
Natural to Me
"Hopefully this project can influence listeners to find music all around them ... from the roar of waves crashing on the jetty to a choir of insects on a summer night, nature is one of the best songwriters…
Be part of a community of musicians using technology and engineering to redefine the industry.
With a dedication to practical learning, the music and technology program at Stevens empowers students with the technological skills and artistic confidence needed to succeed in the professional world. Students within this Bachelor of Arts program often find themselves mixing tracks within professional studios, playing with virtual reality and audio spatialization, and producing new sounds for movie scores. Dedication to music theory and instrument learning underpins the curriculum, imparting artistic knowledge and rigor. After a thorough review, Universities.com ranked Stevens' music and technology as the seventh-best in the country, and graduates of the Class of 2021 earned an average starting salary of $72,300.
Additional classes address music composition, production and sound design, and throughout the program, students grow comfortable and confident using cutting-edge software and hardware. Time and time again, our graduates’ skills and creativity have impressed industry professionals and hiring committees, and our alumni work as engineers, composers, photographers, artists, and more.
Want to learn more about the music and technology program? Be sure to watch the video above and read the stories below. Interested high school students are also invited to request additional information and sit in on a class.
The program, housed within the College of Arts and Letters, also believes in providing applicants the best opportunities to showcase their talents and skills. Therefore, prospective students are provided two different options on how to provide standardized testing and portfolios within their applications.
"Hopefully this project can influence listeners to find music all around them ... from the roar of waves crashing on the jetty to a choir of insects on a summer night, nature is one of the best songwriters…
"The challenges faced when working for a developer included meeting internal deadlines, understanding the developer’s vision for the game, and being able to study reference tracks that match the game’s…
"Experimenting with [my] own theories and methods, [I] created amalgamations of 'recycled' public domain footage with no explicit throughline or connection typical of video art."
"Sonically, the record fuses orchestral synthesizer timbres with distorted black metal guitars, while also drawing on elements of death metal."
"The goal of Bueller was to use pop, indie, and emo influences to create a pop-conscious product."
"The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the capacities of the Romantic symphonic poem in terms of narrative expression and structural elements to guide the composition of a modern symphonic poem."
"The tracks encompass crisp and punchy drums with rejuvenating melodies that listeners can attach a wide range of emotions to."
By using MIDI-programming samples and recruiting a team of performers, Jennings created a mastered album of six tracks, each coupled with an artist's statement.
"The business model for music producers has changed considerably due to the digital revolution and the way consumers interact with music," says Kino.
"This work navigates rhythms and tones with distinct and recognizable identities ... defined by boundaries of interlinking loops," explains Bloxam.
Gartelmann's research uncovers what musical techniques and elements can reduce stress, pain and sadness, and her original pieces are inspired by these findings.
"This album tells the narrative that no one is alone in their human experience," says Dillon. Recognizing that helps everything feel a little more conquerable."
"The project maintains a thread of experimentation and improvisation, while simultaneously embracing mainstream pop ideas," says Grande.
"I believe in the healing power of music that relates to the personal experiences of its listeners," says Caruso, a recent graduate and country music artist.
"Perhaps the most important part of a film, in terms of conveying emotional content, is the audio," says McKay, whose research explores convolution reverbs.
Newman's playable artwork allows users to interact with an "organism" within virtual reality, and their movements catalyze visual and auditory changes.
Studying music and technology provides diverse career opportunities for students, and the program produces a very high placement rate in both industry and academic graduate programs. Graduates are prepared for positions as sound engineers, producers, composers, orchestrators, programmers, instrument designers, studio proprietors, sound designers, and audio content developers.
Lead Audio Technician, Disney ABC Television Group
Audio Engineer, NBC Universal
Project Manager Global Product Creative, Netflix
Researcher with Experiments in Art and Technology, Nokia Bell Labs
Mastering Engineer, Sony
Digital Multimedia Editor, Time
Vice President of Digital, Ultra Records
Post Production Coordinator, Vice Media
Wondering where a degree in music and technology can lead you? Get to know our recent alumni and their work by checking out these stories.
The ASCAP Foundation Rudolf Nissim Prize recognized alumnus and adjunct professor Will Stackpole for his artistic work.
Danielle McPhatter ‘18 has found herself blending art and technology at Nokia Bell Labs.
By joining Netflix, alumna Taylore Fowler's success is now on an international level.
Our state-of-the-art facilities create an environment of creativity, collaboration, and exploration for our students, while offering them the opportunity to interact with professional tools.
Sensory Computation, Experimental Narrative Environments Lab: An immersive virtual space specializing in audio spatialization and virtual reality.
A new multifaceted recording studio, home to an SSL Matrix console, multi computer array and a professional 9 ft. Baldwin Grand Piano.
Led by world-renowned guitarist Carlos Alomar, the SSRC hosts electronic music tools like synthesizers, drums, guitar MIDI controllers and audio processors.
Contains 14 keyboards used for piano pedagogy and composition with an integrated music communications system for individualized teaching and/or group work.
Genelec 5.1 surround sound system for multi-channel reproduction in acoustically-treated space allows students to explore the dynamic world of acousmatics.
Watch as renowned cellist Ashley Bathgate performs original works written by students of Lainie Fefferman's class.
\Nancy Nowacek, assistant professor of visual arts and technology, and Carlos Alomar, director of the SSSRC, collaborated on a sound work.
Mario Diaz de Leon, assistant professor of music & technology, released an official video for Sacrament.
Industry associate professor Robert Harari helped bring the VI Jazz Collective of the United Jazz Foundation up north to perform at Dizzy's Club in NYC.
Lifewire quoted Kelland Thomas, dean of the College of Arts and Letters, in their article, "AI Music Is Good, but It Won’t Replace Human Creativity."
At a conference associated with the UN, teaching associate professor Ayşegül Durakoğlu discussed “Gender Equality in Education and Music Professions."
Will Stackpole, who is both an alumnus and adjunct professor, received the ASCAP Foundation Nissim Prize for his work "fEED.”
Our professors all specialize in a different aspect of music technology, so no matter what you are looking to get out of this program, there is a professor who will take the extra time to help you.
I chose this program because as a lifelong musician I wanted to combine my interest in computer science with my passion for music, and it was more than I expected it would be.
I got to learn from professors who have been in the industry for years. My advisor’s connections led me to part-time jobs and an internship while at Stevens, which led to my first full-time job.