Music at Pellissippi State
Based on the premise that the arts are a very important part of every student’s education, Pellissippi State offers a broad range of music classes to meet a variety of student needs. Those needs include preparing to earn a Music degree, pursuing individual instruction in a specific instrument, meeting general education requirements and achieving personal enrichment. Music courses are open to all registered students and are offered at various campus sites.
Watch our video to learn more about music courses at Pellissippi State
For more information, please contact:
L. William Brewer
Music Program Coordinator
lwbrewer@pstcc.edu
(865) 694-6701
Associate of Fine Arts Degree - Music Concentration
This new degree opportunity offers a tangible goal that music students did not have before by allowing them to earn a degree rather than transferring courses to another institution. Through the Tennessee Transfer Pathways, all credits from this degree transfer to other Tennessee Board of Regents institutions and the University of Tennessee.
Concentration Courses
By drawing on the expertise of our extensive and diverse Music faculty, we are
able to offer the freshmen and sophomore courses required by most colleges and
universities for their music degrees. Classes include the following:
• Music Theory I-IV
• Ear Training I-IV
• Introduction to Music Literature
• Class Piano
• Ensembles, vocal and instrumental
• Applied instruction in—
• Voice
• Piano
• Guitar
• Brass instruments
• Woodwind instruments
• String instruments
• Percussion instruments
• Contemporary piano styles
General Courses
For students not pursuing a Music concentration, we offer a variety of general
music courses. They include the following:
• Music Appreciation
• Fundamentals of Music
• Class Piano
• Ensembles, vocal and instrumental
• Private instruction, vocal and instrumental
Music Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded annually to recognize excellence in musical performance and academic achievement. Auditions for these scholarships are scheduled each spring, and the selected recipients are required to perform in one or more of Pellissippi State’s ensembles. Call the Music secretary, 865.539.7178, for dates and times. The information also is provided to area high school choral and band directors each spring. For more about the Music scholarships, visit www.pstcc.edu/financial_aid.
Ensembles
Variations
This choral group is an auditioned vocal ensemble specializing in
choral chamber music and advanced choral repertoire. Performances are scheduled
both on and off campus at the request of churches, civic groups and areas
within the College.
Concert Chorale
This ensemble is open to all registered students at Pellissippi
State. The group sings a variety of musical styles and performs several times
each semester.
Jazz Band
Pellissippi State’s Jazz Band is an auditioned ensemble for students
who play brass or woodwind instruments, guitar, bass, drums or keyboard.
Various styles within the jazz idiom are performed, including swing, Latin and
funk.
Guitar Ensemble
This ensemble stresses knowing the guitar fretboard through
reading works by the classical masters, including Bach, Mozart and Vivaldi.
Other styles of music (rock, jazz, bluegrass) also are performed.
Brass Ensemble
This small ensemble of brass players performs a repertoire
written for brass chamber groups and a variety of musical styles arranged for
brass. Literature ranges from Renaissance to jazz.
Small Instrumental Ensemble
String, woodwind, guitar and percussion players
combine in this ensemble to perform music from a wide variety of stylistic periods.
Much of the literature is arranged specifically for the instrumental makeup of
the ensemble for any given semester.
Bluegrass Ensemble
This ensemble is an auditioned group of students interested
in learning about and performing bluegrass music. The group is made up of
instrumentalists and vocalists. The ensemble was formed to explore and embrace
the music of our regional heritage.
Percussion Ensemble
This group explores many facets in the area of percussion.
Knowledge, terminology and performance skills for a variety of percussion
instruments are studied in this ensemble each semester.
