{"id":2291334,"date":"2026-02-20T17:42:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T17:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2291334"},"modified":"2026-02-20T17:42:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T17:42:17","slug":"santiago-canyon-colleges-new-music-degree-hits-all-the-right-notes-orange-county-register","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/santiago-canyon-colleges-new-music-degree-hits-all-the-right-notes-orange-county-register\/","title":{"rendered":"Santiago Canyon College\u2019s new music degree hits all the right notes \u2013 Orange County Register"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Santiago Canyon College has expanded its academic offerings with a new Associate of Arts degree for transfer in music, creating a pathway for students pursuing music studies to continue their education at four-year institutions.<\/p>\n

The new degree addresses a gap in SCC\u2019s academic infrastructure and course sequence for students seeking transfer opportunities in music, a goal Eleanor N\u00fa\u00f1ez, co-chair of SCC\u2019s Performing Arts department, has pursued since taking on the role in 2024.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was a vision I had,\u201d N\u00fa\u00f1ez said. \u201cI was looking at what we\u2019re offering, what other local programs offer and how we can better serve our students. The reality is our high school and middle school students in the region didn\u2019t have a local community college with a music program.\u201d<\/p>\n

N\u00fa\u00f1ez, with support from Alex Taber, SCC professor of economics and department co-chair, wrote the curriculum for 16 new music courses and secured CSU and UC transferability for an additional 16 courses, resulting in a two-year degree that satisfies lower-division music major state requirements for students who transfer to a four-year college.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey will have already completed essentially half of their requirements,\u201d N\u00fa\u00f1ez said of the degree.<\/p>\n

The course work is structured in a four-tier sequence. The first tier of studies includes theory and musicianship courses, or what N\u00fa\u00f1ez calls \u201cthe grammar of music.\u201d Classes like Music Theory 1 guide students through concepts such as diatonic and secondary dominants, four-part writing and multiple-voice exercises, including singing and dictation.<\/p>\n

Eleanor N\u00fa\u00f1ez, co-chair of SCC\u2019s Performing Arts
\ndepartment (Photo courtesy of RSCCD Communications)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Levels 2, 3 and 4 of theory and musicianship courses increase in complexity and feature concepts such as four-part voice writing, chromatic harmony and other 20th century techniques.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s interesting about our Level 3 and 4 theory courses is that they are equivalent to upper-division theory classes at the four-year universities,\u201d N\u00fa\u00f1ez said. \u201cSo, it\u2019s actually really quite advanced, and it\u2019s pretty advantageous for the students to take them at community college because it\u2019s so much cheaper.\u201d<\/p>\n

The second tier of studies in the program includes the course sequence that satisfies all piano requirements. The third tier focuses on applied lessons, or private lessons, and the way N\u00fa\u00f1ez designed this coursework is unique to SCC.<\/p>\n

Typically for college-level music students, their first two years of private instruction are offered in 30-minute lessons. But all SCC music major students will be receiving hourlong lessons with their instructors.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wrote the class in such a way here at SCC that it\u2019s a full lecture hour for the student and the instructor, so they\u2019re receiving 16 one-hour lessons,\u201d N\u00fa\u00f1ez said. \u201cIt is the most intensive and best education for the student. \u2026We\u2019re really lucky to have the support of our administration on this.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fourth tier of the program is students\u2019 participation in large performance ensembles. SCC has traditionally offered choir, but will now also offer concert band, jazz band, orchestra and guitar ensembles.<\/p>\n

The degree was completed and approved within one year and began accepting students into the full two-year track last fall. The program is for all music majors, regardless of their instrument of specialization, and requires an audition for acceptance.<\/p>\n

\"Alex
Alex Taber, SCC professor of economics and
\ndepartment co-chair
\n(Photo courtesy of RSCCD Communications)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cStudents need to demonstrate proficiency on their instrument because we\u2019re taking them to the professional level,\u201d N\u00fa\u00f1ez said. \u201cWe prep them to transfer, and we are working on getting them job-ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some of the career paths open to students who earn degrees in music include public or private school teaching, military musician, professional performer or the entrepreneur track, which could include positions such as private lesson instructor, music studio owner, producer, engineer or instrument sales.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reality is that most musicians do a little bit of everything,\u201d said N\u00fa\u00f1ez, whose own career has followed a similar path. \u201cIt\u2019s really important for our students to see that you can get a career in music and your career is really multifaceted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Students in the new Associate of Arts degree program will benefit from the small class sizes and instructor access found in all SCC departments.<\/p>\n

\u201cCompared to the higher cost of going to a four-year (university) for your first two years, it\u2019s just a great opportunity to be in a class where you have very easy access to the instructor because their primary focus and their primary responsibility is for the students,\u201d Taber said.<\/p>\n

Some of the degree courses are offered through the SCC Early College Program, a dual enrollment option that allows middle and high school students in the district to take classes such as music fundamentals and vocal training.<\/p>\n

N\u00fa\u00f1ez\u2019s goals for students pursuing the performing arts at SCC do not stop with music studies. Her next steps include developing similar degree plans for theater and dance, and she envisions future facilities that would bring the music, theater, dance and visual arts programs together into one campus location.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the long-term vision,\u201d N\u00fa\u00f1ez said of SCC\u2019s Performing Arts department, \u201cbuilding a comprehensive arts environment on this side of eastern north Orange County.\u201d<\/p>\n