News broke on Monday that the Eastman School of Music, of the University of Rochester has announced the launch of a newly conceived Bachelor of Music (BM) degree in Music Creation and Technology.
According to a company statement, "This new major is designed for students whose musical practice is grounded in electronic and digital technologies, fostering both artistic and technical fluency in areas such as electronic music production and performance, sound design, recording and editing, DJing, and the development of software and hardware. The program will blend hands-on experimentation with engagement in a variety of musical styles and practices."
The statement goes on to say that the new program in Music Creation and Technology "will be led by Associate Professor of Music and Technology Dennis DeSantis ’05E (DMA), who is currently recruiting for the program’s inaugural class, commencing study in fall 2027."
"What I’m most excited about isn’t what these students will make on their own, but what they’ll make when they start collaborating with jazz vocalists or string quartets," DeSantis told MC. "Eastman has always been a place where serious musicians push their craft to its limits, and now that includes students who design and build their own instruments or compose by writing software. When that sensibility enters into dialogue with Eastman’s deep traditions, both sides are going to be transformed."
DeSantis is currently recruiting for the program’s inaugural class, commencing study in fall 2027. He "is a composer, percussionist, sound designer, author, and former Head of Music Learning at Ableton, one of the world’s leading music software companies. At Ableton, he led the creation of the interactive websites Learning Music and Learning Synths, and contributed to the design of Ableton products Live and Push. He is the author of Making Music: 74 Creative Strategies for Electronic Music Producers, a widely used resource in music production education."
"Dennis’s broad experience across the music industry—alongside his work as a performer, composer, and educator—makes him especially well-suited to lead this program,” states Kate Sheeran, Joan and Martin Messinger Dean at Eastman. “With this major, Eastman is taking a progressive approach to the intersection of music and technology, positioning our students to engage thoughtfully in a rapidly evolving field and to lead the future of musical innovation.”
For more information about this program, and to learn about applying for its first class of students, visit Eastman’s website.
