While hikes in the cost of tuition and textbooks tug at the pockets of most students, it is nearly impossible for some students with musical talent to afford the added cost of private music lessons and tutoring.

However, the Applied Music Program at EC allows serious student musicians the opportunity of free private lessons and a chance to improve their musical talent.

Dr. Dane Teter, coordinator of the program, says that the Applied Music Program can help a student not only improve their skill but also aid them the transfer to a 4-year college or help them find a career in the music industry.

“This is a great program for those who are serious about music, especially for those that want to expand their growth in the music industry,” Teter said.

The Applied Music Program (music 23abcd and music 90abcd), is a one unit course exclusively for part/full time EC students. It is for students who are serious about improving their musical abilities and also for those who have an intermediate level of skill.

The program has been a part of the EC curriculum for more than 20 years. Once the student is accepted into the program, they will have a chance to showcase their talent in a variety of performances.

“If they are accepted, they’ll get to perform in Jazz combos, recitals, duets, quartets and other ways that they can to improve their skill,” Teter said.

Students are also required to practice for 6 hours per week, participate in a weekly recital class, and also take part in the large performance ensemble at EC.

In order to get into the program, a student must audition. Auditions are held each semester during the first week of instruction only.

For the audition, students are required to prepare a musical piece that they will either sing or play with their instrument in front of EC music faculty.

They must also bring a letter of recommendation from a teacher who is familiar with the student’s musical ability and commitment, and also a written statement addressing the student’s goals that they want to achieve in the program.

Esai Saucedo, a guitarist and music major, loves the program and the opportunity it presents.

“Musicians always want to get better but they can’t afford the lessons because they are too expensive,” Suacedo said.

Instead of paying for expensive music lessons, Saucedo has found an alternative.

“Each week, you get a one hour private lesson with one of the instructors at no additional charge, but at other schools, its about 30 minutes,” Saucedo said. “All I pretty much paid was $50 dollars, and I get 16 one-hour lessons, I get to perform in front of my peers and teachers and I develop great friendships with students and faculty, it’s amazing.”

Although Saucedo is enjoying the program for the chance to develop his musical skill, Maya Perez, music therapy major and violinist, enjoys the help and the support everyone gives.

“You get to meet people with similar goals in life so they want to achieve as much as you do,” Perez said.

Aside from the benefits that the program offers, Perez loves the constructive criticisms from instructors and students who are there to help in every way.

“The teachers, they are always easy to find and they will give you constructive criticism if they think it could help you out,” Perez said.

The atmosphere in the program is positive because everyone is willing to help each other out. At least, that is what Jonathon Bruns, a music major loves most about the program. Bruns is in his third year of the program and he says the students in the program are close to one another.

“Usually in music, people feel distant, you don’t socialize with people as much because they are so focused and it’s a competition; but here, we are like one big happy family,” Bruns said.

The program has opened doors to success for many students in the past and present.

“We have had students that moved on to prestigious four-year programs such as UCLA and USC,” Teter said. “We had a student that started here and are now playing for the Los Angeles guitar quartet and someone who came from the program is now a back-up trumpet player for Barry Manilow.”

Aside from the wonderful support of instructors and students, the program has various practice rooms for a student to play in and a music library that provides for a student’s needs.

The library and practice rooms however, are not only for students in the Applied Music program, but also for all EC students.

For students that want a career in music, or just want to improve their skill, and knowledge of music, Dr. Teter says that serious musicians should give the program a chance.

“For students that want a career in music, this program is definitely for you, so please give it a shot and try out next semester,” Teter said.