Music Dept. strives to do more than just teach
Tiffiannie Meador
Issue date: 1/26/10 Section: News
With 11 full-time faculty members and 15 part-time, the music department continues to train and mold ASU students and the community's youth through various musical outlets.
The music program at ASU, while genre specific, is open to students of all levels of training and backgrounds. Dr. Angela Morgan, chair of the music department and professor of music, gave many suggestions of different channels a student or community member could take to pursue an education in music.
"A successful musician has experience in the field [however], we encourage folks to participate in the ensembles," Morgan said. "We get a lot of area musicians that want to play."
There are several different ensemble groups within the music department. Morgan listed many she noted are great for students that might have sang or played an instrument in high school, and want to be involved in music somehow.
"It's a relatively small program, but we have more one-on-one time with the teachers," said Hope Schultz, a sophomore music performance major. Schultz, a local to Augusta, has played the cello for 11 years. "I want to get my masters and go on to get my Ph.D. because I want to teach college."
In addition to the musical academic program, ASU also offers a program that is more community focused called the Conservatory Program. This is a program, according to Morgan, is geared toward middle school and high school students who have the opportunity to participate in music lessons, classes and ensembles.
Every October the academic side combines with the community to produce the Gala Concert. "We try to showcase a community member or a faculty member," Morgan mentioned. The Gala Concert is a fundraising opportunity for the department to earn money for student music scholarships, according to Morgan. This year the guest of honor will be Wycliffe Gordon, a jazz trombonist native to Georgia.
"Every nickel goes to student music scholarships," Morgan added. "He is donating his time to our program."
The Gala Concert is scheduled for October 7 at 7:30pm in the Maxwell Performing Arts building. "The whole evening is to showcase our students," Morgan said. "We have got some very talented ones, I might add."
The music program at ASU, while genre specific, is open to students of all levels of training and backgrounds. Dr. Angela Morgan, chair of the music department and professor of music, gave many suggestions of different channels a student or community member could take to pursue an education in music.
"A successful musician has experience in the field [however], we encourage folks to participate in the ensembles," Morgan said. "We get a lot of area musicians that want to play."
There are several different ensemble groups within the music department. Morgan listed many she noted are great for students that might have sang or played an instrument in high school, and want to be involved in music somehow.
"It's a relatively small program, but we have more one-on-one time with the teachers," said Hope Schultz, a sophomore music performance major. Schultz, a local to Augusta, has played the cello for 11 years. "I want to get my masters and go on to get my Ph.D. because I want to teach college."
In addition to the musical academic program, ASU also offers a program that is more community focused called the Conservatory Program. This is a program, according to Morgan, is geared toward middle school and high school students who have the opportunity to participate in music lessons, classes and ensembles.
Every October the academic side combines with the community to produce the Gala Concert. "We try to showcase a community member or a faculty member," Morgan mentioned. The Gala Concert is a fundraising opportunity for the department to earn money for student music scholarships, according to Morgan. This year the guest of honor will be Wycliffe Gordon, a jazz trombonist native to Georgia.
"Every nickel goes to student music scholarships," Morgan added. "He is donating his time to our program."
The Gala Concert is scheduled for October 7 at 7:30pm in the Maxwell Performing Arts building. "The whole evening is to showcase our students," Morgan said. "We have got some very talented ones, I might add."