The Applied Music Program is geared to aid music students who have an interest in pursuing a career in music.

In order to be considered for the program each student must audition a week before the  semester starts.

“It’s a very challenging program,” Director of Applied Music Studies Dr. Christine Lopez said.

During the audition the prospective students must be ready to perform a short solo on whatever instrument they chose to play.

A.M.P offers instruction for the following instruments: guitar, piano, wood winds, brass instruments, percussion instruments, and voice.

From there, the panel of instructors will determine whether or not a student gets admitted.

When a student gets admitted the panel evaluates his skills to see which category the student falls under: beginner, intermediate, or advanced.

After the panel has determined what level the student is, he will be placed in either Music 147, 148, 149, 150, or 151.

The program is designed in levels and with each progression of classes, Music 147-151, the student advances in skill level.

Each student is responsible in completing a minimum of four to five hours of practice a week, including one hour of private lesson with an instructor.

In addition to being enrolled in music class and completing his hours of practice the student has to also be enrolled in a performing ensemble band, orchestra, choir, or piano and a recital class.

Music major and electric bass student for A.M.P., Rusty Kennedy, says that program is for, “people who are serious about making music their career, the lab hours should be no big deal. If they are, then maybe they should reconsider the program and career.”

A great perk that A.M.P. students can experience is the opportunity to network with other musicians.

Kennedy talks about how many students in the program join up and go on to form bands outside of Cerritos College.

He recalls hectic memories of being in a band while in A.M.P.

“In the past, ensemble has taken a toll on me. I’ll go set up at the Student Center, play, and then have to be at Long Beach or Los Angeles for a show, but I enjoyed doing both.”

Lupita Infante, music major and singer in A.M.P., finds the program to be very helpful in the sense that, “it’s a great place for musicians to develop in their field.”