Guitar Seminar: Jazz, Rock and Beyond — 2026
22 June-17 July 2026
Calendar stated by the official application portal.
In-person Program
Guitar Seminar: Jazz, Rock and Beyond
Study electric guitar through small-group practice, faculty master classes and ensemble performances, developing theory, improvisation, songwriting and stage skills.
Last verified: 5 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
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Guitar Seminar at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Upcoming
Eligibility
High school; ninth grade completed
Age range / Year group
Ages 15-18
Location / Region
Los Angeles, California, United States
Cost
$8,130; $11,570
Duration
4 weeks
Format
In-person
Accommodation: Shared USC residence hall rooms
Meals: Three daily meals for residents
Certificate / Outcome: Three units of elective credit
Residential availability: Required for international participants
Campus experience: Libraries, computer labs, social activities
Tutors / faculty: USC Thornton studio guitar faculty
Instruction / cadence: 5-6 instructional hours per day
Guitar Seminar summary
USC's electric guitar seminar connects theory and technique with practical ensemble playing. Small-group labs and studio guitar faculty master classes give students several ways to develop their musicianship.
The course moves from fretboard organization to rock performance, harmonic study and jazz/classical concert preparation. It suits guitarists who want structured practice and experience performing with others.
What is Guitar Seminar: Jazz, Rock and Beyond?
Guitar Seminar: Jazz, Rock and Beyond is USC Pre-College's electric guitar course at the USC Thornton School of Music. It combines theory, improvisation, technique, sight-reading, songwriting and performance with practical work in a lab setting.
Students break into small groups to practice new concepts and attend master classes with Thornton's studio guitar faculty. Visits to Los Angeles music venues connect that study with professional performance settings, while two final formal concerts let students share their progress with family and friends.
Why Succeed highlights Guitar Seminar
Small-group labs turn theory and fretboard knowledge into repeated practical work.
Master classes provide access to USC Thornton's studio guitar faculty.
Rock and jazz ensemble performances test how well students apply their skills with other musicians.
Three elective credit units give successful completion an academic outcome beyond concert participation.
Who is Guitar Seminar for?
Best for
Guitarists who want to connect music theory with improvisation, rehearsal and ensemble performance.
Not ideal if
You want a casual introduction without audition preparation or a substantial daily teaching commitment.
Is Guitar Seminar worth it?
The seminar offers a clear progression from technical study to public performance, which makes it useful for guitarists who learn by applying new ideas. Faculty master classes and ensemble concerts add experiences that can be difficult to recreate through individual practice alone.
The financial commitment deserves careful consideration, especially because USC Summer Programs does not offer financial aid. College credit is a concrete benefit, but transfer depends on the receiving institution and participation does not guarantee admission to USC.
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Cost and what is included
$8,130; $11,570; includes Course instruction., Academic field trips, textbooks and instructor-requested materials., On-campus social activities and off-campus recreational trips., Access to the University Park Student Health Center., Residential option: shared residence hall room and dining hall meal plan..
Accommodation
Shared USC residence hall rooms
Meals
Three daily meals for residents
Provider details
Review the USC Pre-College provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
Dates and logistics
4 weeks; Los Angeles, California, United States.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does Guitar Seminar need?
Effort level
High.
Best started
Allow six to eight weeks before applying, using the November application-information update to plan.
Main challenge
Demonstrating melody, accompaniment and improvisation within a five-minute audition.
Typical preparation
Practice “Autumn Leaves” as a melody, chord accompaniment and improvised solo.
Choose a second piece that clearly demonstrates your strongest guitar playing.
Record a trial audition with clear sound and a centered camera frame.
Arrange your recommendation and school transcript early, allowing extra time for international documentation.
Useful if
You want to develop rehearsal discipline and ensemble performance skills.
What do students do on Guitar Seminar?
You move between small-group practice, faculty master classes and ensemble rehearsals, applying theory to electric guitar playing. The weekly sequence builds toward rock and jazz/classical performances.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Organize the fretboard using the CAGED system and practice improvisation.
- 2
Develop rehearsal and performance techniques for a rock show at Carson Soundstage.
- 3
Study triads and seventh chord voicings while refining repertoire.
- 4
Prepare jazz/classical repertoire and rehearse for the final concert.
Guitar Seminar dates and deadlines
Past
Guitar Seminar: Jazz, Rock and Beyond — 2027
21 June-15 July 2027
USC Summer Programs calendar.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Guitar Seminar: Jazz, Rock and Beyond — 2026 | 22 June-17 July 2026 | Local | Past | |
Guitar Seminar: Jazz, Rock and Beyond — 2027 | 21 June-15 July 2027 | Local | Upcoming |
Eligibility and requirements
Complete at least ninth grade before the program begins.
Pursue a rigorous high school curriculum.
Submit the required guitar audition video.
Bring your own laptop.
Attend all required class meetings.
International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through tests or a waiver.
International participants and domestic participants living abroad must reside on campus.
Commuters must live with a parent or guardian in eligible counties.
How much does Guitar Seminar cost?
Application fee
$85 — Nonrefundable.
Funding or discounts
- Domestic commuter total: $8,130 — Estimated total including tuition and mandatory program charges.
- Domestic residential total: $11,570 — Estimated total including room and board.
- International USC total: $12,208 — Includes mandatory USC international service charges.
- Deposit: $1,000 — Nonrefundable and credited toward the program total.
- Financial aid: Not offered
What's included
Course instruction., Academic field trips, textbooks and instructor-requested materials., On-campus social activities and off-campus recreational trips., Access to the University Park Student Health Center., Residential option: shared residence hall room and dining hall meal plan.
How to apply to Guitar Seminar
- 1
Create an account or log in to the official USC Summer Programs application portal.
- 2
Complete the online application and write the 300-500-word essay yourself.
- 3
Prepare the required guitar audition video with “Autumn Leaves” and a self-selected piece.
- 4
Request an online recommendation from a teacher, counselor or mentor.
- 5
Ask a school official to upload your PDF high school transcript.
- 6
Provide English proficiency documentation or a waiver if you are an international applicant.
- 7
Pay the $85 application fee, complete every task and click Submit.
Next step with Succeed
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What does Guitar Seminar cover?
The program covers the following focus areas.
Fretboard organization
Study the CAGED system and improvisation techniques while organizing your knowledge of the guitar neck.
Rock performance
Practice rehearsal and performance techniques for a rock show at Carson Soundstage.
Harmonic study
Work with triads and seventh chord voicings as you refine repertoire.
Jazz/classical performance
Develop repertoire and rehearsal techniques in preparation for the final concert.
Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.
What is a typical day on Guitar Seminar?
A typical day during the program.
Classes
The daily window includes breaks and five to six instructional hours.
Lunch and trips
Breaks allow for lunch or field trips in Los Angeles.
Residential activities
Residential advisors and staff supervise social and recreational activities.
Residence hall routine
Residents return to their halls by 10 p.m., with lights out at 11:30 p.m.
Who teaches on Guitar Seminar?
Students take master classes with USC Thornton's studio guitar faculty. Assignments and repertoire are chosen to accommodate different playing levels while extending students' skills.
Where do students stay on Guitar Seminar?
Residential plan
- Shared residence hall rooms: Students live in USC residence halls with gender-specific roommate and floormate assignments.
- Residential meals: Room and board covers dining hall meals, academic-trip meals and two Saturday meals before recreational trips.
- Residential support: Residential advisors live in the halls, with USCard access controls and 24/7 campus safety patrols.
- Evening and weekend activities: Supervised activities include games, movies and recreational day trips around Los Angeles.
Non-residential plan
- Local commuter option: Eligible students live with a parent or guardian in Los Angeles or Orange County and attend all academic sessions.
- Commuter meal access: Commuters purchase meals individually; a commuter meal plan is not offered.
- Commuter activities and transport: Commuters may join permitted evening activities and weekend excursions, using program transportation for field trips.
Roommate requests cannot be accommodated; international participants and domestic participants living abroad must reside on campus.
What happens after Guitar Seminar?
After completing this program, participants often pursue:
Earn three units of elective credit upon successful completion.
Request an official USC transcript showing your course grade.
Develop experience performing rock and jazz repertoire with an ensemble.
Build a repertoire of 10 jazz compositions.
Gain potential recommendation letters from USC faculty or staff.
Credit transfer depends on the receiving college, and participation does not guarantee USC admission or a recommendation letter.
Where does Guitar Seminar take place?
The seminar is based at USC in Los Angeles, with access to University Park Campus resources and study at the Thornton School of Music. Course activities include visits to local music venues and a rock performance at Carson Soundstage.
International participants arrange their own travel; early arrival and late departure housing are not offered.
Guitar Seminar FAQs
Perform “Autumn Leaves,” showing melody, chord accompaniment and an improvised solo, plus one selection in any style that demonstrates your playing. The video must be no longer than five minutes and clearly show and capture your performance.
Successful completion earns three units of college elective credit. Other colleges decide whether to accept those units, and an official transcript with your grade can be requested from USC's Office of Academic Records and Registrar.
Eligible local students may commute while living with a parent or legal guardian in Los Angeles or Orange County. International participants and domestic participants living abroad must reside on campus.
Residential participants share residence hall rooms and receive a meal plan covering three daily dining hall meals. Residential advisors live in the halls, and residence and dining hall access requires a USCard.
USC Summer Programs does not offer financial aid or assistance. USC employee tuition benefits also do not apply.
No. Participation does not guarantee admission to USC or its schools; undergraduate applicants must follow the university's separate admissions process.
Yes, guitar seminar participants must bring their own laptops.
USC Summer Programs courses involve five to six instructional hours per day. The daily class window is 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with breaks for lunch or field trips.
Content reviewed by
Ben Stacy
Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader
Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.
Sources & verification
Source types reviewed
- Summer Programs Application Management
- USC Summer Programs Transcripts | USC Pre-College
- USC Summer Programs FAQs | USC Pre-College
- USC Summer Programs Policies | USC Pre-College
- USC Summer Programs International Application | USC Pre-College
- USC Summer Residential and Commuter Experience | USC Pre-College
- USC Summer Programs Overview | USC Pre-College
- USC Summer Programs Application and Admission | USC Pre-College
- USC Summer Programs | USC Pre-College
- Guitar Summer Program | USC Pre-College
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 5 Oct 2026)
Official course page checked
Audition requirements reviewed
Application portal reviewed
Session dates compared
Fee options reviewed
Housing and safety policies reviewed
College credit conditions reviewed
How Succeed uses this information
We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.
Guitar Seminar: Jazz, Rock and Beyond
by USC Pre-College
Upcoming
May qualify for the £300 Succeed Programme Award.
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