Advanced Guitar Playing and Teaching Techniques
Date
February 9-May 1, 2026
Synchronous
Thursdays 7:30 p.m.-8:20 p.m. CST
Course Code
MECA: 8075A | MMEd: 516
Credits
MECA: 3 | MMEd: 2
Tuition
$1194
Course Description
This class serves to solidify guitar playing and teaching techniques for the beginning through intermediate teacher/player and develop more advanced guitar playing and teaching skills. Students will review basic guitar techniques and delve into more challenging skills including fingerstyle/classical techniques, pick technique, bar chords, fingerboard mastery, fretboard harmony, electric guitar techniques, and jazz chords. Students will explore a variety of teaching techniques in order to develop a strong strategy for successfully teaching more advanced guitar techniques to their students.
Class participants must have the ability to confidently read and play notes in the first position, read tablature, and play Major, minor, and dominant 7th chords in the first position.
Synchronous meetings weekly, Thursdays 7:30 p.m.-8:20 p.m. CST.
*This course is available at two levels:
- MMEd Program Students: If you’re enrolled in the MMEd program at VanderCook, register for the 500-level course.
- MECA Continuing Education Students: If you’re not in the MMEd program but wish to earn graduate credit, register for the 8000-level course.
The difference in credits earned and tuition costs reflects the varying tuition rates between the MMEd and MECA Continuing Education programs. If you’re unsure which section is right for you, feel free to reach out to [email protected] for assistance.
Instructor
Named Guitarist of the Year by the international radio program “Classical Guitar Alive,” Dr. Julie Goldberg joined VanderCook it 1999. She was the first guitarist to receive a Doctorate in Music Performance from Northwestern University, and also holds degrees from the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University, and College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.
A Chicago native, Dr. Goldberg leads the Chicago Community Classical Guitar Orchestra, directs VanderCook’s annual Day of Guitar festival, presents yearly guitar clinics for the Wisconsin Center for Music Education, and is a faculty member for Teaching Guitar Workshop, sponsored by Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association (GAMA.) Overseas, she has taught master classes at the Vietnam National Academy of Music in Hanoi, and the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music. Dr. Goldberg performs frequently as a soloist and with the Avanti Guitar Trio.
She is co-author of 100 Classical Guitar Lessons, published by Hal Leonard. Her educational guitar ensemble arrangements are published by Guitar Chamber Music Press.