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2018-2019 Catalog

Music (A.A.)

Associate in Arts

Program Advisor: Ellen Shanahan

413-236-4703 • eshanahan@berkshirecc.edu

The Music concentration of the Fine Arts degree program offers courses comparable to those taken during the first two years at a typical music conservatory and in a college or university music department. Emphasis is placed on foundation courses and gaining skills in Western, non-Western, classical and popular music. Related majors at the baccalaureate level include arts management, composition, conducting, ethnomusicology, film scoring, jazz studies, music education, music history, music performance, music technology, music therapy, musical theatre, opera, and sound recording.

This is a MassTransfer eligible program.

Expected Outcomes

Graduates of this program should be able to:

  • Hear, identify and work conceptually with the elements of music;
  • Perform in solo and ensemble performances;
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of major composers throughout music history;
  • Use music technology for notation and for sound recording to create original work;
  • Develop a music repertoire appropriate for the instrument studied; and
  • Be prepared, through applied music study, to complete the audition process at four-year colleges and music schools.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a degree in this program, a student must complete all program and general education credits, plus the following Additional Requirements.

Program Courses

BCC-101Student Success Seminar

1
MUS-106Fundamentals of Music

3
MUS-108Music Theory I

3
MUS-132Recording Technology - SONAR

3
MUS-138Class Piano I

1
MUS-139Class Piano II

1
MUS-156Musicianship I

2
MUS-187Music Theory II

3
MUS-216Musicianship II

2
MUS-114Performance Seminar

1
MUS-
Ensembles

4
MUS -
Applied Music I–IV

6
Total Credit Hours:31
MUS-114: See footnote 1
MUS: See footnote 2

General Education Courses

COM-
Communication

3
ENG-
English Composition/Writing

6
ENG-
Literature

3
MUS-110American Popular Music

3
-
Behavioral & Social Science

3
-
Environmental Studies

3
HI-
History

6
MAT-
Mathematics

3
-
Natural or Physical Science

7
Total Credit Hours:35

Environmental Studies: See footnote 4
History (HI): See footnote 3
Natural or Physical Science: See footnote 4

Suggested Pathway to Graduation

The following is a suggestion for completing the program is two years. The actual time needed to complete the program will vary according to each student’s individual needs.

First Semester

BCC-101Student Success Seminar

1
MUS-101Applied Music I (All Other Instruments)

1
MUS-106Fundamentals of Music

3
MUS-110American Popular Music

3
MUS-120Choral Ensemble I

1
MUS -
Ensemble

1
ENG-
English Composition/Writing

3
HIS-
History

3
Total Credit Hours:16

MUS-120 : See footnote 1
MUS: See footnote 2
HIS: See footnote 3

Second Semester

MUS-102Applied Music II (All Other Instruments)

1
MUS-108Music Theory I

3
MUS-138Class Piano I

1
MUS-156Musicianship I

2
MUS -
Ensemble

1
COM-
Communication

3
ENG-
English Composition/Writing

3
HIS-
History

3
Total Credit Hours:17

MUS: See footnote 2
HIS: See footnote 3

Third Semester

MUS-139Class Piano II

1
MUS-187Music Theory II

3
MUS-201Appl Music Iii (Other Instruments)

2
MUS-216Musicianship II

2
MUS -
Ensemble

1
ENG-
English Literature

3
-
Natural or Physical Science

4
Total Credit Hours:16

MUS: See footnote 2
Natural or Physical Science: See footnote 3

Fourth Semester

MUS-114Performance Seminar

1
MUS-132Recording Technology - SONAR

3
MUS-202Applied Music IV (All Other Instruments)

2
MUS -
Ensemble

1
-
Behavioral & Social Science

3
-
Environmental Science

1
MAT-
Mathematics

3
-
Natural or Physical Science

3
Total Credit Hours:18

MUS-114 : See footnote 1
MUS : See footnote 2
Environmental Science : See footnote 3
Natural or Physical Science : See footnote 3

Footnotes

  1. Ensembles chosen from Choral Ensemble (MUS-120, MUS-130, MUS-220 and MUS-230)
  2. Ensembles chosen from Jazz Ensemble (MUS-163, MUS-164,MUS-263 and MUS-264) and/or Instrumental Ensemble (MUS-151, MUS-152, MUS-251 and MUS-252).
  3. History courses must have “HI” designation.
  4. The Natural or Physical Science requirement must be fulfilled by one 4-credit laboratory science and one 3-credit non-laboratory science or by two 4-credit laboratory sciences. Completion of an environmentally focused laboratory science course, such as BIO-109, BIO-110, ENV-101 and ENV-102, fulfills both the Natural/ Physical science requirement and the Environmental Studies