Music

Dean: Joseph Poshek
Academic Chair: Matthew Tresler, DMA
Faculty: Susan Boettger, DMA; Mathieu Girardet, MM; Daniel Luzko, DMA; Matthew Tresler, DMA
Lab Tech: Mark Petersen

Music at Irvine Valley College is active and vibrant. There are courses in music that meet transfer requirements and many that also meet general education requirements in the arts and/or humanities; courses of instruction in guitar, voice, and piano; a variety of very fine vocal and instrumental ensembles; and a high-quality Music Major program for the transferring student and those seeking music as a career.

The IVC Music Department has an active, award-winning faculty that provides as many opportunities as possible for the students. In addition to the ensemble concerts, we have student recitals, faculty and guest artist concerts, our students travel in-state, nationally, and even internationally to perform and learn.

The Music Major program is offer to qualified music students who wish to develop their performance abilities. Admission to the program is by audition, schedule before the start of Fall and Spring semesters. For more information or to schedule and audition, email m tresler@ivc.edu. Students in the major will weekly one-on-one lessons on their given instrument with emphasis on technical skills and stylistic context. Instruction focuses on developing a connection with the expressive and creative self.

Music Major Program

The department offers this program to qualified music students who wish to develop their performance abilities. Admission to the program is done by auditions, which are scheduled before the start of fall and spring semesters. Students must complete certain course requirements including specific classes in order to receive one-on-one vocal, instrumental, or piano instruction, the main concentrations of the program. For more information call 949-451-5538 or email m tresler@ivc.edu.

Music Transfer Degree

The Associate in Arts in Music for Transfer (AA-T in Music) is designed to provide a thorough and high-quality course of study for the transferring music major, as well as opportunities for students in other fields to learn about music through courses and through participation in performing groups. Courses offered in the music curriculum meet major transfer requirements, and many also meet general education requirements in the arts. The curriculum includes courses in music performance, theory, as well as a variety of fine vocal and instrumental ensembles. Additionally, courses of instruction are offered in guitar, piano, and voice.

Students in the major will receive leveled performance training on their given instrument with emphasis on technical skills and stylistic context. Instruction focuses on developing a connection with the expressive and creative self.

Instrumental Performance

The mission of the IVC Instrumental Music Area (IMA) is to provide the finest artistic experience possible for its students and audiences. IMA performance ensembles serve as a nexus between music students, the college, and local communities, and student and professional composers and soloists. Currently, there are performance opportunities in the Jazz Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and Guitar Ensemble. IMA alumni have transferred to each of the region’s universities, out of state universities, and into the United States Military Music Programs and are now working in the vast array of music professions.

The Jazz Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and guitar classes are exemplary of the California community colleges. Membership is drawn from traditional college-aged students as well as from community members of all ages and experiences. Graduates have transferred to all of the region’s major universities and are active in many professions of music.

Instrumental Performance Rehearsal Days and Times
Jazz Ensembles:		Mondays, 4 - 6:50 p.m. Mondays, 7 - 9:50 pm
Orchestra:		Tuesdays, 7 - 9:50 pm
Wind Symphony:		Wednesdays, 7 - 9:50 pm
Guitar:		Thursdays, 7 - 9:50 pm

The Jazz Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Wind Symphony courses are not beginning instrument or beginning music reading courses. Students should have three years of ensemble experience before joining. Interested string, brass, woodwind, percussion, and guitar players are encouraged to consider joining one of the ensembles or course offerings. For further information, please contact Professor Mathieu Girardet at mgirardet@ivc.edu.

Guitar Program and Ensemble

Under the direction of Professor Kevin Jellison, the guitar program offers recital opportunities for students to perform as soloists and in small and large ensembles in three levels of class guitar and the new guitar ensemble. For further information, please contact Professor Kevin Jellison at kjellison@ivc.edu.

Jazz Ensemble

The Jazz Ensemble was formed in 1998 and has remained an active and vibrant part of the college since. The ensemble performs newly composed works as well as music from the repertoire of the jazz big band tradition. The Jazz Ensemble is also the featured performance at the annual IVC Jazz Picnic. For further information, please contact Professor Anibal Seminario aseminario@ivc.edu.

Symphony Orchestra

The IVC Symphony Orchestra is a traditional ensemble of orchestral strings (violin, viola, cello, and bass), woodwinds, brass and percussion. The Symphony Orchestra performs works from the Renaissance period to the 21st century, including original works drawn from the vast orchestral repertoire, transcriptions, and new works commissioned from professional composers and student composers. The ensemble features professional and student guest conductors as well as featured concerto soloists each season. For further information, please contact Professor Eleanor Nunez at enunezmason@ivc.edu.

Wind Symphony

The IVC Wind Symphony is the oldest instrumental ensemble at IVC. It is an ensemble of traditional band/orchestra wind and percussion instruments. The Wind Symphony performs repertoire from the Renaissance period to the 21st century, including original wind music; quality transcriptions of folk, orchestral, choral and other music; as well as brand new music composed for the medium. Since 1991, the ensemble has performed over 50 world, state, or regional premieres of new music, including over 10 works commissioned directly from professional composers and from IVC composition students. In addition to the large Wind Symphony, the ensemble also performs in smaller ensembles and features professional and student guest conductors and soloists each season. For further information, please contact Professor Mathieu Girardet at mgirardet@ivc.edu.

Keyboard Performance

The IVC Keyboard Department is a vibrant program with renowned piano faculty and visiting artists, impeccably maintained Steinway pianos, and a busy calendar of concerts. The Piano Performance and Ensemble course and Piano Major train local and international students to perform and transfer to conservatories and music programs. Visiting artists have included teachers from USC, CSUF, CSULB, Chapman, UCLA, UC Irvine, the Colburn School, among others. We place a special emphasis on training future music teachers, with a comprehensive Piano Pedagogy Certificate. All students in the performance course and major have the opportunity to perform on the main stage of the Performing Arts Center, which boasts two new Steinway D concert grands. The Keyboard Series brings a strong performance component to the department, featuring many of our conservatory-trained IVC piano faculty and internationally renowned guest keyboard artists. Group class piano lessons are offered for every level of student, from the absolute beginner to the advanced. The Piano I, II, III, and IV courses offer a comprehensive and effective piano program which provides a solid foundation in reading notation, technique, and repertoire. Our brand new Yamaha Keyboard Lab ensures that every student has their own keyboard, with students receiving individual as well as group training. For more information, please contact Dr. Susan Boettger at sboettger@ivc.edu.

Choral Performance

Chorale

The IVC Chorale was the first music ensemble at IVC, performing for the first time in 1979. Since that time, the Chorale has offered performances from the great masterworks of the Western canon to the Great American Songbook, to the vast treasury of choral music from the world’s cultures. The choir has traveled to Europe and South America, and choir members have performed on the stage of Carnegie Hall. This auditioned, mixed-voice choir continues to present concerts of masterworks with orchestra and concerts of varied repertoire from chant and motets, to folk songs and commissioned works. For further information or to audition, please contact Dr. Matthew Tresler at 949-451-5538 or mtresler@ivc.edu.

Choral Performance Rehearsal Days and Times
Chorale:		Tuesdays, 7 - 9:50 pm

Group Class Music Lessons

The Music Department recognizes that, for many students, learning how to play an instrument or sing can be a source of great enrichment in their college education. Class lessons in guitar, piano, and voice are offered by expert teachers-performers of the highest caliber who can be seen and heard in professional venues around Southern California. Not only do students learn the rudiments of performance, they are able to proceed from beginning to intermediate and advanced levels of instruction. Class instruction in performance has proven educational benefits, enhancing learning as well as providing peer support and motivation. An additional benefit is that class lessons are economical for IVC students.

Music History

The Department of Music offers general education breadth courses in music history. These courses are appropriate as part of a student’s general education transfer preparation or as part of a student’s interest in learning more about the diverse disciplines of the arts. Music Appreciation (MUS 20 ) is the standard collegiate lower-division course covering musical style and genre, as well as historical and biographical information about the many European classical music traditions. World Music (MUS 21 ) covers musical style and genre, and historical and sociological aspects of music from non-European sources. History of Jazz (MUS 27 ) studies the history of jazz with regard to styles and musicians. History of Rock Music (MUS 28 ), one of the most popular courses in the program, covers musical style and genre, as well as historical, biographical, and political aspects of this important contemporary art form. All of these courses are transferable to both the UC and CSU systems.

Music Theory and Composition

IVC offers a spectrum of music theory classes for all levels. Students may complement their studies with The Basics of Music (MUS 1 ). This course is designed primarily for the general education student and is transferable to both the UC and CSU systems. The department also offers the traditional lower division of Music Theory/Harmony (MUS 3 , MUS 4 , MUS 5 , MUS 6 ). This is a four-semester sequence designed primarily for the serious music student and music major with comprehensive training in musical structures, harmony, ear training, sight-singing, dictation, and keyboard harmony, and spans the Baroque through contemporary periods of music. The Department of Music promotes and includes student and professional composition in each of its areas, disciplines and performance ensembles. Composition is taught across the Music Theory curriculum. IVC music students have won state composition contests, participated in composition conferences, and been accepted at the region’s major universities. Music alumni are published professional composers in the classical, pop, film, radio and television industries. Moreover, IVC music students can develop their creative knowledge and artistic skills in a supportive environment and have numerous opportunities to receive performances and readings of their music in concerts, recitals and rehearsals. These activities include the annual composer’s concert every April and readings by major IVC music ensembles each semester. Finally, a yearly composition competition invites not only IVC music students, but also student composers from other institutions to compete and earn cash prizes at the IVC Music Student Composers Competition. For more information on music theory and composition classes, please contact Dr. Daniel Luzko at 949-451-5762 or dluzko@ivc.edu.

Potential Careers

Examples of careers in music include the following:

Accompanist
Agent
Arranger
Arts Attorney*
Arts Journalist/Reviewer
Arts Management
Arts Marketing and Sales
Composer
Conductor
Contract Attorney*
Copyist
Curator (Arts, Instruments and Manuscripts)
Editor
Foley Artist
Instrument Designer and Builder
Instrument Manufacturer
Instrument Repair
Intellectual Property Rights Attorney*
Keyboard Technician*

Music Consultant
Music Librarian
Music Psychology*
Music Store Owner
Music Theoretician*
Music Therapy*
Musicologist*
Organ Builder/Tuner/Technician*
Part Preparer
Performer
Piano Tuner*
Producer
Proofreader
Publisher
Sound and Stage Technician
Sound Designer
Sound Engineer*
Teacher*
Web Sound Designer

*Requires further education

Programs

Associate in Arts

Music, AA

Associate in Arts for Transfer

Music for Transfer, AA-T

Certificate of Proficiency

Piano Pedagogy, COP

Catalog and Student Handbook

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