Lone Star College-Montgomery’s department of music is now a fully accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), an organization for post-secondary institutions offering degree and non-degree programs in music and music related disciplines.

Lone Star College-Montgomery’s department of music is now a fully accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), an organization for post-secondary institutions offering degree and non-degree programs in music and music related disciplines.

NASM, founded in 1924, establishes national standards in music for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials, provides professional development to leaders of music, conducts and shares statistical research, and engages in policy analysis.

Out of 17 applicants, LSC-Montgomery was the only two-year college to receive institutional accreditation at NASM’s 90th annual meeting in November. NASM includes more than 647 accredited members, including schools, conservatories, colleges and universities.  Individual membership is gained only through the peer review process of accreditation.

The two-year long accreditation process begins with an institutional self-study, comparing standards such as strengths, weaknesses, and future goals against NASM standards. Then, a team of evaluators completes an on-site review and prepares a report for accreditation. A commission, focusing on education quality, institutional integrity and educational improvements, makes a final judgment to grant membership.

The initial accreditation period for the NASM membership is for five years, with renewal required every ten years after that.

“This membership means a lot to LSC-Montgomery and its students,” said Dr. Earl Holt, music professor and department chair at LSC-Montgomery. “Essentially, this shows that the college’s two-year field of study in music has met the same standards for freshman and sophomore music majors as those required at four-year college and university programs.”

Since virtually all of LSC-Montgomery’s transfer institutions are NASM members, Holt indicates that students who complete the music field of study are strong prospects for successful transfer.

LSC-Montgomery offers an intensive, two-year associate of arts field of study degree in music. Students learn music theory, ear training, music history, keyboard skills and more. The program is designed so that all completed music classes’ count toward a degree in music and transfer seamlessly to any music program at a Texas four-year college or university.

LSC-Montgomery is the only college in the Lone Star College System that has a building entirely devoted to music. The Music Hall features a state-of-the-art Recital Hall, a 167-seat performance space that boasts acoustics by one of the top acoustic firms in the nation. It also includes teaching studios, a percussion studio, a piano lab/electronic music classroom, a band rehearsal hall, and a choir rehearsal hall.

Additionally, LSC-Montgomery was recently designated as an ‘All-Steinway School,’ demonstrating its commitment to excellence by providing students and faculty the best equipment possible.

Students in LSC-Montgomery’s music program perform a full season of concert and recitals, including at local high schools, retirement homes, and annual tours in Austin and New Orleans. Students also perform in the annual Opera Gala, which raises scholarship money for other music students.

While other departments at LSC-Montgomery have accreditations and affiliations, this is the first membership of its sort for the music department.

For more information about the music department at LSC-Montgomery, please visit www.LoneStar.edu/Music-Montgomery.
 
LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call (936) 273-7000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/montgomery.
 
Lone Star College System has been opening doors to a better community for more than 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSCS remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion.  Today, with 78,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and one of the fastest-growing community college systems in the nation.  Dr. Steve Head is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, seven centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.