Music

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Associate Degree

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Degrees/Certificates Offered

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Locations Offered

Contact

Gerald Krumbholz
Gerald.Krumbholz@sfcc.spokane.edu
509-533-3991

Office Location

Building 15, room 103

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About

If you plan to earn a bachelor’s degree in music, this two-year music program will provide the foundation you need to transfer to a four-year college or university.

In this program, you’ll complete the general education requirements for a bachelor’s degree while studying music theory, history and performance. You’ll grow as a musician through private instruction and many vocal and instrumental performance opportunities, including large and small ensembles, solo recitals, workshops with professional artists, and regional and national competitions.

Whether you want to teach music, become a professional performer or composer, or work in the music industry, this program will help you turn your musical talent into a career.

SFCC offers it's music students a plethora of performance opportunities every quarter. View the current concert schedule and find more information here.

Detailed Information

Students at SFCC may perform as part of large and small ensembles:

Concert Band performs an extensive repertoire of master works by composers from the Renaissance to the present. Membership includes college students and amateur and professional musicians from the Spokane area.
Symphony Orchestra is comprised of people from all walks of life who share a common interest in performing major symphonic repertoire. The ensemble, composed of students, amateurs and professional musicians, performs several concerts each season.
Chamber Singers is a select ensemble that performs music appropriate for smaller ensembles across a wide range of styles. This ensemble is for students with exceptional vocal and musical ability and who will self-start and practice regularly on their own. This ensemble performs many times each quarter (as well as on the quarterly Choral Concert) and tours each year, alternating regional with national/international destinations. You do not need to be a music major transfer student to audition. You merely need to have the desire to rehearse and perform high quality music at a high level. Hear the chamber choir sing the National Anthem (arr. N. Lansing)
College Chorale is open to any interested student who wants to sing in an ensemble. This group is composed of MEN'S CHOIR (Meistersingers) and WOMEN'S CHOIR (Bella Voce), which rehearse separately but they meet every Friday to make CHORALE. No prior choral experience is required, but the director needs to hear each interested student's voice in a mini-audition designed to determine range and voice quality. Both groups and the combined Chorale perform quarterly at the Choral Concert.
Jazz Ensemble performs classic and contemporary jazz by the world's great arrangers and also serves as a performance lab for student compositions. This 23-piece 'Big Band' has toured to Hawaii, performed at the famed Montreau and North Sea Jazz Festivals in Europe and received numerous awards at national and regional festivals. In addition to studio recording projects, the band performs regularly, often backing major jazz artists in concert.
Jazz Combos provide opportunities to study and perform jazz in a small group format. Emphasis is on improvisation and ensemble experience in a variety of jazz styles from bebop and blues to fusion. Combos record in the SFCC studio and perform throughout the community and at national jazz festivals.
Vocal Jazz is a select ensemble that performs vocal jazz both with and without a rhythm section. Depending upon group size, this class may also include a Vocal Jazz Solo Workshop, which will emphasize the skills needed to perform a vocal jazz solo. These skills include microphone technique, stage presence, stylization, improvisation, communication with a rhythm section and reading chord charts and lead sheets. Both the ensemble and the soloists will perform on the quarterly Choral Concert, and may be asked to perform in other venues as well.
SFCC World Drumming Ensemble is open to beginning, intermediate and advanced students with no prior expectation of drumming skills or music reading skills (although some background in both areas is helpful). This ensemble exposes you to the music cultures outside of the North-American continent, including African, Brazilian, Cuban, Caribbean and Afro-Cuban through drumming, singing and/or dancing heritages. Professional dancers often collaborate with this ensemble to augment the authentic experience of traditional and contemporary world musics. The college provides instruments for student use and a limited number of instruments may be checked out by enrolled students for practice at home.

Scholarships

Courses

Courses Offered

MUSC 100 — Music Fundamentals — 5.0 Credits

The course studies the basics of music, including notation, rhythm, melody, harmony, scales, keys and key signatures, and emphasizes these concepts through the piano keyboard. No prior knowledge of music is necessary.
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MUSC& 105 — Music Appreciation — 5.0 Credits

Listening and understanding of common musical forms, idioms and styles; and how music relates to us today.
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MUSC 106 — History of Popular Music — 5.0 Credits

The history of American popular music from 1900 to the present. The course examines pre-20th century influences and traces the development of jazz, blues, the swing era, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, country, the British Invasion, funk, electronic, and fusion.
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MUSC 108 — Music and Cinema — 5.0 Credits

This course examines the various functions of music in film and traces the historical development of film music.
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MUSC 109 — World Music — 5.0 Credits

This course explores several musical cultures throughout the world, including but not limited to Africa, the Americas, Asia, Near East, Europe and South Pacific. The course is designed to enhance student's appreciation for the diversity of music throughout the world as well as the people that perform it. Students gain an understanding of features in the music that distinguish one style from another and the cultural and social-historical factors that shape the development of music. Lectures, films, recordings and live presentations assist students in their understanding of course topics. Though a knowledge of music is helpful, a music background is not required for this course.
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MUSC 111 — Improvisation I — 1.0 Credits

Improvisation I is open to any student who plays a musical instrument or sings and wants to acquire the basic improvisational skills for standard jazz repertoire. The class is a requirement for music students who want to perform in jazz combo and/or seeking an AFA degree Music with an emphasis in Jazz studies. The course runs concurrent with Jazz combos. Prerequisite: AUDIO 116 or MUSC 100 or MUSC& 141.
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MUSC 112 — Improvisation II — 1.0 Credits

Improvisation II is open to any student who plays a musical instrument or sings and wants to acquire intermediate improvisational skills for standard jazz repertoire. The class is a requirement for music students who want to perform in jazz combo and/or seeking an AFA degree in music with an emphasis in Jazz studies. The course runs concurrent with Jazz combos. Prerequisite: MUSC 111 or permission of instructor.
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MUSC 114 — Contemporary Harmony — 3.0 Credits

This course includes the study of harmony as used in contemporary popular music, jazz, commercial media and film, including chords, scales, harmonic progressions, the blues, chord scale relationships, improvisation theory, notation and dictation. Students develop aural skills through listening and analysis. Prerequisite: MUSC 100 or MUSC& 141 or AUDIO 116
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MUSC 115 — Symphony Orchestra — 1.0-3.0 Credits

Students perform an extensive repertoire of quality orchestral music from the Baroque era to the present. Each course may be taken up to three times.
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MUSC 124 — History of Jazz — 5.0 Credits

A survey of jazz in which recent investigations in cultural anthropology and American history, as well as the traditional viewpoints of music history and theory, are reflected.
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MUSC 127 — Chamber Singers — 1.0-3.0 Credits

A select performing ensemble whose purpose is to study, practice and perform representative chamber music from the 16th through the 20th centuries. Each course may be taken up to three times. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
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MUSC 128 — Vocal Jazz Ensemble — 2.0 Credits

This auditioned ensemble sings both a cappella and with accompaniment (piano/bass/drums) in traditional jazz (swing, Latin, bebop, blues) and modern a cappella styles. The emphasis is on complex harmonies, stylistic rhythms, jazz band-like phrasing and vocal improvisation. Ideally, the group will perform as a recruiting and touring ensemble throughout the greater Spokane area. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
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MUSC 134 — Small Ensemble — 1.0 Credits

Small Ensemble offers students an opportunity to collaborate and perform, concentrating on a variety of contemporary musical styles. The ensemble performs quarterly. This course may be repeated for credit up to 3 times.
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MUSC 135 — World Drumming — 1.0 Credits

This course introduces students to the basic art of drumming as a gateway to explore the culture and music of Africa, Brazil, Cuba and the Middle East. No previous reading or drumming ability is required (although helpful) and instruments are provided. This course may be taken for credit up to three times.
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MUSC 139 — Chorus Men — 1.0-2.0 Credits

Elementary work in mixed chorus ensemble singing together with study of appropriate choral literature. Each course may be taken up to three times.
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MUSC 140 — Chorus Women — 1.0-2.0 Credits

Elementary work in mixed chorus ensemble singing together with study of appropriate choral literature. Each course may be taken up to three times.
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MUSC& 141 — Music Theory I — 5.0 Credits

This course introduces students to the basic elements of music, including pitch, rhythm, and harmony. Topics include music notation, major and minor scales, key signatures, intervals, triads, seventh chords, meter, time signatures, Roman numeral labels, and lead-sheet symbols. Students also acquire basic aural skills through daily exercises of singing, rhythm reading, and harmonic and melodic dictation. Prior musical experience on an instrument or voice is not necessary but recommended.
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MUSC& 142 — Music Theory II — 5.0 Credits

This course focuses on the grammar of tonal music, with particular attention given to tonal chord progressions and how to part write root-position, first-inversion, and second-inversion triads. The course also studies the various types of musical cadences, non-chord tones, and basic formal structures such as phrases and periods. Students learn to sing in the minor mode and how to read rhythms in compound meter. Prerequisite: MUSC& 141.
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MUSC& 143 — Music Theory III — 5.0 Credits

This course continues the study of the grammar of tonal music. Students learn how to part-write seventh chords and are introduced to chromatic harmony (secondary function chords), modulation, and binary and ternary forms. Singing, rhythmic, and listening skills reinforce the harmonic vocabulary studied in class, and introduce both new types of compound meters and the use of triplets in simple meter. Prerequisite: MUSC& 142.
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MUSC 145 — Concert Band — 1.0-3.0 Credits

Students perform an extensive repertoire of master works by composers from the Renaissance to the present. Each course may be taken up to three times.
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MUSC 148 — Jazz Ensemble — 1.0-3.0 Credits

Students study and perform modern trends and practices of jazz and related music areas. Individual music arrangements can be studied and created. Each course may be taken up to three times.
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MUSC 166 — Functional Piano I — 2.0 Credits

Students develop piano performance techniques relevant and practical for today's professional musician. Synchronized with MUSC 114, this course includes the study of scales, chords, voicings, harmonic progressions, chord/scale relationships and basic comping, and improvisational techniques. This course is essential for all students of jazz and commercial music, regardless of their primary instrument.
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MUSC 167 — Functional Piano II — 2.0 Credits

Students develop piano performance techniques relevant and practical for today's professional musician. This course includes the study of scales, chords, voicings, harmonic progressions, chord/scale relationships and basic comping, and improvisational techniques. This course is essential for all students of jazz and commercial music, regardless of their primary instrument. Prerequisite: MUSC 166 or MUSC 176
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MUSC 170 — Singing I: The Voice — 1.0 Credits

Students will find their voice and learn the basic techniques of posture, breathing and mouth shape/space to take their singing to the next level through lecture, participation, observation, and performance in a class setting.
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MUSC 171 — Singing II: How It Works — 1.0 Credits

Students learn the working physiology of the voice through lecture, participation, and observation and apply this knowledge to their vocal performance in a class setting. Prerequisite: MUSC 170.
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MUSC 176 — Beginner Piano Class I — 2.0 Credits

This course provides a basic hands-on introduction to keyboard musicianship and proficiency within a group setting. Keyboard application skills include an introduction to music reading, rhythms, improvisations, technique, solo repertoire and group ensembles. This course is intended for the complete beginner or for students with little experience in piano.
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MUSC 177 — Beginner Piano Class II — 2.0 Credits

Students continue to develop keyboard musicianship and proficiency within a group setting. Keyboard application skills include an introduction to chord progressions, harmonization, transposition, and further development of sight-reading, two-handed rhythms, technique, solo repertoire and group ensembles. Prerequisite: MUSC 176 or permission of instructor.
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MUSC 178 — Beginner Piano Class III — 2.0 Credits

Students continue to develop keyboard musicianship and proficiency within a group setting. Keyboard application skills include an introduction to secondary chords, varied accompaniment patterns, and further development of sight-reading, two-handed rhythms, technique, solo repertoire and group ensembles. Prerequisite: MUSC 177 or permission of instructor.
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MUSC 182 — Guitar Class I — 1.0 Credits

Students learn the fundamentals of note reading, basic theory and technical skills for both hands using a fingerstyle approach. Students are required to furnish their own instrument.
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MUSC 183 — Guitar Ensemble — 1.0 Credits

This course is open to all students with reasonable proficiency on guitar. Students will play music from the Renaissance through the 21st Century in ensembles from 2 - 6 people. This course may be taken up to three times for credit. Prerequisite: MUSC 100 or MUSC& 141 or permission of instructor.
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MUSC 210 — Improvisation III — 1.0 Credits

Improvisation III is open to any student who plays a musical instrument or sings and wants to acquire advanced improvisational skills for standard jazz repertoire. The class is a requirement for music students who want to perform in jazz combo and/or seeking an AFA degree in music with an emphasis in Jazz studies. The course runs concurrent with Jazz combos. Prerequisite: MUSC 112 or permission of instructor.
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MUSC 214 — Contemporary Harmony II/Songwriting — 5.0 Credits

This is a study of major pop/rock, folk/country, and adult contemporary musical styles and the writers, producers, and artists who shape the music. Learn about many musical styles while striving to define your own. Develop instrumental and lyric songwriting techniques. Prerequisite: MUSC 114 or MUSC& 142.
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MUSC 215 — Symphony Orchestra — 1.0-3.0 Credits

Students perform an extensive repertoire of quality orchestral music from the Baroque era to the present. Each course may be taken up to three times. Prerequisite: MUSC 115.
View SFCC Course Learning Outcomes

MUSC 227 — Chamber Singers — 1.0-3.0 Credits

A select performing ensemble whose purpose is to study, practice and perform representative chamber music from the 16th through the 21st centuries. This course may be taken up to three times. Prerequisite: MUSC 127
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MUSC 228 — Vocal Jazz Ensemble — 2.0 Credits

The second year of vocal jazz ensemble. This course is a continuation of MUSC 128 and requires three quarters in that course and instructor permission to enroll. This course is repeatable for credit. This course builds on the skill set acquired in MUSC 128 and demands that the singers engage in improvisation and solo work in addition to their ensemble rehearsals. Prerequisite: MUSC 128 and placement audition
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MUSC 234 — Jazz Combo — 1.0 Credits

Jazz combos offer students an opportunity to play jazz in a small group format, concentrating on improvisation in many different styles. The combos perform regularly, including tours, jazz festivals and professional engagements. Each course may be taken up to three times. Prerequisite: MUSC 134 or permission of instructor.
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MUSC 239 — Chorus Men — 1.0-2.0 Credits

Elementary work in mixed chorus ensemble singing together with study of appropriate choral literature. Each course may be taken up to three times.
View SFCC Course Learning Outcomes

MUSC 240 — Chorus Women — 1.0-2.0 Credits

Elementary work in mixed chorus ensemble singing together with study of appropriate choral literature. Each course may be taken up to three times.
View SFCC Course Learning Outcomes

MUSC& 241 — Music Theory IV — 5.0 Credits

This course reviews the use of basic chromatic harmony (secondary function chords) and modulation, and then introduces students to new chromatic chords (modal mixture, Neapolitan, and augmented-sixth) and other modulatory techniques. Students also study tonal counterpoint through contrapuntal exercises and the analysis of Inventions and fugues. Aural skills exercises reinforce the new harmonic concepts from the text; rhythm exercises introduce meters that use half-note, dotted half-note, eighth-note, and dotted eighth-note beat. Prerequisite: MUSC& 143 or permission of instructor.
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MUSC& 242 — Music Theory V — 5.0 Credits

This course reviews the new harmonic vocabulary introduced in the previous course and then delves into advanced tonal harmonic vocabulary and procedures typical of the late 19th century, such as enharmonic modulation, altered dominant chords, substitute-sixth chords, and common-tone diminished seventh chords. Students also study sonata form and its derivatives, as well as rondo and sonata-rondo forms. Aural skills exercises reinforce the new harmonic concepts/procedures from the text, and rhythm exercises introduce changing simple and compound meters, as well as changing between simple and compound meters. Prerequisite: MUSC& 241.
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MUSC& 243 — Music Theory VI — 5.0 Credits

This final course in the music theory sequence focuses on three areas: 1) a review of the advanced harmonic vocabulary and techniques of the 19th century; 2) an introduction to post-tonal music and its harmonic vocabulary, including modal, pentatonic, and synthetic scales; and 3) an introduction to atonal analysis (aka ‘set theory’), including 12-tone composition. The course ends with a look at musical trends since WWII. Aural skills exercises emphasize advanced tonal vocabulary, and rhythm exercises introduce asymmetrical meters and metric modulation. Prerequisite: MUSC& 242.
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MUSC 245 — Concert Band — 1.0-3.0 Credits

Students perform an extensive repertoire of master works by composers from the Renaissance to the present. Each course may be taken up to three times. Prerequisite: MUSC 145.
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MUSC 248 — Jazz Ensemble — 1.0-3.0 Credits

MUSC 276 — Advanced Piano Class I — 2.0 Credits

Students learn advanced keyboard musicianship and proficiency within a group setting. Keyboard application skills include an introduction to basic conducting and further development of keyboard technique, harmonization, transposition, improvisation, sight-reading, solo repertoire, and group ensembles. Prerequisite: MUSC 178 or permission of instructor.
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MUSC 277 — Advanced Piano Class II — 2.0 Credits

Students continue to develop advanced keyboard musicianship and proficiency within a group setting. Keyboard application skills include an introduction to varied chord progressions using secondary chords and inversions. The course includes group discussions on performance anxiety and related issues, and further development of keyboard technique, harmonization, transposition, improvisation, sight-reading, solo repertoire and group ensembles. Prerequisite: MUSC 276.
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MUSC 278 — Advanced Piano Class III — 2.0 Credits

Students continue to develop advanced keyboard musicianship and proficiency within a group setting. Keyboard application skills include an introduction to chorale score reading, accompaniment and further development of keyboard technique, harmonization, transposition, improvisation, sight-reading, solo repertoire and group ensembles. Prerequisite: MUSC 277.
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