Unique music major “field of study” program helps students on the road to a fine arts degree …for a song

Article Body: Area high school students and returning college students interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree in music need to be aware that the first step to that degree is located -right in their own backyard-through North Harris College's division of visual, applied and performing arts two-year music major field-of-study program.

"We are serious about trying to get the word out regarding our music field-of-study program," said Jeff Gleason, NHC's music department chair. "We offer a conveniently located, high quality, low cost program that will hit the right note for anyone starting out toward their music career. Additionally, parents, high school graduates and returning music students need to be alert to the fact that music major courses are sequential. One builds upon another and if they are not taken in the correct order-as a freshman-it will ultimately delay a students graduation plans wherever they choose to complete their degree, but we can help with that and offer scholarships as well."

According to Professor Gleason, the general public doesn't envision professional music careers and degrees beginning at a community college.

"That's unfortunate," said Gleason. "The quality of our facilities will surprise and impress incoming students. We offer Macintosh music computer labs for composing and arranging, accessibility to internationally recognized guest artists and workshops, a large inventory of high quality instruments for students to use-in addition to courses taught by seasoned faculty who are also professional musicians in their own right."

NHC's music program also offers special scholarships for students, which are available through an audition and acceptance into one of the performance ensembles such as a college choral group or the jazz, symphonic or steel drum bands. Interestingly, while music major students are the ones who are usually interested in performance groups, talented students do not necessarily need to be a music major in order to audition and qualify for the college scholarships. Furthermore, depending on the skill level, music scholarships can be sustainable for up to four semesters.

Dedicated music students, who have previously passed through North Harris College's music program, have gone on to noted fine-arts universities such as University of North Texas in Denton and Rutgers University in New Jersey.

David Batchelor, now the student services coordinator for The Music School, the most unique school for music in Utah, and currently studying music composition at Brigham Young University knows North Harris College's program well. As a student from 2000 to 2002, he participated in both the concert choir and the jazz choir. He also became the choir club vice president in the Student Government Association. Batchelor graduated with an associate's in music, being the first to do so in the school's history and continued on to his bachelor's degree at the University of Houston.

"I found that when I tested for placement in the music school at University of Houston the professors were impressed at how well trained I had become from studying at a community college." He can attest to the high quality of the faculty at North Harris College. After all, with U of H becoming closer and closer to the Ivy Leagues in admission difficulty, he found it easy to make entrance, and was boggled when he discovered that he was ahead of his fellow juniors. North Harris had accelerated the learning process while maintaining the quality of learning. "NHC," Batchelor says with a smile, "is a bright memory that I often remember and appreciate."

Moreover, the demand for music professionals in the Houston area has never been greater. North Harris College music majors will, upon graduation, have completed the first two years of a bachelor's degree program in music. Graduates who transfer to a four-year university are prepared for careers in: music education (elementary, secondary, college or university, general music, band, choir or orchestra); church music; music technology; music business; composing; conducting; military career (band and choral) or performance.

For more information about North Harris College's music program and scholarships, call Jeff Gleason or Dr. Brack May at 281.765.7812.

North Harris College is located at 2700 W.W. Thorne Drive, one-half mile south of FM 1960 East, between Aldine-Westfield and Hardy Roads. Registration for fall 2007 is now in progress. For general information about the college, call 281.618.5400 or visit www.northharriscollege.com.

North Harris Montgomery Community College District, among the five largest and fastest growing community colleges in Texas, comprise, North Harris College, Kingwood College, Tomball College, Montgomery College, Cy-Fair College, six satellite centers, and The University Center.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 07/24/2007

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Posted by O''Neal, Ronald B on 7/25/2007 1:30:00 PM

Unique music major “field of study” program helps students on the road to a fine arts degree …for a song

Unique music major “field of study” program helps students on the road to a fine arts degree …for a song

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