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John or others that have attended college for guitar study, what are the basic requirements when making application to the schools offering classical guitar study. I am sure they all have their own requirement in some areas, but thought should have some things that are pretty common or basic in most. Is it a post or can it be an undergrad thing. What are some of the schools. I know OKC University has a school. My grandson has mentioned he thought on it Cleveland or one of the other schools in Ohio. Still has a few years for him to go to college, but that seems at a young age where and what Kolton want to do, so thought would just do what needed before application as far as study and playing. He likes classical, but wants to do contemporary stuff with the classical stuff if that makes since. I just want him to have the chance and will do whatever I need to give him the opportunity. TIA

Hi Stan,

When I first started studying classical at school, I had been playing guiyar for 10 years already, but never studied classical. I thought I was in good shape to compete for scholarship....wrong. There was a kid in our class who could outplay us all, and he was only in 8th grade. His name was Randall Avers ( Randall Avers website ) and he went on to be quite a guitar player. Anyhow, the basic requirements to get in the program were that you needed to at least be able to read music for guitar. I also had to audition, although I really didn't know much classical. I had to sight-read a few basic pieces to prove I could read and play. That was about it. It was probably good I didn't know much classical because I didn't develop many bad habits. There were a few guys who had only been playing a year or so who quickly made progress. By the 2nd/3rd year, you couldn't really tell who had been playing longer. Classical seems to level the playing field. Some schools may require you to know the Segovia scales to audition, some don't. I'll tell you some of the most prestigious programs in the country are that way because they have a well known player running their program, but that doesn't automatically translate into them being great teachers. There are some awesome teachers out there who are never going to be famous, and those are the ones I'd like to learn from.

If you're considering schools in Ohio, I went to the Univ. of Akron which has a very good program. There is also the Cleveland School of Music which is very good. Oberlin Conservatory is very good, but is also run by the same director who runs the Univ. of Akron guitar program, only the Univ. of Akron is less than 1/4 the price. The director (Stephen Aron) is hosting the Guitar Foundation of America festival GFA website this year at Oberlin. Do whatever it takes to get your grandson there. That is one of the best learning opportunities for classical guitar you will ever see, and it doesn't come to your area very often. The last time it was in Ohio was in 1988 when I was a sophmore in college. The biggest names in classical guitar will be there, as well as a bunch of teachers and program directors. He would get a chance to talk face-to-face with some of the best in the world. Plus, if you go, there's a great vendors fair where builders from all over showcase their stuff, as well as many other products. I can't overstate what a great opportunity it would be for him to attend if possible. He would liekly meet many of the college guitar program directors and could ask first hand what entrance requirements are.   

By the way, there are many classical programs where students and faculty play contemporary music. He should be able to find that wherever he goes. And if you're close to Akron/Cleveland, most of the students perform spring recitals that are free to attend. That would also give him a great inside look at some programs.

If you have any more specific questions, give me a shout.

John

Thanks John. My grandson is 11(I think, with 13 of them, I get confused as to which one is at which age) Anyway, he can read music, and tab (I never heard of tab until he showed me) He can play by ear also. He now can I don't know term, but read the music of an entire chord. He just studys it and the name of the chord above it. He says he is now working on time and I bought him a metronome (whatever you call it, it just has the beats of time at different things like 4/4 3/4 that sort of stuff) He was explaining that timing is the main thing he needs to concentrate on. His music teacher and gutiar teacher has called him gifted and thinks he may need to go to a higher level than what he can do. I contacted a Dr. of music here who specializes in guitar and he after listening and talking to Kolton has agreed to take him on. Expensive though at this level. But I have done baseball, basketball, cheerleading and other camps and lessons for the others and now have one in golf lessons. Now need to sell some guitars to pay for this. The teacher is giving me some break as I have agreed to do his guitar tech stuff for him. Thanks very much. Also John, thanks for your service to our country. You may not be in the zone, but you serve and give up alot and I appreciate you very much. Semper Fi (from old Master Gunny)

Master Gunny... dang, I'm sure you've seen way more than I'll ever see. Too bad most folks here will never understand what it takes to make it to that rank, and to do it in the Marine Corps is a whole different kind of pain! For those not in the know, it's just as hard to make Master Gunny/Chief as it is general officer. I already respected you a lot for being a retired police officer, but a Master Gunny... that's a whole new kind of respect.

On a side note, I forgot to mention a good book your grandson might be interested in. I bet at least half, if not more of the college level classical guitar programs in the country use this book. It's 20 Studies by Fernando Sor, arranged by Andre Segovia. They start simple and work to very hard. It would be a great reference even if he only learns 1 song a year. If he can play a few songs from this book, he would have the tools to get in just about whatever school he wanted. Here's the book:   Sor 20 Studies

BTW, what part of Ohio did you say you were from?

Cheers!

John

John
Thanks for the book information and I will get it for him. Yea Master Gunny is hard. I started and was active with 3d Recon in the 60's until we deactivated. I was then Active Reserve for many years. With my force recon background, got to see few things. They folks now and I stay in touch with the command SgtMaj for 3d Recon which is now deployed in Iraq are great. I sure wish we had the stuff then, they have now. A book about us is Never Without Heros by Larry Vetters. Well enough about that. Serving is serving. My son is a nuke and I two kids almost raised in the Army. I think anyone who serves is a hero. You know about the moves and not being able to settle and how that works on the kids. I am amazed at our military today and what it does. If had it to do over, and could do anything would probably go same path. I just watched thing about your line of work and MOS on TV. Very cool and what responsibilty. Anyway thanks. Do you think I should get him a classical and what sort of level of one. I am going to build one from Robbie's video and may take school for that