About the Program
(Not Eligible for Financial Aid) The Certificate of Achievement in Music Theory and Composition prepares students for composing music in various genres and/or transferring into a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree with a focus on Music Composition. Throughout the program, students will cultivate their music composition portfolios and enhance their resumes. The certificate encompasses intermediate skills in music theory, musicianship, jazz idioms, as well as foundational skills in arrangement, composition, and music in multimedia.
Program Requirements
Program Goal: Local
GE Pattern(s): None
Program Code: 44823.00CA
Program Learning Outcome(s):
Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:
Demonstrate understanding of Tonal Harmony.
Demonstrate ability to transcribe music using staff notation.
Demonstrate understanding of jazz theory and lead sheet notation.
Demonstrate ability to compose fully notated music for Western instruments.
Distinguish between various musical forms used in classical music composition, jazz, and commercial music.
Identify historically important musical eras and their stylistic components.
Compose and arrange for solo and ensembles of various sizes, including jazz big band, and computer music.
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): 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.
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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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