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Music

Become an accomplished musician, singer, composer, or audio engineer with an Associate of Arts degree from Arapahoe Community College.

Community members sitting in the audience at ACC's Waring Theater

ACC’s Music Department provides classes in a wide variety of musical disciplines that are accessible to students and community members of all levels. Classroom and private instruction are available year-round to help you reach your goals and earn your Associate of Arts in Music degree at your own pace.

Many of our music students go on to earn Bachelor’s degrees and pursue careers as musicians or in music education. Our curriculum includes guaranteed transfer courses that can transfer to Colorado’s public 4-year colleges and universities. You will learn from some of Denver’s best music instructors, many of whom are well-known professional musicians.

We offer private and ensemble lessons for drums, guitar, piano, strings, trumpet, and voice. Reach out to us if you have a specific need.
Our ensembles perform for our community and solo recitals are presented twice each year.
You can be a part of:

  • ACC Choir
  • Jazz Ensemble
  • Pop/Rock Ensemble
  • String Orchestra


We also offer non-credit (non-degree seeking) lessons through our Community Programs.

ACC Admissions
Admissions
admissions [at] arapahoe.edu
Jason Klobnak
Program Chair / Faculty
Music
jason.klobnak [at] arapahoe.edu
Charles Haarhues
Program Chair / Faculty
Music
charles.haarhues [at] arapahoe.edu

What You'll Learn

ACC’s Music Department offers instruction in: brass, composition, guitar, percussion, piano, strings, voice, and woodwinds. With your Associate of Arts Degree in Music, you will be able to:

  • Prepare and present a musical performance
  • Demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of music theory
  • Display a fundamental level of music history

CIP 500901 (DMUS)

The purpose of a statewide articulation agreement is to identify the courses a student at a Colorado public community college must complete as part of an AA/AS degree to be guaranteed to be able to complete the designated baccalaureate degree program at public four-year colleges and universities as designated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) transfer agreement.

For more information about this transfer degree please refer to the Colorado Department of Higher Education website.

Program Requirements

General Education Courses (31 credit hours)
Written Communication (6 credit hours)
Mathematics (3 credit hours)
  • GT - Any GT Pathways Mathematics course (GT-MA1), prefer MAT 1240 Mathematics for the Liberal Arts.
History (3 credit hours)
Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credit hours)
  • GT - Two GT Pathways Social and Behavioral Science courses (GT-SS1, GT-SS2, GT-SS3) *
    * Note: CSU - Ft. Collins requires that one of these be PSY 1001
Natural and Physical Sciences (7 credit hours)
  • GT - Two GT Pathways Natural & Physical Science courses (GT-SC1, GT-SC2). One of these courses must have the required laboratory (GT-SC1).
Additional Required Courses (26 credit hours)

Please Note: If these credits are not required for the major at a receiving 4-year institution, they will be applied to the Bachelor's degree as elective credit towards graduation. Please check with the receiving institution to determine in which way these courses will be applied.

2 Credits : Piano
Electives (3 credit hours)
  • Any Music Electives
Note(s):

Any additional courses taken in the discipline covered by this agreement might not count toward the requirements of the major at the receiving institution.

Total: 60 credit hours

No course substitutions will be allowed within this degree. All courses required for this degree must be completed with a "C" or better to be considered for transfer to another Colorado institution. Transferability of courses to colleges or universities outside of Colorado is determined by the receiving institution.

Graduation Requirements

CIP 100203 (AOU1)

This Associate of Applied Science degree in Music Audio Technology prepares students for entry-level employment as an audio technician, and to provide supplemental training for persons currently employed in this occupation. The content includes, but is not limited to: computer music software applications, audio recording/production, and live sound engineering.

This program may transfer to other colleges or universities and apply toward a bachelor's degree. Contact the ACC Advising Office or a Faculty Advisor in the music department for details.

Program Requirements

Electives (3 credit hours)

Applied Music & Ensembles Choose from below 3 Credits

1 Credits (Instrumental or Voice)
1 Credits (Instrumental or Voice)
1 Credits (Instrumental or Voice)
Total: 60 credit hours

Graduation Requirements

  • All courses required for this A.A.S. degree must be completed with a grade of "C" or better to meet admission and graduation requirements.
  • Apply for graduation online at www.arapahoe.edu/graduation.
  • As a graduate of a Career and Technical Education program you will be contacted by an ACC employee in approximately six months to verify your employment information. This information gathering is a federal requirement to ensure that ACC receives certain federal funding.

CIP 100203 (MB)

The Music Business Certificate prepares students for opportunities in music promotion, publishing, touring, and marketing. Students will learn how to develop their business skills in the music industry so they can apply for careers in artist management, music marketing, publishing, the live entertainment industry, or entrepreneurship. Students will learn the basics of every major facet of the industry, choose what fits them, and learn how to further explore the area that best suits their career goals.

Program Requirements

Graduation Requirements

  • Apply for graduation online at www.arapahoe.edu/graduation.
  • As a graduate of a Career and Technical Education program you will be contacted by an ACC employee in approximately six months to verify your employment information. This information gathering is a federal requirement to ensure that ACC receives certain federal funding.

CIP 100203 (COU2)

The Sound Engineering certificate program offers opportunities for students to add a wide range of music technology related courses to their expertise in order to advance in their jobs and to enhance skills needed in the audio industry. The content includes, but is not limited to: computer music software applications, audio recording/production, and live sound engineering.

Graduation Requirements

  • Apply for graduation online at www.arapahoe.edu/graduation.
  • As a graduate of a Career and Technical Education program you will be contacted by an ACC employee in approximately six months to verify your employment information. This information gathering is a federal requirement to ensure that ACC receives certain federal funding.

ACC academic plans will help guide you through your chosen program. The academic plan will provide you with important information, like which semesters courses are offered if there are any prerequisites or co-requisites for courses, program outcomes, course sequence recommendations, notes for the program, graduation requirements, and other important information. These are updated annually, so we recommend downloading a copy of yours to keep on track to graduation.

Job Opportunities in Music

Meet ACC's Music Faculty and Instructors

Charles
Haarhues
Program Chair / Faculty
Jason
Klobnak
Program Chair / Faculty
Kim
Bird
Instructor
Misty
Dupuis
Instructor
Cindi
Hsu
Instructor
Chris
Kolakowski
Instructor
Melody
Marlier
Instructor
Hidemi
Matsushita
Professor Emeritus
Jeff
Miguel
Instructor
Thomas
Payetta
Instructor
Hukum
Singh Khalsa
Instructor
Doug
Tidaback
Instructor
James
Todd
Instructor
Alex
Trujillo
Instructor
Mayumi
Yotsumoto
Instructor
Gregg
Ziemba
Instructor