Music Degree Requirements

Associate of Arts Degree

The Music Department offers a comprehensive program designed to provide a wide variety of musical experience for the student seeking to transfer to a baccalaureate program in performance or music education for a career as a musician or music teacher. The Associate in Arts in Music will prepare students to succeed upon transfer to a School of Music or conservatory to pursue a BA or BM in Music. Courses required in Associate in Arts in Music lay a foundation for success in upper division music coursework.

Students who complete the Associate in Arts in Music will be able to:

1. Demonstrate proficiency on voice or instrument in transfer auditions, incorporating accurate performance practice based on historical eras and diverse musical styles.
2. Perform standard solo and ensemble repertoire appropriate to the performance area.
3. Demonstrate the ability to hear, identify and work conceptually with the elements of music, through sight-reading and musical analysis in placement exams;
4. Critique musical performances with an awareness of vocabulary, musical style, performance practice, and interpretation suitable for transfer to a school of music;
5. Create derivative or original music in extemporaneous and/or written form in placement exams.

Required Core: Theory, Musicianship, History & Applied Music (26 units)

Required Core: Large Ensemble (4 units)

Recommended Electives (6 units)

Required Major Total: 37 units

Completion of Transfer GE pattern (CSU or IGETC): 37-39 units

(Double counting: 6 units)

Total Units: 68–70 units

Associate in Arts Degree for Transfer (AA-T)

The Associate in Arts in Music for Transfer degree (AA-T in Music) is a 60 unit program which provides students the lower division coursework required for transfer to a CSU institution for the major in Music. Music 42, 48A and 49 are 1 unit courses that must be repeated 4 times to meet the requirement. Music 39 is a 0.5 unit course that must be repeated 4 times to meet the requirement. Students who complete the Associate in Arts in Music for Transfer degree (AA-T in Music) will be able to demonstrate the ability to hear, identify and work conceptually with the elements of music, through sight-reading and musical analysis; perform standard solo and ensemble repertoire appropriate to their performance area at a collegiate level; create derivative or original music in extemporaneous and/or written form; demonstrate a working knowledge of music history and performance practices within their area of specialization.

Students must complete the following requirements:

• 60 semester or 90 quarter CSU-transferable units
• the California State University-General Education-Breadth pattern (CSU GE-Breadth); OR the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern.
• a minimum of 18 semester or 27 quarter units in the major or area of emphasis as determined by the community college district.
• obtainment of a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.
• earn a grade of C or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis

Students are not required to complete the information competency requirements, PE requirements or cultural diversity requirements found in other degrees at the College.

NOTE: Majors will be required to pass a Piano Proficiency examination prior to graduation which includes sight reading a two-part grade 1 selection, and playing two stylistically contrasting pieces from Bartok’s Mikrokosmos Book II. Enrolling in MUSC 31A/B Intermediate Piano, using available elective units, is encouraged.

Required Core Courses (16 units)

List A (2 units)

Complete a total of 2 units taken over a minimum of 4 semesters of Music 39. (Music 39 is a 0.5 unit course that must be repeated 4 times to meet the requirement)

List B (4 units)

Complete a total of 4 units over a minimum of 4 semesters from the following list (4 semesters, 1 unit each. Music 42, 48A and 49 are one unit courses that must be repeated four times to meet the requirement).

MUSC 039 is now split into: MUSC 039A, 039B, 039C, 039D, 039E, 039F, 039G, 039H

**MUSC 042 is now split into: MUSC 042B, 042C, 042D

***MUSC 048A is not MUSC 048

****MUSC 049 is now split into: MUSC 049A, 049B, 049C, 049D

Major Requirements: 22 units

CSU GE Breadth or IGETC for CSU Requirements: 37 – 39 units

Elective Units As Needed To Total 60 CSU Transferable Units

Commercial Music Production Certificate of Achievement

The West Valley College Commercial Music Production Certificate of Achievement requires the successful completion of eight 3-unit courses for a total of 24 units and focuses on the recording arts, music technology, and commercial music production. This is a comprehensive curriculum covering electronic music/sound design, recording arts, commercial music theory, songwriting, MIDI/Digital audio, and audio for visual media. Featuring state-of-art facilities and ‘cutting-edge’ hardware and software, the courses are designed for students of all levels, providing hands-on experience and thorough training in the creative and technical challenges specific to commercial music production.

Upon successful completion of the requirements of this program the student will be able to:

• Demonstrate multi-track digital audio workstation (DAW) skills specific to MIDI, sequencing, and composition.
• Demonstrate multi-track digital audio workstation (DAW) skills specific to recording and mixing.
• Demonstrate a conceptual and practical understanding of the basics of audio engineering and sound design.
• Identify, read and write simple rhythms, scales, key signatures, melodic and harmonic intervals, and triads.
• Write a composition in a commercial song format.
• Demonstrate an understanding of business and marketing strategies in the music industry.

Potential careers specific to these skills include but are not limited to: Recording Engineer, Assistant Engineer, Pro-Tools Certified Programmer/Technician, Logic PRO Certified Programmer/Technician, Composer, Performer, Producer, Game Audio Designer/Composer, Film and TV Sound Designer, Sound Editor, Session Musician, Audio Technician, Songwriter, Music Supervisor, Backup Musician, Arranger, Live Sound/ FOH/Monitors Music Technician, Designer, or Repair person, DJ, Music Director.

Required Courses (24 units)

Recording Arts Component

Music Production Component

Music Business Component

Creating Music for Film, TV and Gaming Certificate of Achievement

The Creating Music for Film, TV and Gaming Certificate of Achievement requires the successful completion of 2 semesters, 18 units. This program provides Career Technical Education (CTE) opportunities in creating music for film, TV and gaming. This curriculum covers areas in, but not limited to, music theory, electronic and acoustic music composition, songwriting and arranging, cinematic orchestration, software music notation, MIDI sequencing, and digital audio sequencing and editing. Featuring state of the art facilities, industry-standard hardware and software, the courses are designed for students of all levels, providing hands-on experience and thorough training in the creative and technical challenges specific to creating music for film, TV and gaming. Upon completion, certificate students will have acquired skills in composing, cinematic orchestration, digital audio sequencing and editing, MIDI programming, and digital music notation.

These skills are specific to careers in, but not limited to, TV composer, commercial composer, film composer, video game composer, app composer, web composer, music editor, music supervisor, digital audio workstation operator, songwriter, orchestrator, copyist, and music licensor.

After completing the Creating Music for Film, TV and Gaming certificate, a student will be able to:

• Compose a music cue for film, TV or gaming in a selected genre.

Required Courses (18 units)