Offered in: Chicago

It is the objective of the Bachelor of Music in Classical Guitar to provide the necessary training to thrive as a multifaceted professional classical guitarist. In addition to developing comprehensive musicianship skills, analytic abilities, and stylistic knowledge, the student will:

• Become acquainted with guitar literature through study, analysis, and performance of a cross-section of the standard repertory, encompassing all stylistic periods;
• Develop technical facility in a systematic fashion;
• Progressively develop collaborative and practical skills;
• Gain an introductory knowledge of principles and methods for teaching;
• Develop chamber music skills.

Music studies are supported by general education courses, including the study of Spanish.

All jury and recital repertoire requirements are listed on the Requirements tab within the academic catalogue.

Admission requirements

Please consult the CCPA Admission and Audition Information web page for the Classical Guitar audition requirements.

Course Requirements

Residency

A minimum of 60 credit hours must be earned at Roosevelt University.

Grade Thresholds

Applied Lessons
C- is the minimum passing grade for GUIT 211 GUITAR (MAJOR), GUIT 212 GUITAR (MAJOR) and GUIT 213 GUITAR (MAJOR).
B- is the minimum passing grade for GUIT 214 GUITAR (MAJOR), GUIT 311 GUITAR (MAJOR), GUIT 312 GUITAR (MAJOR), GUIT 313 GUITAR (MAJOR), GUIT 314 GUITAR (MAJOR).

Recitals
B- is the minimum passing grade for PERF 313 JUNIOR RECITAL and PERF 314 SENIOR RECITAL.

Juries
B- is the minimum passing grade for PERF 261 FRESHMAN JURY, PERF 262 SOPHOMORE JURY, PERF 361 JUNIOR JURY, and PERF 362 SENIOR JURY.

Recital Repertoire

PERF 313 JUNIOR RECITAL
30 minutes of music is required, and one ensemble work may be included. All solo pieces must be performed from memory, and the program must include works representing at least three contrasting styles. The recital will be graded by the applied instructor.

PERF 314 SENIOR RECITAL
60 minutes of music is required, and one or more ensemble works may be included. All solo pieces must be performed from memory, and the program must include works representing at least three contrasting styles. The recital will be graded by the applied instructor.

Jury Repertoire

During each semester, the student will study several pieces from the guitar literature. At each jury, the student must perform two pieces in contrasting styles. All solo repertoire must be performed from memory.

Etudes and Technique Requirements

During each semester, the student will study 2-5 etudes chosen from (but not limited to) the following composers’ works: Sor, Carcassi, Brouwer, Villa-Lobos, Aguado, Coste, Tarega, Carulli, Ianirelli, Bogdanovich. All required etudes must be memorized. The specific requirements for technique and the choice of etudes are described below, parsed by level of study. Substitutions may be made at the teacher’s discretion.

Both the technique and the etudes will be played at a preliminary technique jury to be scheduled several weeks before the final examination week each semester. If a student does not pass this preliminary component, the student must repeat the material during the final jury. If the student does not pass the technique component at that final jury, the student’s final grade will be lowered by one letter.

GUIT 211
Arpeggios    Aguado, Etude in A Minor (No. 1 from 24 Etudes)
                        Carulli, Prelude No. 4 (from 24 Preludes)
Slurs              Segovia, slur studies (all patterns on all strings)
Scales           Segovia, Major and Minor Diatonic Scales
                        All sharp keys
                        Free and rest stroke
                        Right hand fingerings: im, ma, ia
                        Tempo: eighth note = 72-88
Etude            Sor, one study from Nos. 1-5 (Segovia Edition)

GUIT 212
Arpeggios    Choose either Carcassi, Study No. 2, or Brouwer, Study No. 6 (both r. h. fingerings)
Slurs              Pujol, La Escuela Razonada de la Guitarra, Vol. II (Either Exercise No. 94 or No. 96)
Scales           Segovia, Major and Minor Diatonic Scales
                        All flat keys
                        Free and rest stroke
                        Right hand fingerings: im, ma, ia
                        Tempo: eighth note = 88-100
Etude            Carcassi, Study No. 4
                        Sor, one study from Nos. 1-5 (Segovia Edition)

GUIT 213
Arpeggios    Choose either Carcassi, Study No. 19, or Aguado, Etude No. 2
Slurs              Suggested exercises: Shearer, Ornament and Reach Development Exercises; Pujol;
                         La Escuela Razonada de la Guitarra, Vol. III, Stretch and Ornament Studies
Scales           Segovia
                        Continue all r.h. fingerings from previous semesters with addition of P-I
                        Tempo: quarter note = 88-108
Etude            Sor, one study from Nos. 6-9 (Segovia Edition

GUIT 214
Tremolo        Carcassi, Study No. 7
Slurs              Sor, Study No. 11 (beginning to m. 15)
Scales           Segovia, Continue all r.h. fingerings as before
                        Tempo: quarter note = 100-116
Etude            Sor, one study from Nos. 6-9 (Segovia Edition)

GUIT 311
Arpeggios    Sor, Etude, No. 17
Scales           1) Scales with slurs
                        2) Scales in thirds: keys of C, G, D, A, E
Etude            Choose one: Carcassi, Etude No. 23; Sor, Etude No. 12; Sor, Etude No. 13

GUIT 312
Arpeggios    Villa-Lobos, Etude No. 1 (moderate tempo)
Scales           1) Scales with slurs
                        2) Scales in sixths: keys of C, G, D, A, E
Etude            Choose one: Carcassi, Etudes Nos. 20-25; Sor, Etudes Nos 10-20

GUIT 313
Arpeggios    Villa-Lobos, Etude No. 1 (tempo: quarter note = 100-120)
Scales           Scales in tenths and octaves: keys of C, G, D, A, E
Etude            Choose one: Carcassi, Etudes Nos. 20-25; Sor, Etudes Nos 10-20

This degree map charts a suggested pathway through all of your required courses. It is incumbent upon all students to fully comprehend curricular requirements and course schedules, and while it is feasible to chart an alternate pathway, it is highly recommended that you do so in close consultation with your academic advisor so as to determine a degree path appropriately tailored to your needs.

A full-time undergraduate course load comprises 12-18 credits per semester.