Sponsored by ASÂ鶹´«Ã½
The Â鶹´«Ã½ Student Composition Competition has been offered to Â鶹´«Ã½ music students since 2015 under the guidance of Dr. Daniel Luzko, Music Theory and Composition Director. The main goals of the competition are to promote musical creativity and to prepare Â鶹´«Ã½ music students to succeed in the area.
Â鶹´«Ã½ offers a spectrum of music theory classes for all levels. Students may complement their studies with The Basics of Music (MUS 1). This course is designed primarily for the general education student and is transferable to both the UC and CSU systems. The department also offers the traditional lower division of Music Theory/Harmony (MUS 3, MUS 4, MUS 5, MUS 6).
The Â鶹´«Ã½ Keyboard Department is dedicated to providing a comprehensive program to students of all levels. Our commitment is to make high level piano education accessible to everyone who has a passion and curiosity for music at every level of ability. We have world-class teachers and a brand new state-of-the-art Music & Arts Center, qualifying Â鶹´«Ã½ with the esteemed Steinway School designation.
Piano Majors: Â鶹´«Ã½ has a robust music program with collaborations with local and national transfer colleges.
The mission of the instrumental music area (IMA) is to provide the finest artistic experience possible for its students and audiences. The IMA is one of the most active and visible segments of the college. IMA performance ensembles serve as a nexus between music students, the college and local communities, and student and professional composers and soloists. Currently there are performance opportunities in the Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and Guitar Program.
The Master Chorale was the first music ensemble at Â鶹´«Ã½, performing for the first time in 1979. Since that time, the Master Chorale has offered performances from the great masterworks of the Western canon to the Great American Songbook, to the vast treasury of choral music from the world's cultures. The choir has traveled to Europe and South America, and choir members have performed on the stage of Carnegie Hall.
The music curriculum is designed to provide a thorough and high-quality course of study for the transferring music major, as well as opportunities for students in other fields to learn about music through courses and through participation in performing groups. Courses offered in the music curriculum meet major transfer requirements, and many also meet general education requirements in the arts and/or humanities. The curriculum includes courses in music performance, theory, history, and appreciation, as well as a variety of fine vocal and instrumental ensembles.
Vi Ly, Ed.D. | Dean, the Arts
Matthew Tresler | Department Chair: Music, the Arts
Benjamin Penman | Director of Arts Production, Management, the Arts
Music was among the first academic programs offered at Â鶹´«Ã½. The first performances were given in December of 1979. Since that time the department has grown and remains one of the college’s most high profile and active departments. The department offers courses that enable students to both make and create music, and to better understand it. We offer courses in the appreciation and, courses in the theory and composition, and courses in the performance. We have six performing ensembles rehearsing weekly and presenting concerts several times a year.
Participation in backstage crew is open to all students and community members. Crew members are an essential part of the production team and serve as stagehands, dressers, make-up technicians, lighting operators, and audio/video technicians. No prior experience is required.
The department of theater does a season of four or five productions each year. We typically do one musical and one straight play each semester. Occasionally we do productions in the summer.
Students in the Theater Arts program have the opportunity to take classes from, as well as be in productions guided by, industry professionals who can guide the student toward discovering a new career path or enriching an existing goal of continued training and experience in the theater arts.​​​