Music Performance

Learn the Universal Language of the World

Our Music program will increase your musical skills and your knowledge about the rich world of music. You will learn the foundations of music theory, history, composition, practicing techniques and performing traditions; have access to production equipment usually found only at a four-year college; gain opportunities to perform in jazz, chorus, orchestra, percussion and chamber ensembles; and have exposure to accomplished performers and artists. Our Music program is perfectly suited for musicians with practical skills, private music teachers who want to enhance their skills, and people who want to learn and study the technical aspects of music.

Students who want to become professional performers, composers or music teachers choose this program. An audition and music theory placement test are required.

Career Options

Careers

Find your path.

Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner – est. salary $39,619
Music Directors and Composers – est. salary $55,380
Musicians and Singers – est. salary $59,686

 

**EMSI Data, 2022; the greater Philadelphia region, PA; a percentage of people in these jobs may have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Transfer Opportunities

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Courses and Completion Sequence

The following courses and sequence of courses is designed for the optimal success and completion of the Music Performance degree/certificate. Any alterations should be discussed with your academic advisor.

Semester 1

Course Number and Name Credits Advisory Notes Course Type
MUS 101 - Piano I 1 credit Prerequisite for MUS 102

Students must take three one-credit courses (MUS 101, MUS 102, MUS 108, MUS 109, or ensemble courses) to meet the Oral Communication/Creative Expression requirement for general education. The requirement may also be met by MUS 115.
Major Course
MUS 141 - Applied Music I or
MUS 141PT - Applied Music I
2 credits Full-Time students register for two levels of Applied courses each semester for a full 1-hour per week lesson.

MUS 141PT, 142PT, 143PT, etc., are Applied Music courses specific to the students in the Piano Technician proficiency certificate.
Major Course
MUS 142 - Applied Music II or
MUS 142PT - Applied Music II
2 credits Full-Time students register for two levels of Applied courses each semester for a full 1-hour per week lesson.

MUS 141PT, 142PT, 143PT, etc., are Applied Music courses specific to the students in the Piano Technician proficiency certificate.
Major Course
FNMT 118 - Intermediate Algebra or higher 3 credits

 

Quantitative Reasoning

ENGL 101 - English Composition I or
ENGL 101H - English Composition I (Honors)
3 credits ENGL 101 must be passed with a "C" or better to move onto ENGL 102. Writing, Research, Info Lit 1

MUS 196B - Brass Ensemble I or
MUS 196C - Chamber Music Ensemble I or
MUS 196E - Electronic Ensemble I  or
MUS 196G - Jazz Guitar Ensemble I or
MUS 196H - Hip Hop Ensemble I or
MUS 196J - Jazz Ensemble I or
MUS 196P - Pop & Rock Ensemble I or
MUS 196SA - Soprano/Alto Ensemble I* or
MUS 196SV - Studio Voice Ensemble I or
MUS 196TB - Tenor/Bass Ensemble I*

1 credit Students can register for any ensemble at the 196 level.
Students studying voice as their primary instrument must complete at least two of the four required ensembles in Men's/Women's Vocal Ensemble. This can be at the MUS 196, 197, 296 and/or 297 course levels. 

Students must take three one-credit courses (MUS 101, MUS 102, MUS 108, MUS 109, or ensemble courses) to meet the Oral Communication/Creative Expression requirement for general education. The requirement may also be met by MUS 115.
Major Course
MUS 105 – Music of Baroque and Classical Era or
MUS 106 – Great Romantic Music or
MUS 120 – Music of African-Americans or
MUS 121 – Modern American Music
3 credits   Cultural Analysis & Interpretation

NOTE: All students must complete a music theory placement exam upon admittance to the program. Students who do not pass the theory placement exam are required to take MUS 100: Music Reading, and pass the course with a grade of "C" or better, before enrolling in MUS 116: Theory I.

  • This program is designed for students who plan to transfer to a bachelor’s degree program after earning their associate’s degree
  • Follow this course schedule each semester and you’ll earn your associate’s degree in two years
  • Make sure you discuss your first semester schedule and your educational plan with an advisor or counselor when you register.

Semester 2

Course Number and Name Credits Advisory Notes Course Type
MUS 116 – Theory I 4 credits  Prerequisite: MUS 100 or placement 

All students must complete a music theory placement exam upon admittance to the program. Students who do not pass the theory placement exam are required to take MUS 100: Music Reading, and pass the course with a grade of "C" or better, before enrolling in MUS 116: Theory I.
Major Course
MUS 102 - Piano II 1 credit  Prerequisite: MUS 101   Major Course
MUS 180 - Music Business

3 credits     Major Course
ENGL 102 - The Research Paper or
ENGL 102H - The Research Paper (Honors)
3 credits  Prerequisite: ENGL 101 with a grade of "C" or better Writing, Research, Info Lit 2
MUS 143 - Applied Music III 2 credits Full-time students register for two levels of Applied courses each semester for a full 1-hour per week lesson.

MUS 141PT, 142PT, 143PT, etc., are Applied Music courses specific to the students in the Piano Technician proficiency certificate.
Major Course
MUS 144 - Applied Music IV or
MUS 144PT - Applied Music IV
2 credit  Full-time students register for two levels of Applied courses each semester for a full 1-hour per week lesson.

MUS 141PT, 142PT, 143PT, etc., are Applied Music courses specific to the students in the Piano Technician proficiency certificate.
Major Course
MUS 197B - Brass Ensemble II or
MUS 197C - Chamber Music Ensemble II or
MUS 197E - Electronic Ensemble II or
MUS 197G - Jazz Guitar Ensemble II or
MUS 197H - Hip Hop Ensemble II or
MUS 197J - Jazz Ensemble II or
MUS 197P - Pop & Rock Ensemble II or
MUS 197SA - Soprano/Alto Ensemble II* or
MUS 197SV - Studio Voice Ensemble II or
MUS 197TB - Tenor/Bass Ensemble II* 
1 credit Students can register for any ensemble at the 197 level.

Students studying voice as their primary instrument must complete at least two of the four required ensembles in Men's/Women's Vocal Ensemble. This can be at the MUS 196, 197, 296 and/or 297 course levels.

Students must take three one-credit courses (MUS 101, MUS 102, MUS 108, MUS 109, or ensemble courses) to meet the Oral Communication/Creative Expression requirement for general education. The requirement may also be met by MUS 115.

 

Major Course

Semester 3

Course Number and Name Credits Advisory Notes Course Type
MUS 115 - Intro to Music Technology 3 credits MUS 115 is a prerequisite for MUS 215 Major Course

HIST 176/ADC 176 - Philadelphia History: Architecture and Planning or
ANTH 112 - Cultural Anthropology or
GEOG 103 - Introduction to Human Geography or
HIST 101 - United States History: Colonial America through the Revolutionary Era or
HIST 102 - United States History: The 19th Century or
HIST 103 - United States History: The 20th Century and Beyond or
HIST 103H - United States and Pennsylvania History: The 20th Century (Honors)  or
HIST 121 - Global History I or
HIST 122 - Global History II or
HIST 142 - Food History or
HIST 146 - Latino American History or
HIST 150 - History of American Health Care or
SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology or
SOC 101H - Introduction to Sociology (Honors) or
SOC 115 - Gender and Society

  SOC 101 fulfills many Gen Ed requirements and is recommended for students planning to transfer to a bachelor's degree program. Social Sciences, Writing Intensive, Interpretive Studies, American/Global Diversity 
MUS 280 - Music Entrepreneurship, Licensing and Marketing 3 credits  Prerequisite: MUS 180 

Fulfills Technological Competency

Major Course
MUS 118 - Theory II 4 credits Prerequisite: MUS 116  Major Course
MUS 241- Applied Music V or
MUS 241PT - Applied Music V**
2 credits 

Full-time students register for two levels of Applied courses each semester for a full 1-hour per week lesson.
Prerequisite: MUS 144
 
MUS 141PT, 142PT, 143PT, etc., are Applied Music courses specific to the students in the Piano Technician proficiency certificate.

Major Course
MUS 242 - Applied Music VI or
MUS 242PT - Applied Music VI
2 credits Full-time students register for two levels of Applied courses each semester for a full 1-hour per week lesson.
Prerequisite / Co-requisite: MUS 241 

MUS 141PT, 142PT, 143PT, etc., are Applied Music courses specific to the students in the Piano Technician proficiency certificate. 
Major Course 
MUS 296B - Brass Ensemble III or
MUS 296C - Chamber Music Ensemble III or
MUS 296E - Electronic Ensemble III or
MUS 296G - Jazz Guitar Ensemble III or
MUS 296H - Hip Hop Ensemble III or
MUS 296J - Jazz Ensemble III or
MUS 296P - Pop & Rock Ensemble III or
MUS 296SA - Soprano/Alto Ensemble III or
MUS 296SV - Studio Voice Ensemble or
MUS 296TB - Tenor/Bass Ensemble III
1 credit Students can register for any ensemble at the 296 level.
Students studying voice as their primary instrument must complete at least two of the four required ensembles in Men's/Women's Vocal Ensemble. This can be at the MUS 196, 197, 296 and/or 297 course levels.

Students must take three one-credit courses (MUS 101, MUS 102, MUS 108, MUS 109, or ensemble courses) to meet the Oral Communication/Creative Expression requirement for general education. The requirement may also be met by MUS 115.
Major Course

Semester 4

Course Number and Name Credits Advisory Notes Course Type
MUS 105 - Music of the Baroque and Classical Eras or
MUS 106 - Great Romantic Music or
MUS 120 - Music of African-Americans or
MUS 121 - Modern American Music
3 credits  Music History Course Offerings (MUS 105, MUS 106, MUS 120, MUS 121) – students must take two of these courses in the program. Directed Elective 
PHYS 125 - Musical Acoustics 3 credits PHYS 125 is always offered during the Spring semester, though there have recently been offerings in the Fall as well. Scientific Reasoning
MUS 216 - Theory III 4 credits Prerequisite: MUS 118
MUS 216 is only offered in the Spring semester. 
Major Course
MUS 243 - Applied Music VII or
MUS 243PT - Applied Music VII
2 credits Full-time students register for two levels of Applied courses each semester for a full 1-hour per week lesson. 
Prerequisite: MUS 242 

MUS 141PT, 142PT, 143PT, etc., are Applied Music courses specific to the students in the Piano Technician proficiency certificate.
Major Course
MUS 244 - Applied Music VIII or
MUS 244PT - Applied Music VIII
2 credits

Full-time students register for two levels of Applied courses each semester for a full 1-hour per week lesson.
Prerequisite/ Co-requisite: MUS 243 

MUS 141PT, 142PT, 143PT, etc., are Applied Music courses specific to the students in the Piano Technician proficiency certificate.

Major Course
MUS 297B - Brass Ensemble IV or
MUS 297C - Chamber Music Ensemble IV or
MUS 297E - Electronic Ensemble IV or
MUS 297G - Jazz Guitar Ensemble IV or
MUS 297H - Hip Hop Ensemble IV or
MUS 297J - Jazz Ensemble IV or
MUS 297P - Pop & Rock Ensemble IV or
MUS 297SA - Soprano/Alto Ensemble IV  or
MUS 297SV - Studio Voice Ensemble
or
MUS 297TB - Tenor/Bass Ensemble IV
 1 credit Students can register for any ensemble at the 297 level.

Students studying voice as their primary instrument must complete at least two of the four required ensembles in Men's/Women's Vocal Ensemble. This can be at the MUS 196, 197, 296 and/or 297 course levels.

Students must take three one-credit courses (MUS 101, MUS 102, MUS 108, MUS 109, or ensemble courses) to meet the Oral Communication/Creative Expression requirement for general education. The requirement may also be met by MUS 115. 

Major Course
  • Congratulations, this is your final semester! Don’t forget to complete your graduation application.
  • Meet with an advisor when registering for your classes
  • Finalize your transfer plans:
  • Take advantage of our scholarship opportunities for transferring students and apply for a scholarship
  • Visit Career Connections to learn about internships and your future career possibilities

General Education Requirements:

All general education requirements necessary for graduation are met through the courses in the program as indicated above. Students who wish to take courses that differ from the general education courses indicated above must complete a course substitution request form. To access the form, login to the MyCCP portal, and in the Student tab, under Electronic Forms, click on the Records and Registration Forms link, then choose Request For Course Substitution Of Graduation Requirement link. A more detailed explanation of the College's general education requirements is also available.

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