The Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s string department features internationally recognized faculty, attracting talented young musicians from the United States and abroad. 

String students at the Hodgson School enjoy countless opportunities for solo and ensemble performances, including annual concerto competitions. Students have the opportunity to participate in and collaborate with the Hodgson School's numerous small chamber ensembles, orchestras, bands, and choirs. Additionally, young musicians can also gain valuable interactive performance and teaching experience by participating in one of the Hodgson School's numerous educational and community outreach programs.

The Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s piano department features internationally recognized faculty, attracting talented young musicians from the United States and abroad. The Hodgson School became Georgia's first All-Steinway School in 1996 and boasts outstanding performance and practice facilities with keyboard instruments maintained by two full-time Steinway-trained piano technicians. 

Piano students at the Hodgson School enjoy countless opportunities for solo and ensemble performances, including annual concerto competitions. Students have the opportunity to participate in and collaborate with the Hodgson School's numerous small chamber ensembles, orchestras, bands, and choirs. 

Additionally, students can gain valuable experience as educators through teaching at UGA's Community Music School and participating in numerous other experiential programs, including international collaborations in remote piano teaching. Scholarships and graduate teaching assistantships are available to qualifying applicants.

LEARN MORE

• Undergraduate Piano Auditions

• Graduate Piano Auditions

• Piano Area Events

The Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s percussion department is led by internationally recognized faculty, with decades of performing and teaching experience of the highest caliber.

Our students can be found throughout the country and the world working in all areas of the industry, ranging from orchestras to Broadway musicals; university educators to music therapists; freelancers to band directors.

Percussion students at the Hodgson School can expect a well-rounded curriculum encompassing study of the entire battery of percussion instruments through the use of proven methodologies designed to build strong, refined technique, and beautiful sound production.  In addition, we incorporate thorough training and skill building of effective ensemble, chamber, and solo performance through weekly performance classes.

Our studio’s philosophy is one of strong work ethic, humility to the process of creating beautiful music, and discipline to the study of being a refined, meticulous artist in an ever-evolving industry. 

We address our students as individuals with unique circumstances and career interests and we work hard to meet every student where they are in their journey to facilitate the accomplishment of their intended goals.

The Musicology/Ethnomusicology program at the University of Georgia is a growing and innovative program that provides its students with training in historical musicology, ethnomusicology, and musical analysis while also encouraging interdisciplinary connections with other units.  The greatest strength of the area lies in its diverse faculty, whose research interests include Classical, Romantic, and 20th-century music, popular musics, film music, music history pedagogies, music and religion, and gender studies, as well as regional geographic specializations in North America, Russia, Africa, and Latin America. 

At the graduate level, students may choose from small seminars on focused topics, pro-seminars that examine methodologies or large-scale issues, as well as lecture-oriented courses.  PhD students must choose a secondary discipline outside of music to supplement their research agenda.  All students in the graduate program are encouraged to develop a strong research profile and our students regularly participate in regional, national and international conferences and publish their work. 

Graduates of the Musicology/Ethnomusicology program have enjoyed much recent success.  The area currently enjoys a high placement rate for PhDs who choose to pursue an academic career.  Our undergraduate and masters students are regularly admitted into other top programs around the country.

WHAT IS MUSIC THERAPY?

Music Therapy is an allied health profession that utilizes evidence-based practice, using music uas a tool to address non-musical goals. 

WHO ARE MUSIC THERAPISTS?

Music therapy can only be provided by a board-certified music therapist who has:

• Completed an approved music therapy university program
• Obtained 1,200 hours of supervised clinical placement 
• Passed the board certification exam given by the Certification Board of Music Therapists (CBMT), gaining the MT-BC (Music Therapist – Board Certified) credential.
• In the state of Georgia, music therapists must also obtain state licensure, gaining the LPMT (Licensed Professional Music Therapist) credential. 

WHY IS MUSIC THERAPY BENEFICIAL?

Research has shown music therapy interventions can be beneficial in addressing:

• Sensorimotor function
• Communication needs
• Social behaviors
• Cognitive skills
• Emotional health 

HOW DOES MUSIC THERAPY WORK?

Participation in music therapy can include listening to music or actively engaging in music making, movement to music, or songwriting. Music therapists must be proficient in voice, piano, and guitar, and commonly use these instruments in music therapy sessions. 

WHERE DO MUSIC THERAPISTS WORK?

MT-BCs work in a variety of settings, including but not limited to:

• Assisted Living Communities
• Hospice Organizations
• Medical Hospitals
• Mental Health Agencies
• Non-Profit Organizations 
• Private Practice 
• School Systems 
• Rehabilitation Facilities 

Academic Programs

• Bachelor of Music - Music Therapy
• Undergraduate Application Overview
• Master of Music - Music Therapy

Tapping the potential of the next generation of music educators from all over the United States and the globe.

Our mission? To equip a generation of exceptional and compassionate music educators through well-rounded training in music performance, pedagogy, and research. Experience intensive, hands-on instruction from world-class faculty at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music when you enroll in one of our 5 music education degree and certification programs. In addition to performing and collaborating with UGA's award-winning music ensembles, you will gain valuable firsthand teaching experience through diverse educational and community outreach programs.

Degree Offerings

• Bachelor of Music (B. M.) in Music Education
• Master of Music Education (M.M.Ed.) Online
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Music Education

Non-Degree Programs and Workshops

• T4 Teacher Certification
• UGA String Project

The University of Georgia's jazz program consists of ensembles and combos, jazz improvisation and private lessons. Students have the option of either formally applying and auditioning for the jazz minor, or they can particiate individually in various jazz ensemble opportunities.

Audition Repertoire

• Jazz Minor audition repertoire
• Jazz Ensemble audition repertoire

Questions about the Jazz program should be directed to Prof. David D'Angelo.

The Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s conducting studies department features internationally recognized faculty, attracting talented young musicians from the United States and abroad. 

Conducting students at the Hodgson School enjoy countless opportunities to lead performances. Students have the opportunity to participate in and collaborate with the Hodgson School's numerous small chamber ensembles, orchestras, bands, and choirs. Additionally, young conductors can also gain valuable interactive performance and teaching experience by participating in one of the Hodgson School's numerous educational and community outreach programs.

The Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s composition and theory area features internationally recognized faculty, attracting talented young composers and theorists from the United States and abroad. 

Composition and theory students at the Hodgson School enjoy countless opportunities to present their work, including frequent Student Composers Association recitals and chamber music performances, and research symposia. Additionally, students have the opportunity to participate in and collaborate with the Hodgson School's numerous small chamber ensembles, orchestras, bands, and choirs.

Area Chair: Emily Koh (emilykoh@uga.edu)

Click here to go to the Dancz Center of New Music and Music Composition at UGA website

The Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s brass department features internationally recognized faculty.

Brass students from around the world come to study with our renowned faculty, having numerous opportunities to play in various ensembles within the School of Music. Students have opportunities to play in large ensembles such as the band, orchestra, and jazz band, and also have chamber opportunities including various small instrumental ensembles. The fully funded graduate brass quintet, the Bulldog Brass Society, is active both around campus and the community. Weekly masterclasses provide the students with ample opportunities to perform, visiting guest artists provide inspiration, and a newly formed brass band create boundless opportunities for the motivated student.

The brass area pride ourselves on giving individual attention to every student.  All music majors study with their major professor rather than a teaching assistant, and studio trips to various festivals and competitions are commonplace amongst our studios. Please feel free to contact any of our brass faculty for further information about UGA, and we hope to see you in Athens in the future!