The West Coast Songwriter's Association Annual Conference

Every year Foothill hosts the West Coast Songwriter's Conference on September 8th, 9th and 10th. The conference has song screenings by A&R reps from all the major labels, open mics, performances and seminars on the art of contemporary songwriting. As part of our performance, songwriting and production classes, you can participate in this fantastic annual event.

Seminar-style course provides a forum for performing and presenting music and multimedia work, receiving constructive feedback, and encountering a broad diversity of styles in the work of others. All music performance practices are welcome, including all electronic and visual media that integrate music. Through group listening and group discussions, several vital critical thinking and verbal skills are developed. Participants are challenged to consider how their stylistic preferences shape their critique of differing styles. Learn to self-evaluate and self-critique presented work both in individual performances and in voluntary collaborations. Other skills developed include arranging workshops with participating performers, orchestration and instrumentation workshops, and writing music criticism. There are no prerequisites and no concurrent course requirements.

The Foothill Evening Jazz Ensemble is one of the best college jazz ensembles in Northern California. Open by audition, it features some of the best performers, arrangers and composers in the Bay Area. Led by John Gove, one of the most sought after composer/performers in the region, and a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, it has a consistently high level of musical ability throughout the band.

The Foothill Repertory Jazz Ensemble is open to all qualified musicians. Training is all styles and genres makes it a great place to work on improvisation, reading and all the other skills necessary for today's musician.