LUBBOCK, Texas (press release) – The following is a press release from Texas Tech University:

Texas Tech University School of Music, located within JT & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts and South Plains College (SPC) Department of Creative Arts, is delighted to announce the new Bachelor of Applied Arts in commercial music. The two institutions have worked together for the past three years to build the degree and deliver it to the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) which accredits Texas Tech. The degree offer was approved by NASM in July.

“The School of Music is incredibly excited about this offer,” said Lisa Garner Santa, Acting Director of the School of Music. “SPC is known around the world for its commercial music program, with more than 40 Grammy Award-winning alumni. This partnership recognizes West Texas’s strong appreciation for live music creation, infused into our local and regional culture. We are more than delighted with this long-awaited partnership.

The degree combines SPC’s two-year Associate’s Degree in Applied Arts in Commercial Music with two years at Texas Tech, where students will continue to study in applied fields, such as guitar, voice, keys, and piano. drums, as well as in the fields of commercial music, such as recording techniques and computers. The aim of the two-year-plus degree is to support regional music artists and technicians pursuing the skills and knowledge necessary to work in the commercial music industry.

“I am thrilled with this new partnership between the SPC Commercial Music Program and the Texas Tech School of Music,” said Brent Wheeler, SPC Program Coordinator. “The degree will provide additional skills for students to remain competitive in today’s changing music industry.”

Scott Faris, owner of FarisWheel Productions and longtime Lubbock musician, recognizes the value this long-awaited partnership will bring to the region and its musicians.

“The incredible legacy of South Plains College’s Commercial Music Program, associated with Texas Tech’s School of Music, will give prospective students a distinct advantage when they enter the music industry,” said Faris. “The partnership will pave the way for the next generation of gifted musical talent from West Texas.”

The program opened to the first cohort of students this fall and is accepting applications for Spring 2022 with significant music and transfer scholarships available.

(Texas Tech University press release)