Program Overview

The Associate in Arts in Music degree at GWC is designed to provide students with the breadth of lower division coursework required of all Music Majors in a collegiate setting.  Due to the fact that Music Majors begin major coursework in the freshman year, students must successfully complete all of the required courses and pass a keyboard proficiency to be awarded the Associate in Arts in Music degree.  The Associate in Arts in Music program is designed for students to complete the first two years of core Major coursework that is required of Music Majors at most baccalaureate campuses and prepare for success on Music subject placement exams.  Students should be aware that most baccalaureate college campuses require placement exams for Music Majors, even with a completed A.A. degree.

Students must audition and qualify for the Applied Music and Large Ensemble courses, which are required courses for earning an A.A. in Music.  Applied Music requires students perform one to two musical selections of contrasting style, illustrating lyrical and technical abilities on their chosen instrument or voice.  The Large Ensemble audition requirements will vary depending on ensemble and instrument or voice type, however, one consistent requirement is that students must have achieved a good level of musical proficiency in order to successfully enter the program.  Consulting with the Music Department faculty on specific requirements for specific ensembles will provide the students correct direction in preparing for the audition.

Students who successfully complete an A.A. in Music are prepared to transfer to a four-year university as General Music Majors, Performance Majors, or Music Education Majors.  All three focus areas require the same lower division preparation, and students who intend to be Performance Majors must perform in at least one recital setting during the course of study.

The A.A. in Music program requires some additional units beyond most standard A.A. programs, as the Music Major is truly a four-year degree and a high-unit major.   Most Music Degrees for a four-year university average 75+ units for the Music Major coursework, so 26-30 units of lower division work within that major is appropriate.

Students who successfully complete the requirements of the A.A. in Music at GWC will be prepared to successfully transfer to most four-year university Music programs.  A.A. in Music students will have completed the fundamental coursework commonly required of lower division Music students at four-year institutions, covering the topics queried on most standard Music Department entrance placement exams. 

Program Level Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate written and aural understanding of diatonic and chromatic music theory principles.
• Demonstrate a collegiate level of ensemble etiquette, musicianship and performance in a large ensemble setting.
• Implement a collegiate level of performance and musicianship in a solo setting.
• Complete a standard, collegiate-level piano keyboard proficiency.