Classical Guitar Individual Instruction

MUSP 188

Course Syllabus

Instructor: Joe Rea Phillips

Text: Classic Guitar Technique, Vol. I, Aaron Shearer

Week 1

• Correct seating, posture and holding of the classical guitar
• Explanation of right hand technique utilizing rest stroke for the fingers, free stroke for the thumb
• Explanation of open strings and left hand technique
• Exercises 1 – 13 and Prelude No.1

Week 2

• Review and performance of assignments
• Assign Preludes 2 – 6 and Etude No.1

Week 3

• Review and performance of assignments
• Half steps and whole steps on the fingerboard
• Chromatics
• Free stroke on adjacent strings
• Assign Exercises 23 – 28, Etude Nos. 2, 2a, and 3

Week 4

• Review and performance of assignments
• 3^rd string chromatic scale
• Assign Etude No. 4 and Prelude No. 8
• PIMA arpeggio pattern
• Assign Prelude No. 9

Week 5

• Review and performance of assignments
• Notes on the 4^th string
• Assign Etude Nos. 5 and 6 and Prelude No. 11

Week 6

• Review and performance of assignments
• Half - steps on the 4^th string
• Assign Moorish Dance and Prelude No. 10a

Week 7

• Review and performance of assignments
• Notes on the 5^th string
• Assign Etude No. 7 and Prelude No. 11

Week 8

• Review and performance of assignments
• Notes on the 6^th string
• Assign Etude 8 and Prelude No. 11

Week 9

• Review and performance of assignments
• Right hand long scales
• Chromatic scale on all six strings
• Free stroke and rest stroke combined   Folk Song
• Assign Etude No. 9

Week 10

• Review and performance of assignments
• Double stops
• Free stroke on adjacent strings
• Assign Exercise 44, Prelude No. 13, Country Dance – Carulli,, and Prelude No. 14

Week 11

• Review and performance of assignments
• 3 notes played together
• Pivot and Guide fingers
• Assign Prelude Nos. 15 – 15a and Prelude Nos. 16 -16a

Week 12

• Review and performance of assignments
• 4 notes played together
• Assign Etude No. 12, Prelude 19, and Waltz – Carulli

Week 13

• Review and performance of assignments
• Preparation for final exam performance – selected etudes and short pieces by Carcassi, Carulli , Giuliani, Aguado, and Sor

Week 14

• Performance practice for final exam

Week 15

• Performance examination
• Students are expected to be thoroughly familiar with all the notes in the first position on the guitar and be fluent concerning the use of right and left hand techniques. Students should also present a satisfactory performance of their repertoire pieces.

2^nd Semester

Instructor: Joe Rea Phillips

Text: Solo Guitar Playing by Frederick Noad

After completion of Classic Guitar Technique, Vol. I by Aaron Shearer, students that continue in MUSP 188 use Solo Guitar Playing by Noad. The music contained in this method book is intermediate to advanced level, therefore it is impossible to present a week – by – week syllabus of the subject matter. Students continue working on the following:

• Free stroke and Rest stroke
• Free stroke and Rest stroke combined
• Scales
• Arpeggios
• Reading skill development
• Playing and reading in the upper positions
• Memorization of repertoire
• Development of interpretation skills
• Repertoire of composers such as Carulli, de Visee, Handel, Bach, Tedesco, Dowland, Sor, Giuliani, Aguado, Caarcassi, Llobet , Tarrega, and others.

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