Music Study
At MC, we offer a wide range of innovative music courses that will whet your learning appetite. From music theory to ensemble performance, our courses allow students to explore various musical styles, instruments, and career possibilities. Best of all, these courses are open to all students, regardless of major.
Courses in Applied Music
Among the advantages of attending MC is the opportunity to receive weekly music lessons on an instrument or voice from a member of our music faculty. Currently, we offer private one-on-one instruction in voice, guitar, piano*, brass (trumpet, trombone, baritone, tuba), woodwinds (bassoon, clarinet, flute, oboe, saxophone ), strings (violin, viola, cello, bass), and percussion. For students coming to the study of music for the first time, we recommend beginning with 1 credit hour of applied music instruction (a 30-minute weekly lesson). If you've already studied privately with a local music instructor or participated in a high school choir, orchestra, or jazz band program you should register for 2 credit hours of applied music instruction (a 60-minute weekly lesson). After registering, promptly contact your assigned instructor to schedule a mutually agreeable lesson time. Here are a few of the applied music courses we currently offer (see MC's online course catalog for more course options):
MUAP 1169 Brass Instruction I (Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba)
MUAP 1171 String Instruction I (Guitar)
MUAP 1173 Percussion Instruction I (Drums)
MUAP 1175 Woodwind Instruction I (Bassoon, Clarinet, Flute, Oboe, Saxophone)
MUAP 1177 Keyboard Instruction I (Intermediate Piano)
MUAP 1179 Voice Instruction I (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass)
MUAP 1171 String Instruction I (Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass)
MUAP 1277 Keyboard Instruction I (Advanced Piano)
* Students wishing to study piano privately can do so at an intermediate or advanced level with permission from the instructor. Beginning piano (Class Piano I, MUSI 1181) is open to all students and is taught in our state-of-the-art Center for Music Technology & Creativity.
Courses in Ensemble Performance
Many of our music students are proud members of one or more MC music ensembles. In all our ensembles, you’ll develop close working relationships with other MC musicians and music faculty, gain real-world performance experience, and showcase your musical talents on stage. Here are the courses in Ensemble Performance that we currently offer:
MUEN 1151 Chap Singers I (MC Chaparral Choir)
MUEN 1131 Studio Ensemble I (MC Jazz Ensemble)
MUEN 1125 Orchestra I (MC Orchestra)
The MC Chaparral Choir
If you love to sing, the MC Chaparral Choir will certainly excite your vocal senses. From sacred songs to popular contemporary music, our Chaparral choir brings to life a wide variety of singing styles. The choir rehearses four days a week, Monday through Thursday, 12:30- 1:50 p.m., and performs several major concerts per year. The MC Chaparral choir is directed by Bert Bostic.
The MC Orchestra
There's nothing quite like the sound of an orchestra. And at MC, you too can experience this thrilling soundscape as a performer in our MC Orchestra. Under the direction of Rabon Bewley, the orchestra rehearses Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:00 - 2:20 p.m., and performs several major concerts per year. Don’t own your own instrument but would like to participate? We can help! MC has a limited number of loaner instruments available for you to use when you enroll in an instrumental ensemble. The MC Orchestra is directed by Rabon Bewley.
The MC Jazz Ensemble
For over 30 years, the MC Jazz Ensemble has been an integral part of the Midland College campus and community. Exciting listeners at athletic, campus, and community events, the Jazz Ensemble includes students who play percussion, keyboard, electric guitar, electric bass, saxophone, trumpet, and trombone. The Jazz Ensemble rehearses Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00 a.m. - 12:20 p.m., and performs both on and off campus several times per year. The MC Jazz Ensemble is directed by Rabon Bewley.
Registering for an Ensemble
So that we may properly place you in each ensemble, a short stress-free audition is required before you enroll. To learn more about our ensemble audition process (did we mention it’s stress-free?), contact Rabon Bewley if interested in participating in the MC Orchestra or Jazz Ensemble, or Bert Bostic for the MC Chaparral choir.
Courses in Music History
It's often said that we can't fully appreciate the present without knowing the past. So, why not learn a bit of cultural history while at MC...through music! Our music history courses will introduce you to various musical styles, genres, composers, and artists, as well as the cultural environments that shaped their beginnings. On campus, we teach music history in our advanced music lecture hall using Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound technology. Online versions of our music history courses are available, too. Currently, we offer seven unique courses in music history:
MUSI 1306 Music Appreciation
MUSI 1308 Survey of Music Literature I
MUSI 1309 Survey of Music Literature II
MUSI 1310 History of Country Music
MUSI 1310 History of Jazz
MUSI 1310 History of Latin American Music
MUSI 1310 History of Rock and Roll
Courses in Music Theory
Ever wonder how music--those tiny black dots printed on the page--actually works? In a music theory course you'll learn how music is notated, structured, and musically held together. For students new the study of music theory, we recommend beginning with our online Fundamentals of Music course which will teach you all the basics. Students who wish to major in music should meet with Michael Jordan (the vocalist!) to determine their proper placement in music theory. Our course offerings in music theory include the following:
MUSI 1301 Fundamentals of Music
MUSI 1311 Music Theory I
MUSI 1312 Music Theory II
MUSI 2311 Music Theory III
MUSI 2312 Music Theory IV
Majoring in Music @ MC
Our music major transfer program is an exciting, performance-based curriculum for students interested in pursuing a career in music and covers the first two years of a four-year Bachelor of Music degree.
In this program of study, our students gain real-world performing experience and have gone on to transfer to four-year universities to continue their music studies while others have become performing artists, private music teachers, and church music directors.
Auditions
To enroll in our music major transfer program, an audition is necessary. Don't let the word "audition" frighten you; auditioning simply allows us to get to know you, both musically and personally, so that we can best advise you on your musical future here at MC.
At your audition, if you are able, we suggest you perform two pieces of music in contrasting styles. If you can perform only one piece, try selecting something that features more than one style (for example, singers should try to demonstrate both lyric and virtuosic singing styles). This will allow us to best evaluate your potential for music study.
To schedule an audition, simply contact us and a member of our friendly music faculty will get in touch with you to discuss possible audition dates and to answer any questions you may have about the audition process.
Music Scholarships
Auditioning will also allow us to consider you for one of our talent-based music scholarships. To date, we've awarded more than $200,000 in music scholarships to qualifying MC music students! To qualify for a talent-based scholarships, you must first complete MC’s General Scholarship Application.
To better your scholarship chances, we recommend that you audition early as scholarship funds are limited. We suggest auditioning either in February or March if you intend to begin your college studies in the Fall, or in October or November if enrolling for the Spring.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with any music related questions you may have. We're here to help!
