The Music library at EKU features many guitar related items. Students can peruse centuries of guitar music, technical treatises, periodicals, CDs, and historical writings. Weekly private lessons focus on interpretation, technique, sight-reading, fretboard visualization, the evolution of the guitar, and other issues pertinent to creating historically informed and musically expressive performances.

Our program is very forward looking. I welcome and encourage students who wish to learn and perform contemporary guitar music. We are truly blessed to live in a era when guitar permeates every musical landscape. Since the multiplicity of contemporary guitar styles can be overwhelming, students are encouraged to gain an understanding of them all - but only focus on a few.

The guitar has many personalities and every genre offers something which benefits all the others. However, It is simply not reasonable to assume that everyone can be great at everything - I'm certainly not. To this end, and for specific reasons, I require the following styles be studied:

1) Classic Guitar- Every guitar student, performance major or otherwise, shall study the nylon-string classic guitar every semester without exception. Jury performances (final exams) will consist of two memorized pieces which contrast in style and hail from different periods: for example, Capriccio Arabe by Francesco Tarrega (slow and melodic from the Romantic period) and, the Gigue from BWV 1006a by J.S. Bach (fast, contrapuntal, and from the Baroque period). Scales (Royal Conservatory- a la Andres Segovia) and arpeggios (Giuliani and other sources) will round out the rest of each semester's jury examination.

2) Jazz Guitar- Jazz studies teach the aspiring guitarist many things including: harmonic progression, tension and resolution, improvised variation, and phrasing. These issues are also explored in classical studies, but some students seem to make a better connection to them while studying jazz. It is always exciting to see a jazz student look at a baroque piece, figure out the harmonic progression and then solo over it. It is simply a win-win scenario: the student appreciates the baroque piece on a different level; the piece comes down from the classical pedestal; and, the student's overall phrasing improves. EKU's Jazz Band is excellent and they are always looking for good guitarists (service grants are available $$$).

3) Other Guitar Styles- There are so many other styles of guitar a student can pursue...too many to try to list. But there is one caveat: The piece must be a solo guitar feature. Compositions by Tony MacAlpine, Allan Holdsworth, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Frank Gambale, Earl Klugh, Tony Rice, Malmsteen, etc... are fine and welcome. If you can play it, you can do it. (you still have to keep your classical chops up though!)

4) Private Lessons- Performance majors must enroll for an hour lesson each week (preferably two 1/2 hr. lessons per week). In college, students enrolled for either 2 or 3 credit hours get an hour lesson. The difference lies in the amount of work you must complete. Music education, Merchandising, Composition, and General music majors are not required to have as many applied credits as performance majors, but may have hour lessons as space permits (see guitar programs for more details).

5) Ensemble- All guitar students are required to participate in guitar ensemble. The ensemble meets as a class for 2 hours per week and students rehearse outside of class for 4 more hours (or longer, as necessary). The concerts feature music from all style periods.

6) Masterclass- All guitar students are required to participate in guitar masterclass. Solo performance, interpretation, technique, and other issues pertinent to guitar are investigated in masterclass. Performance practice improves performance skills.

7) History & Pedagogy- All guitar students are required to give presentations in guitar masterclass. These presentations will introduce materials newly acquired by the library, explore the guitar's elegant past, or review the viability of some technical treatise.

8) Scholarships- Guitar scholarships are available, and all students are encouraged to audition. These awards do not cover the full cost of tuition but may be combined with other awards, scholarships, and service grants: like those offered for Jazz Band and Marching Band. More importantly, EKU offers a host of academic scholarships and partial tuition waivers which are available to all qualified students. It is often less expensive for out-of-state students to attend EKU on a partial tuition wavier than to go to a school in their state of residency. The Department of Music has a scholarship web site which lists audition dates and provides links to other EKU funding sources.

9) Stephen Foster Guitar Camp- Guitar students of all backgrounds will be interested in the EKU summer guitar workshop. Participants will receive a week of intense guitar study- a serious endeavor geared toward guitarists age 13 and above. Adult participants are welcome! Group sessions and ensembles are selected according to age and ability. Parents should understand that instructors will not have time to chaperone younger participants.

Last Updated 20 November 2000, by Dennis Davis	Top