Our Guitar Program is designed to develop guitarists who are musically literate and highly versatile across a broad spectrum of musical styles and genre.  Depending on the student’s initial interest they begin studies on either Classical Guitar or Contemporary Guitar eventually completing a highly comprehensive course of study.

The Classical Guitar Program follows a syllabus designed to prepare students for participation in the Royal Conservatory and Carnegie Hall Achievement Program.  "The Achievement Program" offers a comprehensive music education that combines tools for high-quality instruction with opportunities for personal development.  Candidates completing this program gain nationwide recognition and lifelong skills.

Curriculum Example:

            Reading Standard Music Notation

            Guitar Technique

            Classical Guitar Repertoire (16^th Century – 21^st Century)

            Scales/Modes (Open Scales and Modes and the Seven Movable Scales and Modes)

            Fingerboard Logic and Harmony

            Basic Chords

            Music Theory and its application on the guitar

            Ear Training and its application

            Performance Training as a soloist and in an ensemble

The Contemporary Guitar Program follows a syllabus developed by the school's guitar instructors.  This program develops guitarists who are fully prepared to enter the music field as working professionals if they so desire.  The curriculum was developed around specific competencies that the modern guitarist must master in order to compete in the music industry at the professional level.  Contrary to the current trend in guitar instruction, students are not taught a “song of the week.”  Instead, lessons focus on becoming a better guitarist by mastering competencies in a logical and systematic progression.  Students should expect to learn to read standard music notation and chord symbols in addition to learning to improvise single-line solos in the many contemporary music styles.

Curriculum Example:

            Reading Standard Music Notation

            Contemporary Standards in Rock, Blues, Country and Jazz

            Guitar Technique

            Scales/Modes (Open Scales and Modes and the Seven Movable Scales and Modes)

            Fingerboard Logic

            Basic Chords, Movable Chord System, Diminished 7 Chord System

            Chord Construction (4 Way Drop 2 and 4 Way Drop 3 Voicings)

            Music Theory and its application to the guitar

            Ear Training and its application

            Performance Training as a soloist and in an ensemble