The GCC Music Department offers an Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts degree with a music concentration (LA/MUS), commonly referred to as the music major. Our curriculum focus is jazz and contemporary music studies. We do not require auditions to begin studies, and many students consider the major to be an ideal way to explore music and to explore the possibility of more serious academic music study beyond GCC. Our majors have transferred to study music at schools such as UMASS Amherst, Berklee College of Music, Hartt School of Music, Northeastern University, Westfield State, Keene State, Evergreen College, and the University of Vermont. Other music major graduates have transferred to a wide variety of non-music programs at various schools, with several choosing to minor in music at their 4-year school.
Our primary strength is that we are a small department providing students with individualized attention. Our open access policy means we have a diverse range of student interests and abilities, with most students desiring to get “up to speed” with college level music study. We don’t have a single goal for every music student, other than to grow and learn as much as possible. The definition of success is unique for each GCC music major, and the music faculty support that by helping to shape a unique experience for each student. Though we are a small department, we offer a diverse range of courses in performance, theory, history, music technology, and instrumental study.
For information on how to become involved in our department’s dynamic and growing community, feel free to email or call me anytime.
– Matthew
Matthew Ruby Shippee
Professor and Chair
Music Department
shippeem@gcc.mass.edu
