Guitar
Guitar
UNCSA has included guitar study in its offerings since its founding in 1963 – making it nearly the longest-running guitar degree program in the U.S. This rich history has trained countless notable and highly-successful artists who have shared their talents around the globe.
Our program enrolls 17 guitar majors across the college, graduate and high school levels. The guitar faculty members work together to create a single, unified guitar program with seamless instruction. Our culture is highly collaborate - not competitive - and all students work continuously on a variety of ensemble projects.
Guitar students all train to learn and perform fully-composed compositions, create original music and to improvise. This includes developing the musical and technical skills needed to be able to pursue any musical style. There is opportunity (including as a college 'minor') to focus emphasis on Jazz or American Roots music. Applicants are accepted with a variety of musical backgrounds and we embrace the diversity of musical and life experiences they bring together.
Guitar instruction at UNCSA is highly structured and organized and designed to recreate real-world professional experiences. Each week students have individual lessons, multiple performance class sessions, and classes devoted to building musicianship, technical and music reading skills. Upper-level college and graduate students receive extensive training in teaching, as well as in the guitar’s specific history and music. This is all in addition to the broader UNCSA Music curriculum. Students leave prepared to succeed in the real world with a confident understanding of how to take their next steps.