Music
View courses, degrees, and/or certificates for this program in the catalog.
This department is in the division of Arts & Humanities.
MUSIC DEPARTMENT
A Note from the Chair...
Dear Students (Returning and Incoming), 
As vaccinations become globally available, institutions are starting to make announcements about partial re-openings. Here at San Bernardino Valley College, many classes will continue to be online for the Fall 2021 semester. The Music Department however has been approved to offer in-person, socially-distanced labs! For the first time in a year, we will offer ensembles such as Wind Ensemble, Mixed Chorus, and Jazz Improv & Theory. We will allow students (gloved and masked) to sit at a piano for their Musicianship courses, and we will continue to offer in-person Piano and Guitar classes safely. We will persevere to continue providing high-quality music education for our students, and it is in this vein I would like to share with you a few highlights of our programs, why we are special, and considerations as you make decisions about your academic future during this moment in history.
The Music Department Faculty at San Bernardino Valley College are brilliant leaders in the Southern California community, and remain dedicated to the students in which we serve. Please consider reading through their abridged biographies on our department website.
We are growing our programs at San Bernardino Valley College. Some of the latest curriculum written, inspired by our community and career trajectories, include new classes such as Jazz Improv and Theory I and II, History of Hip-Hop, and Instrumental Chamber Music. We offer two Music degrees, the AA in Music and the AA-T in Music, and support both the instrumentalist and vocalist Music Major. Non-music major students who wish to continue their musical studies can take courses in Piano, Guitar, and Voice; and participate in our ensembles. We also boast one of the only community college opera programs in the country, and are in the process of assembling a Commercial Music Certificate.
You have some tough choices ahead of you. If this upcoming Fall semester is going to be mostly-online, why not save tens of thousands of dollars and take those courses at Community College for a fraction of the cost? We encourage you to check out what San Bernardino Valley College has to offer, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. I may be reached by email (mworsley@valleycollege.edu) or phone (909-570-3070).
Take Care, 
Margaret Worsley
Co-Chair of Music, Theatre & Dance
San Bernardino Valley College
P.S. High School Juniors and Seniors, please check out our Concurrent Enrollment programs, where high school students can take college classes and boost their transcripts. Also, upon acceptance to SBVC, students may qualify for California College Promise Grant fee waivers, which award incoming First-Year undergrads (directly from High School) free tuition.
If you are a Music major or minor, or thinking about being one, and missed our orientation on Friday, January 22nd at 3pm, watch the Orientation overview below for pertinent information regarding department processes, and degree paths.
Click here to download our Orientation packet.
Music Major Auditions
Auditions are typically held 1-2 weeks before the start of the new semester. If you are enrolled in an Ensemble or taking lessons, you must participate in the audition, which during the pandemic involves submission of an audition recording. You may perform any standard piece of repertoire of your choice. Please keep recordings under 5 minutes long. A link will be provided here when recordings are being accespted. If you've any questions about this process, please reach out to the Chair of Music, Professor Margaret Worsley: mworsley@valleycollege.edu
| Suggested Ensembles | Other Recommended Classes |
| MUS 150: Mixed Chorus | MUS 122: Music History & Lit (Honors) |
| MUS 170: Jazz Improv & Theory | MUS 123/124: Electronic Music |
| MUS 180: Instrumentalists | MUS 210: Conducting |
Check out the Catalog for AA/AA-T in Music degree requirements!
Are you an instrumentalist?
SBVC Piano Classes are on-campus in the Spring with social distancing parameters! Don't let the world get you down! Learn Piano!
Vocalists! Have you registered for an Ensemble yet?
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
The SBVC Music Department offers a comprehensive program of music study.
The faculty and students in the department of music share a deep and abiding love for their art and a common desire to achieve excellence in it. The curriculum provides basic preparation for careers in music or futher study and is designed to provide a balanced education in the many facets of musical experience.
It is the goal of the music department to help students develop their own musical and intellectual potential to the highest possible level.
Students planning to transfer to a four-year institution and major or minor in Music should consult with a counselor regarding the transfer process and lower-division requirements, as well as reach out to the Chair of the Department.
In the spirit of transparency the most recent departmental Program Review Report, which is created every four years, may be downloaded here.
