MUSC 121/124 - 421/424 - Applied Performance (Guitar)

The performance program for guitarists consists of weekly individual instruction, weekly studios where guitarists have the opportunity to perform for each other, and the guitar quartet or other ensembles involving guitar. Guitar students are required to perform in at least two studio sessions each term. Guitarists must audition for the Guitar Quartet or make application to form another type of ensemble. The studios are videotaped and available in web or DVD format for review before and during lessons.

The first two years of instruction are concentrated on building a solid foundation for advanced performance and study of guitar music. The emphasis is on the development of scales, arpeggios, tremolo and rasgueado, as well as proper left and right hand positioning, posture, sight reading, and practice techniques through a concentrated study of etudes and other compositions by guitar composers such as Sor, Giuliani, Aguado, Carcassi, Villa-Lobos, Barrios, Leo Brouwer, Gerald Garcia, Jorge Morel, Maxim Pujol and others.

Upon reaching an appropriate level of technical and musical proficiency, students in first and second year will study movements of a Bach unaccompanied suite or partita for violin, cello or lute, with a view to performing an entire suite by the third or fourth year of study.

The latter years of performance study are focused on repertoire development and performance.

Fall 2005/2006 Studio schedule...

Prospective students!

Information on applying, auditioning and sample audition repertoire for guitarists is available on the Queen's School of Music website.

For Arts students and students from Faculties other than music!

Performance instruction in guitar for credit is available for qualified students of Queen's University. This is not the case in many post-secondary institutions. This is a great opportunity for those interested in developing skills as a classical guitarist while studying at Queen's. Pre-registration is not necessary. Auditions are usually held during Orientation Week in September. Please contact Dr. John Burge, string co-ordinator at the School of Music, to arrange an audition.

Feel free to contact me as well, regarding audition requirements.