Guitar studies offers a comprehensive curriculum representing the diverse role that the guitar plays in music today. Students develop the skills, knowledge, and creative versatility necessary to pursue professional careers spanning the spectrum of genres.
The diversity of expertise among CalArts’ guitar faculty aids students in developing original and unique musical pathways. Students are encouraged to study with various faculty in support of developing their own individual voices in a stimulating and nurturing environment.
The curriculum includes study of classical styles from medieval and renaissance to the avant garde. Students have the opportunity to explore traditional jazz, rock, pop, and blues, as well as percussive acoustic guitar, Afro-pop, flamenco, avant rock, interactive music technologies, metal, and noise. World music styles include traditional North Indian, African, Balinese, Javanese, Persian, and Balkan.
The specialization covers a variety of plucked string instruments, including nylon-string and steel-string acoustic, electric, and MIDI guitars. The repertoire draws from classical guitar, Baroque style, traditional and free jazz, flamenco, traditional and contemporary Balkan, and traditional rock and blues. Students develop a broad understanding in composition, different kinds of improvisation, and electro-acoustic practices. The training emphasizes both traditional and cross-genre technical and stylistic skills, so that guitarists have a strong foundation for developing their own unique voice.
All levels of Guitar students rehearse and perform with numerous ensembles throughout the School of Music, ranging from chamber to world music, improvisation, and collaborative experimental pop ensembles. They also have the opportunity to work alongside faculty in the school’s principal conducted faculty-student group, the Ensemble at CalArts.
BFA
Undergraduate guitar players develop wide-ranging instrumental skills through major lessons, guitar workshops, and more specialized guitar classes covering blues, flamenco, lute, studio projects, arranging, fretboard theory, figured bass, and analysis of guitar repertoire. Coached small ensemble work includes performing with chamber music groups, student-faculty jazz ensembles, and the school’s multifocus ensembles.
The curriculum also requires classes in composition, creative skills, and pedagogy. Guitar faculty also encourage students to incorporate non-Western traditions, improvisation, experimental forms, digital media, and interdisciplinary performance as part of their individual studies.
MFA
The master’s degree track pushes already-accomplished guitarists to explore advanced performance techniques and new stylistic directions as they shape their individual artistic profiles and prepare for careers in the professional music world.
In addition to major lessons, guitar workshops, and advanced classes in music history, literature, theory, and analysis, MFA candidates play in a variety of coached small ensembles, including chamber music groups, faculty-student jazz ensembles, and the school’s multifocus ensembles. MFA guitarists further refine their musical and creative skills through custom-tailored studies under the guidance of their mentors. The graduate curriculum also incorporates classes in pedagogy and career design.