Music Performance

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Program Duration: 2 Year Program
Degree Type: Associate in Arts (A.A.)
Total Credit Hours: 62

About This Program

Entry-level 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.

Quick Information

General Contact Call (215) 751-8010

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Transfer Opportunities

Public university in central Pennsylvania offering diverse programs.

A private Christian university known for its faith-based education.

Healthcare and science-focused institution in Philadelphia.

A public university in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, offering various majors.

A public research university in Philadelphia, offering diverse programs and a vibrant campus experience.

View all transfer opportunities

Semester 1

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.

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

Notes:

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

Notes:

Don’t forget to meet with an advisor and review this schedule when registering for your classes
Start planning for transfer:
- Did you know our dual admissions partnerships include scholarship opportunities?
- Learn more about our transfer agreements and use our interactive search tool for your program’s transfer options
Make sure you are using Starfish Connect to track and improve your grades
Stay on the path to success: take advantage of academic support services offered by Counseling the Learning Labs, Academic Advising and more
Now is a good time to start financial planning for next semester:
- Manage your financial aid
- Take advantage of our payment plans and know the payment deadlines
- Apply for a scholarship— You only have to complete one application to be considered for all available scholarships

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

Notes:

Meet with an advisor and review this schedule when registering for your classes
Make sure you are using Starfish Connect to track and improve your grades
Stay on the path to success: take advantage of academic support services offered by Counseling the Learning Labs, Academic Advising and more
Start financial planning for next semester:
- Manage your financial aid
- Take advantage of our payment plans and know the payment deadlines
- Apply for a scholarship—You only have to complete one application to be considered for all available scholarships

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

Notes:

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:
- Meet with a counselor at your selected dual admissions transfer college
- Meet with one of our College’s counselors or an advisor to review transfer requirements
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

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Launch Your Career in Music Performance

Music directors and Composers – est. salary $54,751
Musicians and Singers – est. salary $63,587
Audio and Video Technicians – est. salary $58,119

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

Career Outlook

$47,157

Median Salary of a Sound Engineering Technician

Number of Jobs in the Region

+11.8%

10-year Job Outlook in the Region for Sound Engineering Technician

Featured Career

Sound Engineering Technician

Operate machines and equipment to record, synchronize, mix, or reproduce music, voices, or sound effects in sporting arenas, theater productions, recording studios, or movie and video productions.

Starting Pay: $26,292

Typical Tasks

Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.
Prepare for recording sessions by performing activities such as selecting and setting up microphones.
Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds later during the mixing or postproduction stage.

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