Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance & Music Production
The Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance & Music Production at Dubois College is an innovative
and culturally grounded program designed for students who seek to develop their artistic voices and
technical skills in music creation, with a focus on African American musical heritage and
contemporary production technologies. This program seamlessly blends rigorous vocal training with
hands-on experience in digital music production, songwriting, performance, and audio engineering.
Through a curriculum rooted in the traditions of gospel, blues, jazz, hip hop, soul, and contemporary
R&B, students explore music as a tool for storytelling, healing, resistance, and joy. With access to
digital tools and virtual collaboration spaces, learners cultivate artistry and entrepreneurial capacity
for independent careers in the music industry or graduate study in performance and production.
Graduates will be prepared to work as performers, producers, teaching artists, sound designers, and
creative entrepreneurs, contributing to a more just and expressive cultural landscape.
Program Highlights
– Emphasis on African American music history, innovation, and expression
– Integrated training in performance, songwriting, production, and engineering
– Culturally responsive curriculum centering Black musical traditions
– Access to digital tools for remote recording, editing, and mixing
– Fully online, tuition-free, and geared toward creative empowerment
Degree Plan
Year 1 - Fall Semester
– Introduction to African American Music History
– Vocal Technique I: Foundations of Breath and Tone
– College Writing & Communication
– Music Theory & Ear Training I
– Digital Tools for Musicians
Year 1 - Spring Semester
– Gospel & Spirituals: History and Performance
– Vocal Technique II: Articulation and Projection
– Songwriting I: Lyrics and Storytelling
– Introduction to Logic Pro or Ableton Live
– Quantitative Reasoning or College Algebra
Year 2 - Fall Semester
– Jazz, Blues & Black Improvisation
– Vocal Ensemble: Harmony and Group Performance
– Music Theory & Ear Training II
– Audio Engineering I: Recording & Editing
– Elective (e.g., African Drumming, Poetry & Lyrics)
Year 2 - Spring Semester
– Hip Hop & Production: History, Beats & Bars
– Voice Studio Lab: Independent Repertoire Building
– Songwriting II: Structure, Hooks & Arrangement
– Music Business Foundations
– Elective (e.g., Performance Anxiety, Global Rhythms)
Year 3 - Fall Semester
– Vocal Technique III: Style, Range & Expression
– Audio Engineering II: Mixing & Mastering
– Live Sound & Stagecraft
– Internship I: Studio, Label, or Performance Venue
– Elective (e.g., Black Women in Music, DIY Touring)
Year 3 - Spring Semester
– Collaborative Project Studio: Cross-Genre Production
– Music for Film, Media, & Activism
– Grant Writing for Artists
– Portfolio Development: Website, EPK, Demo
– Elective (e.g., Music Education, Healing Through Sound)
Year 4 - Fall Semester
– Capstone Proposal & Performance Planning
– Entrepreneurship in the Arts
– Internship II or Independent Album Project
– Seminar: Cultural Theory & Black Music Aesthetics
– Elective (e.g., Music Criticism, Afrofuturist Sound)
Year 4 - Spring Semester
– Capstone Project: Live Performance, EP, or Multimedia Showcase
– Professional Practices for Musicians
– Artist Branding, Promotion & Distribution
– Career Prep: Agents, Auditions & Graduate School
– Elective (e.g., Immersive Audio, Theater & Music Fusion)
– Corporate Finance
– Human Resource Management
– Digital Marketing Strategies
– Internship I: Applied Business Experience