Department of Guitar Studies
In one-to-one lessons, you will concentrate on developing a
broad range of skills, both technical and interpretive. Your
studies on the guitar will cover a wide solo repertoire as
well as other important works, including concertos and chamber
music, enabling you to build a secure foundation upon which to
establish a rewarding career in this increasingly competitive
musical field.
We place a strong emphasis on the development of your
professional skills and musical confidence, offering you
opportunities to be involved in a range of departmental performance
classes, lunchtime concerts, masterclasses and workshops to help
you achieve this.
In collaboration with the department of historical performance,
you will have further opportunities to explore performance styles
from the 16th century onwards, including figured bass and
ornamentation. You may also apply for tuition on the lute and
vihuela. The department has a number of ‘period’
instruments which are available on loan, these include copies
of a Baroque guitar and an early 19th century
guitar.
Our regular concert programme provides opportunities for public
performance, both in-house and at external venues, and we award an
annual Guitar Prize in the Summer Term.
The College is proud to recognise the strong connection
with Julian Bream, who has contributed a large number of
guitar scores and his valuable collection of lute scores and
treatises. Julian Bream has also donated a large part of
his art collection, also a concert guitar for use by the
department.