approaches, organized and modified them, then combined them with USSCM's proprietary approach into the most efficient professional RP training system ever devised. This is the most comprehensive approach to making our Relative Pitch skills more intense and useful and simultaneously trains many important other tonal harmonic and melodic skills. You may not take this course at the same time as Perfect Pitch Universals! This is an evolving course, with new information and techniques periodically added. Students who complete both Relative Pitch and Perfect Pitch will receive bonus instructions on how to sustain both skills and may retake either for half tuition.


PERSONALITY RESONANCE PRACTICUM FOR PERFORMERS, SONGWRITERS AND COMPOSERS
10 Weeks
All musicians can benefit from the skills of reading people (consider live audiences, owners, demos, auditions, target audiences and colleagues). Personality reading and an understanding of personality interaction is another one of those special skills such as Perfect Pitch which can give a musician a distinctive competitive edge, increase his or her ability to negotiate the difficulties of relationship and enhance management skills, while interacting with them musically or in life settings. Musicians generally already have the advantage that they understand the principle of resonance, in which sound energy transfers from one system to another through an interposing medium such as wood, water, or air, but not a vacuum. Nevertheless, the principle of resonance extends to massless systems as well, such as can be seen with tuned radio or tv antennas for electromagnetic radiation, or the chakras and latifas of the human body for energies not known to western science. (Resonance also figures into the principles discussed by GI Gurdjieff, where 'foods' that enter us from outside our organism are resonant with materials already within us – enzymes, for example – after which they are digested. This is in contrast with the internal stages of digestion, which he describes as a 'blending' of non-resonant materials to get a material of an order and having a state falling between the other two.)

Students will learn to identify the typical personality resonances and make efforts to objectively sense the nature of their relationships with people having other personality types as their centers of gravity. Various exercises will be introduced to assist the student to experience unfamiliar types in their healthy upside, which is invaluable. Adventurous students, primarily songwriters and composers, may also briefly explore the unhealthy downsides of these personalities for the purpose of depiction in their art. Emphasis will also be placed on techniques for avoiding the downsides of one's own personality and that of others, which is of particular usefulness to performing artists who would be masters of themselves, their instruments and their art.

Students will also learn to objectively and scientifically type personality using cutting-edge database research coupled with ancient Eastern systems and to apply it to musical instrument preferences, musical aptitudes and preferential styles. Students will further learn to access these aspects of themselves for the purpose of becoming better musicians and human beings. Interactions between personalities will be explored, within the context of musical production. This is a not-to-be-missed study for serious musicians from all ethnic backgrounds, instruments, musical styles and experiences that has life changing and career enhancing implications.

TRAININGS:
PHYSICAL CONDITIONING FOR MUSICIANS
10 Weeks
"Mens sana in corpore sano." ("A sound mind in a sound body.")

Music making, like other arts, is a highly distilled composite expression of our three functional brains (physical, emotional, intellectual*); the result of many successively finer processes within each of the brains and their associated 'bodies'. For these processes to all function well, there must be available to us a tremendous amount of biological energy, which is sourced by the physical body.

Physical conditioning is concerned with having a strong generator of this energy and a solid platform for support of the higher functions of each functional brain. After an explanation of the mechanisms whereby this energy is created, we will look at a number of approaches to building, conserving and utilizing it, by no means exhaustive but nevertheless extraordinary, because no one method is sufficient for the quantity of energy and support required for mastery or artistry. Students will develop a daily regimen designed to build attention and will, and to strengthen the functioning of their physical organisms.

EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR MUSICIANS
10 Weeks
Expression in music, whether, of the second brain (through tone, fine motor movement of the hands, smooth movement and gesture, posture, facial expression), of the first brain (through rhythmic movement, percussion and percussive sounds), or of the third brain (in melody, tonality, interesting harmony, counterpoint, lyrics, arranging & orchestration), requires careful attention to the elements of musical styles and one's ability to resonate with them. Such resonance is complicated by struggling with our general incapacities to feel and empathize, that is, to know what and how we are feeling at all times, to know how others are feeling or emoting as often and as best we can, and to realize our relationship with others at all times. These capacities must be identified and grown for us to successfully resonate in all situations. Music, which has been characterized as "the language of emotion" is actually a language of expression for all three brains. It is first of all, pre-verbal or imitative of speech, but may also have lyrics. Finally, messages in music may be mixed, just as they are in real life. A true professional human musician will be able to sort out these messages and to understand and employ the effects of their expression.

Students will complete assignments and be given exercises for the thorough exploration of these matters for the development of emotional expression. Mixed messages, while possibly fascinating, destroy emotional coherence; students will also explore their causes and preventions.

VIBRATIONAL SENSITIZING FOR MUSICIANS
10 Weeks
Music is based on vibration but why do musicians need to study it, what is it and what is the 'vibrational world'? This is best described by example:

What's the vibe? Are you the least bit superstitious? Have you ever felt you're being watched? Did you ever feel "I have to get out of here."? Do you have any experience of luck? Have you ever felt deja vu? Have you ever met a person or seen a place that immediately seems to have extraordinary significance to your life? Do you experience the presence of supernatural entities?

In addition to the examples above, the 'vibrational world' also concerns the so-called 'higher emotions' or impulses, such as peace/tranquillity, fairness, orderliness, individuality and good judgement. Ignoring these aspects is tantamount to ignoring the 25% of your audience whose personalities call the vibrational world "home," which a professional or serious musician cannot afford to do. Attending to them, can allow you your musical expression of all styles to contain these higher elements and thus resonate with and appeal to more people outwardly and help you resonate with them internally for yourself. (It should be noted that, while important, the impulses of the vibrational world are subordinate to such functions as faith, hope and love and conscience.)

Students will strive to identify, in real-time, the emanations of the 'vibrational world', both human and musical. This effort is particularly useful for students who wish to develop a spiritual side to their music and/or identify aspects of music which may be beyond the ordinary manifestations of human life, that is, extraordinary. About this, see "Spiritual Evolution."

INTELLECTUAL TRAINING FOR MUSICIANS
10 Weeks
While in the physical and emotional aspects of music making, will and attention are very important, the intellectual aspect cannot be expressed at all without them. Melody, tonality, interesting harmony, counterpoint, lyrics, arranging & orchestration are fundamentally dependent on the third brain's ability to abstract and symbolize through the focusing of attention, directed by will. In fact, an excess of attention is necessary, if one is to attend at once to the expressions of each brain, but nowhere is it so obvious as in fugue, in which multiple melodies weave through each other.

Students work with various attention-building and focusing exercises, then apply them to music, in order to begin to identify the taste of the workings of will and attention in the intellectual aspects of music. The capacities of attention are explored and exercised with respect to music making.

SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION FOR MUSICIANS
10 Weeks
There is music which belongs to none of the ordinary worlds: physical, vibrational, emotional, intellectual.

Careful reading of the previous descriptions may lead the serious student to an inkling of why it is necessary to prepare by studying the above subjects as a foundation, for exploring the esoteric spiritual possibilities which certain music may embody and provide. For example, while some impressions contained in music may be food for ordinary development, some may be food for extraordinary assimilation. While some individuals may be sufficiently advanced to realize extraordinary expression directly, we usually need some help.

Musicians instinctively realize that music can be a door to many extraordinary experiences, including the normal and abnormal and beyond them.

There is no overlap between the Workshops. Precocious students who elect multiple courses really have their hands (and minds) full.

WORKSHOPS:
SUPERCHOPS FOR GUITARISTS
10 weeks
SuperChops has been greatly expanded from the core foundation originally developed by Howard Roberts, legendary guitarist and founder of the Guitar Institute of Technology (now Musician's Institute), as the basic training and learning philosophy there. Howard was known for having the strongest hands of any professional. These are the techniques that helped him maintain his position for many years as the number one studio call in Los Angeles, often working three sessions a day.

SUPERCHOPS FOR SOLOISTS
10 weeks
SuperChops/Solo is for players of all instruments who want to rapidly develop and maintain superior technical chops in the four essential areas critical to solo mastery: arpeggios, embellishment, intonation and thematic development. Many top players use this system daily to keep their edge.

CHORDOLOGY FOR GUITARISTS
10 weeks
Chordology/Gtr is the course we designed for Howard Roberts' Playback Publishing, now expanded to include advanced harmonic applications of sparse voicings and linear voiceleading which was pioneered by George Van Eps and Howard, but imitated by many pros.

CHORDOLOGY FOR KEYBOARDISTS
10 weeks
Chordology/Kbd is for all instrumentalists who want to have a large harmonic palette at their disposal.

INTENSIVES
PERFORMANCE BOOTCAMP
5 weeks
Designed for high-school level musicians who need get up to speed for USSCM Diploma programs.

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 Diploma 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 Matriculate™ online technology gives students the unparalleled flexibility to design the exact program they need by sequencing seven basic areas called "Modules": Performance & Improvisation, Schillinger System/LineWriting/Music Business, Advanced Improvisation, Melody/SongWriting & Linear Counterpoint, Arranging & Orchestration, Media Composition & Scoring and Music Production & Engineering. Each Module consists of 4 microsemesters of concentrated studies.

At the start of each microsemester, US School of Commercial Music students receive a large package of customized materials covering all their study subjects. Projects are recorded and returned to the college via the internet for rapid feedback. 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 internal competition for resources between a 'bricks and mortar' operation versus 'online'
• USSCM has only one agenda: a student's rapid progress on a personal "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 each subject.
• Feedback about homework is greatly facilitated by online communication and often seems immediate.
• USSCM tuition is realistic, with generous scholarships and discounts.
• USSCM programs offer students a level of choice and customization very difficult to achieve and manage with a 'classroom' model of course delivery."

US School of Commercial Music is the most economical way to acquire the knowledge and skills 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 may 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, student peers are seldom professionals. In comparison with many other schools and other approaches to commercial music study, USSCM exposes each student to a higher quality of music information, better accompaniments and professional presentations, because it upgrades materials on a semi-annual basis, with the primary requirement that it be the best information and most effective presentation available. By rising above the typical noise in music education, USSCM saves its students time, money and energy.

At www.usschoolofmusic.com, prospective students may read about course offerings, initiate inquiries, design their program, determine tuition costs, scholarship elgibility, financing options and aid, fill out and submit their application, print their learning agreement for faxing, and much more. Also from the college homepage, students, alumni and industry professionals may access several useful resources: Music Industry News, USSCM News, MI Jobs, USSCM Forum and USSCM Internet Radio.

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

Labels: commercial music, diploma, distance music, jazz, online learning