Music Makers Article

The Georgia Review and Hugh Hodgson’s piece on “Music Makers” shows the passion and outlook he had for the development of the School of Music. Initially, the South and the staff of the University of Georgia were against the idea of adding as a major in the curriculum of the school. They plagued it as a “sissy” major and saw it futile in any way that could contribute to the educational side of society. Music was thought as nothing more than a compliment to leisure time and could never offer anything academically. This was eventually looked at differently when Hodgson debuted the Student Pioneer Club and the Glee club that delivered some serious work in music. Thus jump started the gears to get the ball rolling for the major of Music to be set in stone. The Music Department was growing at an exponential rate within only a mere decade. Thanks to Hodgson, Music Appreciation at UGA is recognized by the whole student body and faculty and has made its way to becoming a vital part of the life of the University of Georgia. Hodgson organized many events and programs to showcase these talents and to “show off” to the Southern people who found the music profession as a “sissy” job. Because of the success at establishing a successful major that signifies originality and musicality that allows freedom to express oneself, it paved the road for many more fine arts majors to UGA and to the South as a whole. The efforts of Hodgson proved that with the popularity of Music and interested audiences, Music is a formidable area of study in order to not only hone the skills of the talented, but also create teachers who can pass the torch down to every generation that is to go by.

Hodgson, Hugh. “Music Makers.” The Georgia Review, vol. 3, no. 1, 1949, pp. 31–34. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41394797.