[News] [PR 1] 5/1/08 COMMERCIAL MUSIC CAREER TRAINING THAT'S COMPETITIVE AND AFFORDABLE

[News] [PR 1] 5/1/08 COMMERCIAL MUSIC CAREER TRAINING CAN BE COMPETITIVE AND AFFORDABLE NEWARK, Delaware - Thursday, May 1, 2008 - 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 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(TM) 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

"Master Music At Home(TM)" Professor John Amaral, Director US School of Commercial Music 617-666-4839