Guitar Techniques Certificate Program

interlochen online guitar techniques certificate program

Next session begins Jan. 12

Tuition Rate: $799

Rates increase Jan. 1

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FAQs

Go from guitar novice to more confident instrumentalist. With personalized feedback from a touring guitarist, you'll be able to play complete songs in a variety of styles, create chord progressions, and solo in any key.

Taught by a world-class guitarist and educator, our Guitar for Beginners certificate program offers a unique opportunity to deepen your craft, earn a valuable credential, and receive credit from Interlochen. This program is designed for both adults and teens and consists of three four-week courses that must be taken in sequential order.

Guitar for Beginners 1

✔Build and play popular chords, in addition to the major and pentatonic scales
✔Develop your time and rhythm by learning how to count beats and use a metronome
✔Use basic fingerpicking technique
✔Develop your tone and use of dynamics
✔Play beginner popular songs

Guitar for Beginners 2

✔Fluidly play the E minor pentatonic scale forwards and backwards, applying it to create melodic phrases and solos
✔Demonstrate proficiency in playing the moveable major scale across all 12 keys, facilitating improvisation and musical exploration in different tonalities
✔Execute chord progressions from hit songs with confidence, incorporating rhythmic variations and smooth transitions between chords
✔Master power and barre chords, enabling the ability to play complex chord structures essential for rock, pop, and other contemporary music genres

Guitar for Beginners 3

✔Play major and minor pentatonic scales in three octaves using sliding patterns
✔Use the formulas for constructing dominant 7, minor 7, major 7, slash, and extended chords, and play these chords to enhance your repertoire
✔Apply the circle of fifths to find chords in any key and create chord progressions
✔Play classical and contemporary pieces and create original riffs and melodies
Courses

Tuition

$ 897   $799

Ages

Teens: Grades 6-12

Adult Learners: Ages 18+

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Expert guidance
Receive direct, personalized feedback from a professional artist.
Collaborate
Work with your instructor and peers through messaging or optional real-time weekly classes.
Learn on your own schedule
Explore meaningful instruction in about five hours a week per course.
Real growth
Develop skills and projects that are important to your artistic and professional growth.
For all students:

✔ A respected credential from Interlochen Online
✔ Physical and shareable digital certificate upon completion
✔ A portfolio of completed, polished projects
✔ A strengthened résumé, college application, or LinkedIn profile

For middle school and high school students:

✔ An official transcript awarding high school credit
✔ Accreditation by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS)

No, course sections are designed for their respective age groups, either for adults (students 18 and older) or young people (students under 18).

Yes, there are eight sessions of courses per year. View the academic calendar for more session dates.

Meet the Faculty

Sara Landeau

Instructor of Guitar

What are students saying?

Students who enrolled in Guitar courses rated their experience 4.7 out of 5.

“Sara Landeau was an excellent teacher. She worked to each student's level so everyone got the same amount of attention and input for learning. Excellent course and absolutely met all my expectations and needs.”

— Adult learner,
    Guitar for Beginners 1

“I loved that the teacher was always giving me constructive feedback.”

— Middle school student,
    Guitar for Beginners 1

“I really loved this course and felt it set me up with a foundation of guitar that I can take and continue to grow. I came into this course fearing that I'd be too slow of a learner and not sure how the virtual environment would go, but it went great.”

— Adult learner,
    Guitar for Beginners 1

“Sara Landeau was terrific. She was fun, engaging, encouraging, and a very good guitar teacher. I love all things Interlochen. It is a magical place and at least in a small way, I am now a part of it.”

— Adult learner,
    Guitar for Beginners 1

“Everything was really good and helped me over a plateau in my skills. Thank you!”

— High school student, 
    Guitar for Beginners 1

“Sara is great! She provided super helpful guidance. She is, clearly, an expert guitarist/teacher!”

— Adult learner,
    Guitar for Beginners 1

“I loved that we began with many basic guitar parts like the actual guitar body, how to practice everyday with the spider and pentatonic scale, and recognizing different guitar sounds. I am glad that the teacher (Sara) is patient with me.”

— Middle school student,
    Guitar for Beginners 1

“I loved how the videos were so helpful and how they held so much information.”

— Middle school student,
    Guitar for Beginners 1

Questions? Speak with an Advisor.

Email: online@interlochen.org 

Phone: 231.276.5990 

You can also schedule an appointment.

Play Your Next Song with Confidence

Get access to Unlock Guitar Soloing with a Single Scale, an exclusive guide developed by Interlochen Online faculty.

Girl playing guitar