Music Associate In Arts (AA) – University Transfer Program

No matter what area of music a student is considering for their career, the student must have a principal performing area. The faculty provides principals in piano, organ, voice, strings, woodwinds, brass, classical guitar, and percussion as well as music theory and other related courses.

Pensacola State provides two years of college work acceptable for transfer to any college or university including both general education and music. Pensacola State music students have transferred with ease and success to universities such as West Florida, the FSU School of Music, South Florida, Southern Mississippi, Louisiana State, Loyola, Stetson, Samford, and several seminaries. Those graduates are currently working with success in public school music at all levels, as directors of music, as college teachers in applied music, music theory, and music history, in composition, in music therapy, and as professional performers. Several are also teaching in their own private studios.

The faculty believes that serious students should enjoy their two years at Pensacola State College. By selecting a music career, the student has selected a career which will provide a fulfilling and rewarding future. However, music majors have demands made on them that will not be found in other careers. More credit hours are required in their college program, more contact hours are spent in class each term, and numerous hours of individual practice are expected. These demands prepare students for an equally demanding career.

Students entering this program will need to make an appointment with the Department Head of Performing Arts or be present at one of the formal auditions held by the department. Before beginning a major in music, the student is required to audition on a principal instrument. This audition is not intended to eliminate a student, but merely to advise. The student also is required to take a brief written test in music theory. Again, this test is not designed to eliminate a student but to advise whether or not a student should proceed directly to Music Theory or first take Fundamentals of Music. For more information, contact the Performing Arts Department Head.

All entering music majors must be auditioned in their principal instrument or voice. The purpose of the audition is to determine the level of performance the student has attained prior to entering our music program. In some cases, a student with excellent potential, but little formal training, may be deficient in certain areas of performance. The student will need to eliminate this deficiency before attempting freshman-level applied music (1311 series). After consultation with their teacher and the department head, the student may be placed in the 1211 series, or even in the 1311 series for non-credit, so as to reach major level without the risk of failure. We are lenient in accepting music majors as freshmen, but we are concerned that students perform at the proper level when leaving PJC. Students must be able to enter upper-level institutions at the proper level and be successful. Students should prepare something to perform at the audition. It may be a solo, etude or exercise. Selected music should demonstrate all the student’s abilities. It need not be memorized.

This exam will be given to identify the student’s knowledge of music fundamentals prior to entering freshman theory. Those lacking proficiency in music fundamentals will be required to take MUT 1001 in Term III-B or concurrently with the regular theory course in the fall. This is done to ensure that the student succeeds by having the proper background in fundamentals before entering music theory.

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