Music

Why Study Music

The Foothill College Music Department offers an innovative program of study that leads to an Associate in Arts degree and also prepares you for transfer to a four-year institution.

Our curriculum includes a wide variety of on campus and online courses to satisfy diverse interests and needs.

Music Theory/Composition — Analyze the structure of music and learn to create original works.
Music History/Literature — Examine music in classical, popular, and world music styles and also can investigate special topics such as The Beatles, Film Music, Video Games and Musical Theatre.
Music Performance — Study piano, voice, and guitar as well as chronicle their achievements in the Department’s state-of-the-art recording studio.

Courses are taught by award-winning faculty — active as composers, authors, performers, arrangers, and publishers in the Bay Area and throughout the U.S.

Through the Music Department’s Music Technology program, you can also acquire specific training in a variety of music vocations, including product development, music production, audio engineering, and sound design.

Our Facilities

The Fine Arts Division IDEA Center features a new media classroom with MIDI keyboard stations fully equipped with the latest in recording and sound production design.

Our piano laboratory has 24 weighted keyboards, an excellent tutoring staff, and is open at hours that fit your schedule. Learn more

Career Opportunities

Career prospects in the music industry are diverse and abundant. With the advent of digital music delivery systems and alternative media, music is an integral part of the media revolution.

You have the opportunity to enter the industry in a variety of positions directly and indirectly related to this media revolution.
Careers are not localized: due to the growth of new media and the communication available via the internet, opportunities exist in many locations.

Recent graduates are employed with several industry-leading companies including Apple, Antares, Avid, Fantasy Studios, & George Horn Mastering.

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Degrees & Certificates

View list below for programs offered at Foothill. Then select program map for a possible schedule that fulfills program and college requirements.

For program requirements and full course listings, view Music degrees and certificates information.

Associate in Arts for Transfer

None

Associate in Arts

Music, AA Program Map

Certificate of Achievement (CA)

Certificate of Achievement in Music History and Literature, CA Program Map

Quick Look at Music Courses

For a quick look at Music courses at Foothill, see list below. For complete course details, including units, hours and prerequisites, view course catalog. For when a course is offered, view class schedule. [Link to dept schedule]

MUS 1 Introduction to Music
MUS 2A Great Composers & Music Masterpieces
MUS 2AH Honors Great Composers & Music Masterpieces
MUS 2B Great Composers & Music Masterpieces
MUS 2BH Honors Great Composers & Music Masterpieces
MUS 2C Great Composers & Music Masterpieces
MUS 2CH Honors Great Composers & Music Masterpieces
MUS 2D World Music: Roots to Contemporary Global Fusion
MUS 2F History of American Musical Theatre
MUS 3A Theory & Musicianship I
MUS 3B Theory & Musicianship II
MUS 3C Theory & Musicianship III
MUS 8 Music of American Cultures
MUS 8H Honors Music of American Cultures
MUS 9B Music & Media: Hendrix to Hip-Hop
MUS 10 Music Fundamentals
MUS 11B Funk, Fusion & Hip-Hop
MUS 11D History of Electronic Music: Origins-1970
MUS 11E History of Electronic Music: 1970-Present
MUS 12A Beginning Class Piano
MUS 12B Intermediate Class Piano
MUS 12C Advanced Class Piano
MUS 13A Class Voice I
MUS 47A Introduction to Musical Theatre Production
MUS 47B Intermediate Music Theatre Production Workshop
MUS 47C Advanced Music Theatre Production Workshop
MUS 47D Advanced Music Theatre Production Workshop II
MUS 48B Singing Technique for Musical Theatre
MUS 48C Musical Theatre Repertoire for Singers
MUS 70R Independent Study in Music/Music Technology
MUS 71R Independent Study in Music/Music Technology
MUS 72R Independent Study in Music/Music Technology
MUS 73R Independent Study in Music/Music Technology

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