Music Technology

Music Technology Overview

The music industry is changing, and Chatham’s music technology program sets you up for success through allowing mastery of industry-leading technologies for editing and sequencing, putting on the final touches—taking a piece of music all the way from recording through to producing a finished product. Courses in music theory and web design round out your education. And at Chatham, you’ll receive the oral and written communication skills, as well as the critical analytical thinking skills, that set you up for a wide range of career possibilities.

Degrees Offered

Program School

School of Arts, Science & Business

Chatham's music technology major prepares students for a range of career paths because music study teaches students readily transferable skills such as focus, perseverance, and entrepreneurial thinking, and specific technology courses add an extra layer to this preparation by providing students that are passionate about music with in-depth work in related areas that can even more directly lead to careers in and around music.

—Michael Boyd, associate professor of music and music program coordinator

Explore the Music Technology Degree:

Students study music theory, ear-training, music history, and performance or composition, as well as basic sound recording audio production, and various computer music applications, including Ableton Live. The major also includes coursework in video production and web design from the film and digital technologies program.

Chatham’s music technology program combines the benefits of a smaller institution, such as the ability to work one-on-one with faculty in lessons and courses, with the advantages of living in a city that offers resources and opportunities at larger neighboring institutions.
All students complete a capstone seminar that channels the knowledge they’ve accumulated into a discipline-specific project under close faculty guidance. Chatham is one of the few universities across the country that offer such an independent and student-driven program.
The music faculty, all of whom are professional musicians with strong artistic achievements, work closely with all students and are strongly committed to the highest standards in teaching.

Sound Recording

In this course students learn basic principles of sound recording and apply those concepts to an area of personal significance such as music performance.

Advanced Computer Music

The course focuses on advanced topics in computer music such as digital synthesis and signal processing, as well as more nuanced approaches to editing and sequencing. Focus is placed on critical listening and aesthetic considerations. Students will complete creative projects that are broad in scope both technically and aesthetically.

Audio Production

The course focuses on all of stages of the audio production process and addresses both technical and logistical issues. Students gain experience in all roles in this process including producer and engineer.

View Full Curriculum

Our Faculty

If one word could best sum up Chatham's faculty, it would be engaged. Professors bring experiences to relate the course lessons to real-world situations.

Full Faculty

Michael Boyd

Professor of Music and Music Program Coordinator

Prajna Paramita Parasher

Professor, Chair, Arts, Design and Communication and Program Director, Film and Digital Technology and Graphic Design

Pauline Rovkah

Director of Piano Program, Artistic Director of Concert Series

Stacey Brett Davern

Director of Choral Activities; Vocal Instructor

Photo of a Chatham University student working on computer while wearing headphones and referencing a textbook.

New Music Technology Lab

The new music technology lab boasts 14 robust workstations fully grounded in digital technologies including Ableton Live, Reaper, and Finale. Students will become well-versed in these major computer-based technologies, so that they can transfer those skills onto any platform they’re working on.

Photo of four brass players performing on a stage surrounded by red poinsettias.

Join the Club

Through outlets like the Music Club, students are encouraged to be entrepreneurial, innovative, and self-directive.

Photo of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performing on stage.

Internship Opportunities

Music students have had internships at institutions including: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society, Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Pittsburgh Concert Society, and Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble.

Photo of a student filming a scene with a handheld camera.

Rounding Out Your Education

Stand out from the crowd further with a minor in media arts.

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Music in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh boasts a wide range of performing venues, and a smaller, but still robust, range of recording studios.

Photo of a studio setup with two monitors and a microphone.

Career Opportunities

Graduates might work anywhere there’s sound production and sound editing, as sound engineers or managers, audio technicians, music producers, recording specialists, and also in radio or classroom technology. Graduate study in music technology is also a possibility.

Close-up of a woman in formal clothing playing the violin.

Three Questions for Music Students

Nestled in the lesser known Laughlin building at Chatham University—James Laughlin Music Hall—is a music program that hits all of the right notes. Thanks to ample performance opportunities, private instruction from Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra members, and music-specific scholarships, our musical students flourish.

Read About Music Students

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The Arts in Pittsburgh

Students have interned with a variety of organizations such as the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Women in Film and Media, The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh Film Office, and Phipps Conservatory.

Do you have questions?

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Music Technology