CGC Member Guide
Getting started
If you are a new member at CGC Academy (no matter your previous background with the guitar), we recommend that you first work through the Member Orientation Course and then start with the Fundamentals course, specifically the first three lessons: the sitting position, right-hand position, and left-hand position.
There are several reasons for this, even if you already have extensive background with classical guitar. It helps you get acquainted with Simon’s teaching style and, more importantly, his approach to technique. Especially if you already have experience with classical guitar, you may find some things differ in Simon’s approach. And because these technical lessons are so foundational to everything that follows, it’s important to get acquainted with them here.
However, your background will determine where you go from there.
Go here to start the Member Orientation Course
Complete Beginners: Where to start
If you are brand new to music or even just to classical guitar, we would recommend going through the whole Fundamentals course and then continuing with Grade 1 afterwards.
Transitioning from other styles of guitar to classical
If you are transitioning from another style of guitar to classical we again would recommend beginning with the Fundamentals course, and you may also want to continue with Grade 1 to focus on learning to read music.
Coming back to the guitar after a long break
If you are returning to the classical guitar after a long break, we would encourage you to begin with the first three technique lessons in the Fundamentals course.
Experienced players
If you already have experience playing classical guitar, once again we recommend starting with the technique lessons from the Fundamentals, but from there you will need an assessment to find the right starting place for you.
When to move on
When you reach the end of a lesson, you may begin the next lesson as soon as you are comfortable, though comfort levels will differ for each person.
How long to complete lessons
We generally recommend allowing 6-18 months to make it through one grade.
Gear for getting started
All you need to get started at CGC Academy is a guitar and a device with Internet access, but you may want to consider other equipment and gear that can enhance your experience.
Setting Expectations
We will always do our best to reply to your questions, emails, comments, and Forum questions within 24 hours, but we are a small team and sometimes it may take a couple of days longer.
Member Accounts
Subscriptions
We have three types of subscriptions at CGC Academy: the Quarterly, Annual, and Annual with Coaching (Premium).
Billing
All subscriptions are billed on an autorenewal basis.
Cancellations and Refunds
You may cancel your subscription at any time and you will retain access to your subscription until it expires. We have a 30-day money-back guarantee and offer refunds for any reason within the first 30 days after you sign up.
Upgrades
You may upgrade your membership at any point during your subscription and we will credit any time you have left on your current subscription toward the upgrade fee.
Pausing Subscriptions
We do not have any way to pause subscriptions – this is a limitation of our software – but we may still be able to help out.
Issues
If you have an account issue please reach out to us by email, use the Contact form on the Contact page, or give us a phone call.
Profile
You can create a profile with a picture, a banner photo for your profile page, and other info like what guitar you play, your location, etc.
CGC Forum
The CGC Forum is the social hub where you can interact with other members as well as members of The CGC Team, ask questions, post videos, and get feedback.
Code of Conduct
At the Academy we do our best to keep all aspects of the site, including the Forum, focused on learning. For that reason we have a code of conduct to ensure safety and comfort of all our members.
How to create a topic
You can create topics in any Forum to begin a discussion, ask questions, or post videos to share with the Team or fellow members.
How to add images
In order to post an image to your post the image will first need to be uploaded to a website that hosts images.
How to create a video
You can place the URL of any video in the text box of a topic or comment in the Forum and it will automatically show up as a video embed window.
Progress Journals
The Progress Journal gives you a space to set goals, reflect on your achievements and challenges, post updates, and receive encouragement from your peers.
The Cornerstone Method
The Cornerstone Method for Classical Guitar provides a clear and structured path to learn music notation, sight reading, fingering principles, technique, musicianship, and theory.
The curriculum at Classical Guitar Corner Academy is divided into eight grades that span beginner materials to advanced repertoire and techniques. Grades are further divided into units of study and those units are broken into individual lessons.
Lessons are progressive and should be studied in the order provided. Each exercise has been carefully designed to develop new concepts that are introduced at the outset of the lesson.
CGC Grades
The Grades provide you with a structured path to guide your learning and progress on classical guitar.
CGC Units
Each Grade has 2-3 units of lessons to break up the large amount of material into smaller chunks to keep you focused and motivated.
CGC Lessons
Each lesson in the Units has a video lesson and accompanying exercises, score examples, and worksheet downloads, where relevant.
Feedback
Feedback can be found in a variety of ways inside the Academy: Progress Journals updates; Coaching Calls; Member Challenges; Performance Seminars; Exams; Forum questions; and lesson comments.
CGC Events
CGC Academy has a number of events both virtual and in-person, where you can interact with teachers, fellow musicians, and guest performers.
Exams
Grade Exam Submissions provide you with motivation and a goal to work toward within each grade.
Member Challenges
A month-long event inside the CGC Academy that gets everyone working together on the same topic.
Performance Seminars
A live zoom session open to all Academy members with four to eight performers that receive direct feedback from a teacher.
Open Mics
The Open Mics provide you the opportunity to perform often in a safe environment.
Workshops
From time to time we host workshops with guest artists and members of the CGC Team that gives us the opportunity to workshop ideas either not present in the curriculum or to expand on certain topics.
Summer School
Each summer we host an intensive in-person week-long guitar festival called The CGC Summer School near Boston in the United States.
Guitoberfest
Every October we host an annual workshop with guest artists, concerts, workshops, and open mics called Guitoberfest.
Regional Workshops
Occasionally we or our members host in-person workshops and similar events where our members can get together to hang out and perhaps play guitar together.
CGC Show
The CGC Show is a live show on the CGC YouTube channel where we host interviews and workshops, discuss educational topics, and get the chance to hang out virtually as a community.
CGC Coaching Calls
Coaching calls give you an opportunity to get direct and personal feedback about your playing.
Podcasts
CGC hosts two amazing podcasts: Simon hosts The CGC Podcast with amazing guest interviews like John Williams and David Russell and in-depth conversations about all things classical guitar; and Roger Ramirez hosts the CGCA Member’s Podcast, which features discussions with members of the CGC Team as well as interviews of fellow members.
Community Calendar
The Community Calendar is a space where you can let fellow members know about a concert coming up in your local area or online
CGC Sheet Music
A collection of PDF downloads of materials and resources ranging from solo and duo repertoire, to exercises and homework, to practice routines and worksheets.
CGC Libraries
We have several libraries where we have organized lessons from the graded curriculum by topic or list.
CGC Courses
A collection of full, standalone courses ranging from technique to theory to reading music, and more.
Meet the CGC Team
In addition to Simon Powis, the Founder and Director of Classical Guitar Corner, we have a team of wonderful guitarists and human beings here at CGC.
Contacting the CGC Team
You can contact the CGC Team by email any day of the week and by phone Tuesday through Saturday.
The CGC Story
How can I help CGC?
The biggest way you can help CGC is by word of mouth: writing a review of our books on Amazon, sharing posts, podcast episodes, and lessons on social media, and telling your friends and guitar societies about CGC helps us so much. Thank you!
Guitar Gear
All you need to get started at CGC Academy is a guitar and a device with Internet access, but you may want to consider other equipment and gear that can enhance your experience.
Technology Gear
When it comes to technology gear, all you really need is an audio/video device (your phone will work just fine) but you can upgrade audio and video gear for better quality.