Graduates from the Commercial Music program at Anderson University work in the music industry in a variety of roles including stage performers, technical directors, songwriters, studio engineers, worship leaders, musical directors, music instructors, music therapists, and session musicians. The South Carolina School of the Arts’ Johnny Mann Center for Commercial Music is where students can prepare for such careers in AU’s Christ-centered, nurturing environment.
At the center, named for the late Johnny Mann, a Grammy Award-winning composer, arranger, and friend of AU, students earn a Bachelor of Music in Commercial Music. Performance-based and focused on contemporary styles, our program gives students a background in live performance, songwriting, arranging, and musical directing.
Music technology
Our program also has a strong emphasis in technology. Students have hands on training in recording, engineering, mixing, and mastering in our state-of-the-art Music Media Studios. Anderson University is an AVID Learning Partner and students have the opportunity to receive an AVID ProTools user certification. We also offer courses in Ableton Live, MIDI, live sound reinforcement, and video editing.
Leaders in the field
Our music students have access to instructors who are leaders in the industry. Our faculty have extensive performance and music industry experience and have performed across the globe in a variety of settings and genres. Their resumés include ADDY awards for composition, Dove award nominations, live performance with some of today’s legendary performers, and highly regarded album and music releases.
World-class visiting musicians
The Johnny Mann Center attracts prominent visiting artists. Students in the Commercial music program will interact at least 6 prominent music industry figures each semester. Invited artists have included Imagine Dragons’ backline tech, Nashville and LA studio musicians, Ableton master trainers, world-renown jazz artists, television personalities, ticketing manager for Dave Matthews Band, Line 6 gear representative, award winning producers, music industry managers, and engineers among others.
For more information, contact Dr. Derick Cordoba, Director of the Johnny Mann Center for Commercial Music at dcordoba@andersonuniversity.edu or (864) 231-2182.