Music
Apply NowJoin us to make music in Summer and Fall 2024!
Offering: Solo Instruction for Voice, Piano, Violin/Viola, & Guitar; Concert Choir, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Band; Intro to Music Technology; Musicianship; Music Theory & more!
Play, Sing, and Compose
The Music Program at Skyline College seeks to inspire and empower students to:
- Explore music as a creative, expressive, and communicative medium among diverse cultures, and
- Achieve cultural fluency and personal fulfillment through creative self-expression, technical skill development, and cooperative enterprise of an artistic nature
Upcoming Events
The Program
The courses of the Music Program at Skyline College are specifically designed for students who would like to:
- Enhance their musical abilities and/or enjoyment,
- Prepare to transfer to a university as a music major, or
- Pursue a career in music-related fields.
In addition to a variety of performance, theory, and listening courses, we offer two Associate of Arts Degrees in Music, including an Associate of Arts for Transfer in Music.
The AA-T degree in Music is specifically designed for students seeking to transfer seamlessly to a four-year baccalaureate music program. Get more information about our Music Degrees.
Please note, students may be asked to audition or test for placement in sequential courses.
Career Outlook
Possible careers may include:
- Music performer
- Music composer or arranger
- Music conductor or director
- Music educator or researcher
- Arts administrator (for schools, performing organizations, or media outlets)
- Music journalist
- Musician manager or promoter
- Music event manager or producer
- Music retailer
- Live audio or recorded music producer or technician
- DJ
- Music copyist or engraver
- Music publisher
- Instrument builder or tuner
- Music law specialist (such as entertainment or copyright lawyer and music licensing consultant)
Check out the class schedule for music courses in current and upcoming semesters.
| Program | Type | Total Units |
|---|---|---|
| Music | AA | 60 Units |
| Music for Transfer | AA-T | 60 Units |
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate basic technical fluency, artistic growth, and personal enrichment in musical performance on a given instrument and/or voice in a solo and/or ensemble context along with an introductory keyboard proficiency.
- Demonstrate an understanding of common elements and underlying structures of Western music through written composition and analysis as well as sight-reading and dictation.
- Demonstrate an acquaintance with a range of music cultures through an awareness of the scope, variety, structure, and form of the works in these cultures, a basic understanding of their historical and social contexts of these cultures, and the ability to respond critically to musical works in these cultures by articulating an informed personal reaction.
Location: Building 1
Email: socialsci-creativearts@smccd.edu
Phone: (650) 738-4122
Performance Ensembles
Performing ensembles are an important part of the study and practice of music. Participation in music ensembles builds musicianship skills, collaborative (team) skills, and individual performance skills.
Our student ensembles perform music in a wide range of styles and genres. In addition to being a core component of our music degrees, our performing ensembles contribute to the College's goal of creating a leading cultural center for the community through regular public concerts.
Auditions for placement are held at the beginning of each semester. For the audition, students demonstrate a proficiency to perform the repertoire of the specific ensemble on their instrument or voice. Beginners are encouraged to audition and will be guided to the appropriate ensemble. Most ensemble auditions are held on the first day of class. Musical auditions are held at the end of the semester prior.
Please contact the instructor listed below for audition guidelines for specific Ensemble.
The Skyline College Concert Band (MUS. 430) is a large ensemble of full-time and part-time student musicians who play woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. The Concert Band rehearses weekly during the school year and performs classical and pops repertoire at community events, sporting events, and showcases in and around San Mateo County.
Contact Dr. Luis Zúñiga at zunigal@smccd.edu for more information.
The Skyline College Concert Choir draws its members from matriculating students at the college, members of the surrounding communities, and College staff, faculty, and administration. It has performed programs showcasing the art of a cappella singing as well as programs featuring major works for choir and orchestra. In addition to performing at Skyline College, the choir has performed at the Mildred Owen Concert Hall in Pacifica, CA under the auspices of Pacifica Performances and at Broadmoor Presbyterian Church in Daly City, CA.
We strive to provide a fun and welcoming environment for both advanced and beginning choristers to explore quality choral literature while pursuing musical excellence. Skyline College Concert Choir rehearses Tuesday evenings. All voice parts welcome.
Contact Michelle Hawkins at hawkinsm@smccd.edu or (650) 738-7134 to learn more.
The Skyline College Jazz Band (MUS. 450) is an auditioned ensemble of musicians who play trumpet, trombone, saxophone, and rhythm section instruments. The Jazz Band rehearses weekly during the school year and performs jazz, rock, and pop repertoire at community events, sporting events, and showcases in and around San Mateo County. In addition, the Skyline College Jazz Quintet performs as a select jazz combo for special events.
Contact Dr. Luis Zúñiga at zunigal@smccd.edu for more information.
The Skyline College Symphony Orchestra (MUS. 440) is an auditioned ensemble of musicians who play string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. The Symphony Orchestra rehearses weekly during the school year and performs Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Twentieth Century, and Contemporary repertoire on the Skyline College campus. In addition, trios and quartets comprised of members of the large ensemble are frequently formed in order to present chamber music for special events. The Skyline College Symphony Orchestra is temporarily on hiatus. Violin and Viola players: please consider enrolling in the Violin/Viola class MUS. 355-358. For more information about the Violin/Viola class, please contact Elizabeth Ingber at ingbere@smccd.edu for more information.
The Skyline College Vocal Jazz Ensemble (MUS. 485) performs a wide variety of contemporary choral repertoire including jazz, pop, R&B, and world music. They perform at campus concerts, community events, and statewide jazz festivals and competitions including the Cuesta, Columbia and Santa Cruz Jazz Festivals. In April 2017, the Vocal Jazz Ensemble (Soundscape) performed in the New York City Jazz Festival at the Apollo Theater and Carnegie Hall. They won 2nd place and 6 soloist medals at the Reno Jazz Festival 2016. In Spring 2018, Soundscape performed at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Western Division Conference in Pasadena, CA. The Vocal Jazz Ensemble rehearses Mondays, 7-10 pm.
Contact Michelle Hawkins at hawkinsm@smccd.edu or (650) 738-7134 for more information.
The Skyline College Guitar Ensemble (MUS. 383) consists of several small group ensembles performing music from the pop, rock, blues, and folk repertoire. Weekly rehearsals take place Wednesday nights and culminate in a public performance at the end of the semester. The ensembles are open to guitarists as well as bassists, pianists, and drummers. Please check WebSchedule for details.
Contact Nelsen Hutchison at hutchinsonn@smccd.edu for more information.
Don't miss this incredible opportunity to be part of Skyline College's annual spring production. Auditions are generally held in late fall. Rehearsals/courses run throughout the spring and culminate in final performances in April.
Learn more about the spring musical. You can also contact Jude Navari at navarij@smccd.edu for more information.
Don't miss this incredible opportunity to be part of Skyline College's fall production, always a musical that will leave a lasting impact on performers and audiences alike. Save space in your schedule! Rehearsals/courses begin at the start of the Fall semester, and performances are held in November.
Learn more about the fall musical. You can also contact Jude Navari at navarij@smccd.edu for more information.
Majoring in Music
To complete the AA-T Music Major in 4 semesters, your first semester should include the following courses:
Please note:
- MUS. 105 and MUS. 111 require MUS. 100* for an introduction to basic skills in music reading & notation.
- If you have not yet taken & passed MUS. 100, take it in the SUMMER session before your first FALL semester.
- MUS. 105 and MUS. 111 are not offered in the spring semester, and you must pass MUS. 100 before enrolling in 105 or 111.
- Passing MUS. 100 will lift the enrollment block on MUS. 105 and 111. *Some students may be able to bypass this requirement. View the Prerequisite Challenge Process.
- MUS. 501 requires an audition demonstrating college-level performance skills.
- If not arranged with the instructor of record before the first class, will be held at the first class meeting.
- Students should be able to demonstrate their college-level performance ability by performing a major scale (on their instrument or voice) and one solo piece.
- Enrollment in MUS. 501 requires co-enrollment in (or prior completion of) an Ensemble
course: MUS. 383, 410, 420, 430, 450, 456, 470, and 485.
- Please note: MUS. 301-304, 355-358, 377-380 (renumbered as 371-374 starting Fall 2025) and 401-404 are group classes in solo performance instruction. These courses are not Ensemble courses.
We offer two degrees in music at Skyline College:
The Associate of Arts for Transfer (AA-T) degree in Music is specifically designed for students seeking to transfer seamlessly to a four-year baccalaureate music program.
The Associate of Arts (AA) degree in Music is an introductory degree providing technical and artistic foundations to students discovering the field of music.
AA-T Degree in Music
- Recommended for students pursuing careers in music and music-related fields
- Provides coursework for seamless transfer into a baccalaureate degree program as a music major
- Provides comprehensive preparation for upper-division coursework
- Prepares students to demonstrate transfer-level proficiency in solo and ensemble performance skills as well as music theory/musicianship skills
- Includes private instruction on an instrument (or voice) and participation in a music performance ensemble
In order to complete the AA-T Degree in Music in four semesters, students need to
enroll in these 4 classes in their first Fall Semester:
- MUS. 105 (Music Theory I)
- MUS. 111 (Musicianship I)
- The .1 level of a Performing Ensemble course (see details above) MUS. 383, 410, 420, 430, 450, 456, 470, and 485
- MUS. 501 (Applied Music I)
Enrollment in MUS. 105, 111, and a Performing Ensemble course will qualify a student with college-level performance skills to enroll in MUS. 501, private instruction on an instrument (or voice). MUS. 105 and MUS. 111 are not offered in the spring semester.
Bypassing the Introductory Skills Requirement
MUS. 105 and MUS. 111 require basic music reading skills and therefore have a prerequisite of an introductory music course (such as MUS. 100 or equivalent) to introduce basic music notation.
Students who already play an instrument (or sing) may have sufficient music reading skills to enroll directly in MUS. 105/111 without having taken the prerequisite course. In order to lift the enrollment block on MUS. 105/111, students must pass a short quiz (20 multiple choice questions) demonstrating basic music reading skills necessary for success in these classes.
- Fill out a Prerequisite Challenge Petition.
- Contact Music Professor Jude Navari at navarij@smccd.edu to schedule the prerequisite quiz
- Bring your completed Prerequisite Challenge Form to the quiz. After passing the quiz, the Prerequisite Challenge Form will be processed by the Social Science/Creative Arts Division Office.
- Once the paperwork has been processed, the enrollment block will the lifted. Students will then need to enroll in MUS. 105/111 through WebSmart.
AA Degree in Music
The AA degree in Music is an introductory degree that provides technical and artistic foundations to students discovering the field of music. This degree can serve as preparation for additional music studies or degrees (such as the AA-T in Music).
- Includes basic courses in reading and writing music.
- Introduces beginning performance skills through class instruction on an instrument (or voice) and as part of a music ensemble.
- Provides students with an introductory understanding of the roles and functions of music in society through studies in the aesthetic and historical traditions of various music cultures.
Primary Contacts
Faculty Bios
Michelle Hawkins
Music Appreciation, History of Jazz, Vocal Jazz Ensemble Director, Concert Choir Director, Contemporary Singing Styles, Music Major Applied Lessons Coordinator
Michelle Hawkins is a choral director, arranger, and vocalist, and she directs the acclaimed vocal jazz ensemble, Soundscape, at Skyline College. Soundscape recently completed a performance tour to New York City (Apollo Theater and Carnegie Hall), and they performed at the 2018 ACDA Western Division Conference in Pasadena, CA. Her groups have won four Downbeat Music Awards for "Best Vocal Jazz Group" and have placed 1st at the Reno Jazz Festival and 2nd at the Monterey Next Generation Festival. Professor Hawkins also serves on the faculty of the Stanford Jazz Workshop (Palo Alto, CA) where she received the 2017 Outstanding Music Educator Award. She is an active choral clinician and adjudicator and serves as the Chair of Jazz Choir Repertoire and Resources for the California Choral Directors Association (CCDA) and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Western Division. Professor Hawkins holds degrees from the University of Southern California (M.M. in Jazz Studies) and UC Berkeley (B.A. in Music).
Jude Navari
Music Theory, Musicianship, Music Fundamentals, Composition, Musical Theater Productions, Music Major Faculty Advisor
Jude Navari holds music composition degrees from the Eastman School of Music (B.M.) and University of California at Berkeley (M.A. and Ph.D.), where he also studied conducting with Marika Kuzma and Jung Ho Pak. At Skyline College, Jude teaches music theory, musicianship, class voice, class piano, and composition in addition to conducting the Skyline College Concert Choir and providing vocal music direction for the Spring Musical. He has also taught class piano and music theory at U.C. Berkeley, and over the past 20 years, he has conducted several Bay Area choral groups, including Sacramento Men's Chorus and Berkeley Opera Chorus. In 2008, Jude and his interdisciplinary performance art group, PlayWorks Productions, self-produced an evening of original art song, film, and dance theater at the NOHspace in San Francisco. In 2012, the professional choral ensemble Counterpoint performed an a cappella version of Jude’s “Shouts and Cradle Songs” on several concerts throughout Vermont. Voci Women’s Vocal Ensemble, which Jude directed from 1999-2013, performed his complete choral cycle “Siddhartha Fragments” on their 25th Anniversary concerts in April and May 2017.
Luis Zuñiga
Concert Band Director, Jazz Band Director, Musical Pit Orchestra Director, Music Fundamentals, Music Appreciation
Luis Zuñiga is a conductor, saxophonist and educator. He attended the National Conservatory in his native Panama. After graduating from high school, Zuñiga received degrees in audio engineering, MIDI production, and performance from Shoreline Community College in Seattle. In addition, he completed his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Miami, Florida, a Master of Musical Arts in saxophone performance at UCLA and a Masters degree in conducting from California State University, Los Angeles. In 2010, during his graduate research, Zuñiga was a member of the world-renowned saxophone class of Jean-Yves Fourmeau in Paris. In 2011 he received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in saxophone performance and pedagogy from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Besides being a professional musician and educator, Zuñiga holds a college degree in automotive technology and enjoys car restoration and car racing.
Collin Chu
Music Technology Courses
Collin Chu is an award-winning composer with over 20 films and video games titles. He often used the Budapest Scoring Orchestra to record for these projects and hybrids with electronic elements. Chu began scoring for films, video games, and VR shortly after he received his two master's degrees in film music composition from Seattle Film Institute and classical music composition from California State University, East Bay. Recently, he is working full-time as a composer at Ubisoft, an AAA video game company, as a video composer in San Francisco. Chu has over five years of experience teaching music technology and commercial music composition in various universities in the Bay area. He looks forward to sharing his industry knowledge with the students here in Skyline College.
Meghan Dibble
Voice Class (all levels), Applied Private Lessons Voice, Music Appreciation, Music Fundamentals
Meghan Dibble has been teaching privately for over 25 years. She began teaching during her course work at California State University, East Bay focusing on college aged students who were interested in exploring their singing voice. While attending Northwestern University, where she received a master’s degree in Vocal Performance and Literature, she specialized in vocal pedagogy with Karen Brunssen and worked at conferences with Richard Miller. Meghan currently teaches voice and piano at her private studio in Berkeley, Skyline College, and is professor of Vocal Pedagogy at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Meghan is a member of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). As a performer, Meghan has enjoyed singing a variety of operatic and musical theater roles as well as newly composed music by local composers. Some of her favorites productions have been with Pocket Opera (Merry Wives of Windsor, Madam Butterfly), Lamplighters Music Theatre (The Pirates of Penzance), San Luis Obispo Opera (The Pirates of Penzance), Redwood Symphony (Candide), Rimrock Opera (Le nozze di Figaro, Carmen), West Bay Opera (Cosi fan tutte), as well as The Witch (Into the Woods), Governess (The Queen of Spades), La Maestra delle Novizie (Suor Angelica), Rosine (Signor Deluso), Fidalma (Il matrimonio segreto), and Siebel (Faust). Meghan currently collaborate with Skyline collaborative pianist, Margaret Fondbertasse, as Katzenduo, a cabaret duo celebrating modern art song. In the moments away from music, Meghan is probably watching cat videos or working at her farm sanctuary, Herd & Flock, with her wife, Katie Dwight.
Nelsen Hutchison
Guitar Ensemble, World Music
Nelsen Hutchison is a guitarist, educator, and scholar. Nelsen holds a BFA in jazz guitar performance from the New School for Jazz and an MA in ethnomusicology from UC Santa Cruz where he is currently pursuing a PhD in cross cultural musicology. As a guitarist, Nelsen has toured with the Swedish brass musician Gunhild Carling, performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, and maintains a busy schedule as a freelance guitarist throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Nelsen is a member of the prestigious Hot Club of San Francisco and frequently performs with other groups that pay homage to French jazz guitar virtuoso Django Reinhardt. As an educator, Nelsen has taught college courses in jazz guitar styles, jazz performance, jazz history, American popular music, and the music industry. As a scholar, Nelsen has presented both archival research on the reception of the Hammond B3 organ and soul jazz in the 1960s (MA Thesis) and ethnographic work on the working practices of SF Bay Area jazz musicians (PhD Dissertation) at major academic conferences in the US and abroad.
Elizabeth Ingber
Piano Class (all levels), Violin/Viola Class (all levels) and Applied (Private) Lessons Piano
Elizabeth Ingber is a pianist, violist, and violinist performing and teaching throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. She joined the Skyline College music department in 2006 and works with musicians of all ages through her private teaching studio. She currently performs in the Peninsula Symphony and Peninsula Scottish Fiddlers, and is active as a collaborative pianist and freelancer. As both a pianist and violist Ms. Ingber has been a member of the Chesapeake Chamber Orchestra, Columbia Orchestra, and Howard County Ballet Orchestra. Her performances have included chamber and orchestral concerts during summer seasons in Italy. Ms. Ingber received a Master of Music degree in piano accompanying from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as a student of Timothy Bach. Prior to studying at the Conservatory she attended St. Mary's College of Maryland from which she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music, studying piano and viola, as well as mathematics. After completing her graduate studies she joined the accompanying staff for the collegiate and preparatory divisions of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Since completing her formal education she has regularly attended summer programs for both performance and pedagogy, including courses at Aspen Music Festival, Interlochen, and Suzuki Institutes.
Margaret Fondbertasse
Staff Accompanist
Margaret has served as an accompanist for the Music Department since 2010. She assists the vocal, Concert Choir, Studio Lessons & Musical Theater classes and collaborates with students, whether in groups or independently, with supportive ensemble work. Prior to Skyline College, Margaret has held accompanist positions in various Bay Area schools, including the SF Conservatory of Music. Passionate about performing, she currently is the accompanist for the Peninsula Women’s Chorus. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in music from the University of California, Berkeley, and was a recipient of the Hertz Fellowship.