There are boundless opportunities for Fresno City College’s students to become involved in and support their college campus. The music department at FCC is an area that is often overshadowed by areas that are more regularly in the spotlight.
Students who have not experienced an evening with FCC’s concert band, multiple jazz bands or various choirs, however, do not know what they are missing. Additionally, students who are interested in pursuing study on a musical instrument can find a variety of opportunities in the music department.
The fall concert season offers a variety of performances, and each student will have an opportunity to experience all of the different performance groups that are present at FCC; there is definitely something for everyone in the coming months.
Julie Dana, director of the choral department and affectionately referred to by her students as “Mrs. D”, invites every student to join the choral groups and accompanying musicians for a Multicultural Concert on Nov. 10, 2009. This concert will feature soloists, music from around the world, and dance.
“I think it is important to learn about world culture through their music. We learn music from various parts of the world and perform it using the original languages and try to honor the way it would be performed in the country it represents,” said Ms. Dana. “We have music from South Africa, Australia, Spain, The Philippines, Samoa, Jamaica, Mexico, Columbia and Russia-Just to name a few.”
Tickets for this event are only $5.00 for students, $8 for general admission. For students who are interested in jazz music, both instrumental and choral, Mike Dana, chair of the music department and head of the jazz program, encourages students to check out the Jazz Ensemble and Singers program on Oct. 29, 2009. Finally, to come full circle and get a good taste of the general departments from the music program, students should also consider the Concert Band’s fall concert on Dec. 9, 2009. Entrance fees for both of these events are likewise only $5.00 for students.
For half the price of a movie, students can enjoy an evening of great music and fun, the perfect idea for someone who is looking to spice up a date beyond the typical dinner and movie night.
Also, with the college’s budgeting issues limiting funding of important programs, students should be aware that attending special events and performances not only yields personal enrichment, but supports an important aspect of our college campus. A full list of upcoming performances can be found in the Music-Speech building on the several bulletin boards that line its halls. All performances are held in FCC’s performance hall and begin at 7:30PM.
Especially considering the talented staff in the music department, students who are interested in learning how to play a musical instrument-but have little to no formal training have a place as well. The music fundamentals class, seen in the catalog as Music 3, is designed for the general student who wishes to learn how to read music. There are also several beginning music classes for guitar, piano, and voice. Diligent students may someday find themselves on the performance side of music in addition to the listening side.
For those who are interested in pursuing music as a major, there are currently five options: Instrumental music (band / orchestra), guitar, piano, voice and the newly offered commercial music major. Along with the more traditional music majors, the commercial music major focuses on recording, computer music production, and the business side of music.
For more information regarding performances, classes, or other opportunities, contact Mike Dana at [email protected].