Music – Business Transfer AA

Associate in Arts Code: 1024

Program Contacts:
QC Campus
Jonathan Palomaki, 309-796-5478, palomakij@bhc.edu
Edgar Crockett, 309-796-5479, crockette@bhc.edu


The music curricula are primarily intended for those planning to transfer to a four-year school to complete a bachelor’s degree in a music-related field. Four-year degree programs in music are complex and highly structured, making careful preparation and course selection in the first two years essential. Students are urged to study the general information given below, follow the suggested curricula closely, and consult often with a music advisor. It is also recommended that prospective students be auditioned by a music instructor before enrolling at Black Hawk.

Students planning to major in music at a four-year institution should follow the Black Hawk College Associate of Arts curriculum. Since requirements for a music major vary at four-year institutions, students are encouraged to work closely with academic advisors at Black Hawk College and the transfer school.

Music Achievement Awards Available: The music program offers achievement awards to both music and non-music majors. Students must audition before the full-time faculty. Awards are given in full, three-quarter, half, or quarter tuition waivers. Contact the contact persons listed above for more information.

Music Fundamentals, Music Theory, and Music Literature
All the music curricula require classes in music fundamentals (MUSC 110 or proficiency) and music theory (MUSC 111 and 112). All curricula require one semester of music literature (MUSC 113). Note: In order to satisfy the Humanities/Fine Arts general education component for graduation, you must submit and have approved a “Course Substitutions and/or Waiver for Graduation Form” that substitutes MUSC 113 for MUSC 154. See Mr. Palomaki for details.

Performance Groups
Each music student should participate in a performing group each semester, either MUSC 101 or 102 and 103, instrumental ensembles, or MUSC 107 or 109, choral ensembles. Music students may also participate in other performance groups for additional elective credit. Performance groups are open to all Black Hawk College students. No more than 4 credits in each ensemble can be counted toward graduation requirements.

Applied Lessons, Applied Major, Applied Electives
An important part of a music major’s curriculum should be individualized and/or group instruction on specific musical instruments and/or in voice. This form of instruction is called “applied lessons.” Students choose one instrument, or voice, for primary study and the instruction they receive in that instrument, or voice, makes up their “applied major.” One or more additional instruments, or voice, may also be chosen for additional but less intensive study, and these form the “applied electives.” All applied lesson classes may be repeated two times for credit. However, music majors can count only 12 credits of applied lessons toward graduation requirements and non-majors may count only up to 4 credits of applied lessons toward graduation. Lesson classes numbered 200 or above may be taken only by sophomores or by students with two semesters of instruction in the corresponding 100 level class.

The following individual lesson classes are offered and are available to all students:

Applied Lesson (Non-major or secondary instrument)

  • MUSC 121, 221 — Elementary Voice
  • MUSC 123, 223 — Elementary Piano
  • MUSC 141, 241 — Elementary Brass Instrument
  • MUSC 143, 243 — Elementary Woodwind Instrument
  • MUSC 145, 245 — Elementary String Instrument
  • MUSC 147, 247 — Elementary Percussion Instrument

Applied Major Lesson

  • MUSC 125, 225 — Voice
  • MUSC 127, 227 — Piano
  • MUSC 129, 229 — Organ
  • MUSC 131, 231 — Brass Instrument
  • MUSC 133, 233 — Woodwind Instrument
  • MUSC 135, 235 — String Instrument
  • MUSC 137, 237 — Percussion Instrument

Piano Proficiency Exam
All music majors are expected to complete the BHC Piano Proficiency Exam by the end of their sophomore year. As such, applied lessons in piano are encouraged for each semester of study in order to adequately prepare for this exam.

Required courses for this program include: »

ACCT 101 Financial Accounting
Prerequisites: CS 100 “C” or better and eligibility to enroll in MATH 112 or instructor consent. Concurrent enrollment in ACCT 103 or ACCT 103 “C” or better.
Introductory course for the study of fundamental accounting principles involved in the preparation of financial statements for corporations. Includes the study of the accounting cycle, accounting systems, cash, receivables, inventories, long-term assets, liabilities, and equity accounts.
3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week. IAI: BUS 903

ACCT 102 Managerial Accounting
Prerequisites: ACCT 101 “C” or better or BA 170 and BA 180 “C” or better. Concurrent enrollment in ACCT 104 or ACCT 104 “C” or better.
Emphasis on use of accounting data in aiding managerial decisions, preparation of cost of goods manufactured, cost of goods sold, income statement, cost production reports, and budget preparation and analysis.
3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week. IAI: BUS904

ACCT 103 Financial Accounting Lab
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in ACCT 101 or ACCT 101 “C” or better.
Uses computers to provide students with experience in data entry and computerized financial reporting on topics related to ACCT 101. Also uses the computer as an individual learning resource. Exercises, worksheets, and computerized practice problems are completed by the student.
1 credit hour: 0 lecture hours; 2 lab hours per week. IAI: BUS 903

ACCT 104 Managerial Accounting Lab
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in ACCT 102 or ACCT 102 “C” or better.
A study of procedures and uses of the general ledger system and managerial applications applicable to the topics as outlined in ACCT 102.
1 credit hour: 0 lecture hours; 2 lab hours per week. IAI: BUS 904

ECON 221 Principles of Macro Economics
Study of the basic macro economic principles of a capitalistic economy, its strengths and weaknesses including supply and demand, prices, role of government, national income measurement and determination, money, banking, monetary and fiscal policies, inflation and unemployment, international trade and payments.
3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week. IAI: S3 901

ECON 222 Principles of Micro Economics
Study of the basic micro economic principles of a capitalistic economy emphasizing supply and demand, prices, elasticity, competitive forms in product and resource markets, government and business relationships, poverty, and agriculture.
3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week. IAI: S3 902

ENG 101 Composition I
Prerequisite: ACT English score of 22-30 or appropriate COMPASS score; or English 091 “C” or better.
English 101 is designed for students who are competent in the fundamentals of composition. Students will write essays using a variety of expository strategies and will apply standard techniques of documentation when appropriate.
3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week. IAI: C1 900 (Grade of “C” or higher required for this course to be eligible to be included in the IAI General Education Core Curriculum.)

ENG 102 Composition II
Prerequisite: English 101 “C” or better.
English 102 is a continuation of English 101, is a required composition course that involves reading, discussion, and analysis of a body of literature to generate ideas for critical and persuasive papers, including one documented research paper.
3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week. IAI: C1 901R (Grade of “C” or higher required for this course to be eligible to be included in the IAI General Education Core Curriculum.)

MUSC 101 Instrumental Ensemble
Standard band literature as well as chamber music and other material as required. String instrumentalists are also welcome. No auditions required. No more than 4 credit hours will apply toward a degree.
1 credit hour: 0 lecture hours; 2 lab hours per week.

MUSC 102 Stage Band
Preparation, exploration, and performance of popular music suitable for dance band instrumentation. No more than 4 credit hours will apply toward a degree.
1 credit hour: 0 lecture hours; 3 lab hours per week.

MUSC 103 Instrumental Chamber Ensemble
Performance of selected chamber music according to the group instrumentation. No more than 4 credit hours will apply toward a degree.
1 credit hour: 0 lecture hours; 2 lab hours per week.

MUSC 107 Choir
Sacred and secular choral literature from early Renaissance to the 21st Century. No audition required. No more than 4 credit hours will apply toward a degree.
1 credit hour: 0 lecture hours; 3 lab hours per week.

MUSC 109 Chamber Singers
Vocal literature particularly suitable for small groups. Membership also open to certain selected instrumentalists. No more than 4 credit hours will apply toward a degree.
1 credit hour: 0 lecture hours; 2 lab hours per week.

MUSC 110 Fundamentals of Music
Musical notation, scales and intervals, sight-singing and fundamental keyboard skills. Recommended for music majors judged deficient in fundamentals, elementary teaching majors, and other interested students.
2 credit hours: 2 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 111 Theory of Music
Prerequisite: MUSC 110.
Structure of music, notation, scales, intervals, sight-singing, keyboard skills and composition.
4 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 2 lab hours per week.

MUSC 112 Theory of Music
Prerequisite: MUSC 111 with concurrent enrollment in MUSC 113.
Continuation of MUSC 111.
4 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 2 lab hours per week.

MUSC 113 Exploring Music Literature
Prerequisites: MUSC 110 and MUSC 111.
Study of representative vocal and instrumental works illustrative of the principal forms and styles from the Medieval period to the present.
3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 123 Elementary Piano
Applied lessons available to all students. Students will be required to pay a lesson laboratory fee.
1-2 credit hours: 2 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 125 Voice
Applied major lessons are available, but require a lesson laboratory fee.
1-3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 127 Piano
Applied major lessons are available, but require a lesson laboratory fee.
1-3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 129 Organ
Applied major lessons are available, but require a lesson laboratory fee.
1-3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 131 Brass Instrument
Applied major lessons are available, but require a lesson laboratory fee.
1-3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 133 Woodwind Instrument
Applied major lessons are available, but require a lesson laboratory fee.
1-3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 137 Percussion Instrument
Applied major lessons are available, but require a lesson laboratory fee.
1-3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 141 Elementary Brass Instrument
Applied lessons available to all students. Students will be required to pay a lesson laboratory fee.
1-2 credit hours: 2 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 143 Elementary Woodwind Instrument
Applied lessons available to all students. Students will be required to pay a lesson laboratory fee.
1-2 credit hours: 2 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 145 Elementary String Instrument
Applied lessons available to all students. Students will be required to pay a lesson laboratory fee.
1-2 credit hours: 2 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 147 Elementary Percussion Instrument
Applied lessons available to all students. Students will be required to pay a lesson laboratory fee.
1-2 credit hours: 2 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 158 Introduction to Non-Western Music
Introduction to non-western culture through the study of music.
3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week. IAI: F1 903N

MUSC 221 Elementary Voice
Applied lessons available to all students. Students will be required to pay a lesson laboratory fee. (Voice class option available)
1-2 credit hours: 2 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 223 Elementary Piano
Applied lessons available to all students. Students will be required to pay a lesson laboratory fee.
1-2 credit hours: 2 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 225 Voice
Applied lessons available to all students. Students will be required to pay a lesson laboratory fee.
1-2 credit hours: 2 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 227 Piano
Applied major lessons are available, but require a lesson laboratory fee.
1-3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 229 Organ
Applied major lessons are available, but require a lesson laboratory fee.
1-3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 231 Brass Instrument
Applied major lessons are available, but require a lesson laboratory fee.
1-3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 233 Woodwind Instrument
Applied major lessons are available, but require a lesson laboratory fee.
1-3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 235 String Instrument
Applied major lessons are available, but require a lesson laboratory fee.
1-3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 237 Percussion Instrument
Applied major lessons are available, but require a lesson laboratory fee.
1-3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 241 Elementary Brass Instrument
Applied lessons available to all students. Students will be required to pay a lesson laboratory fee.
1-2 credit hours: 2 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 243 Elementary Woodwind Instrument
Applied lessons available to all students. Students will be required to pay a lesson laboratory fee.
1-2 credit hours: 2 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 245 Elementary String Instrument
Applied lessons available to all students. Students will be required to pay a lesson laboratory fee.
1-2 credit hours: 2 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

MUSC 247 Elementary Percussion Instrument
Applied lessons available to all students. Students will be required to pay a lesson laboratory fee.
1-2 credit hours: 2 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week.

PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology
Prerequisites: College level reading scores on COMPASS or REA 093 and SBS 100 “C” or better, or REA 098 and SBS 100 “C” or better.
A survey of the field of general psychology without specific emphasis on any particular theory or model of human or animal behavior. Fundamental principles, methods, theories and issues in the field are discussed. Content areas may include learning, thinking, neuroscience, methodology, memory, perception, personality, intelligence, emotion, adjustment, and abnormality among others.
3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week. IAI: S6 900

SPEC 101 Principles of Speech Communication
The oral communication course combines communication theory with the practice of oral communication skills. The oral communication course: (1) develops awareness of the communication process; (2) provides inventional, organizational, and expressive strategies; (3) promotes understanding of and adaptation to a variety of communication contexts; and (4) emphasizes critical skills in listening, reading, thinking and speaking.
3 credit hours: 3 lecture hours; 0 lab hours per week. IAI: C2 900

Course of Study Outline
First Semester Suggested Courses (Credit Hours)
ENG 101 — Composition I (3)
MUSC 101 — Instrumental Ensemble or (1)
MUSC 102 — Stage Band or
MUSC 103 — Instrumental Chamber Ensemble or
MUSC 107 — Choir or
MUSC 109 — Chamber Singers
MUSC 110 — Fundamentals of Music (2)
MUSC 111 — Theory of Music (4)
MATH 131 — Finite Mathematics for Business (3)
CS 100 — Introduction to Computers (3)
1Applied lessons strongly encouraged see below.

Second Semester Suggested Courses (Credit Hours)
ACCT 101 — Financial Accounting (3)
ACCT 103 — Financial Accounting Lab (1)
ENG 102 — Composition II (3)
MUSC 101 — Instrumental Ensemble or (1)
MUSC 102 — Stage Band or
MUSC 103 — Instrument Chamber Ensemble or
MUSC 107 — Choir or
MUSC 109 — Chamber Singers
MUSC 112 — Theory of Music (4)
MUSC 113 — Exploring Music Literature (3)
1Applied lessons strongly encouraged see below.

Third Semester Suggested Courses (Credit Hours)
ACCT 102 — Managerial Accounting (3)
ACCT 104 — Managerial Accounting Lab (1)
ECON 221 — Principles of Macro Economics (3)
Humanities (3)
Life Science (4)
SPEC 101 — Principles of Speech Communication (3)
1Applied lessons strongly encouraged see below.

Fourth Semester Suggested Courses (Credit Hours)
ECON 222 Principles of Micro Economics (3)
Fine Arts (3)
Physical Science (3)
MUSC 101 — Instrumental Ensemble or (1)
MUSC 102 — Stage Band or
MUSC 103 — Instrumental Chamber Ensemble orR
MUSC 107 — Choir or
MUSC 109 — Chamber Singers
Non-Western Studies – MUSC 158 recommended (3)
PSYC 101 — Introduction to Psychology (3)
1Applied lessons strongly encouraged see below.

Minimum total hours required for degree (64)

1All students planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Music Business are advised to enroll in at least one additional hour of applied major lesson or applied elective lesson per semester. (It is critical that each student receives the advice of a music advisor before enrolling in classes each semester.)

All students planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Music Business are advised to enroll in at least one additional credit hour of applied piano: Music 123 or Music 127 Elementary Piano or Piano (Freshman Year) and Music 223 or Music 227 Elementary Piano or Piano (Sophomore Year).

All students planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Music Business are advised to enroll in one credit hour of music ensemble: Music 101, 102/103 or 107, 109 Instrumental Ensemble or Choir during the third semester sequence.