Q: What types of Music Degrees are offered? A: The Hugh Hodgson School of Music offers a variety of programs for both undergraduate and graduate students. Degree emphasis ranges from broad to very specific, ensuring that every student is able to focus on their area(s) of interest. At the undergraduate level, all music majors have Applied Music & Ensemble components. Undergraduate Programs: Bachelor of Music - Performance Bachelor of Music - Education Bachelor of Music - Composition Bachelor of Music - Theory Bachelor of Music - Therapy Bachelor of Arts - Music Music Minor Jazz Minor Graduate Programs: Master of Music - Performance Doctor of Musical Arts - Performance Doctor of Musical Arts - Education Doctor of Musical Arts - Horn Minor Q. What is the process for picking which music major I will do? A: Each of the majors has specific entrance requirements. The good news---undergraduate music majors take the same classes during the first year, so there is no need to lock yourself into one major. All majors get the same opportunities horn-wise. Q: When are auditions for Fall 2025 enrollment? A: Undergraduate audition dates are Friday January 17, Saturday January 25, and Saturday February 1, 2025 If you cannot make one of the audition dates, be sure to contact one of the horn professors to make an individual appointment. Graduate audition dates are January 13th and January 18th, 2025. NOTE: Pre-screening deadline for graduate applicants is December 1, 2024. Q: What should I prepare for the Audition? A: Incoming first years should be prepared to play all twelve major scales and arpeggios, two contrasting solos, and one etude. Your choice of music should reflect your best qualities as a musician and should show your ability to play lyrically and technically. Do not hesitate to play standard repertoire---we never tire of hearing Mozart and Strauss! Avoid using the All-State etude as a selection. Following your performance, there will be a brief interview where we discuss your goals and aspirations as a horn player and music major. Graduate students will first submit a pre-screening with their application. This is due by December 1st, 2024. Please see the Graduate Brass Audition Repertoire website below for details! If advanced to the live audition, you may use similar (or different!) music to the prescreening - no piano accompaniment required for the live audition - plus sight reading. You can find out more about undergrad auditions here: Undergraduate Brass Audition Repertoire. You can find more here: Graduate Brass Audition Repertoire. Q: What advice do you have for students who want to be a horn major at UGA? A: In order to prepare for studies as a music major, we advise that you begin taking weekly private lessons from a good horn teacher. You should start thinking about your own horn sound, intonation and general musicianship. It is also a good idea to work on a variety of compositions written specifically for the horn. Additionally, start a routine of listening to horn music performed by some of the best-known performers on the horn. (For more details regarding UGA's admissions guidelines, which are separate from the Hugh Hodgson School of Music's guidelines, click here.) Q: What can I expect as a horn major at UGA? A: UGA horn players are a hard-working group of musicians. Generally, they practice between 90 minutes and four hours a day, depending on their major. Additionally, most students play in one or two large ensembles. Ensembles include the Symphony Band, Wind Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, British Brass Band, and others. There are numerous opportunities for chamber music as well, coached by faculty members or done at the student’s own discretion. Horn majors also play in the horn choir in Spring. At UGA we have a large studio that functions as a collaborative community. Every semester we have a few different horn studio recitals and do at least one off campus recital. We also usually get together as often as we can for social activities (organized or impromptu). Q: How big is the horn studio? A: Our ideal size is sixteen undergraduates and 3-4 graduates. This number varies year to year, as admission is not based on slots available, but rather the musical abilities and work ethic of each applicant. Q: Who will I study with? A: During your time at UGA you will study with both Dr. Martin-Williams and Dr. Naigus on a rotational basis. We have a single horn studio with two teachers, not two separate studios. There is also a bi-weekly horn seminar for all students, led by both professors. Q: Do you have horn choir? A: Yes! The horn choir will meet on a regular basis from M/F from 11:30am-12:20pm. Performances will occur on and around campus, as well as at the yearly Southeast Horn Workshops. See the Media page for videos of the horn choir performing! Q: Can I be a music minor? A: The number of minors we can accept into the studio depends on the number of majors that are auditioning and are accepted any given year. We encourage everyone to audition because we have had several minors change into majors once they arrive to the program and discover that they want music full time! If you are unsure whether you want to major or minor in music, it is best to start as a major. This is because music is one of the few majors on campus that begins in the first year; most begin in the second or third year at UGA. If you switch to another major, the credits you have earned as a music major will still count towards your new major. Q: Are there music scholarships available? A: For undergraduate students, there are a limited number of music scholarships available each year to those who have been ranked highest amongst students who have auditioned. For students living outside of Georgia, there are a few out-of-state tuition waivers for which the highest ranking students can be nominated by the studio professor. This is why it’s important to be as prepared as possible for the audition. For graduate students, the following sources of funding exist for which you may apply: School of Music assistantships, University assistantships and out-of-state tuition waivers. Q: Is there a graduate teaching assistantship available in the studio in Fall 2025? A: Yes, we have a graduate assistantship in brass chamber music open starting Fall 2025, but there are many other types/areas in the HHSOM for assistantships. It’s important that on the application for the School of Music, each applicant checks ALL categories of assistantships for which they feel qualified. For instance, if a student has excelled in ear training as an undergraduate, mark the box for “aural skills teaching assistantship” in the list of assistantships. This is the only opportunity an applicant has for consideration for assistantships. Don’t miss the chance to be considered for as many assistantships as possible. The brass chamber assistantship primarily involves rehearsing and performing with the Bulldog Brass Society brass quintet, but other duties will be assigned as needed. The assistantship comes with a full tuition waiver as well as an additional stipend (MM: $12,555 - DMA: $13,354). Q: Do graduate students need to take the GRE for acceptance into UGA and the Hugh Hodgson School of Music? A: No, the GRE is not required for acceptance into UGA or the Hodgson School of Music. Graduate applicants who wish to be considered for only a School of Music assistantship are also not required to take the GRE. The GRE is highly recommended for graduate applicants who are seeking nomination for the following university assistantships: The Presidential Fellowship, The Graduate School Assistantship and the Graduate Recruitment Opportunity Assistantship. I don’t think the GRO exists anymore?? Could be wrong. These are university-wide awards to which each department on campus is allowed to nominate their top graduate applicants. If a graduate applicant has an excellent academic record, exceptional musical accomplishments such as competition prizes at the national or international level and/or professional-level experience, we recommend that he/she takes the GRE and auditions for the School of Music before February 1st in order to make the nomination deadline. Q: What expenses should I expect as a Music Major? A: Every member of the studio is required to own their own instrument and mute. Entering first year students without an instrument should contact Dr. Naigus and Dr. Martin-Williams as they shop for an instrument. They can be helpful in finding the best instrument within budget for each individual student. Additionally, you will be required to purchase musical scores (in addition to the standard scores every first year are required to own). This can be determined by your own budget; but we encourage you to use this as an opportunity to build your own music library. Students are also required to attend concerts at the Performing Arts Center. Most of these concerts are free, but there is a $5 fee for special guest artists. You should also be prepared to pay an accompanist for your end of semester jury and possibly an additional performance during the semester. When you give your degree recital(s), there is a fee to register as well as additional services like recording of live-streaming. We go to the Southeast Horn Workshop most years. The horn professors try to secure as much grant funding as possible for these, but each horn student should be prepared to pay approximately $125.
