COMMERCIAL MUSIC
Certificate of Achievement Music · Cuesta College · 2026-2027 Catalog
This program offers practical classes for a musician looking to write songs or do live performance and recording. Could be completed in one academic year or less. This is a streamlined version of our Music Certificate. It is designed for musicians not able to do in-depth music theory training, but looking for the most practical technical, harmonic and melodic skills.
Learning Outcome(s):
- Perform with a band.
- Facilitate a small-scale recording project.
- Compose and notate a song and communicate the song to a small ensemble.
- Direct a small ensemble.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (13-14 units) | 13-14 | |
| MUS 210 | SONGWRITING I | 3 |
| MUS 210B | SONGWRITING II | 3 |
| MUS 211 | MUSIC TECHNOLOGY | 2 |
| MUS 212 | APPLIED MUSIC (PRIVATE LESSONS) | 2 |
| MUS 201 | FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC (MUSIC THEORY I) | 3 |
| orMUS 204A | MUSIC THEORY II | 3 |
| MUS 205A | MUSICIANSHIP II | 1 |
| Plus 2 units from the following: | 2 | |
| MUS 220 | ELEMENTARY VOICE | 2 |
| MUS 222 | INTERMEDIATE VOICE | 2 |
| MUS 232 | BEGINNING JAZZ IMPROVISATION | 2 |
| MUS 233 | JAZZ IMPROVISATION | 2 |
| MUS 257 | ELEMENTARY PIANO FOR MUSICIANS | 1 |
| MUS 258 | ELEMENTARY PIANO | 1 |
| MUS 259 | INTERMEDIATE PIANO | 1-2 |
| MUS 270 | ELEMENTARY GUITAR | 2 |
| MUS 271 | INTERMEDIATE GUITAR | 2 |
| Plus 4-6 units from the following: | 4-6 | |
| MUS 223 | VOCAL JAZZ ENSEMBLE | 2-3 |
| MUS 224A | BEGINNING VOCAL JAZZ WORKSHOP | 2 |
| MUS 224B | INTERMEDIATE VOCAL JAZZ WORKSHOP | 2 |
| MUS 225 | WIND ENSEMBLE | 2 |
| MUS 227 | CHAMBER MUSIC ENSEMBLE | 1-3 |
| MUS 228 | MIXED CHORUS | 1-3 |
| MUS 229 | CHAMBER SINGERS | 2 |
| MUS 231 | JAZZ ENSEMBLE (BIG BAND) | 1.5-3 |
| MUS 232A | CONCERT JAZZ ENSEMBLE | 1.5-3 |
| MUS 244A | BEGINNING SMALL GROUP JAZZ PEDAGOGY PRACTICUM | 1 |
| MUS 244B | ADVANCED SMALL GROUP JAZZ PRACTICUM | 1 |
| MUS 245 | JAZZ WORKSHOP | 2 |
| Total | 19-22 | |