Guitar

The guitar program at the University of Washington offers a pathway for mastery of technique at the
professional level and prepares students for careers in guitar performance and teaching.

Faculty & Performance

Guitar students working toward the instrumental performance degree in music receive focused training in technique in addition to completing a core curriculum providing a solid foundation in ear-training, history, theory, piano proficiency, and repertoire. Students in the program study with prominent Northwest guitarist Michael Partington in applied lessons and weekly master class settings. 

Students have access to a growing collection of period instruments for performing Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical repertoire, as well as regular coaching opportunities with Grammy winning faculty Baroque specialist Stephen Stubbs. 

Participation in the UW Guitar Ensemble (open to majors and non-majors) ensures quarterly opportunities for students to perform with other guitarists as well as singers and other instrumentalists. Guitar majors also complete courses in repertoire and pedagogy.

Guest Artists

An annual guitar master class series, presented in collaboration with the Seattle Classic Guitar Society, provides opportunities for students to receive instruction and commentary from internationally renowned guitarists. Recent guests have included Manuel Barrueco, Roland Dyens, Ana Vidovic, and Odair Assad, among many others. The series typically hosts four or five classes per year.

Non-Major Instrumental Lessons

Students who are not majoring in music but who are interested in taking private instrumental lessons with faculty are welcome to audition! Non-major lessons auditions occur in September, January, and February each year for admission into a faculty studio beginning Fall term. More audition information can be found on the Audition Dates page. Lessons are offered on a space-available basis in faculty studios and occur weekly over the course of the academic year. If admitted to private lessons, students will be given a faculty code to register for the appropriate MUSICP course number. In addition to tuition, non-major lessons require a $500 course lesson fee.  

Support

In addition to student support distributed by the University of Washington’s financial aid office, the School of Music distributes more than a half million dollars annually in merit- and need-based student support. 

HOW TO APPLY

For more information, contact SoMadmit@uw.edu