The Rock Ensemble class started off last spring and immediately gained plenty of student interest. It reached so many that the students are split into two classes for winter quarter. This class is a perfect domain for musicians of all levels who wish to unlock new potential in their creations. It requires no prerequisites and is one of the many sections in music 147 which students are available to register for the upcoming spring quarter.

The ensemble usually consists of four-seven musicians in each group, who usually have past experience in playing some form of music but this isn’t required. “I love how inclusive this class is, and we don’t need to audition to be a part of it,” said Emmet Kineman, a pianist in the rock ensemble class. Though shy at first, students are seen hyping each other up on their weekly rehearsals that last for two hours on Fridays.

Through their music, outsiders would think they are an entire band who have known each other for years, while the reality is that they are connected by only one domain, and that is the music they play. “We usually vote to work on one song,” explained Arianna Hatfield, who is one of the singers in the group.

Students would learn to unlock new potentials together and do their very best to achieve what would be a rewarding performance by the end of their course. “I want their musicianship to be elevated throughout the quarter,” said Matt Jorgensen, who is the instructor of the rock ensemble.

Jorgenson had previously attended SCC from the fall of 1990 up to the spring of 1992. He played jazz drums when he moved to New York City. Through his experience of playing the various genres, he’s toured as a professional musician for years and owned a jazz record label that had put out more than 700 records. Jorgenson explained that he wanted to provide a real-world perspective to his students and teach them how to elevate their music by being curious and fearless about moving into different genres and creating the different sounds that music holds.

Ever since the pandemic, Jorgenson finds that flexibility is extremely important in creating music. Some students in the class are just used to writing their own music, and he finds that it is a wonderful place to start the course.

Over the weeks, students will also learn how to recreate the sounds at various points of music’s evolution throughout the decades. In addition, the Rock Ensemble aims to propel the freedom and fun energy for both students and the audience in each of their performances. One of them could be witnessed in the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Games on March 1.

Students would learn to enjoy their creations. The Pianists, the guitarists, the drummers, the singers, every single one of them is either passionate or learning to love music on a whole new level. Most students from the rock ensemble class in the winter quarter had already taken it in the fall, “ I’m paying to be here for fun,” Javier, who is also another singer of the group.

Jorgensen’s current students are proof that he has succeeded in establishing the main goals he made for this course, “Learn to be curious, creative and have fun while playing music .”