Music courses at Madison College provide students with an understanding of the experience, history and theory of music as well as opportunities to perform. For the music enthusiast, Madison College offers students the opportunity to enroll in a variety of music courses as part of the Liberal Arts Transfer program.

person playing a marimba

Featured Music Courses

Express yourself with music. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned musician, students can check out these featured music courses.

World Music

Gain a broad overview of various musics from around the world. Over the course of the semester, students will learn how various societies view, perform, use and disseminate music and gain respect for these musics through deeper understanding of their materials, processes, and values within their respective cultures.

Music Appreciation

Through an examination of select contemporary musical styles and a survey of the development of Western art music, students will learn how to actively listen to music and identify salient traits. Students will explore musical meaning, musical reception, and musical aesthetics as they apply to different cultures and different time periods.

History of Pop / Rock Music

Explore the history of popular and rock music in the United States from 1954 to the present, with focus on significant music genres, important artists/bands, the role of identity in music, and social history.  This course promotes creative and critical thinking by emphasizing music literature, form and style analysis, and social and cultural criticism.

Music Ensemble Opportunities

Madison College offers multiple opportunities to strengthen and share your talents. Choose from seven different music ensembles to nurture your passion for music. Each ensemble performs on and off campus, focusing on making new connections locally and helping to make Madison and the surrounding area the culturally rich community it is.

If you are a student enrolled in any degree-credit course at Madison College, you do not need to register for most of our music ensembles and can participate for free (with the exception of World Drumming Ensemble and Chorale). However, if you would like to earn degree-credit for your participation, you can enroll in any one of the music ensembles as a music department course.

Music Appreciation, Theory and Lessons

Enhance your enjoyment of music by enrolling in Music Appreciation, World Music, History of Pop and Rock Music, and Blues to Hip-Hop: Black American Music which seek to explain the historical and cultural contexts of various styles of music.

Develop your music notation and analytical skills with Music Theory Fundamentals, or learn how to play the piano in Class Piano 1. Enroll in the high-energy World Drumming Ensemble to learn exciting samba rhythms from Brazil and other hand drumming styles. No experience necessary!

Music Faculty

Joseph Bernstein | Part-time Music Faculty
bernstein@madisoncollege.edu

Caroline Henneberry | Part-time Music Faculty
chenneberry@madisoncollege.edu

Alison Hooper | Part-time Music Faculty
amhooper2@madisoncollege.edu

Jamie Kember | Part-time Music Faculty
Music Ensemble Coordinator
jkember@madisoncollege.edu

Elizabeth Marshall | Part-time Music Faculty
eamarshall1@madisoncollege.edu

Dr. Tim Patterson | Full-time Music Faculty
Music Department Chair
Office: A1023B | Truax
608.243.4468
trpatterson@madisoncollege.edu

Christopher Pierce | Part-time Music Faculty
cwpierce@madisoncollege.edu

Music Directors

Caroline Henneberry | Chorale and Choral Collective Director
chenneberry@madisoncollege.edu

Jamie Kember | Big Band and Jazz Ensemble Director
jkember@madisoncollege.edu

Louis Menchaca | Municipal Band Conductor
lmenchaca@madisoncollege.edu

Dr. Tim Patterson | World Drumming Ensemble Coordinator
trpatterson@madisoncollege.edu

Blake Walter | Community Orchestra Conductor
bwalter@madisoncollege.edu

Music Staff

Mathew Podolske | Municipal Band and Jazz Librarian
mmpodolske@madisoncollege.edu

Shelby Rouse | Community Orchestra and Choirs Librarian
scrouse@madisoncollege.edu

Contact the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Madison Truax Campus
Main Building, C2433

1701 Wright Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53704

ahss@madisoncollege.edu
608.246.6246