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Apr 01, 2025
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College Catalog 2025 - 2026
Music Concentration, A.A.
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The Music concentration provides the practical and academic foundation for continued education or a career in music. Through group and individual instruction, students develop instrumental or vocal performance skills suitable for a variety of styles of music and professional roles. Additionally, students gain knowledge of the theory, history, and business of music.
This concentration prepares students for transfer to four-year programs in music, as well for entry-level positions in the music industry. For information on specific transfer agreements with four-year music programs in the area, see the Department Chair. Graduates of this concentration may qualify to transfer using benefits of MassTransfer to a four-year state college or University of Massachusetts campus. For current information on eligible programs, see Transfer Options below.
* Milestone Courses should be taken in the order shown. This will help you stay on track and graduate on time.
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Total Credits: 16-17
Semester 1 Advising Note - General Education Requirements Creative Work satisfied by program.
- Students with experience reading music may be eligible to replace MUS-103 Introduction to Music Theory with a qualifying Music Elective. Contact the Department Chairperson to inquire about taking this challenge exam.
- Students may replace MUS-151 Beginning Piano with MUS-190C Applied Music for Beginners: Keyboards . Students with some keyboarding skills must replace MUS-151 Beginning Piano with MUS-190C Applied Music for Beginners: Keyboards or MUS-195C Applied Music I: Keyboards (this does not satisfy the Applied Music Elective requirement). See the Department Chairperson or piano faculty for more information about placement and auditions. Students who choose Keyboards as their primary focus of study for their Applied Music Electives may replace this with a qualifying Music Elective.
- Students are required to take four credits of performance ensemble electives and may repeat these electives. Students are required to audition for performance ensembles. See the Department Chairperson or course instructor for more information.
- Students are required to take four credits of performance ensemble electives and may repeat these electives. Students are required to audition for performance ensembles. See the Department Chairperson or course instructor for more information.
- Students are required to take four credits of applied music electives and may repeat these electives. Students should register for MUS-195 and contact the Department Chairperson in order to audition. Students looking to take MUS-295 should first register for MUS-195 and may be placed in MUS-295 following an audition. MUS-190 (Applied Music for Beginners) does not satisfy the Applied Music Elective requirement. If a student is directed to enroll in MUS-190 after their MUS-195 audition, these credits can count towards the student’s Music Elective requirement.
- Students interested in transfer to the University of Massachusetts, Lowell program in Sound Recording Technology should consult with the Department Chairperson, since that program has very specific Mathematics course requirements.
Total Credits: 15
Semester 2 Advising Note - Students are required to take four credits of performance ensemble electives and may repeat these electives. Students are required to audition for performance ensembles. See the Department Chairperson or course instructor for more information.
- Students are required to take four credits of applied music electives and may repeat these electives. Students should register for MUS-195 and contact the Department Chairperson in order to audition. Students looking to take MUS-295 should first register for MUS195 and may be placed in MUS-295 following an audition. MUS-190 (Applied Music for Beginners) does not satisfy the Applied Music Elective requirement. If a student is directed to enroll in MUS-190 after their MUS-195 audition, these credits can count towards the student’s Music Elective requirement.
- Students interested in transfer to the University of Massachusetts, Boston, should take HIS-112 Modern World History as their Community and Cultural Contexts course, or one of their Behavioral or Social Science Electives.
Total Credits: 16
Semester 3 Advising Note - Students are required to take four credits of performance ensemble electives and may repeat these electives. Students are required to audition for performance ensembles. See the Department Chairperson or course instructor for more information.
- Students are required to take four credits of applied music electives and may repeat these electives. Students should register for MUS-195 and contact the Department Chairperson in order to audition. Students looking to take MUS-295 should first register for MUS195 and may be placed in MUS-295 following an audition. MUS-190 (Applied Music for Beginners) does not satisfy the Applied Music Elective requirement. If a student is directed to enroll in MUS-190 after their MUS-195 audition, these credits can count towards the student’s Music Elective requirement.
- Students interested in transfer to the University of Massachusetts, Boston, should take HIS-112 Modern World History as their Community and Cultural Contexts course, or one of their Behavioral or Social Science Electives.
Total Credits: 15
Semester 4 Advising Note - Students are required to take four credits of performance ensemble electives and may repeat these electives. Students are required to audition for performance ensembles. See the Department Chairperson or course instructor for more information.
- Students are required to take four credits of applied music electives and may repeat these electives. Students should register for MUS-195 and contact the Department Chairperson in order to audition. Students looking to take MUS-295 should first register for MUS195 and may be placed in MUS-295 following an audition. MUS-190 (Applied Music for Beginners) does not satisfy the Applied Music Elective requirement. If a student is directed to enroll in MUS-190 after their MUS-195 audition, these credits can count towards the student’s Music Elective requirement.
- Students interested in transfer to the University of Massachusetts, Boston, should take HIS-112 Modern World History as their Community and Cultural Contexts course, or one of their Behavioral or Social Science Electives.
- Apply for graduation.
Upon Completion of This Concentration Graduates Will Be Able To:
- Demonstrate foundational music skills suitable for a variety of situations including music notation and terminology, aural skills and sight-reading skills.
- Interpret core elements of a musical work.
- Demonstrate technical skills in various creative activities.
- Discuss the cultural context of music from a variety of styles and eras.
- Exhibit creativity and artistic sensitivity in their musical activity.
- Demonstrate facility in essential professional skills beyond those related to music.
Career Outlook
The Music concentration provides the core skills that lead to a variety of careers related to music, including performance, music education, music production, composition, and music management. Graduates of this program qualify for entry-level positions in various sectors of the music industry. Additionally, graduates are well-prepared to transfer to bachelor’s programs in a variety of specializations within music. Transfer Options
Transfer Advising Guides - Bridgewater State University
- Fitchburg State University
- Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
- Westfield State University
- Worcester State University
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- University of Massachusetts Boston
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