The Community School of Performing Arts offers traditional and Suzuki Method instruction for guitar. Starting at age five, students can learn from our renowned faculty in year-round, personalized lessons.
To begin the process for private lessons and the Suzuki Guitar program, please submit an inquiry form.
For those seeking engaging camps after the school year ends, the Community School offers programming to provide high-quality arts training. Summer programming engages students ages eight through adult, with programs for brass, jazz, piano, vocal, string, and percussion students.
The Community School also offers group classes for ages five through adult. These classes offer students with a range of experience levels a safe and supportive environment to learn instruments. To register for group classes, visit the registration site.
Students develop the three essential techniques for a comprehensive mastery of the guitar – strumming, arpeggiation and single-line – through repertoire that ranges from classical, jazz, pop and ethnic music. Kenton Youngstrom, one of the world’s most versatile guitarists with over 45 years of teaching experience, has compiled a unique collection of pieces that develops technical fluency using three forms of music notation: standard, tablature and chord symbols. In addition, students in group guitar classes learn about improvisation, practical music theory and get inside knowledge about how to play in various ensembles.
Prior lessons or prior enrollment in CSPA Group Guitar – Beginning II highly recommended. Online accommodations can be made for intermediate students with teacher pre-approval, please email kyoungstrom@colburnschool.edu if you would like to take this class virtually.
Prior lessons or group class enrollment in CSPA Guitar II or Guitar III is highly recommended. Online accommodations can be made for Advanced students with teacher pre-approval, please email kyoungstrom@colburnschool.edu if you would like to take this class virtually.
Adult group classes are semester based, running 6 weeks during the summer, and 16 weeks in the fall from August – December or spring from January – May.
I like playing Suzuki guitar because I get to play songs with other people. It’s also great to learn new things, like how music works. London Knight
I like playing Suzuki guitar because I get to play songs with other people. It’s also great to learn new things, like how music works.
The Suzuki Guitar Program is directed by Dr. Connie Sheu, a classical guitarist with over 15 years of experience teaching Suzuki guitar. Studying classical guitar through the Suzuki method provides students with a strong technical foundation on the guitar, along with the development of musicianship and artistry. A weekly private lesson ensures that students are progressing at their own pace with targeted practice goals at home. In addition to private lessons, weekly group classes arranged by student age and level develop ensemble skills and reinforce posture and technique on the instrument. Students perform twice a semester in solo and group recitals, participate in master classes, and are evaluated annually in juried performances at the end of the academic year.
For students seeking performance experience, the Community School offers chamber and jazz groups designed to develop and refine student skills.
The Ed and Mari Edelman Chamber Music Institute offers one of the most comprehensive and intense pre-college level chamber music learning experiences of any music school in North America. Students are coached weekly by members of Colburn’s acclaimed faculty.
Learn More
The Community School has several instrumental ensembles, including small combos and a Big Band, each devoted to the performance of jazz repertoire and the development of musical concepts, improvisations, and compositions.