Mineral Area College’s music department has a long-standing tradition of music excellence. MAC students, as a whole, receive an outstanding education at affordable prices. The college’s music program is taught by talented and experienced musicians who not only stress music mastery, but creativity and individual musical growth and style.  Music majors hone many skills that better prepare them for careers in music.  One of the biggest rewards offered through the college’s music program is the performance confidence gained through participation in the many outstanding music ensembles offered.

The Mineral Area College music department also offers courses for music majors and non-majors.  Music major’s courses include theory, sight-singing/ear-training, keyboard instruction, ensembles, conducting, audio recording, singing for the theater, and private lessons.  Non-majors or those seeking credit in the humanities can choose from appreciation courses in classical, jazz, and rock/pop music, or instruction in beginning piano or guitar.  Performing ensembles are open to everyone.  (Some require an audition.) 

The performing ensembles are very active and participate in tours, trips, conventions, festivals, clinics and camps.   

Mineral Area College also has an active student chapter of the Music Educator’s National Conference (C-MENC).

Program Objectives

Our objective is to give students quality musical instruction in the classroom as well as through private instruction and performing ensembles.

Objectives of Specific Areas of Study

1) Music Theory and Sight-Singing/Ear Training:

In the area of music theory our students are required to take a twelve hour sequence of course work. The goals of each course in the sequence are to build basic theoretical concepts, notational devices, and skills which are necessary for comprehensive musicianship. The skills, concepts, and conventions of notation which are taught in each successive course are cumulative, providing a foundation for the next semester's objectives.

The skills taught in these theory courses are the following:

-Comprehension of musical notation

-Theoretical concepts as applied historically to music

-Vocal response to notated music

-Development of aural perception

2) Applied Music:

The basic objective of the study of voice and/or an instrument is to develop musicians who are competent, creative, and confident performers so that by graduation or by transfer they will be able to function independently of their instructors.

After initial instruction and encouragement, the students are expected:

-To apply knowledge gained in related courses to their performance medium.

-To recognize and solve technical problems.

-To develop a proper sense of intonation.

-To develop musical stylistic sensitivity.

-To gain knowledge of appropriate literature.

-To have the enthusiasm and curiosity to pursue the studies in their major performance area.