Music

The Degree

Associate in Science (A.S.)

The Outlook

According to the U.S. Labor Department, employment opportunities for music educators in elementary and secondary schools should increase as a large number of teachers reach retirement age in the near future. Competition for performance musicians will continue to be keen, as clubs and restaurants seek highly talented musicians. The Music degree program at Finger Lakes Community College offers you theoretical skills and performance opportunities to prepare you to continue your education.

The Program

The Associate in Science (A.S.) degree in Music at FLCC is designed to enable you to transfer into four-year baccalaureate degree programs in music. The program is also an appropriate course of study if you are preparing for one of the many careers in music that do not require a four-year degree. This challenging curriculum includes courses in music history, theory, and master composers, in addition to applied music and music ensemble.

Facilities: Our program is supported by a substantial new facility that includes music recording studios, music rehearsal hall, applied music studios, practice rooms, and a midi keyboard laboratory.

Honors Courses: The College offers honors courses that provide enhanced educational experiences for students who have demonstrated outstanding academic ability. Enrollment in honors courses is open to qualified students in this degree program, as well as all other qualified FLCC students. Successful completion of honors courses or an Honors Certificate may increase student transfer options to four-year institutions.

The Experience

The opportunity for you to gain experience in performance is a popular feature of the music program at FLCC. Students perform as part of the Finger Lakes Chorale, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, College Singers, Finger Lakes Camerata, Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and Guitar Ensemble.

The Graduates

Graduates from the program have transferred to baccalaureate music programs at SUNY Colleges at Fredonia, Geneseo and Potsdam, the Eastman School of Music, Nazareth College of Rochester, the Berklee College of Music, Middle Tennessee University, and others*, and enjoy a variety of careers including public school teaching, private piano, voice and guitar instruction, church choir direction, church organist, and jazz performance.

Salary: According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the average annual earnings of salaried musicians and singers in 2000 were $36,740. Earnings often depend on the number of hours and weeks worked, a performer’s professional reputation, and the setting for the performance. Median annual earnings of kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers, including music educators, ranged from $37,610 to $42,080 in 2000.

* This is a sampling of some of the four-year colleges and universities to which our students have transferred. Please consult your advisor or the Center for Advisement and Personal Development for a complete listing of transfer agreements between Finger Lakes Community College and four-year institutions.

The Scholarships

The Finger Lakes Chorale has recently established an award for an outstanding student in Music who plans to continue his or her education. For details, contact a member of the Music faculty.

The Faculty

Professors and instructors in the Music and Music Recording Technology programs hold master’s and/or doctorate degrees from such institutions as The Eastman School of Music, SUNY Buffalo and Ithaca College. They are all classically trained and practicing musicians. Several are working composers and have had works commissioned. Most of the faculty perform on a regular basis. The Music Recording instructors have much professional experience in the music industry as audio engineers. They have also worked with many professional musicians throughout the country. The adjunct faculty are many, and are all musicians. Meet our faculty.

Music

Curriculum Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 64 credit hours with a grade point average of not less than C (2.0).

All associate degree programs require English 101 Freshman English and English 102 Introduction to Literature. Students must pass skills assessment for entrance into these courses. Students who are well prepared may substitute ENG 104 English I Honors and ENG 105 English II Honors for ENG101 and ENG102. Students who are considering the English Honors sequence should consult the Director of Honors.

Students must successfully complete:

Humanities

  • ENG 101 Freshman English and ENG 102 Introduction to Literature
    OR
    ENG 104 English I Honors and ENG 105 English II Honors

Social Science

  • 3 credit hours of HIS history electives
  • 6 credit hours of social science elect.

Mathematics/Science

  • 5 credit hours of mathematics/science electives (must include one math elective)
  • PHY 105 Physics of Sound

Music

  • MUS 106 Music Theory I
  • MUS 106L Music Theory I Lab
  • MUS 107 Music Theory II
  • MUS 107L Music Theory II Lab
  • MUS 206 Music Theory III
  • MUS 206L Music Theory III Lab
  • MUS 207 Music Theory IV
  • MUS 207L Music Theory IV Lab
  • MUS 115 Music History I: Medieval to Baroque
  • MUS 116 Music History II: Classic to Modern
  • MUS 111 Master Composers I
  • MUS 117 Master Composers II

Applied Music

  • MUS 131-135, 137, 160, 161, 163-165, 167, 168 Applied Music
  • 4 semesters in one specific instrument or voice are required

Performance

  • Music Ensemble electives *** 4 semesters are required

Health/Physical Education Electives

4 credit hours of health/physical education electives

*** The below courses count toward the Music Ensemble requirement:

  • MUS 109 Vocal Jazz Ensemble
  • MUS 118 Guitar Ensemble
  • MUS 119 Percussion Ensemble
  • MUS 120 Finger Lakes Chorale
  • MUS 125 Finger Lakes Camerata
  • MUS 126 College Singers
  • MUS 127 Jazz Ensemble
  • MUS 128 Finger Lakes Concert Band
  • MUS 129 Performance Class I
  • MUS 229 Performance Class II

    Students who are transferring to four-year institutions should follow the general education course requirements for transfer to SUNY and non-SUNY schools. View the general education requirements for more details.

Music

Sample Schedule

The schedule below shows how the requirements for the A.S. Music degree may be met in four semesters. This schedule is an example of one of many possible different schedules. It is included here only as an illustration of the type of schedule that might be followed by a full-time student. Many students attending Finger Lakes Community College who have work and/or family obligations choose a different sequence of courses and take more than four semesters to fulfill the requirements for the A.S. Music degree. Similarly, students who find they need to take some additional course work to prepare them to do well in the types of courses included in the A.S. Music degree program may plan a schedule that takes more than four semesters to complete the degree. All students should consult their advisors when they plan their schedules.

First Semester (16 Credit hours)

  • ENG 101 Freshman English (3)
  • MUS 106 Music Theory I (3)
  • MUS 106L Music Theory I Lab (1)
  • MUS 111 Master Composers I (3)
  • Applied Music Elective (1)
  • Ensemble Elective (1)
  • HIS History Elective (3)
  • Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Second Semester (17 Credit hours)

  • ENG 102 Introduction to Literature (3)
  • MUS 107 Music Theory II (3)
  • MUS 107L Music Theory II Lab (1)
  • MUS 117 Master Composers II (3)
  • Applied Music Elective (1)
  • Ensemble Elective (1)
  • PHY 105 Physics of Sound (4)
  • Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Third Semester (16 Credit hours)

  • MUS 206 Music Theory III (3)
  • MUS 206L Music Theory III Lab (1)
  • MUS 115 Music History I (3)
  • Applied Music Elective (1)
  • Ensemble Elective (1)
  • Social Science Elective (3)
  • Mathematics Elective (3)
  • Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Fourth Semester (15 Credit hours)

  • MUS 207 Music Theory IV (3)
  • MUS 207L Music Theory IV Lab (1)
  • MUS 116 Music History II (3)
  • Applied Music Elective (1)
  • Ensemble Elective (1)
  • Social Science Elective (3)
  • Math/Science Elective (2)
  • Health/Physical Education Elective (1)