Music

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.

Listening and understanding of common musical forms, idioms and styles; and how music relates to us today.

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.

This course examines the various functions of music in film and traces the historical development of film music.

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.

This course is designed for instrumentalists who want to improve their performing abilities. Students will learn how to read lead sheets, become familiar with basic scales and chords, as well as the etiquette of running a small ensemble. Students will also learn the basics of improvisation to prepare them to take the Improvisation I course at SFCC.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Students develop skills in writing and understanding correct musical notation, major and minor scales, and modes. Students write and apply intervals and triads to simple melodic and harmonic exercises. An emphasis is placed on the structural elements of music.

Students continue to study scales and modes and their application to melodic and harmonic composition. Students employ the use of triads and seventh chords, including all inversions, in four-part harmonic progressions, and continue to develop aural recognition of scales, intervals and triads with an emphasis on melodic dictation, rhythm, and ear training. Prerequisite: MUSC& 141.

This course focuses on modulation, secondary dominants and leading tone chords. Students are introduced to chromatic harmony, and analyze and write chorale-type compositions with an emphasis on the soprano/bass framework. Chordal analysis, including cadences and non-chordal tones, is emphasized. Aural recognition of scales, intervals and chords, with exercises in melodic dictation, rhythm, and ear training also are included. Prerequisite: MUSC& 142.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Students will learn about multiple styles of contemporary vocal genres and their differing physiology through healthy application of appropriate contemporary vocal techniques. Prerequisite: MUSC 171 or permission of instructor.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

This course focuses on practical writing and analytic experience in diatonic and chromatic harmony used during the 18th and 19th centuries. Students study musical forms, basics for arranging, orchestrating and composing, ear training and sight singing in solfege. Prerequisite: MUSC& 143 or permission of instructor.

Students continue to study music theory with further discussion on secondary functions, modulatory techniques, chromaticism, altered and borrowed chords, mode mixtures, augmented sixth chords and modulations, ear training and sight singing. Students compose the exposition of a piano sonata. Prerequisite: MUSC& 241.

Students continue to study the harmonic vocabulary and elements in late romanticism and the 20th century, impressionism, scales, parallelism, pandiatonicism, set theory, 12-tone technique, serialism, electronic music, advanced sight singing and ear training. Prerequisite: MUSC& 242.

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.

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. Prerequisite: MUSC 148.

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.

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.

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.