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Strings · 107 verified programs with a classical guitar pathway

Classical Guitar: degrees, diplomas and programs

Classical guitar study blends a solo repertoire built on fingerstyle technique with chamber music, early plucked instruments and a growing contemporary literature.

Also called: Spanish guitar, Nylon-string guitar, Gitarre, Guitare classique, Guitarra clásica.

What the listings below mean

A program is listed for classical guitar only where its official page names the instrument in the title, as a major, or as a formal principal-study pathway. These are formal degree, diploma or certificate pathways; the page says which. An instrument taught in private lessons, or a teacher on the faculty, does not create a listing.

60 Bachelor’s · 38 Master’s · 5 Practice doctorate · 3 Diploma · 1 Certificate · 9 formal principal-study pathway, 78 named major, 20 named in the program title

107 programs

How results are ordered: alphabetically by institution, or by most recently checked when you choose that sort. There is no price ranking, because tuition in different currencies, fee categories and bases (per year, per credit, whole program) is not comparable. A program appears under a subject only through a verified link (dedicated degree, major, concentration or documented pathway). A value we could not verify is shown as “not published”, never as “no”. Items marked Sponsored are paid placements; they never change verification or order. Online programs are not counted as physically located in a state or city, and an institution’s location does not tell you whether it enrols students from your country.

Published classical guitar audition repertoire

Copied from each program’s own admissions page. Requirements are specific to the program and intake: follow the link and check the current year.

  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Master of Music
    • Section 1 (6 to 8 mins): | Two contrasting movements by J. S. Bach taken from suites, sonatas, or partitas for lute, cello or violin. | or two contrasting movements by S. L. Weiss chosen from his sonatas (a.k.a suites). | Section 2 (8 to 10 mins): | One concert piece (i.e. Theme and Variations, Sonata, Fantaisie) by Mauro Giuliani, Fernando Sor, Niccolo Paganini, or Dionisio Aguado. | Section 3 (10 to 15 mins): | A 20th century work to select from (or similar pieces): | Manuel de Falla: Homage pour le tombeau de Debussy | Federico Moreno-Torroba: Sonatina, Castillos de España | Joaquín Rodrigo: Tres piezas españolas, Invocación y danza, En los trigales | Eduardo Sáinz De La Maza: Campanas del alba | Antonio José: Sonata | Frank Martin: Quatre pieces breves | Heitor Villa-Lobos: Suite populaire bresilienne, 5 Preludes, 12 Etudes | Manuel Ponce: Sonata III, Sonatina meridional, Theme varie et finale | Alexandre Tansman: Cavatina | Astor Piazzolla: Cinco piezas | Leo Brouwer: Sonata, El decameron negro, Elogio de la danza, Rito de los orishas | Alberto Ginastera: Sonata | Hans Werner He
  • Lawrence University: Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.)
    • One piece from standard classical guitar literature (may be a movement from a larger work) | One movement of Bach | An etude by Sor, Carcassi, Brouwer or Villa-Lobos | Three selections from the Giuliani 120 Studies for the Right Hand | Three-octave major scale and its parallel minor | Sight-reading may be requested during live auditions | An introductory video is required for recorded auditions | Optional work: Feel free to include any work that does not fit the above requirements. Examples might include: your own composition; a song with guitar accompaniment; a work from another style of music (Blues, Flamenco, Jazz etc.); an ensemble recording; an improvisation; a multi-track recording; a piece using a plucked string instrument other than guitar (banjo, mandolin, lute, ukulele etc.). This portion of the audition is not required, but you are encouraged to display other interests and skills. | For students interested in jazz or pursuing the Jazz Emphasis, please refer to the Jazz Audition Guidelines .
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Bachelor of Music
    • • A minimum of two works representing different historical periods. At least one work should be from the 20th or 21st century (e.g., Brouwer, Moreno-Torroba, Villa-Lobos, Cardoso, Ponce, Dyens, etc.). | • An etude by Sor, Carcassi, Carulli, Tárrega, Villa-Lobos, Brouwer, or equivalent. | • A non-classical piece of choice from rock, fusion, metal, country, folk, world music, etc. | Guitar applicants are encouraged to perform works from memory. Etudes do not have to be performed from memory. | On-campus audition dates can be found here . It is highly recommended that all undergraduate candidates attend an on-campus audition. If you are unable to audition on-campus, please select the “recorded” audition format preference on your supplemental music form. Undergraduate applicants who would like to submit a recorded audition should follow the steps outlined here .
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Bachelor of Music
    • Guitar (Classical): Audition Requirements Undergraduate: Three pieces of contrasting style - the repertoire chosen must include a slow selection as well as one that demonstrates the applicant's upper-level technical ability Major and minor scales, arpeggios, slur studies, and sightreading may be requested Master of Music and Graduate Diploma: Three pieces of contrasting style, all of which must be substantial works or movements from substantial works - the repertoire chosen must include a slow selection as well as one that demonstrates the applicant's upper level of technical ability. If preferred, you may focus your repertoire in a specific era. Major and minor scales, arpeggios, slur studies, and sightreading may be requested Below are examples of CIM guitar audition material, with 3 contrasting style works. The faculty may stop you in the middle of a piece in order to hear other works. Being stopped for time constraints is no reflection on the guitarist's performance. Example 1 BACH Allemande from BWV 995 Suite MERTZ Elegie MARTIN "Comme Une Gigue" from Quatre Pieces Breves Example 2 SCARLATTI Sonata K. 1 PONCE 1st Movement from Sonata No. 3 CARTER Changes Example 3 DOWLAND Fantaisie No. 10 GIULIANI Grande Overture, Op. 61 TURINA Sonata, 1st movement Example 4 SOR Op. 9 Variations GINASTERA Sonata, 2nd Movement JOBIM "A Felicidade" (arr. Dyens) Artist Diploma and Doctor of Musical Arts A complete suite, sonata, or partita of J.S. Bach A composition by a 19th century composer A substantial work (nine minutes or more in length) by a representative 20th- or 21st-century composer A substantial work (nine minutes or more in length) in a style contrasting with No. 3 above
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Master of Music
    • Guitar (Classical): Audition Requirements Undergraduate: Three pieces of contrasting style - the repertoire chosen must include a slow selection as well as one that demonstrates the applicant's upper-level technical ability Major and minor scales, arpeggios, slur studies, and sightreading may be requested Master of Music and Graduate Diploma: Three pieces of contrasting style, all of which must be substantial works or movements from substantial works - the repertoire chosen must include a slow selection as well as one that demonstrates the applicant's upper level of technical ability. If preferred, you may focus your repertoire in a specific era. Major and minor scales, arpeggios, slur studies, and sightreading may be requested Below are examples of CIM guitar audition material, with 3 contrasting style works. The faculty may stop you in the middle of a piece in order to hear other works. Being stopped for time constraints is no reflection on the guitarist's performance. Example 1 BACH Allemande from BWV 995 Suite MERTZ Elegie MARTIN "Comme Une Gigue" from Quatre Pieces Breves Example 2 SCARLATTI Sonata K. 1 PONCE 1st Movement from Sonata No. 3 CARTER Changes Example 3 DOWLAND Fantaisie No. 10 GIULIANI Grande Overture, Op. 61 TURINA Sonata, 1st movement Example 4 SOR Op. 9 Variations GINASTERA Sonata, 2nd Movement JOBIM "A Felicidade" (arr. Dyens) Artist Diploma and Doctor of Musical Arts A complete suite, sonata, or partita of J.S. Bach A composition by a 19th century composer A substantial work (nine minutes or more in length) by a representative 20th- or 21st-century composer A substantial work (nine minutes or more in length) in a style contrasting with No. 3 above
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Graduate Diploma
    • Guitar (Classical): Audition Requirements Undergraduate: Three pieces of contrasting style - the repertoire chosen must include a slow selection as well as one that demonstrates the applicant's upper-level technical ability Major and minor scales, arpeggios, slur studies, and sightreading may be requested Master of Music and Graduate Diploma: Three pieces of contrasting style, all of which must be substantial works or movements from substantial works - the repertoire chosen must include a slow selection as well as one that demonstrates the applicant's upper level of technical ability. If preferred, you may focus your repertoire in a specific era. Major and minor scales, arpeggios, slur studies, and sightreading may be requested Below are examples of CIM guitar audition material, with 3 contrasting style works. The faculty may stop you in the middle of a piece in order to hear other works. Being stopped for time constraints is no reflection on the guitarist's performance. Example 1 BACH Allemande from BWV 995 Suite MERTZ Elegie MARTIN "Comme Une Gigue" from Quatre Pieces Breves Example 2 SCARLATTI Sonata K. 1 PONCE 1st Movement from Sonata No. 3 CARTER Changes Example 3 DOWLAND Fantaisie No. 10 GIULIANI Grande Overture, Op. 61 TURINA Sonata, 1st movement Example 4 SOR Op. 9 Variations GINASTERA Sonata, 2nd Movement JOBIM "A Felicidade" (arr. Dyens) Artist Diploma and Doctor of Musical Arts A complete suite, sonata, or partita of J.S. Bach A composition by a 19th century composer A substantial work (nine minutes or more in length) by a representative 20th- or 21st-century composer A substantial work (nine minutes or more in length) in a style contrasting with No. 3 above
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Artist Diploma
    • Guitar (Classical): Audition Requirements Undergraduate: Three pieces of contrasting style - the repertoire chosen must include a slow selection as well as one that demonstrates the applicant's upper-level technical ability Major and minor scales, arpeggios, slur studies, and sightreading may be requested Master of Music and Graduate Diploma: Three pieces of contrasting style, all of which must be substantial works or movements from substantial works - the repertoire chosen must include a slow selection as well as one that demonstrates the applicant's upper level of technical ability. If preferred, you may focus your repertoire in a specific era. Major and minor scales, arpeggios, slur studies, and sightreading may be requested Below are examples of CIM guitar audition material, with 3 contrasting style works. The faculty may stop you in the middle of a piece in order to hear other works. Being stopped for time constraints is no reflection on the guitarist's performance. Example 1 BACH Allemande from BWV 995 Suite MERTZ Elegie MARTIN "Comme Une Gigue" from Quatre Pieces Breves Example 2 SCARLATTI Sonata K. 1 PONCE 1st Movement from Sonata No. 3 CARTER Changes Example 3 DOWLAND Fantaisie No. 10 GIULIANI Grande Overture, Op. 61 TURINA Sonata, 1st movement Example 4 SOR Op. 9 Variations GINASTERA Sonata, 2nd Movement JOBIM "A Felicidade" (arr. Dyens) Artist Diploma and Doctor of Musical Arts A complete suite, sonata, or partita of J.S. Bach A composition by a 19th century composer A substantial work (nine minutes or more in length) by a representative 20th- or 21st-century composer A substantial work (nine minutes or more in length) in a style contrasting with No. 3 above
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Artist Certificate
    • Guitar (Classical): Audition Requirements Undergraduate: Three pieces of contrasting style - the repertoire chosen must include a slow selection as well as one that demonstrates the applicant's upper-level technical ability Major and minor scales, arpeggios, slur studies, and sightreading may be requested Master of Music and Graduate Diploma: Three pieces of contrasting style, all of which must be substantial works or movements from substantial works - the repertoire chosen must include a slow selection as well as one that demonstrates the applicant's upper level of technical ability. If preferred, you may focus your repertoire in a specific era. Major and minor scales, arpeggios, slur studies, and sightreading may be requested Below are examples of CIM guitar audition material, with 3 contrasting style works. The faculty may stop you in the middle of a piece in order to hear other works. Being stopped for time constraints is no reflection on the guitarist's performance. Example 1 BACH Allemande from BWV 995 Suite MERTZ Elegie MARTIN "Comme Une Gigue" from Quatre Pieces Breves Example 2 SCARLATTI Sonata K. 1 PONCE 1st Movement from Sonata No. 3 CARTER Changes Example 3 DOWLAND Fantaisie No. 10 GIULIANI Grande Overture, Op. 61 TURINA Sonata, 1st movement Example 4 SOR Op. 9 Variations GINASTERA Sonata, 2nd Movement JOBIM "A Felicidade" (arr. Dyens) Artist Diploma and Doctor of Musical Arts A complete suite, sonata, or partita of J.S. Bach A composition by a 19th century composer A substantial work (nine minutes or more in length) by a representative 20th- or 21st-century composer A substantial work (nine minutes or more in length) in a style contrasting with No. 3 above
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Doctor of Musical Arts
    • Guitar (Classical): Audition Requirements Undergraduate: Three pieces of contrasting style - the repertoire chosen must include a slow selection as well as one that demonstrates the applicant's upper-level technical ability Major and minor scales, arpeggios, slur studies, and sightreading may be requested Master of Music and Graduate Diploma: Three pieces of contrasting style, all of which must be substantial works or movements from substantial works - the repertoire chosen must include a slow selection as well as one that demonstrates the applicant's upper level of technical ability. If preferred, you may focus your repertoire in a specific era. Major and minor scales, arpeggios, slur studies, and sightreading may be requested Below are examples of CIM guitar audition material, with 3 contrasting style works. The faculty may stop you in the middle of a piece in order to hear other works. Being stopped for time constraints is no reflection on the guitarist's performance. Example 1 BACH Allemande from BWV 995 Suite MERTZ Elegie MARTIN "Comme Une Gigue" from Quatre Pieces Breves Example 2 SCARLATTI Sonata K. 1 PONCE 1st Movement from Sonata No. 3 CARTER Changes Example 3 DOWLAND Fantaisie No. 10 GIULIANI Grande Overture, Op. 61 TURINA Sonata, 1st movement Example 4 SOR Op. 9 Variations GINASTERA Sonata, 2nd Movement JOBIM "A Felicidade" (arr. Dyens) Artist Diploma and Doctor of Musical Arts A complete suite, sonata, or partita of J.S. Bach A composition by a 19th century composer A substantial work (nine minutes or more in length) by a representative 20th- or 21st-century composer A substantial work (nine minutes or more in length) in a style contrasting with No. 3 above
  • Northwestern University: Bachelor of Music
    • Audition dates: | Early Decision: November 16 or 20 | Regular Decision: February 5, 8, & 12 | For Final Audition: | A program of varied solo literature and études, including: | One movement from a Bach suite or another equivalent work from the 16th- through 18th-century repertoire | Prelude, sonata, or theme and variations by Sor, Giuliani, Ponce, Torroba, Turina, Villa-Lobos, Brouwer, or equivalent repertoire | Études by Carcassi, Sor, Brouwer, or Villa-Lobos, or equivalent repertoire
  • Northwestern University: Master of Music
    • Audition dates: | February 5, 8, & 12 | For Final Audition: | Contrasting movements from a Bach lute suite or another equivalent work from the 16th- through 18th-century repertoire | Sonata, fantasy, or theme and variations by 19th-century composers such as Sor, Giuliani, Mertz, Regondi, or an equivalent work from early 20th-century repertoire by Ponce, Turina, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, or Torroba | Major 20th- or 21st-century work by Britten, Brouwer, Ginastera, Henze, Walton, or equivalent.
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities: Bachelor of Music (BMus)
    • Two contrasting pieces or movements chosen from Renaissance, Bach, Sor, Tarrega, Brouwer or Villa-Lobos material; one diatonic major or minor scale; short sight-reading example.

About classical guitar study

The classical guitar is played with nylon strings, usually with the right-hand fingers and nails, and its degree-level study centres on solo performance. Students develop technique in tone production, right- and left-hand independence, rest strokes and free strokes, and polyphonic playing. Because the guitar can play several voices at once, training involves a close attention to voice leading and phrasing.

The repertoire draws on Spanish and Latin American traditions, transcriptions of lute, vihuela and keyboard music, nineteenth-century virtuoso works and a substantial twentieth- and twenty-first-century body of composed and commissioned music. Ensemble work is smaller in scale than in orchestral instruments, though programs often include guitar ensembles, duos with other instruments, and accompaniment of voice. Some departments also teach lute, vihuela or other early plucked instruments.

Typical degrees include the Bachelor of Music in guitar performance, the Master of Music, and practice doctorates such as the Doctor of Musical Arts. Classical guitar is distinct from electric guitar and from contemporary guitar programs, which have different curricula, though some schools host both. Because guitar can be taught in many settings, applicants need to check that a program offers a formal classical specialization.

What study typically involves

  • Classical guitar technique, tone production and nail care
  • Solo repertoire from the Renaissance to the present
  • Transcription and arranging for guitar
  • Chamber music, duos and guitar ensemble
  • Sight-reading and reading in higher positions
  • Theory, aural skills and harmony
  • Music history and instrument history, including the lute and vihuela
  • Performance practice and pedagogy in some programs

Award titles. Classical guitar may be studied for a Bachelor of Music or BMus, a Master of Music or MMus, and in some countries a national diploma. Some conservatories offer an Artist Diploma or a graduate or postgraduate diploma at advanced level, which are diploma-level awards and not master's degrees. The Doctor of Musical Arts is a practice doctorate. Names and standing differ by country, and no equivalence claims are made here.

This directory lists a program under classical guitar only when its official page names the instrument in the title, as a major, or as a formal principal-study option. Guitar lessons offered as electives, or a faculty member who teaches guitar, do not count. Not every school offers a classical guitar specialization, and it is separate from electric guitar.

Auditions and admissions guidance

General orientation only. Each program publishes its own repertoire, format and deadlines; this directory cannot guarantee acceptance.

Classical guitar auditions are typically live, and some programs request a recording first. Applicants usually perform works from different periods or styles to show tone, control of voices and musical judgement, and may be asked to play scales. Guitarists generally perform without an accompanist, which differs from many instruments.

Sight-reading is a frequent test, and theory and aural examinations are common. Some programs ask for an interview or short discussion of repertoire choices. Applicants coming from self-taught or popular-music backgrounds are sometimes assessed on technical foundation and reading ability.

Each program publishes its own repertoire, audition format and deadlines, and they change over time. Candidates should read the current-year information for each school. Nothing here guarantees admission.

See also preparing for auditions and prescreening vs final auditions.

Costs and funding

Classical guitar cohorts are small, but some programs offer merit scholarships, and graduate students may be considered for assistantships such as teaching guitar classes or coaching ensembles. Opportunities for studio teaching vary widely.

Funding depends on the institution, the country and the year, and many students receive partial support or none. Ask each department directly.

Costs beyond tuition. Classical guitarists may pay for a concert-quality instrument, strings, a footstool or support, a case, nail-care supplies, and repairs or setup work. Recording equipment for audition videos, scores and travel to master classes are other possible expenses.