About the Program
The Associate of Arts Degree in Music provides technical and artistic foundations to students interested in pursuing careers in music and music-related fields. The Associate of Arts Degree in Music is a forward thinking degree that instructs students in performance, theory and composition, culture, technology, and business in an effort to prepare students for work in the modern music industry. In addition to courses in reading and writing music, students gain performance skills through instruction on an instrument or voice as well as through ensemble performance. Studies in the aesthetic and historical traditions of various musical cultures provide students with knowledge of the roles and functions of music in society. Students are introduced to the music industry and develop a working knowledge of music technology. This degree can also serve as preparation for additional musical studies or degrees for students wishing to transfer to a baccalaureate degree program as a music major.
Program Requirements
Program Goal: Local
GE Pattern(s): Butte Local, Cal-GETC
Program Code: 44716.00AA
Program Learning Outcome(s):
Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:
Demonstrate technical fluency, artistic growth, and personal enrichment in musical performance on a given instrument and/or voice in both solo and ensemble contexts.
Analyze and interpret common elements and underlying structures of music and use these components to understand, compose, perform, and notate music.
Distinguish a range of music cultures through recognition of the scope, variety, structure, and form of musical works from these cultures, awareness of historical and social contexts of these cultures, and ability to respond critically to musical works in these cultures by articulating an informed personal reaction.
Demonstrate introductory proficiencies in keyboard performance and music technology.
Unit(s): 1.00
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
8.50 hours Lecture
/ 25.50 hours Lab
Out of Class Hours: 17.00
Total Course Hours: 51.00
A first-level introductory course in piano, open to both music and non-music majors. This course provides instruction in elementary music-reading and beginning keyboard skills, including basic piano technique, major and minor five-finger patterns, major scales, keyboard harmony, and sight-reading through beginning piano repertoire. (C-ID MUS 170).
Prerequisite(s): MUS 40
Unit(s): 1.00
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
8.50 hours Lecture
/ 25.50 hours Lab
Out of Class Hours: 17.00
Total Course Hours: 51.00
A second-level introductory course in piano, open to both music and non-music majors. This course continues instruction in music-reading and keyboard skills, including piano technique, major scales and arpeggios, sight-reading, keyboard harmony, and basic transposition skills through upper-beginning piano repertoire. (C-ID MUS 171).
Prerequisite(s): MUS 41
Unit(s): 1.00
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
8.50 hours Lecture
/ 25.50 hours Lab
Out of Class Hours: 17.00
Total Course Hours: 51.00
An intermediate-level piano course, open to both music and non-music majors. This course continues instruction in advancing keyboard skills, including piano technique, major and minor scales and arpeggios, sight-reading, expanded keyboard harmony, and transposition skills through intermediate piano repertoire. (C-ID MUS 172).
Unit(s): 3.00
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
34.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Out of Class Hours: 68.00
Total Course Hours: 153.00
This course is an introduction to digital music production beginning with computer system operation and file management techniques. Students will apply practical concepts of modern music composition like programming drums, recording MIDI instruments, arranging and mixing, as well as post-production techniques including compression, equalization, reverb and other audio post effects.
Unit(s): 4.00
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
51.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Out of Class Hours: 102.00
Total Course Hours: 204.00
A comprehensive study of diatonic harmony and musicianship, including principles of voice leading in four-part texture, harmonic analysis, melody harmonization, non-chord tones, and basic forms (strophic, binary, ternary). Musicianship component develops skills in sight singing and dictation, including rhythmic exercises, interval recognition, melodic reading and dictation in major and minor scales, and basic harmonic dictation. (C-ID MUS 120/MUS 125).
Prerequisite(s): MUS 80
Unit(s): 4.00
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
51.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Out of Class Hours: 102.00
Total Course Hours: 204.00
This course incorporates and further develops the concepts from Theory & Musicianship I and introduces chromatic harmony. Topics include seventh chords and their inversions, secondary chords, modulation techniques, and musical forms (theme and variations, rondo, sonata). Musicianship component develops advanced skills in sight singing and dictation, including compound rhythms, alto and tenor clefs, compound melodies, and harmonic dictation using diatonic triads and seventh chords. (C-ID MUS 130/MUS 135).
Prerequisite(s): MUS 82
Unit(s): 4.00
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
51.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Out of Class Hours: 102.00
Total Course Hours: 204.00
This course incorporates and further develops the concepts from Theory & Musicianship II and explores advanced chromatic harmony. Topics include borrowed chords, Neapolitan chord, augmented sixth chords, altered chords, chromatic modulation techniques, and an introduction to post-tonal music. Musicianship component develops advanced skills in sight singing and dictation, including decorative chromaticism, altered chords, modulation to closely related keys, and irregular meters. (C-ID MUS 140/MUS 145).
Prerequisite(s): Audition Required
Corequisite(s): MUS 60, MUS 61, MUS 63, MUS 64, MUS 70 or Other ensemble
Unit(s): 0.50
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
0.00 hours Lecture
/ 25.50 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 25.50
This course consists of individualized study of the appropriate techniques and repertoire for the specific instrument or voice being studied through private instruction. The emphasis is on the progressive development of skills needed for solo performance. Achievement is evaluated through a juried performance. This course may be repeated 3 times to meet the requirements of the AA-T in Music. (C-ID MUS 160).
Unit(s): 2.00
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
34.00 hours Lecture
Out of Class Hours: 68.00
Total Course Hours: 102.00
A survey of the music industry with focus on the skill, experience, and education needed for careers within the music industry. Topics include music publishing, performing rights, copyright issues, resume building, artist statements, publicity, music licensing, digital distribution, record companies, and artist management.
Prerequisite(s): Audition required
Unit(s): 1.50
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
0.00 hours Lecture
/ 76.50 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 76.50
This course is for the study, rehearsal, and public performance of literature appropriate to the ensemble, with an emphasis on the development of skills needed to perform within an ensemble. Different literature will be studied each semester. Choice of ensemble is based on each student's identified major instrument or voice. This course may be repeated 3 times to meet the requirements of the AA-T in Music. (C-ID MUS 180).
Prerequisite(s): Ability to sing or play at least one instrument. Audition required
Unit(s): 1.00
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
0.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 51.00
This course is for the study, rehearsal, and public performance of literature appropriate to the popular music ensemble, with an emphasis on the development of skills needed to perform within a specialized ensemble. Different literature will be studied each semester. This course may be repeated 3 times to meet the requirements of the AA-T in Music. (C-ID MUS 185).
Prerequisite(s): Ability to play at least one instrument commonly used in the wind band; audition required
Unit(s): 1.50
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
0.00 hours Lecture
/ 76.50 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 76.50
This course is for the study, rehearsal, and public performance of literature appropriate to the ensemble, with an emphasis on the development of skills needed to perform within a large ensemble. Different literature will be studied each semester. Choice of ensemble is based on each student's identified major instrument or voice. This course may be repeated 3 times to meet the requirements of the AA-T in Music. (C-ID MUS 180).
Prerequisite(s): Ability to play at least one instrument commonly used in jazz ensemble. Audition required
Unit(s): 1.50
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
0.00 hours Lecture
/ 76.50 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 76.50
This course is for the study, rehearsal, and public performance of jazz literature with an emphasis on the development of skills needed to perform within a large jazz ensemble. Different literature will be studied each semester. Choice of ensemble is based on each student???s identified major instrument or voice. This course may be repeated 3 times to meet the requirements of the AA-T in Music. (C-ID MUS 180).
Prerequisite(s): Ability to play an instrument or sing; audition required
Unit(s): 1.00
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
0.00 hours Lecture
Out of Class Hours: 17.00
Total Course Hours: 17.00
This course is for the study, rehearsal, and public performance of literature appropriate to the small jazz combo, with an emphasis on the development of skills needed to perform within a specialized ensemble. Different literature will be studied each semester. This course may be repeated 3 times to meet the requirements of the AA-T in Music. (C-ID MUS 185).
Prerequisite(s): Ability to play the guitar. Audition required.
Unit(s): 1.00
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
0.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 51.00
This course is for the study, rehearsal, and public performance of literature appropriate to the guitar ensemble, with an emphasis on the development of skills needed to perform within a guitar ensemble. This course may be repeated 3 times to meet the requirements of the AA-T in Music. (C-ID MUS 185).
Prerequisite(s): Ability to play an instrument or sing; audition required
Unit(s): 1.00
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
0.00 hours Lecture
Out of Class Hours: 17.00
Total Course Hours: 17.00
This course is for the study, rehearsal, and public performance of literature appropriate to the chamber ensemble, with an emphasis on the development of skills needed to perform within a specialized ensemble. Different literature will be studied each semester. This course may be repeated 3 times to meet the requirements of the AA-T in Music. (C-ID MUS 185).
Prerequisite(s): Audition Required
Unit(s): 1.00
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
0.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Total Course Hours: 51.00
This course is for the study, rehearsal, and public performance of literature appropriate to the ensemble, with an emphasis on the development of skills needed to perform within a large ensemble. Different literature will be studied each semester. Choice of ensemble is based on each student???s identified voice. This course may be repeated 3 times to meet the requirements of the AA-T in Music. (C-ID MUS 180).
Prerequisite(s): MUS 3
Unit(s): 2.00
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
34.00 hours Lecture
Out of Class Hours: 68.00
Total Course Hours: 102.00
This course is designed to teach students the basics of song writing with emphasis on the four primary elements required to write a good song: lyric development, chord progressions, melodic development, and song forms. Focus will be on creative songwriting by individuals and in teams, reflecting the trends in the modern music industry.
Prerequisite(s): MUS 84
Unit(s): 4.00
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
51.00 hours Lecture
/ 51.00 hours Lab
Out of Class Hours: 102.00
Total Course Hours: 204.00
This course incorporates and further develops concepts covered in Theory & Musicianship III. Through guided composition and analysis, the course will include late Romantic, Neo-Romantic, and Modernist harmonic and rhythmic structures and techniques. In addition, rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic materials are applied and developed through ear training, sight singing, analysis, and dictation. Activities in class may include performing exercises on piano and sight-singing rhythmic and melodic exercises. (C-ID MUS 150/MUS 155).
Prerequisite(s): MUS 3
Unit(s): 3.00
Transfer Status: CSU/UC
Contact Hours:
51.00 hours Lecture
Out of Class Hours: 102.00
Total Course Hours: 153.00
This course is an introduction to original musical composition for solo and chamber music as well as music in multimedia. Through the analysis of applicable musical literature, this course explores instrumentation, orchestration, form and structure, timbre, pitch, rhythm, texture, interculturalism, and contemporary music notation. The course includes an introduction to music in multimedia, including music for film and video games. Students will be expected to compose original compositions, produce performances, and create a portfolio of their work.
Prerequisite(s): MUS 3
Unit(s): 3.00
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
51.00 hours Lecture
Out of Class Hours: 102.00
Total Course Hours: 153.00
This course delves into the realm of jazz theory and explores diverse jazz styles from a practical perspective. Through the studies of jazz harmony and melody construction in improvisation, students learn how to arrange and compose for jazz ensembles. Covered topics include historical awareness of the subject, terminology, chord symbols, clear lead sheet notation, transpositions, and scales, rhythms, and harmonies commonly used in jazz and popular music.
Unit(s): 2.00
Transfer Status: CSU
Contact Hours:
25.50 hours Lecture
/ 25.50 hours Lab
Out of Class Hours: 51.00
Total Course Hours: 102.00
This course is an introduction to music teaching. Topics covered include pedagogical methods, classroom management, lesson planning, and potential career options in music education, including TK-12 and private teaching. Students will develop their own philosophy of music education through readings, observations, and guided teaching. In addition to class time, the course requires 17 hours of structured fieldwork in music education settings in cooperation with carefully selected and campus-approved teachers.
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Contacts
Ryan Heimlich, Chair
(530) 879-6148
Department Office: ARTS 224
(530) 895-2994
Counseling and Advising:
(530) 895-2378
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