Guitar At Illinois

Guitar at the University of Illinois provides students the opportunity to learn and perform. Under the direction of Dr. Guido Sánchez-Portuguez and Professor Larry Gray, the classical and Jazz ensembles focuses on original pieces and new compositions commissioned exclusively for the group. Open to guitar majors, music majors, minors and non-music majors, the Guitar courses are a great vehicle for guitarists to explore chamber, orchestral, and jazz repertoire as well as cool and exciting popular music arrangements taken from various and diverse musical traditions.

Explore Guitar At Illinois

MUS 199/499 GT 1 and 2: Group Guitar Class

This two-semester sequence is designed for aspiring music educators who seek to master classical and fingerstyle guitar techniques while exploring the rich possibilities of guitar ensemble performance. Through a blend of solo and group work, students will not only refine their playing abilities but also gain hands-on experience in arranging and conducting diverse guitar ensembles. By the conclusion of the course, participants will emerge with a comprehensive toolkit for integrating guitar into their future music programs, prepared to lead and inspire guitarists of all levels. Whether on stage as performers or in front of an ensemble as conductors, Music Education students will develop the musical and pedagogical skills essential to directing successful guitar programs in schools or community settings.

Restriction: Only for Music Education Students

MUSC 452: Guitar Ensemble -Visit the Guitar Ensemble page to watch videos of the Guitar Ensemble perform.

The University of Illinois’ Guitar Ensemble is a chamber group that provides guitar students the opportunity to perform as a small guitar orchestra. Under the direction of Dr. Guido Sánchez Portuguez, the ensemble focuses on original pieces, arrangements of, and new compositions commissioned exclusively for the group. Open to guitar majors, music majors, minors and non-music majors, the Guitar Ensemble is a great vehicle for guitarists to explore chamber and orchestral repertoire unavailable to the solo guitar, as well as cool and exciting popular music arrangements taken from various and diverse musical traditions.

Restrictions: Audition

MUSC 115: Individual Guitar Lessons

Personalized weekly guitar lessons that help build classical technique and expand their repertoire. Students will master right- and left-hand techniques while performing works from the Renaissance through the Contemporary era. Popular guitar styles, such as steel-string acoustic and electric, are also explored, giving students a versatile edge. With tailored exercises and pieces, sight-reading abilities will be strengthened, and fretboard fluency developed. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the skills and confidence to excel in multiple performance situations. This class can be taken multiple times.

Restriction: None. Open to majors and non-majors. (A separate section for undergraduate guitar majors also available)

MUSC 415: Advanced Guitar

In this advanced guitar course, students refine their technical mastery and expand their musical artistry through challenging repertoire and sophisticated techniques. They will tackle complex pieces spanning the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary periods, while also exploring modern techniques and improvisational methods. Emphasis will be placed on fluency across the entire fretboard, advanced sight-reading, and the ability to interpret diverse musical styles with nuance and precision. Popular genres, including jazz and rock, are also explored to enhance versatility. Restriction: Audition. Open to majors and non-majors. (A separate section for undergraduate guitar majors also available)

MUSC 496: Jazz Guitar Ensemble-Visit the Guitar Ensemble page to watch videos of the Guitar Ensemble perform The University of Illinois Jazz Guitar Ensemble gives five select guitar students the opportunity to grow together as a group in terms of reading, musicianship and improvisation, both soloing and comping, playing with a bass/drums rhythm section. A wide range of compositions and arrangements for this setting are studied, in various styles and grooves, with an equal emphasis placed on reading and soloing. Student compositions and arrangements are also strongly encouraged. In fact, a sizeable portion of the library consists of arrangements by past students. The Jazz Guitar Ensemble has at least three public performances each semester, including the final concert at Krannert Center.

MUSC 515: Graduate Level Guitar

Designed for MM and DMA students in guitar performance, this course challenges students to achieve the highest levels of technical precision, interpretive depth, and stylistic versatility. The course delves into advanced solo repertoire from the Renaissance to the 21st century, with an emphasis on virtuosic performance and innovative techniques. Students will engage in rigorous study of complex works, and develop a comprehensive understanding of diverse musical traditions, including contemporary and experimental genres.

Restriction: Only for graduate guitar majors

MUSC 515: Graduate Level Guitar

Restriction: Only for graduate guitar majors

MUS 560: Guitar Literature

A two-semester comprehensive exploration of the literature and history of the plucked stringed instrument family, from antiquity to the present. Students will examine pivotal works from the guitar tradition, focusing on key developments and turning points across different historical periods. The class is divided into four parts: Antiquity and the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and Baroque, the Romantic era, and the Modern guitar. Alongside these musical studies, students will develop critical research skills, including library research and source finding, to support a major research paper on the evolution and history of the guitar. Through assignments and in-depth research, students will gain both historical insight and practical tools for further study in the field.

Restriction: Only for graduate music majors