Guitar Department

CIM provides guitar students with a thorough, intensive education in the performance, practicing, and teaching of our instrument. This study takes place in one of the country's finest conservatory settings - University Circle, approximately four miles east of downtown Cleveland. CIM's location in the Circle places it adjacent to Case Western Reserve University and just a five-minute walk from Severance Hall, home of The Cleveland Orchestra. Other important institutions within walking distance of CIM are The Cleveland Museum of Art, the Institute of Art, the Museum of Natural History, the Western Reserve Historical Society, Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, and the Cleveland Botanical Garden. It is a wonderfully stimulating environment!

With enrollment restricted to seven guitarists, every student is assured an extensive amount of musical interaction, one-on-one study and performance experience. Each student receives 15 one-hour lessons per semester, as well as our Guitar Chamber Music class and Guitar Seminar once a week.

Guitar Chamber Music focuses on ensemble interaction, a crucial element for the contemporary professional guitarist. Guitar Seminar is basically a master class, with focus on aspects of performance as well as on solving problems in technique, practicing, and interpretation.

CIM guitar students also are well-prepared for their own teaching endeavors, with our Guitar Literature and Guitar Pedagogy courses, taught by CIM alumnus Erik Mann.

Meet the CIM String Faculty.