The Music Department at San Diego Mesa College offers 82 active courses, providing entry level music curricula comparable to those in four-year institutions. We are training students to transfer to four year universities as well as to take part in the growing entertainment field in California and elsewhere. The Music Department has demanding and rewarding classes in applied music, jazz, audio engineering/production, music theory, ear training, composition/electronic music, guitar, piano, voice, world music, classical music, and popular music that provide non-music and music majors the opportunity to learn about and create music. Since 1995 we have awarded $30,000+ in scholarships to music majors transferring to 4-year institutions. If you care about music and want a superior music education, San Diego Mesa College is a great choice.
FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED AT MESA ONLY: MUSI 150A Basic Musicianship is a required course for music majors that can either be taken during the semester or passed via examination. For the latter, you will need to assessed by contacting our music theory professor Gina Jung.
Our AA Music Performance Degree and the AA Music for Transfer Degree includes courses in Individualized Study 1-4 (MUSI 174A-D) or Applied Music 1-4 (MUSI 274A-D), which provides individual instruction on your instrument (274 level only), performances in weekly master classes, and participation in music department recitals. An audition is required for enrollment in these courses (174A & 274A).
Explore the art of music performance at San Diego Mesa College and see how our instrumental ensembles & choir bring students together from across the college. Choose from Jazz Ensemble (small group), Guitar Ensemble, or Choir and perform with your talented peers at events and venues on campus and around the city.
Each week, the Music Department hosts Recital Hour featuring the talents of international performers, music faculty, and music students. Recital hour concerts are free and open to all students and the general public. You may also choose to enroll in the Recital Hour course and take the class up to four times for credit.
See Past Recital Hour Concerts
Discover the facilities and technology designed for a music major's success.
Maas Music Lab: C-109 / Schedule
The Maas Music Lab Classroom, located in room C-109 in Building C1, is available to enhance your studies of music theory, ear training, and music technology. Its 19 work stations are equipped with 2022 iMacs and 18 iPads with the latest versions of professional software listed below.
Audio Recording Software & Equipment:
Music Notation Software:
Music Theroy & Ear Training Software:
Office Tools Software & Equipment:
Video Editing Software:
Additional Media Production Software:
Recording Studio: C-222 / Schedule
Our recently renovated Recording Studio classroom, located in room C-222 in Building C2, has a wide variety of sound equipment and computer workstations for recording, mixing, scoring, and production in both digital and analog forms. Whether you take the Introduction to Music Technology (MUSI 190) course or more advanced courses such as Music & Social Media, Recording Arts, Computer Music, Large Console Audio Recording, or Recording Studio Internship 1-2, you will gain immediate access to the digital and electro-acoustic technology you need to start building a portfolio of technology based music. The Recording Studio is outfitted with a variety of professional vintage & modern keyboards, microphones, amplifiers, rack/desktop synthesizers, mixers, sound processing/production equipment, speakers, and 11 2022 iMacs each with current professional software listed below.
Audio Recording Software:
Music Notation Software:
Video Editing Software:
Amplifiers:
Keyboards:
Desktop/Rack Syntheziers, Samplers, Drum Machine & Other Instruments/Synthesizers
57 Microphones & Stands
Mixers, Interfaces & Power Amplifiers
Signal Processing
Speakers, Headphones & Smartboard
15 Practice Rooms
5 in C-1: C-110, C-111, C-113, C-115, C-117, C-118
10 in C-2: C-210A, C-210B, C-210C, C-210D, C-210E, C-210F, C-210G, C-210R, C-210S, C-210T
Music Dept. Practice Rooms are not open to the public. Our Practice Rooms are only for students currently enrolled in these specific music classes that require use of a practice room to work on class assignments:
Music for Elementary School Teachers (MUSI 110)
Piano Class 1-3 (MUSI 124A-B, MUSI 224A)
Voice Class 1-4 (MUSI 135A-D)
Guitar Class 1-2 (MUSI 136A-B)
Music Theory 1-3 (MUSI 148A-B, MUSI 248A)
Individualized Study 1-4 (MUSI 174A-D)
Projects in Composition 1-4 (MUSI 206A-B)
Guitar Ensemble 1-4 (MUSI 257A-D)
Choir 1-4 (MUSI 259A-D)
Jazz Ensemble 1-4 (MUSI 264A-D)
Ear Training 1-3 (MUSI 268A-B, MUSI 269A)
Applied Music 1-4 (MUSI 274A-D)
If you are a student who is on the approved list of those currently enrolled in these music classes needing a practice room to work on current class assignments, see Staff in the Music Office C-107 for access.
7 Class Rooms
3 in C-1: C-109, C-116, C-119
4 in C-2: C-202, C-203, C-204, C-222
The Music Dept. holds a wide number of professional level musical instruments in our class rooms & practice rooms including the following:
Bösendorfer Grand Piano
Yamaha Grand Piano
20 Kawai Upright Pianos
Yamaha MX88 Synthesizer
Korg SV-2 STage Keyboard
2 Kurzweil SP88 Stage Piano Keyboards
Baltimore Drum Drumset with T-Cymbals & Mapex Hardware
Cogs Drumset with T-Cymbals & Yamaha Hardware
Mode 5 Octave Marimba
Musser M-55 Vibraphone
Musser M-50 Xylophone
Deagan Chimes
Paiste Tam-Tam
Latin Percussion Congas, Bongos & Timbales, Cowbell, Claves, Guiro, Metal Guiro
Chromatic Hammer Dulcimer
Meinl Cajon
Fender Jazz Electric Bass
2 Len Laviolette Classical Guitars
1 Len Laviolette Classical Bass Guitar
15 Yamaha Classical Guitars
3 Yamaha Clarinets
3 Yamaha Flutes
2 Flugelhorn Horns
4 Trumpets
3 Trombones
1 Bass Trombone
1 Bass Clarinet
1 Soprano Saxophone
3 Alto Saxophones
3 Tenor Saxophones
1 Baritone Saxophone
Full Set of Ewe Drums, Rattles & Bells
3 Wula Drum Djembe
2 Djun Djun
Akadinda Xylophone
Cooperman Glen Velez Handance Frame Drums
Meinl Samba Percussion (Surdo, Agogo, Ganza, Cuica, Caixa, Tamborim, Triangles)
4 Brazilian Berimbau
Full set of Orff Studio 49 Metallophones
25 Yamaha Electric Pianos
