The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in guitar performance with a multi-style approach in which students choose a primary and secondary style among classical, jazz, flamenco, and finger-style guitar. Classes in composition, technology, world music, pedagogy, and repertoire are designed to prepare students for a versatile career in music, one that may include performing, teaching, recording, and music publishing. Specialized ensembles in each of the styles provide real-world experience in musical collaboration. Individual recitals lay the groundwork for students to find their own voices on the instrument.
The UWM guitar faculty includes recording artists, authors, and internationally recognized performers. The program welcomes students from all across the globe and upholds a teaching philosophy open to a world of ideas: master classes, workshops, lectures, and concerts presented by visiting artists are an integral part of the program, serving to broaden the parameters of students’ musical experience and understanding. Video documentation of these events provides a valuable resource for current and future students.
Opportunities for undergraduate research, combined with an emphasis on analysis and transcription, deepen the musical context of the repertoire and help students understand both traditional and new methodological approaches. Based on one-on-one instruction, this rigorous program enables students to develop a highly personal discipline, as well as universal skills that translate across fields of study.
topCurrent Faculty
Prof. Beverly Belfer, guitar
Prof. Peter Baime, flamenco guitar
Prof. Peter Billmann, jazz guitar
Prof. Elina Chekan, classical guitar, Director of the Suzuki Guitar Institute
Prof. Andrew Lardner, finger-style guitar
Prof. Donald Linke, jazz guitar
Prof. René Izquierdo, classical guitar, Director of Classical Guitar
Prof. John Stropes, finger-style guitar, Chair of the Guitar Area
BFA Curriculum
|
Freshman Year - Semester I |
Cr. |
|
|
MusPerf 3xx (MusPerf 346, 347, 348 or 349 - two styles must be taken for each sem of freshman and sophomore years) |
Guitar (2 cr/sem) |
2 |
|
MusPerf 001 or 1011 |
Piano |
1 |
|
Music 274 or 271 (6 sems at 1 cr/sem) |
Guitar Repertoire and Ensemble |
1 |
|
Music 123 |
Aural Theory I |
1 |
|
Music 125 |
Keyboard Harmony I |
1 |
|
Music 127 |
Materials of Theory I |
1 |
|
Music 1072 |
Convocation |
0 |
|
Music or General Electives |
2 |
|
|
Core Curriculum |
6 |
|
|
Total |
15 |
|
|
Freshman Year - Semester II |
Cr. |
|
|
MusPerf 3xx (MusPerf 346, 347, 348 or 349) |
Guitar |
2 |
|
MusPerf 001 or 101 |
Piano |
1 |
|
Music 274 or 271 |
Guitar Repertoire and Ensemble |
1 |
|
Music 124 |
Aural Theory II |
1 |
|
Music 126 |
Keyboard Harmony II |
1 |
|
Music 128 |
Materials of Theory II |
2 |
|
Music 107 |
Convocation |
0 |
|
Music or General Electives |
2 |
|
|
Core Curriculum |
6 |
|
|
Total |
16 |
|
|
Sophomore Year - Semester I |
Cr. |
|
|
MusPerf 3xx (MusPerf 346, 347, 348 or 349) |
Guitar |
2 |
|
MusPerf 1xx (Mus Perf 146, 147, 148, 149) |
2nd Style Guitar |
1 |
|
Music 274 or 271 |
Guitar Repertoire and Ensemble |
1 |
|
Music 225 |
Materials of Theory III |
2 |
|
Music 226 |
Aural Theory III |
1 |
|
Music 227 |
Keyboard Harmony III |
1 |
|
Music 211 |
General History of Western Music I |
3 |
|
Music 107 |
Convocation |
0 |
|
Core Curriculum |
3 |
|
|
Foreign Language3 (4 cr/sem) |
4 |
|
|
Total |
18 |
|
|
Sophomore Year - Semester II |
Cr. |
|
|
MusPerf 3xx (MusPerf 346, 347, 348 or 349) |
Guitar |
2 |
|
MusPerf 1xx (MusPerf 146, 147, 148 or 149) |
2nd Style Guitar |
1 |
|
Music 274 or 271 |
Guitar Repertoire and Ensemble |
1 |
|
Music 230 |
Form Analysis |
3 |
|
Music 212 |
History of Music I |
3 |
|
Music 107 |
Convocation |
0 |
|
Core Curriculum |
3 |
|
|
Foreign Language3 (4 cr/sem) |
4 |
|
|
Total |
17 |
|
|
Junior Year - Semester I |
Cr. |
|
|
MusPerf 4xx (MusPerf 446, 447, 448, or 449 - two styles for each sem of jr and sr yr; 1 cr) |
Guitar |
2 |
|
MusPerf 1xx (MusPerf 146, 147, 148 or 149) |
2nd Style Guitar |
1 |
|
Music 274 or 271 |
Guitar Repertoire and Ensemble |
1 |
|
Music 307 |
General History of Western Music III |
3 |
|
Mus Ed 385 |
Guitar Pedagogy |
1 |
|
Music 107 |
Convocation |
0 |
|
Core Curriculum |
5 |
|
|
Foreign Language3 (3 cr/sem) |
3 |
|
|
Total |
16 |
|
|
Junior Year - Semester II |
Cr. |
|
|
MusPerf 4xx (MusPerf 446, 447, 448, or 449) |
Guitar |
2 |
|
MusPerf 1xx (MusPerf 146, 147, 148, or 149) |
2nd Style Guitar |
1 |
|
Music 274 or 271 |
Guitar Repertoire and Ensemble |
1 |
|
Music 421 |
Materials of Contemporary Music |
3 |
|
Music 659 |
Junior Recital (half) |
0 |
|
Music 385 |
Guitar Pedagogy |
1 |
|
Choose one history elective |
3 |
|
|
Music 308 |
Selected Topics in History and Lit |
|
|
Music 311 |
Music of the Baroque Era |
|
|
Music 312 |
Music of the Classic Era |
|
|
Music 313 |
Music of the Romantic Era |
|
|
Music 314 |
Music of the 20th Century |
|
|
Music 309 |
American Folk and Pop Music (2 cr.) |
|
|
Music 611 |
Survey of Medieval Music |
|
|
Music 612 |
Survey of Renaissance Music |
|
|
Music 107 |
Convocation |
0 |
|
Core Curriculum |
3 |
|
|
Foreign Language3 (3 cr/sem) |
3 |
|
|
Total |
17 |
|
|
Senior Year - Semester I |
Cr. |
|
|
MusPerf 4xx (MusPerf 446, 447, 448, or 449) |
Guitar |
2 |
|
Music xxx |
Ensemble |
1-2 |
|
Music 353 |
Conducting |
2 |
|
Choose one theory elective |
3 |
|
|
Music 321 |
Counterpoint |
|
|
Music 323 |
Instrumentation |
|
|
Music 220 |
Introduction to Computers and Music |
|
|
Music 327 |
Analog and Digital Synthesis I |
|
|
Music 328 |
Digital Synthesis and Systems II |
|
|
Music 680 |
Special Studies in Music Theory |
|
|
Core Curriculum and Electives |
7 |
|
|
Total |
15-16 |
|
|
Senior Year - Semester II |
Cr. |
|
|
MusPerf 4xx (MusPerf 446, 447, 448, or 449) |
Guitar |
2 |
|
Music xxx |
Ensemble |
1-2 |
|
Music 660 |
Senior Recital (full) |
2 |
|
Music or General Electives |
7 |
|
|
Core Curriculum |
3 |
|
|
Total |
15-16 |
|
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