This concentration provides a course of study intended to: a) develop and enhance the conducting skills of students, b) extend students’ musical and administrative knowledge in conducting orchestras and c) prepare students for doctoral study in conducting. Successful applicants are active orchestral conductors who demonstrate potential as professional conductors. Conducting audition/videotape required.

This concentration is intended to: a) develop and enhance the conducting skills of students, b) extend students’ musicianship and artistry through rigorous study of repertoire, c) enhance students’ administrative knowledge in directing collegiate wind band programs and d) prepare students for doctoral study in conducting. Conducting audition/videotape required.

Choral Conducting at the Georgia State School of Music offers exceptional training to talented musicians wishing to study the choral art at an advanced level.  Intensive study with Director of Choral Activities, Dr. Deanna Joseph and regular performance experience is the foundation for developing highly qualified, professional conductors.  Students in the program regularly conduct the Master Singers, an auditioned chamber choir of 20 to 30 voices in rehearsal and performance and assist with the University Singers (the School of Music’s top choral ensemble) and Choral Union (open to all).  Full scholarships and graduate assistantships, including the Robert Shaw Choral Award, are available.

This concentration prepares students for careers as professional composers, teachers of composition and preparation for doctoral programs in composition. Successful applicants have a portfolio of compositions representing a variety of media and techniques. Portfolio/recording review required.

This concentration emphasizes the development of advanced, research-based knowledge and skills in music teaching and learning. The focus is on school music programs. However, students may pursue courses in effective teaching at all age levels, including early childhood through adulthood. Graduate students in music education will be given the opportunity to conduct research and to learn to apply their findings in the classroom.

The music education faculty is continuously involved in research related to adolescent voices, educational policy, cognition behind improvisation and more. They use qualitative, quantitative and brain imaging methods to explore important questions with the goal of understanding and improving music learning and teaching. Successful applicants for the music education concentration generally have experience as excellent general, choral or instrumental music teachers in schools. The music education concentration is not appropriate for candidates seeking initial teaching certification. Applicants should either hold or be eligible for an initial teaching certificate or license. Interview recommended.

This concentration develops competence for effective studio or class teaching of piano at any age level. The program enhances artistic performance, builds techniques of verbal and musical communication, develops a knowledge of appropriate piano literature and fosters the successful use of methods, techniques and instructional materials.

The Artist Certificate in Music is a post-master’s certificate in either performance or conducting. The program is 18 semester hours and takes two semesters to complete. To be admitted into the Artist Certificate program, students must have either a master’s degree in music or equivalent professional experience. The performance emphases consist of intensive, individualized instruction in performance and a recital. The conducting emphases consist of intensive, individualized instruction and a terminal project consisting of a public performance and a research document. The program is open to exceptional students who are ready for doctoral- or professional-level instruction.