3. The University of Southern California Thornton School of Music – Los Angeles, CA
Notable Faculty: Pepe Romero, Scott Tennant
When Pepe Romero, acclaimed soloist and member of the esteemed Romero ‘classical guitar family,’ joins a faculty that includes Scott Tennant, member and founder of the Grammy-winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, you have one of the most impressive classical guitar faculties at any school in the nation. Their students go on to form solo and chamber music careers of impressive versatility, performing music of Spanish, modern, and classical vernacular languages with graceful ease. USCs classical guitar department has long been considered one of the most esteemed guitar departments in the nation since its founding in 1967 by then-sophomore Christopher Parkening.
Listen to the Faculty: Check out Pepe Romero’s classic solo guitar text below.
2. The Juilliard School – New York, NY
Notable Faculty: Sharon Isbin
Founder of the classical guitar department at Juilliard, Sharon Isbin has created a niche in the Juilliard School that has risen to a level of outstanding prestige in the academic world of classical guitar. Soloist in more than 160 orchestral performances, director of the guitar department at the Aspen Music Festival, and author of the widely used text Classical Guitar Answer Book, Sharon Isbin is a master teacher and performer of her instrument. One of the most accomplished string musicians of her generation, an opportunity to hear her play and study under her tutelage is a rare chance at classical guitar mastery.
Listen to the Faculty: Check Out Sharon Isbin on her critically acclaimed CD Sharon Isbin & Friends: Guitar Passions
1. Pepperdine University – Malibu, CA
Notable Faculty: Christopher Parkening
One of the most successful and widely-known classical guitarists in the entire world, Christopher Parkening has written the premiere texts on classical guitar technique, has recorded Grammy-nominated albums for the top record labels, and has been featured in the most prestigious concert venues throughout the country. His students have concertized frequently throughout the US, and many of them have gone onto respectable teaching careers. Parkening himself started the guitar department at the University of Southern California in the late 1960s when he was just a sophomore! An active and internationally known master of his instrument, Parkening accepts only the most advanced talent for his studio.
Check Out the Faculty: Here is a copy of Parkening’s Guitar Method book, a universally used and praised guitar text
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Featured Image via Wikimedia Commons
John Mills at Cardiff – this guy is heavily underappreciated! This isn’t a question of taste, he’s simply an awesome guitarist who hasn’t gotten the recognition he truly deserves!
Hey – you mean Cardiff in Wales? My evaluations on the rankings pages are actually only dealing with US music schools at this time – good suggestion though.
I am currently studying at Indiana University. Ernesto Bitetti and Petar Jankovic both teach here and I find it rather interesting that this school did not make the top ten.
Antony Glise, who is teaching at the University of Missouri, has a rapidly growing studio. He is one of the top American guitar soloists, too.
Hello, Bill. I didn’t notice this until now, but I do agree with your ranking. Pepperdine is a great school, and Christopher Parkening is a wonderful guitar teacher and mentor who deserves this recognition. Excellent research, great results!
You should put “in USA”
This is not really top ten at all,
Where is Bacelona, Kolone, Koblenz, Stockholm, The Hague, Vienna, Paris, Brussel, and many place in Euro which have a lot more history and great teacher.
can you suggest where I can find a list of email addresses of guitar departments in European schools?
Sincerely,
Alessandro di Leone
Alessandro please tell me more about your guitar experience and where you are located.
i reallize i am bias because he is my son in law but Matt Gould,director of guitar studies Cambrian College and member of Duo46 http://www.duo46.com and Sudbury Guitar trio http://www.sudburyguitartrio.com is a master teacher.
I am a student of Matt… and you are absolutely correct. He’s able to train guitarists faster than any other teacher I’ve seen. In little over a year he had me playing a concert of some very advanced music like Usher Waltz, Grand Overture, Bach Fugue 997 etc… His teaching is definitely up to par with that of Fisk, Barrueco or Patterson…
Hi, I have a friend that’s studying in Ukraine clasik guitar. He is interested in coming to US for a simmester or two for a different experience..what school do u suggest… Preferably in Florida? Thank u
I was curious to know where I can find a list of small liberal arts schools that support classical guitar ensemble programs. Thank you
I went to Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, and it was a great experience .
Some of the most productive and strong guitar programs in the USA are:
University of Arizona in Tucson (Thomas Patterson).
Univetsity of Texas at Austin (Adam Holzman).
Florida State University (Bruce Holzman).
Theses programs should have been included in the top 10.
Bill Kanengiser should be added to notable faculty for USC…
Professor Peter Yates at UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music should be a part of the list too! Prof. Yates teaches you music so that you don’t come out sounding like a robot! You actually learn how to be an artist and not just doing gymnastics for your fingers for four years. The technique and everything else is on you and rather easy to figure out later.. “You cannot bake a cake and decide what to put in it later.” Ted Norman, UCLA guitar program founder, first chair violinist of the LA Phil.
Am curious to know how the quality of the school, the music department, the classical guitar instructor, perhaps other aspects of their academic qualities were all measured to determine the top 10 schools; i.e. on what basis these 10 schools were measured? Thank you!