2017-2018 Student Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Student Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Music, A.S.


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Contact Information

Program Requirements

Typical Program

Degree/Certificate:    Associate in Science
HEGIS Code:            5610
SUNY Code:             0682
Major Code:             MUSI

The Career 

The associate in science degree program offers students quality music academics and performance opportunities in both acoustic and electronic media. The degree provides academic course work appropriate for students interested in transferring to four-year institutions that offer traditional and contemporary music programs.  

The associate in science program is designed for students who have had previous music experience in an academic setting. The degree program continues to develop the students’ musicianship skills through music history, music theory, aural skills, basic piano skills, coaching and performance opportunities. 

Graduates from NCCC’s Music program have successfully completed transfer auditions and attended four-year programs in: Music Education, Music Business, Music Therapy, Music Performance, Sound Recording Technology, Musical Theatre and Minister of Music programs at schools such as Buffalo State College, SUNY at Buffalo, SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Purchase, Nazareth College in Rochester, Ithaca College and out-of-state schools such as Mansfield University in Pennsylvania and Ohio State University.

The NCCC Approach 

Successful Music students enter the curriculum having studied classical music on their major instrument (instrument or voice) with a private instructor. They also have basic piano skills, experience in the application of aural and written music theory and some music history knowledge. 

At NCCC, students will concentrate on the performance of their major instruments as the degree program prepares them for transfer into baccalaureate programs. Exposure to all musical genres is stressed with emphasis in classical, electronic, jazz and popular music. Students are afforded abundant performing opportunities in a variety of ensemble courses. Campus concerts and community recitals offer students many venues to fine-tune their music making experiences.  

Successful transfer auditions demonstrate the student’s proficiency in performing music requiring a high caliber of skill and technical ability. It will demonstrate the student’s ability to read music at sight and recall and repeat musical patterns. Students will be required to exhibit appropriate audition decorum. In addition, transfer students will require placement tests in aural and keyboard skills, written theory and music history. 

At NCCC, required degree courses include New York State’s General Education r\Requirements for the Arts (AR), Communication (BC), Humanities (H), Foreign Language (FL), Mathematics (M), Natural Science (NS) or Social Sciences (SS). With advisement, elective courses can fulfill all additional required General Education courses, Other World Civilization (OW), American History (AH), Western Civilization (WC). 

Transfer Institutions

The Music program currently has transfer agreements with:

SUNY College at Buffalo
SUNY College at Cortland
SUNY College at Fredonia
SUNY College at Potsdam

Admissions Requirements

Prospective students are not required to audition for acceptance into the Music degree program. The program is designed for students who have had previous music experience in an academic setting. Prospective students whose background lacks academic musical training are encouraged to enroll in MUS 102: Foundations of Music Theory, before enrolling in the recommended music course sequence. Students who wish to pursue college music studies, but do not want an associate in science degree may enroll in the Music certificate program. Once complete, the certificate’s 30-credit hours complete the first 30-credit hours of the Associate in Music degree.

It is essential for students to have access to a computer and the internet as music degree courses require the use of such technology.

Facilities

The NCCC Music Department features a spacious rehearsal and recording space with Steinway Grand pianos, instructional smart classrooms, private practice rooms, and a 700 seat, state-of-the-art theater. Access to such facilities enables the music student to experience true-to-life performance practice.

Program Goals and Objectives

  • To prepare students for a successful audition leading to acceptance as transfer students into Music Education, Music Performance, Recording Technology, Music Business or other music-related programs at four-year colleges, universities and conservatories
  • To improve musicianship and performance skills
  • To provide students with a well-rounded music and liberal arts education
  • To assist students in meeting a minimum of seven of the ten SUNY General Education requirements

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will:

  • Identify, distinguish and notate written and aural elements of music theory
  • Sing with accurate intonation in a variety of tonalities and meters
  • Analyze compositional techniques in all musical style periods
  • Compare and  contrast characteristics of historical music time periods
  • Describe characteristics of major composers
  • Perform piano compositions in major and minor keys
  • Perform in a variety of venues
  • Demonstrate preparation for a transfer audition

 

Program Requirements (MUSI)


  1. A total of at least 62-credit hours with a minimum curriculum grade-point average of 2.0. Academic Foundations courses do not count toward the degree.
  2. Music: A minimum of 30-credit hours to include:
    MUS 117 - Music History & Repertoire I 
    MUS 118 - Music History & Repertoire II  
    MUS 133 - American Popular Music 
    MUS 171 - Written Theory I *
    MUS 172 - Written Theory II *
    MUS 181 - Aural and Keyboard Skills I 
    MUS 182 - Aural and Keyboard Skills II 
    MUS ___   Three (3) credits of a music elective
    MUS ___   Six (6) credits of performance experience
  3. Basic Communication - Written: A minimum of 6-credit hours to include:
    ENG 101 - Writing I 
    ENG 102 - Writing II & Introduction to Literature  
  4. Basic Communication - Oral: A minimum of 3-credit hours to include:
    Basic Communication  - Oral General Education-approved elective
  5. Health/Physical Education: A minimum of 2-credit hours.
  6. Foreign Language - General Education:  A minimum of 3-credit hours to include:
    ___  ___    Foreign Language  - General Education-approved elective
  7. Humanities - General Education:  A minimum of 3-credit hours to include:
    LIT ___      Humanities  General Education-approved elective with LIT prefix
  8. Mathematics - General Education : A minimum of 3-credit hours of Mathematics - General Education .
  9. General Education: A minimum of 6-credit hours to be selected from two different categories below:
    American History  - General Education-approved elective
    Other World Civilization  - General Education-approved elective
    Social Science  - General Education-approved elective
    Western Civilization  - General Education-approved elective
  10. Recommended Electives: A minimum of 6-credit hours by advisement (not MUS).

 

Typical Program


Total Credit Hours: 15


Second Semester


Total Credit Hours: 17


Third Semester


  • LIT    ___ Humanities - General Education with LIT prefix elective 3 Cr.
  • MAT  ___ Mathematics - General Education elective 3 Cr.
  • MUS ___ Performance Experience 2 Cr.
  • ___   ___ Foreign Language - General Education elective 3 Cr.
  • ___  ___ General Education (AH, OW, SS, WC) elective 3 Cr.
  • ___  ___ Recommended elective 3 Cr.

Total Credit Hours: 17


Fourth Semester


  • MUS ___ Performance Experience 2 Cr.
  • MUS ___ Music elective 3 Cr.
  • ___  ___ General Education (AH, OW, SS, WC) elective 3 Cr.
  • ___  ___ Health/Physical Education elective 2 Cr.
  • ___  ___ Recommended elective 3 Cr.

Total Credit Hours: 13


Note:


* Students must register for the lecture and laboratory component.

Applied Music Instruction


Credit will be granted for individual study of voice and/or the following instrument:  piano, classical guitar, electric guitar, electric bass, flute, clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, violin, viola, cello, double bass, oboe, English horn, bassoon, French horn, trombone, tuba, organ, harpsichord, and percussion.

Credit is granted with satisfactory performance at one jury examination at the conclusion of the semester, and, for Music majors, at a minimum of one departmental recital.  Students will be assessed by Music Department faculty, based upon improvement from their individual entry skill levels.  All students begin at level I of voice or instrument.  Teachers are assigned from those recognized by the department as capable of teaching voice or their instrument at an academic college level.

Fees for the private lessons are set and collected by the private teacher.

Scholarship Opportunities


There are several scholarships available to NCCC students.  Scholarship deadline dates vary each semester.  For more information, please visit the scholarship webpage at www.niagaracc.suny.edu/scholarships . The NCCC Scholarship Office is located within the Financial Aid Complex, A-114 or by phone (716) 614-6205.

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