Masterclasses

LEARN FROM GUEST ARTISTS

Learn from guest artists and specialist teachers through detailed explorations of music and technique.

Laura Snowden

Laura Snowden teaches Carcassi Etude 3 and Villa Lobos Prelude 3 and 4.

Explore Laura Snowden

Andrew York

Andrew York teaches three of his own compositions: Snowflight, Spider Dance, and Home.

Explore Andrew York

Brouwer Etudes with René Izquierdo

Virtuoso Cuban guitarist, Rene Izquierdo, dives deep into etudes I, V, VI, VII, and VIII from Brouwer Etudes Simples

Explore Brouwer Etudes with René Izquierdo

Gohar Vardanyan walks you through tremolo technique and Francisco Tárrega’s masterpiece, Recuerdos de la Alhambra. Topics include a technical approach to tremolo; the different musical and technical challenges of Recuerdos; and how to practice tremolo. A performance example is included.

Explore Tremolo with Gohar Vardanyan

Performance Psychology with Dr. Noa Kageyama

Dr. Noa Kageyama who is a Juilliard professor, violinist, and performance psychologist teaches you how to deal with performance anxiety, what tactics one can take for memorizing music for a performance, how to maintain focus during a performance, and more.

Explore Performance Psychology with Dr. Noa Kageyama

Let Go with Ben Verdery

Ben Verdery, professor of guitar at Yale University, walks you through his own composition “Let Go,” which is one of his 11 Etudes. Topics include technical difficulties and how to work through them, ideas for interpretation, and an interview with the composer.

Explore Let Go with Ben Verdery

Guitar Mechanics with Gary Lee

Master luthier Gary Lee guides you through the physical mechanics of the guitar and how you can effectively maintain and set up your instrument to play the way you want it to but also what to look out for when purchasing or commissioning a new instrument. Highly recommended for all guitarists!

Explore Guitar Mechanics with Gary Lee

El Testament d’Amelia with Kevin Gallagher

CGC Faculty member Kevin Gallagher explores Miguel Llobet’s stunning arrangement of the Catalan folk tune “El Testament d’Amelia”: topics include using rest strokes on the melody (and how best to utilize the rest stroke); separating the melody from the accompaniment; historical details of the piece, and more. A performance walkthrough is included.

Explore El Testament d’Amelia with Kevin Gallagher

Rasgueado with Gohar Vardanyan

In this course guitarist Gohar Vardanyan walks you through rasgueado techniques for classical guitarists. Topics include different rasgueado patterns and how to perform them, understanding the sevillanas form and rhythm, applying these techniques to Joaquin Turina’s Sevillanas, and more.

Explore Rasgueado with Gohar Vardanyan

Lesley’s Song with Fred Hand

Fred Hand shares insights into his composition “Lesley’s Song.” Topics covered include technical difficulties, such as using the thumb, free and rest stroke, the danger of repeated stress injuries from practicing barre chords, as well as phrasing and interpretation, how to make a musical moment out of a technical difficulty, and more.

Explore Lesley’s Song with Fred Hand

Capricho Catalán

A lyrical gem from Isaac Albeniz, this piece is Grade 8 difficulty and above.

Explore Capricho Catalán