Fine Arts - Music & Music Performance

Elevate your musical skills and talents to enrich your knowledge or gain success as a performer.

What makes a great performance? Ultimately, it’s that spark, that affective energy combined with the skill and knowledge of the piece you are playing that makes a performance relatable and charismatic. How do you get there? It takes a lot of hard work and engagement, openness to learning new styles and approaches, and a lot of practice.

You may also want a deeper knowledge of the fundamentals of music so you can continue your passion for playing. Exploring these while learning your own instrument more skillfully can open pathways to teaching, writing, researching, and a myriad of other opportunities that use music to connect with others, such as marketing, film production, and therapy.

WNCC’s Associate in Fine Arts degree in Music or Music Performance will sharpen your ear, timing, posture, instrumental techniques, fingering, and so much more through instructional practice, persistence, and a keen ear for phrasing and style from our experienced instructors. Located on our Scottsbluff Campus, WNCC’s AFA Music and Music Performance majors promote hard work and determination to build your skills, and if warranted, develop your confidence in performing.

You will get to perform in our numerous music and musical performances we present annually. You will find the full schedule here. WNCC’s AFA program serves to ensure you have the comprehensive, practical knowledge to perform in an ensemble or begin a solo career. Our accomplished instructors will prepare you in musical theory and practice so you can either launch your career after graduating WNCC or continue your music education towards bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university.

Performance Ensembles

Collegiate Chorale - the premier concert choir of WNCC. Past performances include several at New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall.
Big Cat Rock - an all-student instrumental/vocal ensemble that specializes in popular music from the 1970s to today. The Big Cat Rock Band tours locally and regionally.
Fire in the Pan Swingers - a 1940s-era “big band” that is open to both students and community musicians.
Varsity Vocalise - a highly selective vocal ensemble. Enrollment in Collegiate Chorale is required. Varsity Vocalise tours locally and regionally.
Western Nebraska Winds - a traditional concert band, open to both students and community members.

Award Types

Associate of Fine Arts | Music
Associate of Fine Arts | Music Performance

About the Program

Program Objectives

Curriculum

Career Opportunities

Fine Arts - Music (AFA)
The AFA in Music at WNCC will give you interactive and experiential learning techniques created so you will be ready to transfer to a four-year college or university.

A degree in music can lead to careers such as musician, private music teacher, music therapist, composer/music writer, sound technician for broadcasting/film/video, conductor, lyricist, band director, church organist, accompanist, ethnomusicologist, to name a few. As with many performing arts careers, there are a myriad of professions which support those in the music industry. A few of them are instrument builder, orchestra manager, musician’s personal assistant, radio/TV music director, publicist, music librarian, music photographer, licensing representative, music booker, and tour manager.

The breadth and scope of working conditions will vary tremendously depending on which path you take in music. Regardless of the path you choose, expect a career working with creative and business professionals where every day brings new projects and experiences.

Fine Arts - Musical Performance (AFA)
WNCC’s AFA Musical Performance degree will give you first-hand educational experiences to hone your talents and transfer to a four-year bachelor’s program to pursue a career in performing arts.

Musical Performance offers perceptive and engaging professions for those with a keen ear and a strong articulation of musical terminology and understanding to convey musical direction to others. Some of these careers are music instructor, pianist, sound engineer, program director, music technician, director of music, music arranger, event technician, music journalist/blogger, sound engineer, music editor, and many others. Working environments will differ depending on your chosen field. Some of these settings are a music studio, orchestra pit, theatre, film studio, concert venue, classroom, radio or television station, and sound stage.

For more information on any of these career options, contact Career Pathways & Advising at pathways@wncc.edu .

Program Contact Information

Dr. Patrick Newell
Choral Activities Director
308.635.6045
newellp1@wncc.edu

Dr. Nathaniel Johnson
Instrumental Activities Instructor
308.635.6046
johnsonn@wncc.edu