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Las Positas College

Applied Music Program

Lessons

The LPC Applied Music Program provides music majors the opportunity for affordable private instruction in a variety of instruments (both jazz and classical), voice, and composition, in preparation for transfer as music majors to four-year universities and conservatories. Students who are pursuing their AA-T and/or AA in Music, as well as several of our Commercial Music Certificates are required to successfully pass MUS 38 Applied Lessons four times in order to earn their degree

How It Works

Applied Music (MUS 38) students receive approximately 9 hours per semester of one-on-one instruction in voice, any instrument, or composition, in various stylistic/historical musical traditions. The course is 1 unit, and can be taken up to 4 times. 

Lessons are scheduled on a TBA basis between the applied instructor and the student on the first Friday of the semester (meetings are typically at noon). Each lesson is tracked and recorded using this Lesson Attendance Log

End of semester juries are required as well as a minimum of 3 hours per week of outside practice (to be logged using a spreadsheet program like Excel or Google Sheets), and monthly music forums (held on the first Friday of each month). A 20-30 minute public recital replaces an end-of-semester jury for those in their 4th semester of Applied Lessons. 

Note that there will be TWO Canvas shells for Applied Lessons. One will be instructional between the students and applied instructor (i.e. Guitar Faculty and Guitar Students). The other is a self-enrolled section which includes ALL faculty and students in the Applied Program and is used for important announcements. Students must be registered in both sections and ensure notifications are enabled. 

Requirements

Specific requirements for the student's focus will be listed on the syllabus and will become more challenging each semester the student is enrolled in MUS 38, culminating in a final 20-30 public recital for performers or a portfolio presentation for composers. The goal is for students to audition into a 4-year program successfully. LPC prides itself on an excellent track record of its music students transferring to such excellent music programs as UCLA, UC San Diego, Berklee School of Music, Cal State Long Beach, the California Jazz Conservatory, Cal State Northridge, Cal State San Jose, Cal State East Bay and more. 

Applied Students are required to concurrently enroll in a minimum of one performing ensemble and music theory (MUS 6, 8A, 8B, 10A, or 10B). 

How to Enroll

Interested students should first enroll in the two required courses (performing ensemble and music theory/musicianship (Mus 6, 8A, 8B, 10A, or 10B) on Class-Web

Once enrolled, students should take a screenshot of their Class-Web schedule and email it to Dan Marschak (dmarschak@laspositascollege.edu) specifying which Applied Lessons section is desired.

Returning students will receive their add code in the week following a successful end-of-semester jury.

New students must upload a short audition video demonstrating their current ability on their instrument, voice, or composition into this Dropbox Folder

Instrumentalists: The video should consist of one major scale and its relative minor scale, and one piece of your choosing which showcases your skills, musicality and personal strengths. 

Vocalists: Please perform one song that showcase your skills, musicality and personal strengths. 

Composers: Please submit one score (any style) that showcases your compositional skill. MIDI realizations are OK. 

Professor Marschak will then reply with an Add Code as long as the student satisfies the concurrent enrollment requirements. 

 

More details can be found in the Student Handbook. 

If you have any additional questions, email Prof. Marschak.