CSUF reduces size of classical guitar classes

Fullerton College classical guitar students looking to transfer to Cal State Fullerton may need to start looking at other schools. Because of the budget crisis, CSUF's music department had to cut somewhere, and the place they decided to cut was the classical guitar program.

Cal State Fullerton was one of the first Universities to offer a program in classical guitar. They are also one of the most well-known and well-respected classical guitar programs.

"We've been the leading guitar program in the county, both in terms of the quality and in terms of the extensive offerings that we include," said David Grimes, director of guitar studies."

The budget cuts, which were enacted 4 weeks ago, will have many different effects on the program. The number of students will be reduced from their current 27 to about 8-10 people. The upper division classes such as the guitar pedagogy class will be cut.

Grimes also said that with only 8-10 students, there would not be enough for a viable guitar orchestra. The Orchestra, according to Grimes has developed somewhat of an international reputation, having played in countries such as Greece and just this summer a tour of Bulgaria ending with a performance at the U.S. Embassy.

Another effect of the budget cuts is that CSUF can't take any auditions for new guitar students.

"To say that the program is just being downsized is quite misleading," Grimes said.

According to Mike Scott, a guitar instructor at Fullerton College, quite a few students transfer to Cal State Fullerton. There are currently three former FC students at CSUF majoring in classical guitar, and another one was planning to transfer there in the fall.

One of those students is Derek Sena, who said this situation has affected him in many ways.

One way is that he will not be able to finish the upper division courses he needs to take and this will hold him back unless he takes an independent study version of the classes.

However, if he does that, it will cost him more money because he will have to buy the resources the teachers would have supplied in a regular class setting.

Another way is that his duet partner, also a former FC student, won't be able to go back to school and might get deported back to Korea if he can't maintain his full time student status.

It's also affected his sleep pattern due to time practicing his instrument to help out with the student protests that have been going on at CSUF.

According to Scott, there are other schools that have a classical guitar program. In the Cal State and UC systems there are Cal State Northridge, Cal State San Diego, Cal State Dominguez Hills, and UCLA.

Private schools that offer a classical guitar program are Chapman, Pepperdine, Loyola and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

However Scott said he could speak to the quality of the programs at CSUF and USC. He said that Cal State Fullerton's program was very strong and that USC is one of the best in the world. He also said he's heard good things about Cal State Northridge's program but hasn't had the chance to see any events their program has hosted.

Cal State Fullerton's program is also relatively inexpensive for students. According to Grimes, the cost for a full-time California resident is $2, 231 a semester, while USC  is $18, 548 per semester and the San Francisco Conservatory is $16, 5000 a semester.

"It's a really unfortunate situation. The instructors there have been building up that program since the 70's. It just seems unfair for the guitar department to have to absorb all the loss in the music department," Scott said.

However, Grimes and the students are not taking the cuts lightly.

For the past couple of Thursdays there have been student protests on campus. Also, the program is trying to raise funds to set up an endowment. The program would need $800,000 to $1 million for a proper endowment and so far $20,000 has been raised, according to Grimes.

Grimes is also in the process of setting up a fund through the Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic foundation which will allow for tax deductible donations to the program.

For more information, there is a Facebook page called "Save the CSUF Classical Guitar Program" which will have updates and discussions about the situation. And for information about donating to the program Grimes can be reached at dgrimes@fulleron.edu

"As a classical guitarist, I have a great passion for my instrument, and I definitely want only good things for the guitar community at large; if my friends and other future prospective students are unable to join CSUF, it would not only hurt the students, but the guitar community as a whole," Sena said.