Music Classes and Performance Ensembles

Discover the joy of playing piano! In this beginner-friendly class, you’ll learn the basics of note reading, rhythm, technique, and music theory. You’ll play fun and familiar songs from classical, pop, and folk music while building confidence at the keyboard. No experience needed—just bring your curiosity and love of music!

For this class, you should be comfortable with basic music reading and chord knowledge. The class will review material as needed from Applied Guitar 1 and you will continue to learn to read music as well as tablature. More advanced strumming patterns will be introduced, and beginning blues/rock examples will be explored.

This is an intermediate guitar course focusing on folk and country blues fingerstyle picking and a continuation of the Fingerstyle Guitar 1 class. It will include more in-depth study of simultaneous rhythm and melody picking and an expanded look at slide guitar techniques. We will cover quicker picking with eight notes, picking hand rhythmic tricks, more essential blues riffs, and maximizing creative variation through the use of new chord forms and voicings.

Let’s get together and learn our favorite songs and perform them. Here’s a class that will help you hone the skills that you already have and put them to good use. Every week we’ll work on the songs you want to learn. Then perform them with rest of the class. We’ll work on techniques for nailing down a song more effectively, how to work around tricky chords, dynamics and performance skills. But mostly we’ll have good old fashioned sing-along, play-along fun! At least a low-intermediate proficiency with ukulele needed.

In this class, you'll explore music history and learn to identify key elements in various genres. Discover how to listen actively and appreciate diverse musical styles, from classical to contemporary. Through engaging discussions, you'll deepen your understanding and enjoyment of music. Perfect for all levels, no prior experience needed. Unlock a richer connection to music in this non-degree course.

Have you ever had a song idea but didn’t know how to write it? Have you wanted to compose an instrumental piece and didn’t know where to start? Are you struggling to finish songs because you don’t know what they need? This course is the primer you need to help get your feet off the ground and get those pieces finished. Among other topics, the course will cover how to write a compelling melody, create chord progressions and accompaniment patterns, effectively set text to a melody, and develop compelling musical phrases and forms. Related topics covered in the class will include notation customs, style and genre customs, idiomatic instrumental writing, and an introduction to music recording technology.

Intended for current harmonica players who need new ideas to further develop their playing; participants should already know how to get single notes, play simple songs, and some basic blues, and this class will explore harmonica techniques.

Continue your piano studies with the next level in your adult piano series. You’ll build on the skills from Piano 2, learning new techniques, rhythms, and pieces that challenge and inspire you. Strengthen your confidence and musical expression as you progress to more advanced material.

The Madison Community Orchestra is an ensemble of approximately 80 musicians of varying ages and abilities from the Madison area. We're committed to the growth and continuing education of amateur musicians through regular rehearsals and performances. The MCO rehearses weekly and performs four concerts per year, such as the Holiday Concert in the State Capitol Rotunda. Open to strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion by audition with the conductor, Louis Menchaca. Contact Louis at LMenchaca@madisoncollege.edu to schedule an audition.

Performance Dates: Friday, March 6, 7:30 PM and Saturday, May 9, 7:30 PM

The Madison Municipal Band is a traditional concert band consisting of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. The mission of the ensemble is to provide opportunity for personal involvement in the arts, while fostering an environment for musical expression, appreciation, growth, and fellowship. The group performs in public concerts regularly in the Mitby Theater. Membership is open to all following brief seating audition with the conductor. Contact Louis Menchaca at LMenchaca@madisoncollege.edu to schedule an audition.

Performance Dates: Thursday, March 12, 7:30 PM and Friday, May 8, 7:30 PM

If you like to sing, consider joining the Madison College Choral Collective. We're a community-based vocal ensemble of Madison College students and staff and Madison-area community members. The Choral Collective is a non-audition, inclusive organization and all are welcomed. Contact Caroline Henneberry at chenneberry@madisoncollege.edu for more information.

Performance Date: Thursday, May 7, 7:30 PM

Here at Madison College we have two traditional sized jazz big bands that explore music periods and styles written for this ensemble, including swing, funk, Latin and modern jazz styles. These bands hold performances throughout the year on Madison College campuses and in surrounding communities. Open to all as space is available. Contact Jamie Kember at jkember@madisoncollege.edu for more information. Audition required. Please do not register without Director approval.

Performance Date: Sunday, May 3, 2:30 PM

Here at Madison College we have two traditional sized jazz big bands that explore music periods and styles written for this ensemble, including swing, funk, Latin and modern jazz styles. These bands hold performances throughout the year on Madison College campuses and in surrounding communities. Open to all as space is available. Contact Jamie Kember at jkember@madisoncollege.edu for more information. Audition required. Please do not register without Director approval.

Performance Date: Sunday, May 3, 2:30 PM