<p>Seeking input from classical guitar folks. D is an excellent student and has been studying classical guitar for 8 years. She is most interested in a two degree program that will allow her to pursue performance and liberal arts. We have a short list, but I would be interested to know from others where you think the best programs are for guitar...university or conservatory programs. She is a junior now. Thanks.</p>
<p>Not the name that usually jumps to everybody's mind, but UGA has a fabulous classical guitar teacher, John Sutherland. He teaches a clinic with Christopher Parkening every summer in Montana. (I only know him, though, because his wife was my kids' piano teacher.)</p>
<p>From his bio: "Mr. Parkening calls Mr. Sutherland "one of the finest teachers in the United States."" and "Three of the twelve students at the final Segovia Master Class studied with John Sutherland at the University of Georgia."</p>
<p>But I would like to see more info about your D. What part of the country is she interested in? What level of selectivity does she hope for?</p>
<p>Juilliard also has a classical guitar teacher, Sharon Ibsin, who is supposed to be quite good (and who studied with Segovia, as did John Sutherland.) I really don't know much about the program, though.</p>
<p>Christopher Parkening is now on the faculty of Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA.</p>
<p>D would love to be in New York. Columbia/Julliard would be great, don't know if she is a strong enough player for Julliard. Also looking at Tufts or Harvard and NEC... will visit Hopkins, and Oberlin. We're from California and she would like to get out of town, but will probably look at USC as well. </p>
<p>Re: selectivity, I think she is probably stronger academically than musically, but is currently playing in a college ensemble at UCSD, has spent 4 summers at Northwestern and NCSA, and while nervous about the life of a musician, thinks she might want to go for it?</p>
<p>
<p>From his bio: "Mr. Parkening calls Mr. Sutherland "one of the finest teachers in the United States."" and "Three of the twelve students at the final Segovia Master Class studied with John Sutherland at the University of Georgia."</p>
<p>But I would like to see more info about your D. What part of the country is she interested in? What level of selectivity does she hope for?</p>
<p>Juilliard also has a classical guitar teacher, Sharon Ibsin, who is supposed to be quite good (and who studied with Segovia, as did John Sutherland.) I really don't know much about the program, though.
</p>
<p>My D also interested in continuing to study classical guitar, but not as a major. She has applied to Princeton because of their outstanding engineering program but also because they have Laura Oltman listed as providing private lessons on classical guitar. One can also obtain, I believe, a "performance certificate" while majoring in another area, which might then enable her to teach privately after graduation. Her website: <a href="http://www.guitarduo.com%5B/url%5D">www.guitarduo.com</a> and she is also listed as faculty/staff on Princeton's website.</p>
<p>University of Delaware also has a classical guitar program - and this is likely where DD will end up due to financial considerations. </p>
<p>A third eastern school with an oustanding music program is Ithaca College. I believe the teacher is Pablo Cohen, not certain. Good luck to your daughter and mine! Sounds like they have a lot in common (mine is off at All-State Chorus in Pennsylvania right now), won't be home to receive Princeton acceptance/rejection.</p>
<p>Another tremendous school for music and they have a terrific classical guitar dept is the Hartt School at the University of Hartford- they also have a very strong Community division and graduate students are trained to give lessons (suzuki, etc.) a very strong string program too. The Graduate students come from all over the US and Canada</p>
<p>NEC has Elliot Fisk, was also going to mention Hartt and Ithaca and Oberlin. Many schools actually do not offer classical guitar (Bard, Curtis) and state schools and others (BU) do not even admit composers who play classical guitar. Obviously, it is good to focus on the teacher available.</p>
<p>Be cautioned that the Harvard/NEC double degree BA/MM program is extremely selective, and getting into both schools does not at all mean admission to the double degree program. Tufts may be the same, but the degree is a BA/BM.</p>
<p>Students often go to a school and use a private teacher outside the school. My daughter is doing that. So also try researching who might be teaching within accessible distance from the school.</p>
<p>One nice note: Middlebury admissions person was very sweet and said they would try hard to find a guitar teacher if she applied and got in, but she did not apply.</p>
<p>Oberlin for a dual degree, if solely musical i’d suggest the san francisco conservatory of music, they have a strong program, a friend of mine from school is literally a genius at classical guitar and has performed at carnegie hall etc. etc. he applied to SFCM, cleveland institute of music, the royal conservatory of music and some others, i assume he chose them because they would fit him well</p>
<p>Second the nomination for Hartt. We visited there, but my S is a contemporary guitarist. But we were pretty blown away by the guitar department there.</p>
<p>Also second for U. of Georgia as far as academics. My nephew went through the honors program there and it was amazing. Gorgeous campus too.</p>
<p>It doesn’t meet the academic requirement, but re: Compmom’s comment about Curtis: [Curtis</a> Institute of Music : Guitar Requirements](<a href=“http://www.curtis.edu/admissions/audition/guitar-requirements/]Curtis”>http://www.curtis.edu/admissions/audition/guitar-requirements/)</p>
<p>They’re just starting the guitar program with Jason Vieaux this fall.</p>
<p>Good for them! We were so surprised they did not have a classical guitar program. (The secretary there informed us that guitar is not a classical instrument!)</p>
<p>According to the info on the link above, David Starobin is also teaching there, one of the best.</p>
<p>Good audition repertoire that even looks familiar to me, a complete non-player who misses hearing those pieces in the background while I do housework!</p>
<p>I wonder how many people have heard about this new program. The teachers are so well-known, word has probably gotten around.</p>
<p>The original post was from 2006.</p>
<p>Whooooops. So it is.</p>
<p>Adding the San Francisco Conservatory - they have a HUGE classical guitar program: [Guitar</a> - myCampus](<a href=“http://my.sfcm.edu/web/sfcm/guitar3]Guitar”>http://my.sfcm.edu/web/sfcm/guitar3) They have a very wide range of guitar professors, covering the entire world of classical guitar music.</p>
<p>Mannes College in NYC offers a [Guitar</a> Performance Major](<a href=“http://www.newschool.edu/mannes/guitar-performance-major/]Guitar”>Academics | Mannes School of Music | The New School)</p>
<p>I’d check out SUNY Fredonia for classical guitar (James Piorkowski) if you haven’t already. A few months back I ended up applying on multiple instruments there (going as a percussionist now) and I would seriously vouch for the guitar studio there. I honestly learned a lot about classical guitar in the short 15 or so minute audition I had with him. I would recommend anyone to audition there.</p>
<p>The original post was in 2006 and was resurrected next in 2011 before its most recent rebirth. Some of the information may have changed over the years.</p>
<p>Oh wow I hadn’t even noticed haha.</p>
<p>For a student in classical guitar: you might try the University of Colorado Boulder. Great guitar program with a wonderful instructor, Nicolo’ Spera from Milan - one of the few guitarists in the world who plays, with great artistry, both the 6 string and 10 string guitar. Listen to his Ohana recordings on YouTube!</p>
<p>Just another thought - Stetson in FL, excellent liberal arts and music school. Guitar students study with Dr. Stephen Robinson.</p>
<p>[Music</a> Performance - Guitar](<a href=“http://www.stetson.edu/other/academics/programs/music-performance-guitar.php]Music”>http://www.stetson.edu/other/academics/programs/music-performance-guitar.php)</p>