There are two steps to becoming a Music Pathway student at Perimeter College:

1. Applying to Perimeter College, and once you’ve been admitted,
2. Having a music strategy session with the Fine Arts department prior to your first semester at the college. This appointment will allow us to get to know you (your music background and goals), to discuss a degree progression that works best for you, and then to schedule any needed music entrance assessments before getting you enrolled in your first semester of Music Pathway courses. Click here to schedule a music strategy session.

There are two music entrance assessments that you may need to take prior to your first semester at Perimeter College:

1. Music Theory Entrance Exam (optional)

All Music Pathway students take multiple semesters of music theory and aural skills courses as part of their degree. If you read sheet music fluently, you have the option of taking our Music Theory Entrance Exam to try to place into a higher starting level of theory and aural skills.

Here is a list of the skills that are necessary to bypass the Fundamentals level of music theory and aural skills and go directly to Theory I level:

• Be able to read time signatures and rhythm patterns
• Be able to identify pitches on the treble and bass staves, as well as identify the interval between two pitches
• Be able to identify all major and minor key signatures, and be able to identify major and minor scales
• Be able to notate major and minor triads, as well as dominant seventh chords, in root position and inversions
• Be able to explain notations commonly found in sheet music (tempos, dynamics, articulation, etc.)

2. Entrance Music Audition (required for certain tracks)

Music Pathway students following these tracks need to pass an entrance audition or enroll in APXX 1000 to satisfy their degree requirements:

• Bachelor of Music track (Music Performance, Music Education, Composition, Jazz Studies)
• Bachelor of Science in Music Industry track with lessons

The purpose of the entrance audition is to assess the singing or playing abilities of new music students and place them into their first semester of applied lessons. Students must audition on the specific instrument (or voice) they intend to study for the APXX applied lessons course sequence at GSU. If the faculty assess that a student is not ready for APXX 1001 (Freshman I) level study but has the potential to work toward music major skill level, the student will enroll in 1-2 semesters of the Preparatory Major Applied Lessons course (APXX 1000) within their first academic year at the college. In this situation, students will use the Preparatory Major lessons to work toward entering music major skill level on their instrument and then re-audition.

Below are the entrance audition requirements. Auditionees should bring a completed copy of the “Music Entrance Audition” form with them to the audition and be dressed in clothes appropriate to a professional job interview.

• VOICE: Candidates will perform two classical solos, arranged for voice and piano: 1) an art song, aria, or indigenous folk song in a foreign language (Italian, German, French, or Spanish); and 2) a song in English. Candidates are encouraged to select repertoire from anthologies such as the Twenty-Four Italian Songs and Arias anthology and the First Book of [Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, etc.] Solos series, both published by G. Schirmer. Candidates will perform both of these selections from memory and need to bring a copy of the sheet music, in the proper key, for the pianist. Perimeter College will provide a pianist for the audition.
• PIANO: Candidates must perform from memory two classical piano solos, of contrasting styles and musical eras, chosen from the traditional piano literature. Candidates should also be able to execute the following skills from memory: 1) all major and all harmonic minor scales, minimum of 2 octaves, hands together; 2) all major and minor arpeggios, minimum of 2 octaves, hands together; and 3) primary chord progressions in all major and minor keys (Major: I-IV⁶ ₄-I-V⁷-I / Minor: i-iv⁶ ₄-i-V⁷-i).

• WINDS/STRINGS/PERCUSSION: Candidates will perform two selections of contrasting style (from memory or with music).  Additionally, candidates must be prepared to play any of the major scales and arpeggios.

All of the Music Pathway courses are offered on the Clarkston campus, typically on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Applied Music Lessons (APXX) and the music theory courses are also offered online in a synchronous format (i.e. you meet the instructor online at specific times).

Additional music courses for non-majors are offered on the Dunwoody, Decatur, and Newton campuses, as well as online.

The Perimeter College music program, like most college music programs, focuses on classical and jazz studies. The skills developed from performing and analyzing these styles of music can be applied to many other musical genres.

The Music Pathway (Associate of Science in Music) offers a number of tracks that mirror the first two years of many music bachelor’s degrees, such as those offered at the Georgia State University School of Music. Here are the tracks we offer, along with the courses you would take for each track:

• Bachelor of Music in Performance, Education, Composition, or Jazz Studies
  
• Bachelor of Science in Music Production/Audio Recording through the entrance audition track
  • four semesters of major-level Applied Music in a single instrument or voice (APXX 1001, APXX 1002, APXX 2001, APXX 2002)
  • four semesters of Concert Attendance (MUS 1101, MUS 1102, MUS 1103, MUS 1104)
  • Four semesters of a music ensemble. Typically, students repeat the same ensemble four times, based on the instrument they are studying in their APXX courses.
    • Perimeter College Chorus (MUS 1652) – requires ability to match pitch with your voice.
    • Perimeter College Wind/Strings Ensemble (MUS 1654) – requires moderate playing ability on an instrument and ability to play your part from sheet music.
    • Perimeter College Jazz Ensemble (MUS 1756) – requires moderate playing ability on an instrument, ability to play your part from sheet music, and some jazz-related theory comprehension.
  • MUS 1440 (Theory I) and MUS 1540 (Aural Skills I) offered only in fall semesters
  • MUS 1450 (Theory II) and MUS 1550 (Aural Skills II) offered only in spring semesters
  • MUS 1710 (Group Instruction in Piano I) offered only in spring semesters
  • MUS 1720 (Group Instruction in Piano II) offered only in fall semesters
• Bachelor of Science in Music Production/Audio Recording through the digital portfolio track
  
• Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Arts Administration (Music)
  
  • MUS 1430 (Fundamentals of Music Theory) and MUS 1530 (Fundamentals of Aural Skills)
  • MUS 1440 (Theory I) and MUS 1540 (Aural Skills I) offered only in fall semesters
  • MUS 1450 (Theory II) and MUS 1550 (Aural Skills II) offered only in spring semesters
  • MUS 1710 (Group Instruction in Piano I)             offered only in spring semesters
  • MUS 1720 (Group Instruction in Piano II) offered only in fall semesters
  • Four semesters of a music ensemble. Typically, students repeat the same ensemble four times:
    • Perimeter College Chorus (MUS 1652) – requires ability to match pitch with your voice.
    • Perimeter College Wind/Strings Ensemble (MUS 1654) – requires moderate playing ability on an instrument and ability to play your part from sheet music.
    • Perimeter College Jazz Ensemble (MUS 1756) – requires moderate playing ability on an instrument, ability to play your part from sheet music, and some jazz-related theory comprehension.
  • four semesters of Concert Attendance (MUS 1101, MUS 1102, MUS 1103, MUS 1104)
• Bachelor of Science in Music Management
  • Four semesters of a music ensemble. Typically, students repeat the same ensemble four times:
    • Perimeter College Chorus (MUS 1652) – requires ability to match pitch with your voice.
    • Perimeter College Wind/Strings Ensemble (MUS 1654) – requires moderate playing ability on an instrument and ability to play your part from sheet music.
    • Perimeter College Jazz Ensemble (MUS 1756) – requires moderate playing ability on an instrument, ability to play your part from sheet music, and some jazz-related theory comprehension.
  • four semesters of Concert Attendance (MUS 1101, MUS 1102, MUS 1103, MUS 1104)
  • MUS 1430 (Fundamentals of Music Theory) and MUS 1530 (Fundamentals of Aural Skills)
  • MUS 1440 (Theory I) and MUS 1540 (Aural Skills I)   offered only in fall semesters
  • ACCT 2101 – Principles of Accounting I
  • 3 credit hours of music courses chosen from these options:
    • one or two semesters of Applied Music (APXX 1001, APXX 1002) – requires passing an entrance audition
    • One or two semesters of Group Instruction in Piano (MUS 1710, MUS 1720)
    • Additional semester of a music ensemble

The Associate degree in music contains the courses that any bachelor’s level music student would take during his/her first two years (applied lessons, music theory and aural skills, group piano, ensembles, concert attendance). A student can then transition from Perimeter College to the Georgia State University Atlanta Campus School of Music and complete the music bachelor’s degree aligned with their Music Pathway track: Bachelor of Music in Performance, Music Education, Composition, or Jazz Studies; or the Bachelor of Science degree in Music Industry, with options in Music Production/Audio Recording or Music Management. A student can also take the credits earned at Perimeter and apply/audition to transfer to another four year college or university music program.

A degree in music develops skills that are critical in a competitive job market, such as collaboration, creativity and discipline. Even beyond the music industry, a number of individuals at the top of their fields engaged in formal music study: former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice (trained as concert pianist), actor Forest Whitaker (operatic tenor), and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen (violinist and guitarist) are but a few examples.

Looking specifically within the music industry, a music degree can open the door to a variety of careers:

• Music Educator (K-12 or college level)
• Private Music Teacher (one-on-one lessons)
• Music Textbook Writer/Editor
• Concert Music Composer
• TV/Theater/Movie Composer
• Performing Artist (concerts, recital)
• Studio Musician
• Audio Engineer (recording)
• Sound Designer (theater)
• Music Software Designer
• Music Production (producer)
• Arts Administration
• Artist Management
• Music Entrepreneur
• Church Musician/Minister
• Music Therapist
• Music Historian
• Music Journalist or Critic
• Radio Programming Specialist/Personality
• Orchestra Manager/Librarian
• Music Equipment Representative
• Music Publisher (print and online)

Yes! There are several options for non-majors to explore their musical artistry.

All college music ensembles are one credit hour courses that are available to any currently-enrolled student. The Perimeter College Chorale welcomes members who can sing in tune, while the instrumental ensembles (Wind and Strings Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble) invite students who already read sheet music and play an instrument to audition for membership. Contact the director of the appropriate ensemble for more information.

Students with experience playing an instrument can audition for private lessons, based on faculty availability.

Any Perimeter College student can take our Core IMPACTS courses: MUA 1930 Music, Society and Culture, or MUA 1500 Jazz: Origins, Styles, Influences.

Yes! Community members can apply for admission to Perimeter College and then enroll in our ensembles. (We recommend contacting the ensemble director for an audition prior to applying to Perimeter College.) The instrumental ensembles are particularly accessible, because they rehearse and perform on weekday evenings.

Visit our Upcoming Events page for a full listing of music concerts, recitals, and masterclasses.