Spokane Falls Community College

Music at SFCC

Music at Spokane Falls is a valued part of our students’ academic and artistic experience and a vibrant home to the performing arts in our community and region. One of the most comprehensive and distinguished two-year music programs in the state of Washington, Music at SFCC awards two degrees: an Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) in Music, and an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Audio Engineering. With numerous ensembles, an unrivaled breadth of academic and technical courses, and a distinguished faculty invested in the artistic development and academic success of every student, SFCC is a premiere destination for students of music, whether their goal is to broaden their musical horizons for personal enrichment or to acquire an extraordinary musical foundation for the continued study of music at a university.

As you cruise our website, check out our faculty bios, degrees, ensembles, courses and facilities. For questions about our programs, do not hesitate to contact the Music office and schedule a personal appointment with any of our music advisors: 509.533.3720.

SFCC Music Degrees

AFA, Music. The Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) in Music offers a foundation for students pursuing a four year degree in Music, either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Music (BM). To earn an AFA, students complete 60 credits of Music and 40 credits of General Education Requirements. Courses satisfying General Education Requirements must include ENGL& 101 (5 credits); MATH& 107 (5 credits); Social Science (5 credits), Non Lab Science (5 credits); and Lab Science (5 credits). The additional 15 General Education Requirements credits will be determined based on your transfer destination and in consultation with an academic adviser in Music.

With the AFA, students transfer with a minimum of 90 credits to colleges and universities SFCC maintains articulation agreements with. University Music Departments may require an audition for admission to Music programs. Through ensemble experience and private applied instruction, the AFA provides students the opportunity to audition successfully. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better.

AAS, Audio Engineering. The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Audio Engineering prepares students for jobs in digital audio production, analog and digital recording, live sound engineering, sound design, and as technicians in the broadcast and audio-visual industries. Areas of study include: computer-based music technology software; digital and analog recording techniques and procedures; acoustics; microphone design and placement; signal processing and effects; songwriting, arranging, and film scoring; live sound reinforcement, location recording, system set-up and maintenance; music business; basic music theory and piano. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better.

To be admitted to the Audio Engineering Program students must complete the admissions process. See the Audio Engineering homepage for details.

SFCC Performing Groups

SFCC Music Building

Spokane Falls Community 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.

Spokane Falls Community Symphony 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 intended for students with exceptional vocal and musical ability, 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.

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 the 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.

Jazz Singers 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.

Barbershop Harmony is open to any student with a desire to sing and learn more about this unique American art form. Men and women rehearse separately and perform on the quarterly Choral Concert. In the spring quarter SFCC’s barbershop groups are usually invited to perform on shows staged by Spokane barbershop harmony chapters. No music reading skills are required.

Commercial Music Groups allow students to study and perform in small groups, concentrating on one or more styles: classic rock and blues, top 40, country progressive rock, pop, and student compositions.

For more information contact:

Spokane Falls Community College
Music Department
3410 West Fort George Wright Drive
MS 3150 Spokane, Washington 99204-5288
(509) 533-3720

or Counseling Center
(509) 533-3525

Class Credits MUSC 100Music Fundamentals 3.0 MUSC& 105Music Appreciation 5.0 MUSC 106History of Popular Music 5.0 MUSC 108Music and Cinema 5.0 MUSC 109World Music 5.0 MUSC 111Improvisation I 4.0 MUSC 112Improvisation II 4.0 MUSC 114Contemporary Harmony 3.0 MUSC 115Symphony Orchestra 1.0-3.0 MUSC 124History of Jazz 5.0 MUSC 127Chamber Singers 1.0-3.0 MUSC 134Jazz Combo 1.0 MUSC 139All College Chorus 1.0-2.0 MUSC& 141Music Theory I 5.0 MUSC& 142Music Theory II 5.0 MUSC& 143Music Theory III 5.0 MUSC 144Commercial Music Groups 1.0 MUSC 145Concert Band 1.0-3.0 MUSC 148Stage Band 1.0-3.0 MUSC 151String Ensemble 1.0 MUSC 166Functional Piano I 2.0 MUSC 167Functional Piano II 2.0 MUSC 170Fundamentals of Singing 1.0 MUSC 171Advanced Fundamentals of Singing 2.0 MUSC 176Beginner Piano Class I 2.0 MUSC 177Beginner Piano Class II 2.0 MUSC 178Beginner Piano Class III 2.0 MUSC 180Private Lessons 1.0 MUSC 182Guitar Class I 1.0 MUSC 204Arranging I 5.0 MUSC 210Improvisation III 5.0 MUSC 211Improvisation IV 5.0 MUSC 212Improvisation V 3.0 MUSC 214Contemporary Harmony II/Songwriting 5.0 MUSC 215Symphony Orchestra 1.0-3.0 MUSC 227Chamber Singers 1.0-3.0 MUSC 234Jazz Combo 1.0 MUSC 239All College Chorus 1.0-2.0 MUSC& 241Music Theory IV 5.0 MUSC& 242Music Theory V 5.0 MUSC& 243Music Theory VI 5.0 MUSC 244Commercial Music Groups 1.0 MUSC 245Concert Band 1.0-3.0 MUSC 248Stage Band 1.0-3.0 MUSC 251String Ensemble 1.0 MUSC 276Advanced Piano Class I 2.0 MUSC 277Advanced Piano Class II 2.0 MUSC 278Advanced Piano Class III 2.0 MUSC 280Private Lessons 1.0 MUSC 282Guitar Class II 1.0

Career Options

Music Building

What's your interest? Do you enjoy top 40 hits, dance bands, opera, or jazz? The music industry needs people with talent and ability in all areas. Consider the following career possibilities:

  • Music Education
  • Performance/ Entertainment
  • Conducting
  • Audio and Video Engineering
  • Religious Music
  • Music Therapy
  • Composing/ Arranging/ Publishing
  • Music Sales and Service
  • Music Business/ Management
  • Recording Industry
  • Radio/TV/Film
Date Event location
Monday, November 23 Community Orchestra Spartan Theater
Monday, November 30 Community Band North Central High School
1600 N. Howard Street
Tuesday, December 01 Choral Concert/World Drumming Spartan Theater
Thursday, December 03 Jazz Night SFCC SUB Lounges A, B C
Date Event Location
Monday, March 15 Community Orchestra SFCC SUB Lounges A, B C
Tuesday, March 16 Choral Concert/World Drumming Westminster Congregational United Church of Christ
411 S. Washington Street
Thursday, March 18 Jazz Night SFCC SUB Lounges A, B C
Monday, March 22 Community Band North Central High School
1600 N. Howard Street
Date Event Location
Monday, June 7 Community Orchestra SFCC SUB Lounges A, B C
Monday, June 7 Community Band North Central High School
1600 N. Howard Street
Tuesday, June 8 Choral Concert/World Drumming Westminster Congregational United Church of Christ
411 S. Washington Street
Thursday, June 10 Jazz Night SFCC SUB Lounges A, B C
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Facilities

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Studying music at the Falls, students experience state-of-the-art facilities. Renovated in 2010, the music building includes a 613-seat auditorium for student, college, and community performances and events, a choir room, band room, ensemble studios, practice rooms, a piano lab, theory lab, midi lab, and recording studio. For information about booking the music auditorium or recording studio, see Facility Rental.

Under Construction

Under Construction

Under Construction

Under Construction

Highlights

Choir Group

Faculty members have strong educational and professional music backgrounds and actively perform and conduct throughout the Northwest.

Performance opportunities include solo recitals, ensembles, recording, concert production and national and international touring and competitions.

Performing groups include the Community Band, Community Symphony, Chamber Singers, College Chorus, Jazz Ensemble, jazz combos and commercial music groups.

Opportunities for students to expand their music knowledge and experience through regularly scheduled workshops and concerts featuring regional and national artists.

The Music Building houses a 613-seat auditorium, electronic piano lab, and midi-lab. A recording studio is available for students to learn audio and recording techniques and to engineer and record demo tapes.

Scholarships

To support music students of exceptional promise in perpetuity, SFCC’s Music program has an endowment scholarship account with the Community Colleges of Spokane Foundation. Through direct and perpetual financial support of our community’s most promising artists , we aim to help nurture an ever more vibrant musical culture in Spokane. Music brings joy and meaning to our community, supports local businesses with music venues, invigorates Spokane’s downtown , and provides important and varied opportunities for all voices to be heard.

As of July 2010, Music’s endowment account has a balance of $12,600. Our goal is a balance of $65,000 by Fall 2015. With an account balance of $65,000, we will be able, on average, to award in scholarships the equivalent of a full year’s tuition annually—meaning every year for the life of the college.

To join us in our effort to support promising artists in Spokane, consider a tax-deductible donation to SFCC’s Music Student Scholarship Fund. For information on how to contribute, visit the CCS Foundation donation website. When you submit your pledge, identify as the account you wish to support, the SFCC Music Student Scholarship Fund (#7312). We are grateful for your patronage of the arts.

Apply

The Music program will begin to award scholarships Fall 2011. Please check back for updates on the application process.

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Spokane Falls Community College - 3410 W. Fort George Wright Dr. - Spokane, WA 99224-5288
For general information call: 509-533-3500 or 888-509-7944
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