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At the Cal Poly Pomona Music Department, we cultivate a hands-on, creative environment where you can thrive in classical and commercial performance, composition, education, industry, and technology. We are dedicated to fostering diverse musical practices that enrich lives and the human experience. By promoting ethical and innovative career paths in performance, teaching, and the music industry, we empower you to achieve your highest artistic, scholarly, and professional potential.

The Department of Music offers a robust polytechnic education grounded in both academic and performance-based study. Students pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Music, selecting from options such as Music Industry Studies, Performance, Composition, Music Education, or a general liberal arts pathway. Faculty combine active professional careers with teaching, bringing a contemporary and global perspective to music education. Courses engage students with music theory, history, production, and pedagogy, while promoting artistic growth and critical thinking. All students participate in ensembles and receive individual instrumental instruction to build foundational and specialized expertise.

The department fosters a dynamic performance culture with over 20 ensembles ranging from traditional symphonic groups to Mariachi and commercial music. Students showcase their work in concerts, recordings, and festivals, while learning in fully equipped studios and production labs. Co-curricular engagement include masterclasses, guest artist residencies, public school classroom practicums, readings of original compositions, and access to internships in the music industry. Performance majors prepare for graduate study or professional careers, while music industry students gain hands-on experience in audio production, publishing, and entrepreneurship. Whether performing, composing, producing, or teaching, graduates leave with the creative and technical skills to contribute to diverse musical and cultural communities.

Programs

• Music, B.A. - General Subplan/Option: 120 units
• Music, B.A. - Music Industry Studies Subplan/Option: 120 units
• Music, B.M. - Composition Subplan/Option: 125 units
• Music, B.M. - Music Education Pre-credential Subplan/Option: 132 units
• Music, B.M. - Performance Subplan/Option: 120 units

• Music Minor: 25 units

Courses

• MU 1000 - Introduction to Music (3) [GE 3A]
• MU 1010 - Music Appreciation (3) [GE 3A]
• MU 1030 - World of Music (3) [GE 3A]
• MU 1040 - Careers in Music (3)
• MU 1050 - Music Foundations (3)
• MU 1080 - Introduction to Music Technology (3)
• MU 1090 - History of American Popular Music (3)
• MU 1100 - Jazz and Beyond (3) [GE 3A]
• MU 1111 - Beginning Piano I (1)
• MU 1121A - Class Piano I (1)
• MU 1131A - Class Piano II (1)
• MU 1161A - Jazz Improvisation, Beginning (1)
• MU 1201 - Introduction to Music Theory (3)
• MU 1211 - Music Theory II: Chromatic Harmony (4)
• MU 1290 - Songwriting (3)
• MU 1300 - Brass Class (1)
• MU 1310 - Guitar Class (1)
• MU 1320 - Percussion Class (1)
• MU 1330 - Beginning Strings (1)
• MU 1340 - Voice Class (1)
• MU 1350 - Woodwind Class (1)
• MU 1360 - World Music Class (1)
• MU 1710 - Studio Strings (1)
• MU 1711 - Studio Strings (1)
• MU 1720 - Studio Brass (1)
• MU 1721 - Studio Brass (1)
• MU 1730 - Studio Woodwind (1)
• MU 1731 - Studio Woodwind (1)
• MU 1740 - Studio Percussion (1)
• MU 1741 - Studio Percussion (1)
• MU 1750 - Studio Keyboard (1)
• MU 1751 - Studio Keyboard (1)
• MU 1760 - Studio Guitar (1)
• MU 1761 - Studio Guitar (1)
• MU 1770 - Studio Voice (1)
• MU 1771 - Studio Voice (1)
• MU 1780 - Studio Electric Bass (1)
• MU 1781 - Studio Electric Bass (1)
• MU 1811 - Performance Studio Lower Division (1)
• MU 1990A - Special Activity for Lower Division Students (1-2)
• MU 2000 - Special Study for Lower Division Students (1-3)
• MU 2081 - Electronic Music Composition and Production (3)
• MU 2111 - Beginning Piano II (1)
• MU 2121A - Class Piano III (1)
• MU 2131A - Class Piano IV (1)
• MU 2201 - Form and Analysis (3)
• MU 2202 - Music Theory: Classical I (3)
• MU 2203 - Jazz and Pop Harmony and Techniques (3)
• MU 2204 - 20th and 21st Century Music Theory (3)
• MU 2211A - Musicianship I (1)
• MU 2221A - Musicianship II (1)
• MU 2251 - Composition (3)
• MU 2281 - The Digital Audio Workstation (3)
• MU 2290 - Songwriting II (3)
• MU 2310 - Intermediate Guitar Class (1)
• MU 2330 - Intermediate Strings (1)
• MU 2371 - Introduction to Music Education (3)
• MU 2610 - Diction for Singers (2)
• MU 2700 - Performance Seminar (1)
• MU 2990 - Special Topics for Lower Division Students (1-3)
• MU 2990A - Special Topics for Lower Division Students Activity (1-3)
• MU 2990L - Special Topics for Lower Division Students Laboratory (1-3)
• MU 3010 - Music Theory III: Advanced Music Theory (3)
• MU 3020 - Tonal Counterpoint (3)
• MU 3040 - Beginning Conducting (2)
• MU 3051 - Instrumental Conducting (2)
• MU 3061 - Choral Conducting (2)
• MU 3081 - Composing for Film and Television (3)
• MU 3091 - Instrumentation and Arranging (3)
• MU 3100 - History of Technology in Music (3) [GE 3C, 4C, or 5D]
• MU 3110 - Music of Mexico (3)
• MU 3130 - Popular Music Production (3)
• MU 3161A - Jazz Improvisation, Advanced (1)
• MU 3170 - Women in Music (3)
• MU 3181 - Ethnomusicology: Theory, History, and Field Methods (3)
• MU 3202 - Music Theory: Classical II (3)
• MU 3211A - Musicianship III (1)
• MU 3221A - Musicianship IV (1)
• MU 3251 - Composition II (3)
• MU 3281 - Music Recording (4)
• MU 3291 - Piano Pedagogy (2)
• MU 3301A - Brass Fundamentals (1)
• MU 3311A - Percussion Fundamentals (1)
• MU 3321A - String Fundamentals (1)
• MU 3331 - Vocal Pedagogy (2)
• MU 3341A - Woodwind Fundamentals (1)
• MU 3361A - Guitar Fundamentals (1)
• MU 3371 - Secondary Choral Methods (2)
• MU 3381 - Secondary Instrumental Methods (2)
• MU 3391 - Teaching Music Literacy (3)
• MU 3410A - Brass Ensemble (1)
• MU 3420A - Woodwind Ensemble (1)
• MU 3430A - Percussion Ensemble (1)
• MU 3440A - String Ensemble (1)
• MU 3450A - Collaborative Piano (1)
• MU 3455L - Cal Poly Pomona Collaborative Piano Ensemble (1)
• MU 3460A - Guitar Ensemble (1)
• MU 3470A - World Music Ensemble (1)
• MU 3475L - Black Music Ensemble (1)
• MU 3480A - Piano Ensemble (1)
• MU 3485L - Cal Poly Pomona Piano Ensemble (1)

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