Music (A.A.)

A student band performs at a concert

Music Concentration Overview

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.

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Visit the College Catalog for program details

Contact Us

Ellen Shanahan, Program Advisor
eshanahan@berkshirecc.edu
413-236-4703

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Transfer Schools

  • Westfield State University
  • UMASS Amherst
  • Berklee College of Music
  • Lyndon State University
  • Boston Conservatory
  • MCLA (Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts)
  • Full Sail University

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 compete the audition process at four-year colleges and music schools.
  • Full-time Schedule
    SEMESTER 1
    Applied Music I
    Fundamentals of Music
    American Popular Music
    Performance Seminar
    Recording Technology – SONAR
    Ensemble (Choral or Jazz)
    English Composition I    		 SEMESTER 2
    Applied Music II
    Music Theory I
    Class Piano I
    Musicianship I
    Music Notation Using Finale
    Recording Technology – Pro Tools
    Ensemble (Choral, Jazz, or Instrumental)
    English Composition II
    SEMESTER 3
    Applied Music III
    Ensemble
    English Literature
    History
    Mathematics
    Natural or Physical Science    		 SEMESTER 4
    Applied Music IV
    Ensemble
    History
    Communication
    Behavioral or Social Science
    Environmental Science
  • Part-time Schedule

    SEMESTER 1
    Applied Music I
    Fundamentals of Music Ensemble (Choral or Jazz) English Composition I

    		 SEMESTER 2
    Applied Music II
    Music Theory I
    Recording Technology – Pro Tools Ensemble (Choral, Jazz, or Instrumental)    		 SEMESTER 3
    American Popular Music Recording Technology – SONAR Mathematics

    SEMESTER 4
    Class Piano I

    Musicianship I
    English Composition II

    SEMESTER 5
    Ensemble (Choral, Jazz, or Instrumental)
    History
    Communication

    		 SEMESTER 6
    Applied Music II
    English Literature
    History
    SEMESTER 7
    Applied Music IV
    Ensemble
    Natural or Physical Science    		 SEMESTER 8
    Ensemble
    Behavioral or Social Science Natural or Physical Science    		  
A student musician plays guitar at a concert