Performance & Academic Areas

The undergraduate degree in composition includes an introductory class followed by six semesters of individual instruction, and a weekly forum in which students of all levels present their works and receive feedback from their peers and the faculty. Throughout the curriculum, students work with a variety of performance forces that range from solo performer, to chamber ensembles, to orchestra and concert band. Senior students are also required to collaborate with colleagues from other Departments and disciplines within the university, in order to create an interdisciplinary work. The products of all these works are generally presented at the New Music at Southern concert series.

For information on the program please contact Program Director Dr. Martín Gendelman.

The M.M. in Composition allows students to work extensively with a teacher/mentor in broadening their portfolio of compositions in a variety of genres and styles. Students take supporting courses in music technology, advanced analysis, and the history of music. The capstone is a full solo recital involving many different types of soloists, ensembles, and media. Students may elect to do considerable work in the Department’s Electronic and Digital Music Studio.

The On The Verge concert series brings outstanding composers and performers to Georgia Southern for concerts and masterclasses.

The Music Theory Sequence (which includes Theory, Ear Training, and Sight Singing courses) provides the students with a theoretical and a practical understanding of the elements of music. It also provides the basis for a solid musicianship, which students are encouraged and expected to cultivate and grow throughout their professional lives. Analytical Techniques offers an opportunity for students to understand the elements previously mentioned in a variety of contexts, making the previous sequence deeply meaningful.  All music majors are required to take the sequence during the first four semesters of their degrees.

In addition to the courses for music majors, the Music Theory area also offers two courses in Music Fundamentals for students who are not seeking a music degree but have, nonetheless, an interesting in understanding the basic mechanics of music.

Dr. Martín Gendelman, Founder and Artistic Director

Mission

Founded in 2012 and directed by composer and Georgia Southern University faculty member Martín Gendelman, On The Verge new music series has made southern Georgia a regular stop for some of the finest performers of contemporary art music in the United States and abroad. Through concerts and outreach activities specially aimed at students of all levels and the general public, the series presents innovative programs featuring a variety of contemporary concert music styles.  

Outreach

In addition to high-quality concerts, On The Verge offers a variety of educational opportunities for college students (music majors and  non-majors) and members of the community in general,  in the form of lectures, workshops, and master classes lead by the very artists featured in the series.   Also, On The Verge is partnering with local schools to bring its featured artists to perform for, and interact with, the community’s youngest audiences.

Featured Artists

Past groups and individual performers featured in the series include:

2012/13

• Jorge Variego – clarinet and electronics (Argentina)
• Dancing Heart – flutes and percussion (United States)

2013/14

• Carlos César Rodríguez  – piano (Venezuela)
• Present-Continuous (University of North Carolina)

2014/15

• Blair McMillen – piano (United States)
• Stacks – Saxophone Duo and electronics (Switzerland/United States)

2015/16

• Jenny Q Chai – piano (China)

2016/17

• Da Capo Chamber Players (United States)
• SaVaSaTrio (Members of Ensemble Modern – Germany)

2017/18

• Daniel Koppelman/Christopher Dobrian – piano and electronics (United States)
• Susan Fancher – Saxophone (United States)
• Third Coast Percussion (United States)

2018/19

• Chartreuse Trio (United States)

2019/20

• Bold City Contemporary Ensemble (United States)
• Domino Ensemble (United States)

2021/22

• Galan Trio (Greece)
• Adrianne Munden-Dixon (United States/Canada)

2022/2023

• Valentín Garvie (Argentina/UK/Germany)

Sponsorship

The following have been regular sponsors of the series:

• Campus Life Enrichment Committee (CLEC)
• Department of Music
• College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences  (CLASS)
• The Center for International Studies

In addition, the series has enjoyed the support of local businesses and organizations including:

• The Statesboro Herald
• Citizens Bank
• Three Tree Coffee Roasters
• Statesboro Properties

Individual Donor Levels and  Benefits

• Friend of New Music ($50 to $150)
  • Invitation to On The Verge open rehearsals
  • Subscription to the Georgia Southern University Department of Music E-newsletter
• Patron of New Music ($150 to $300)
  • A special On The Verge souvenir gift
  • Invitation to On The Verge open rehearsals
  • Subscription to the Georgia Southern University Department of Music E-newsletter
• On The Verge Partner ($300 to $700)
  • Invitation to intimate post-concert dinner with On The Verge Artists
  • A special On The Verge souvenir gift
  • Invitation to On The Verge open rehearsals
  • Subscription to the Georgia Southern University Department of Music E-newsletter
• Composers Circle ($700 and up)
  • Invitation to private dinner with On The Verge director, Martín Gendelman
  • Invitation to intimate post-concert dinner with On The Verge Artists
  • A special On The Verge souvenir gift
  • Invitation to On The Verge open rehearsals
  • Subscription to the Georgia Southern University Department of Music E-newsletter

Corporate Donor Levels and  Benefits

• $300  and up
  • Sponsor listing on program concert page and program notes for one On The Verge concert
  • Spotlight feature on On The Verge’s webpage in rotation with other donors at this level.
  • Department of Music monthly newsletter article highlighting your company in rotation with other donors at this level.
• $1,500 and up
  • Option to sponsor an On The Verge concert, sponsor listing on program concert page and program notes for all On The Verge concerts in a season.
  • Spotlight feature on On The Verge’s webpage in rotation with other donors at this level.
  • Department of Music monthly newsletter article highlighting your company in rotation with other donors at this level.

Donating to On The Verge

Since all concerts and educational activities are free and open to the public, the funding for On The Verge has come primarily from grants and temporary support from academic units within Georgia Southern University. But it takes more than that to consolidate a series like this. If you are interested in supporting On The Verge and contributing to its growth, please consider advertising in our concert programs (for your business) or donating $100.

For more information, please contact ontheverge@georgiasouthern.edu

Music majors declaring piano as their primary instrument may pursue the Bachelor or Master of Music degree in Performance, Music Education, or Composition. Students seeking a Bachelor of Arts or Minor in Music may also fulfill degree requirements in part through private piano instruction.

Studies in Accompanying, Piano Literature, and Pedagogy round out the pianist’s experience. Students develop collaborative playing skills in a supervised setting. Piano Literature courses offer students the opportunity to explore the wealth of music written for the instrument while gaining understanding about various performance practices, styles, and composers. The Piano Pedagogy program prepares students for piano teaching by providing the tools necessary to work with students of various age groups, backgrounds, and levels of difficulty. Students also have access to a Yamaha Disklavier, an instrument that integrates digital technology with a traditional acoustic piano.

Though designed for music majors, non-music majors with little or no background in piano may request permission to enroll in Group Piano classes. While the ability to read music is strongly recommended for participation in these classes, no prior keyboard experience is necessary. These classes meet in a 16-station state-of-the-art piano lab that offers many options for creative activity. Students may work both individually and in groups during class. All keyboards feature a vast array of sequenced sounds, rhythm patterns, and accompaniment styles. Built in disk drives also allow students to record multiple tracks and save their creations on floppy disks or flash drives.

If you want to hone your skills as a soloist, collaborative performer, accompanist, private or group teacher, clinician or composer –– with piano as your primary instrument ––  you’ve come to the place to let your talent soar. 

You may want to pursue the Bachelor of Music or Master of Music degree in Performance, Music Education, or Composition. Or perhaps you’re a student seeking a Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry or Minor in Music, then you’ve come to the right place! You may also fulfill degree requirements in part through private piano instruction at the Gretsch School of Music.

You’ll study a well-rounded curriculum. Studies in accompanying, piano literature, and piano pedagogy round out the student pianist’s experiences.

Music majors who choose piano as their primary instrument will develop collaborative playing skills in a supervised setting, both by performing with other pianists and by serving as accompanists for other music majors.

Piano literature courses offer students the opportunity to explore the wealth of music written for the instrument while gaining understanding about various performance practices, styles and composers. 

Courses in piano pedagogy prepare students for careers in piano teaching—both privately and in group settings—by providing you with the ability to work with students of various age groups, backgrounds and levels of difficulty.

Licensure Disclosure

The Gretch School of Music anticipates that graduates will seek initial certification in the following programs: BFA-Art Education and BM-Bachelor of Music Education.

the Bachelor of Music Education program meets the educational requirements for a teaching certificate in Georgia (T4 Teacher Certification). Unless listed below, Georgia Southern’s program does NOT meet educational requirements for certification in that state. Out-of-state students living in GA may need to meet additional requirements in their home state after graduation. DO NOT MEET ANY REQUIREMENT: AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NJ, NY, NV, OH, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, WI, WY, AS, GU, MP, PR, and VI. MEETS REQUIREMENTS: CT, FL, HI, KY, LA, NC, NH, NM, PA, UT, VA, VT, WA.

Georgia Southern makes every effort to ensure information about educational requirements for licensure or certification is current; however, state requirements may change. Separate from educational requirements, state licensure boards may require applicants to complete professional examinations, background checks, years of professional experience, residence requirements, jurisprudence exams, training, etc. For more information, as well as for a list of applicable state boards, visit the Georgia Southern State Authorization and Professional Licensure Webpage.

Master of Music in Music Education

The M.M. in Music Education fosters creativity and 
proficiency in the teaching and learning of music at all levels. Graduate students build on their existing knowledge and experience through advanced study in band, choral, or orchestral repertoire; effective teaching; conducting; philosophy; world music; motivation; and learning. Students have the flexibility to choose courses or performance opportunities directly related to their own interests. A final capstone project is developed with a faculty mentor and may be in the form of educational materials, behavioral research, or a written project.

The majority of graduate music courses are offered on campus, enabling students to interact directly with faculty and their peers. Part-time students frequently keep their ‘day job’ as teachers in nearby schools. Full-time students are eligible to apply for a number of Graduate Assistantships available in the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music to give practice talks for upcoming presentations.

There are many ensembles in which students can participate, including the Southern Pride Marching Band, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Orchestra, Jazz Ensembles, Hoop Troop Basketball Pep Band, and the Net Squad Pep Band.  Additionally, students participate in the University Percussion Ensemble, which affords opportunities to perform a wide variety of musical genres in a chamber setting.

In short, the Gretsch School of Music is a great place for individualized attention to hone your percussion skills and become the very best musician you can be.

Percussion Ensembles

The percussion ensembles at the Gretsch School of Music are an integral component of a percussion student’s musical growth and experience. Its focus is a broad repertoire encompassing many styles of percussion literature including transcriptions, popular music, world music, and a variety of traditional percussion ensemble staples. An ensemble will expose you to a different type of participation not found in the typical symphonic band or orchestral experience.

The Georgia Southern Percussion Ensembles (one in Statesboro, one at Armstrong)  are an integral component of a percussion student’s musical growth and experience.  Its focus is a broad repertoire encompassing many styles of percussion literature including transcriptions, popular music, world music, and a variety of traditional percussion ensemble staples.

Students performing in the percussion ensemble are exposed to a different type of ensemble participation not found in the typical symphonic band or orchestral experience.   This creates much more focus on the execution of individual sounds being produced on percussion instruments due to the soloistic role they play in this particular setting.   As a result, students are usually able to perform more confidently in a full ensemble and have a better understanding of how their particular part fits into the larger whole of a piece.

Percussion students interested in auditioning for acceptance into the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music as a music major should click here for audition requirement information.

Check out the Statesboro Percussion Ensemble performing with Brazilian composer Ney Rosauro on the American premier of his Concerto No. 2 for Vibraphone and Percussion Ensemble.

It’s all about the sound and technique as you hit a snare, rock a drum kit with a jazz or top-40 group, punctuate with a tympani, hammer mallets to create the melodic sound of the marimba or use your hands on a conga and innumerable percussion instruments.

Every kind of percussion expertise is mentored in weekly private instruction preparing you for solo performance or strengthening the quality of your ensemble work so your talent will soar!

Watch the Georgia Southern University Percussion Ensemble performing with Brazilian composer Ney Rosauro on the American premier of his Concerto No. 2 for Vibraphone and Percussion Ensemble below.

Strings – Suggested Repertoire

Violin:

• Bach Sonatas and Partitas
• Concertos of: Mozart, Bruch, Mendelssohn, Saint-Saens, Lalo, Sibelius, Tchaikovsky, Wieniawski

Viola:

• Bach Sonatas and Partitas/Cello Solo Suites
• Concertos of: Hoffmeister, Accolay, Stamitz, Telemann, Walton, Bartok

Cello:

• Bach Solo Suites
• Concertos of: Boccherini, Haydn, Lalo, Saint-Saens, Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Dvorak

Double Bass:

• Bach Solo Cello Suites
• Vivaldi Sonatas
• other Baroque Sonatas
• Concertos of: Telemann. Capuzzi, Dragonetti, Bottesini, Dittersdorf, Vanhal, Koussevitzky

Georgia Southern graduates have successful careers in music education, performance and other arts-related professions. Alumni have continued their educations in graduate programs at the Eastman School of Music, Boston University , Peabody Conservatory, Westminster Choir College , and the Royal College of Music in London.

Whether you want to sing in a chorus, act in an opera or show off your vocal chops in a jazz ensemble or a rock band, the Gretsch School of Music has you covered.

You’ll have a multitude of performance opportunities when you study voice. Students from all academic majors can participate in numerous performance arenas such as choirs, opera and private vocal study to explore and accomplish much with their voice.

Vocal Ensembles

In addition to academic studies and performances, you’ll have the chance to perform off-campus in concert tours and competitions. The Georgia Southern Chorale often performs and competes internationally. The Georgia Southern Operas offers students opportunities to enjoy multiple performance styles and venues. 

Off-Campus Appearances and Tours

Academic studies and performances are augmented by numerous off-campus appearances by students and faculty, and Georgia Southern Chorale’s annual concert tours. The Georgia Southern Chorale is often active in international studies during the summer, recently competing in the International Anton Bruckner Choir Competition in Linz, Austria (2013) and Laurea Mundi Budapest (2016), where they won the Grand Prix, and the Ave Verum – Baden International Choral Competition (2019), where they won a Gold Certificate.

Members of the woodwind faculty are active performers with area orchestras, in solo and chamber music recitals, and at national and international conferences such as the International Clarinet Festival, the World Saxophone Congress, the National Flute Association, the North American Saxophone Alliance, and the Festival of Women Composers International. Each year, prominent artists such as Eugene Rousseau, the Verdehr Trio, and the Zagreb Saxophone Quartet are guests for performances and master classes.

Whether your instrument is clarinet, oboe, saxophone, flute or any other woodwind instrument, the Gretsch School of music has the faculty and ensembles to make your talent soar! Regardless if your favorite area is orchestra, chamber music, jazz ensembles or rock bands, you’ll find what you need at the Gretsch School of Music.

Woodwind students also participate in the Georgia Music Educators’ Association All College Band and have won the Georgia Music Teachers’ Association Spring Auditions and the Georgia Southern Symphony’s concerto competition. Students also attend summer music programs such as the Aria Music Fest, Wild Acres, Clarinetopia, Shell Lake Fine Arts Camp, Interlochen, and the World Youth Wind Orchestra Project.