McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, MN, has announced the introduction of a Hip-Hop Studies Diploma program. The program, which kicks off with the school’s September 2009 fall semester, is the country’s first accredited college-level diploma devoted to the study of Hip-Hop music and culture. The diploma course spans three semesters, which can be completed in one calendar year, and will be taught by leading Hip-Hop practitioners and other music industry veterans from McNally Smith’s faculty. Toki Wright, a much honored emcee and organizer, is the coordinator for the new degree program and will be one of its prominent instructors.
Courses in music (including music theory), the language of Rap and spoken word, music history (from the African diaspora to Hip-Hop‘s origins in the South Bronx in the 1970s to today), recording technology, rhythm studies, and the music business make up the core of the diploma’s curriculum. Students will develop creative writing skills, learn techniques in beat production and engineering, as well as undergo hands-on experience in the art of DJing and turntablism. They will also get an in-depth look at the behind-the-scenes aspects of Hip-Hop in the music business. Hip-Hop has a monumental global impact on television, cinema, alternative media and more. McNally Smith’s Hip-Hop Studies Diploma, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, will equip students with the skills and knowledge that are crucial in pursuing a career in Hip-Hop.
In addition to Toki Wright, McNally Smith’s faculty includes a number of highly accomplished artists from the Hip-Hop world. Faculty members who will be teaching in the new diploma program include Dessa (a member of the Doomtree crew and published author), Sean McPherson (bassist and leader of the band Heiruspecs), Joe Mabbott (an engineer and producer for numerous projects, including multiple Atmosphere releases) and others. This well connected faculty will also bring in prominent guest speakers from the world of Hip-Hop. In addition to the outstanding Hip-Hop faculty, McNally Smith boasts state-of-the-art recording facilities and performance spaces unrivaled by most music schools. As part of the Hip-Hop Studies Diploma program, graduates will complete a final project that includes a recording project, a live performance and a portfolio that includes a business plan. This final project will bring together each of the different areas of expertise in the Hip-Hop business learned through the program.
For more information on McNally Smith’s Hip-Hop Studies Diploma program, contact McNally Smith’s Admissions Department at (800) 594-9500.
About McNally Smith. Founded in 1985, McNally Smith College of Music is devoted to excellence in music industry higher education and in developing music industry professionals. An accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music, McNally Smith College of Music offers music degrees and programs in Music Performance, Recording Technology and Music Business. With more than 500 students and an 80-member faculty, McNally Smith College of Music students get a personalized music education that combines the art of physics with musical artistry and includes wide access to current music technology, research tools and performance facilities. McNally Smith alumni are working all over the world. McNally Smith is located in St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.mcnallysmith.edu.
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