Study Concepts & Study Plans

This documents on Study Concepts and Study Plans are written by Robert Guthrie, the professor of classical guitar studies at Southern Methodist University. These documents serve to guide both students and professional concert artists alike in the practicalities of study (practice) and how to achieve superior results for each study session to perform concerts at the highest level of artistic integrity.

The Study Concepts document details the categories “things to produce terrible results,” “things to produce good (or great) results,” and the three basic types of material for study.  In the Study Plans document, Mr. Guthrie details both the time-frame of study (practice) and the practical amount of time to devote to the three principal areas of study: technique building, polishing familiar and current concert repertoire, and the new or newest pieces for future concert performances.

There is a special note given on the time and value of a warm-up session and the minimum time-fame needed to build any aspect of classical guitar technique. It is important to note that Mr. Guthrie begins the study documents with the all-important phrase “The way you study is the way you will play,” or practice makes permanent.