Music

Why study music?

Are you passionate about performing and creating music? Music is an integral component of life and culture and is part of our shared human experience. Studying music at Parkland College is a great way to pursue your goals with instruction from skilled musicians. 

The skills learned as a trained musician are transferable and will help you succeed in all areas of life. You’ll learn discipline, organization, collaboration, and time management while mastering your musical abilities.

Completing a degree in music can prepare you for careers in a variety of fields. These include performance, education, arts administration, music business, community arts management, events manager, and music therapy. See the Bureau of Labor Statistics for average annual salaries for musicians and careers in music. 

 

Music Program Scholarship

Briana Sykes music scholarship student
50% tuition and fees scholarship available. Learn more on the AMSS Scholarships page.
"Parkland's Music Scholarship enabled me to focus on achieving my academic goals. I am becoming more confident in myself as a musician and I am looking forward to how I will grow beyond Parkland."
— Briana Sykes
 

 

Classes

Parkland College offers a variety of music classes to prepare you for an advanced degree or to fulfill general education requirements.

General Education Music Courses

Music Appreciation (MUS 121*): Gain an appreciation for all types of music through study of musical forms from various eras in music history.  Emphasis on increasing critical listening skills.

Introduction to American Music (MUS 123): Introduction to recorded music of the United States from religious and folk influences to contemporary music. Gain skills in critical listening.

Introduction to Non-Western Music (MUS 124*): Introduction to world music with emphasis on the influence of society, religion, and visual arts on music from diverse cultures.

Elective Music Courses

Music Fundamentals (MUS 100): Increase basic musical knowledge in notation, scales, and chords. This course is designed for non-music majors with little or no musical training.

Choral Ensemble - Chamber Singers (MUS 142):Sing with a group of students and community members who perform music from the Renaissance to contemporary classics. Fair knowledge of sight-singing helpful. Audition required.

Instrumental Ensemble - Wind Ensemble (MUS 146): Rehearse and perform challenging, contemporary music for wind and percussion instruments.  Open to students and members of the community. Audition required.

Instrumental Ensemble - Orchestra (MUS 147): Reading and performance of all styles of symphonic music. Open to students and community members. Audition required.

Instrumental Ensemble - Concert Band (MUS 148): Studies and performs all types of symphonic band literature from Sousa to swing. Open to students and community members. Audition required.

Introduction to Music Recording and Advanced Music Recording (MUS 161-162): Hands-on classes in basic and advanced multi-track recording techniques using microphones, audio-editing software, and mixing consoles. Opportunities to engineer recording sessions.

Class Guitar (MUS 164): Group guitar instruction at beginner and advanced levels. Learn to read, play, and analyze music in a variety of musical styles.

Introduction to Music Business (MUS 168): Provides an in-depth overview of the essential aspects of the music business industry. Students will gain a broad foundational understanding of how the modern music industry works from a variety of perspectives including artists, record labels, and studios.

Jazz Ensemble - Small Jazz Ensemble (MUS 169): Emphasizes improvisation skills in jazz, fusion, and Latin styles. Open to students and community members. Audition required.

Guitar Ensemble (MUS 184): Performs a variety of literature composed or arranged for guitar sextets to nonets. Open to students and community members. Prerequisite: MUS 164 or permission of instructor.

Foundation Music Courses

Music Theory and Harmony I and II (MUS 101-102): Gain skills in theory, harmony, and elementary musical forms. 

Ear-Training, Sight-Singing, and Keyboard Harmony I and II (MUS 103-104): Increase basic musical knowledge in notation, scales, and chords. This course is designed for non-music majors with little or no musical training.

Class Piano I and II (MUS 165-166): Learn fundamentals of piano playing with music from a variety of styles and periods.  MUS 165 is for students with little or no previous piano study.

Applied Music I (MUS 180): Private weekly instruction in voice or any symphonic instrument for students majoring in music. 

Advanced Theory and Harmony I and II (MUS 201-202): Advanced techniques in music theory and harmony including invention, analysis, and composition from a variety of musical periods.

Advanced Ear-Training, Sight-Singing, and Keyboard Harmony I and II (MUS 203-204): Advanced musicianship skills with an emphasis on harmonic dictation and analysis. Gain skills in advanced transcription.

Music Literature: 18th Century to Present (MUS 244): Explore music as an art in Western civilization from 1750 to present through representative works and styles.

Applied Music II (MUS 280): Advanced private weekly instruction in voice or any symphonic instrument for students majoring in music. 



Will my classes transfer?

MUS 121, 123, and 124 will fulfill the Fine Arts general education requirement at Illinois public universities. Parkland College classes with an even middle digit (such as ENG 101, MAT 128, and BIO 141) are accepted for transfer as general education classes, major courses, or electives as determined by the transfer institution.  

For more information about transferring, speak with an academic advisor and visit the Parkland Course Matrix.

Learn more about how these classes fit into a transfer degree or the general education core curriculum (GECC).


Music Foundations: Music Studies Concentration

Associate in Arts (A.A.)
Course Sequence

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Music Foundations: Music Technology Concentration

Associate in Arts (A.A.)
Course Sequence

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