Learn from Tosin Abasi of Animals As Leaders—also an AIMM alumnus.
Develop both the technical & musical talents, and acquire the skills to become one of today's professional producer/engineers.
Learn acoustic guitar technique, electric guitar technique, live performance, studio recording, and secrets of the music business in AIMM's guitar program.
In addition to its existing vocational programs, Atlanta Institute of Music and Media offers an Associate of Applied Science in Music and Technology with a focus in either Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keyboard, or Voice.
Our Guitar Certificate Program is a fully immersive, nonstop, music atmosphere where you will learn musical and technical skills.
All of your studies will take place in our state of the art facility, including a live performance concert hall, recording studios, and computer labs.
Our Guitar Certification Program is taught by renowned instructors and industry-leading professionals.
In addition to the challenging and engaging curriculum, you will learn valuable tips and tricks from real-world musicians who have already blazed their own trail!
Our supportive instructors are who make the curriculum incredibly engaging and educational, just ask our successful AIMM Alumni.
AIMM prides itself on diversity and knows music is not specific to one country or language. Therefore, students of all different backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
If you have passion for music, we want you!
There is never any discrimination on the basis of sex, race, age, religion, or sexual orientation.
The Guitar Certificate Program is ultimately provided to help you and other students obtain employment or self-employment in the music industry.
This achievable goal also extends to radio, movies, television,multi-media production, and video games.
The opportunities are endless at AIMM and your first step begins with applying for the Guitar Certificate.
Click on the button below and begin your journey confidently at the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media.
*Important Note: All Instrument Certificate Programs are ONLY enrolling for Fall 2019 Quarter, Not Spring or Summer Quarter*
If you’re looking to push your technical skills to the next level through intricately designed courses, then AIMM's Guitar Certification is for you.
We believe in developing well-rounded musicians along with allowing students to dive further into an instrument they love without the commitment of an Associate Degree Program.
If this seems like something you may be interested in, the Guitar Certificate Program is probably the right choice for you!
AIMM offers different enrollment choices to complete the Guitar Certificate Program. This way it is open to those with a busy schedule or untraditional lifestyle.
The program can be completed in 12 months (4 quarters) of full-time enrollment, or 24 months (8 quarters) of part-time enrollment.
Students in the certificate program are not required to complete the requisite number of General Education Credits as required for the Music and Technology Associate Degree.
Course Number | Course Title | Credits | |
GTR120 | Scales I Application of scales and arpeggios, taught within the context of the corresponding Performance class selections, with a focus on playing the changes with major and minor dominant blues. Topics covered: major scales with corresponding diatonic chords and arpeggios, major pentatonic, major pentatonic with flat 3, blues scale, natural minor, Mixolydian mode. |
1 | |
GTR130 | Reading I This course is designed to introduce and develop the skills required for sight reading of chords and single note melodies on the guitar. Beginning in the open position, students will read etudes, duets, and chord charts for each class session. By the end of the quarter, the student should be able to read up to the second position in a variety of styles and rhythmic patterns. |
1 | |
GTR140 | Acoustic Guitar Techniques I Students in the first phase of Acoustic instruction will learn the proper rest stroke and free stroke; how to sight read in open position; chromatic exercises using all fingers with the free stroke and rest stroke; tremolo compositions and harmonic interval exercises. Suliani, Sor, Carcassi etudes. |
1 | |
GTR910 | Group Lesson I Students receive one half hour of group instruction every other week to address areas of technique or theory for which they require assistance. |
0.5 | |
INT100 | Performance I This course is an interdisciplinary live performance class based on standard introductory level repertoire for R&B, Blues, Rock and Pop styles. Students perform on stage weekly in a live interactive ensemble format with voice and rhythm section instrumentation that emulates professional gigging scenarios. The emphasis is on execution of melody, rhythm, chords, form, and improvisation. Materials such as sheet music, charts, play along tracks, lyrics, video tutorials are provided via Canvas Learning Management System. |
4 | |
INT105 | Skills Lab This lab course is designed to help the student gain awareness of “soft skills” such as behavior, habits, work ethic, etc., in a fun and engaging way. Students will complete the course with a better understanding of their own strengths and areas in need of improvement. Students will gain tools to help them succeed in their academics and beyond. |
1 | |
INT134 | Music Appreciation This course is designed to expose students to a broad spectrum of musical ideas, concepts, and genres. Emphasis is placed on studying those musical concepts that hold true for all styles of music (form and structure, counterpoint, melodic and harmonic content). Genres covered include: Middle Ages; Renaissance; Baroque; Classical; Romantic; 20th Century; Jazz; Rock. |
1 | |
INT145 | Music Theory Essentials I This class covers the basic elements of music theory, ear training and notation. Diatonic harmony, major and minor key signatures, triads and 7th chords, scale harmonization, meters, basic rhythmic notation, and chord symbol conventions. Students will practice recognizing fundamental musical elements by ear. Basic keyboard skills will be covered including chords, scales and reading. |
3 | |
Required Credit Hours | 12.5 |
Course Number | Course Title | Credits | |
GTR220 | Scales II Scales II explores the melodic minor scale in depth including: Modes, arpeggios, and sequences. The class also explores uses of symmetric scales. Students are expected to play regularly, demonstrating not only knowledge of the scales, but also knowledge of how to use those scales to create music. Prerequisite: Scales I. |
1 | |
GTR225 | Chords and Rhythm II This course is an intermediate rhythm guitar course combining an overview of relevant techniques to be used in each of the corresponding Modal Jazz Performance songs. Topics covered include chord construction, tensions, modal comping, voice leading and basic substitutions. |
1.5 | |
GTR230 | Reading II This course is designed to develop the student’s ability to read in various positions on the neck. Beginning with the second and third positions, students will read etudes, duets, and chord charts for each class session. By the end of the quarter, students will be required to read single note melodies up to the seventh position and a variety of styles of chord charts.. Prerequisite: Reading I. |
1 | |
GTR240 | Acoustic Guitar Techniques II In this course, students will delve into Giuliani's arpeggio studies and Sor studies as well as Segovia scale studies. The student will also study basic slur exercises and how to read five- and six-note chord voicings. Prerequisite: Acoustic Guitar Techniques I. |
1 | |
GTR920 | Group Lesson II Students receive one half hour of group instruction every other week to address areas of technique or theory for which they require assistance. Prerequisite: Group Lesson I. |
0.5 | |
INT200 | Performance II This course is an interdisciplinary live performance class based on standard intermediate level repertoire for R&B, Blues, Rock and Pop styles. Students perform on stage weekly in a live interactive ensemble format with voice and rhythm section instrumentation that emulates professional gigging scenarios. The emphasis is on execution of melody, rhythm, chords, form, and improvisation. Materials such as sheet music, charts, play along tracks, lyrics, video tutorials are provided via Canvas Learning Management System. Prerequisite: Performance I. |
4 | |
INT245 | Music Theory Essentials II This class focuses on scales, modes and linear structures needed for improvisation and melody. Ear training and dictation of melody and diatonic chord progressions are covered. Advanced notation concepts including form, articulation and syncopated rhythm are included. Harmonic concepts are practiced and reinforced using keyboard. Prerequisite: Music Theory Essentials I. |
3 | |
Required Credit Hours | 12 |
Course Number | Course Title | Credits | |
GTR320 | Scales III Annotated example solos are used to demonstrate the application of scales and arpeggios, which are taught within the context of corresponding performance class selections with a focus on jazz standards. Topics covered include: harmonic minor scales, diatonic harmonization with chords, arpeggios and modes, modes of melodic minor, the four superimpositions of melodic minor over dominant chords. Prerequisite: Scales II. |
1 | |
GTR325 | Chords and Rhythm III This course will introduce the student to more advanced rhythm styles and concepts including Voice leading, Substitution and Re-Harmonization, Quartal Harmony, Polychords, Implied Harmony, Walking Bass with Chords and Chord Melody; to reinforce chord reading skills. Prerequisite: Chords & Rhythms II. |
1.5 | |
GTR330 | Reading III Building on the techniques learned in previous reading classes, this course is designed to further develop the student’s ability to read different rhythmic groups in all positions of the neck. Along with introducing real world situations (including jazz band charts and transcribed solos), students will focus on developing the ability to read in a variety of formats with little or no preparation time. Prerequisite: Reading II. |
1 | |
GTR340 | Acoustic Guitar Techniques III In this course students will delve into Giuliani’s arpeggio studies and Sor studies as well as Segovia scale studies. The student will also study basic slur exercises and how to read five- and six-note chord voicings. Prerequisite: Acoustic II. |
1 | |
GTR930 | Group Lesson III Students receive one half hour of group instruction every other week to address areas of technique or theory for which they require assistance. Prerequisite: Group Lesson II. |
0.5 | |
INT300 | Performance III This course is an interdisciplinary live performance class based on standard intermediate-advanced level repertoire for R&B, Blues, Rock and Pop styles. Students perform on stage weekly in a live interactive ensemble format with voice and rhythm section instrumentation that emulates professional gigging scenarios. The emphasis is on execution of melody, rhythm, chords, form, and improvisation. Materials such as sheet music, charts, play along tracks, lyrics, video tutorials are provided via Canvas Learning Management System. |
4 | |
INT301 | Studio Performance III This course is an interdisciplinary studio performance class based on standard intermediate-advanced level repertoire for R&B, Blues, Rock and Pop styles. Students perform in the recording studio weekly in an interactive ensemble format with voice and rhythm section instrumentation that emulates professional recording sessions. The emphasis is on execution of melody, rhythm, chords, form, and improvisation. Materials such as sheet music, charts, play along tracks, lyrics, video tutorials are provided via Canvas Learning Management System. |
4 | |
INT345 | Music Theory Essentials III This course focuses on the chord progressions and harmonic techniques used in contemporary music. Concepts include diatonic, extended diatonic and chromatic progressions, modulations and reharmonization. Keyboard is used to illustrate reinforce these concepts. Students explore melodic, rhythmic and harmonic transcription, and basic desktop music publishing using Finale software is covered. Prerequisite: Music Theory Essentials II. |
3 | |
Required Credit Hours | 16 |
Course Number | Course Title | Credits | |
GTR420 | Scales IV Annotated example solos are used to demonstrate the application of scales and arpeggios, which are taught within the context of corresponding Performance class selections. Students will analyze the styles of various guitarists, including Django Reinhardt, Joe Pass, Pat Martino, Steve Morse, Mike Stern and Pat Metheny. Prerequisite: Scales III. |
1 | |
GTR430 | Reading IV Students in Reading IV will be exposed to real world sight reading situations. Along with studying syncopated rhythms, the course introduces a variety of chart styles including big band charts, studio session charts, guitar ensemble charts, and fake book style charts. Prerequisite: Reading III. |
1 | |
GTR440 | Acoustic Guitar Techniques IV Here students will learn pieces from the Baroque and Romantic periods, usage of harmonics and altered tunings, and will continue with Sor and Carcassi studies. Prerequisite: Acoustic Guitar Techniques III. |
1 | |
GTR940 | Group Lesson IV Students receive one half hour of group instruction every other week to address areas of technique or theory for which they require assistance. Prerequisite: Group Lesson III. |
0.5 | |
INT400 | Performance IV This course is an interdisciplinary performance class based on standard advanced level repertoire for R&B, Blues, Rock and Pop styles. Students perform on stage weekly in a live interactive ensemble format with voice and rhythm section instrumentation that emulates professional gigging scenarios. The emphasis is on execution of melody, rhythm, chords, form, and improvisation. Materials such as sheet music, charts, play along tracks, lyrics, video tutorials are provided via Canvas Learning Management System. |
4 | |
INT401 | Studio Performance IV This course is an interdisciplinary studio performance class based on standard advanced level repertoire for R&B, Blues, Rock and Pop styles. Students perform in the recording studio weekly in an interactive ensemble format with voice and rhythm section instrumentation that emulates professional recording sessions. The emphasis is on execution of melody, rhythm, chords, form, and improvisation. Materials such as sheet music, charts, play along tracks, lyrics, video tutorials are provided via Canvas Learning Management System. |
4 | |
INT445 | Music Theory Essentials IV This course explores advanced harmonic and melodic techniques used in modern music. Melodic writing, harmonization, voice-leading and arranging are covered. Students will compose and arrange music using the techniques discussed, and will apply these ideas on the keyboard. Prerequisite: Music Theory Essentials III. |
3 | |
INT495 | Music Business Presenting concepts and practices that cover several areas of the constantly changing music industry. Students will learn about such things as booking, agency contacts, performing rights organizations, copyright and trademark, record label anatomy, artist management agreements, tax information, resume and self-promotion. |
1 | |
Required Credit Hours | 15.5 |
Guitar Program Total Required Credit Hours | 56 |
Definitely check out AIMM, get a good tour of it, go to Open House, go to the orientation, and you'll find that it's really professional. All the instructors really know what they're doing--they're all industry professionals and have been for years. You get a lot of hands-on activity and a lot of time to work on your projects on all the gear.
Benjie Freund
Sound Designer at Hi-Rez Studios, and Founder of Neutrino Gaming--creator of the iPhone/iPad app Aries Revenge
If you're going to go to any music school, AIMM is the one to choose. Since graduation, I've gotten all my work through AIMM...So, this is the place to be.
Butch Buckner
Drummer for Bionic Jive
AIMM was one of the best choices I've made.
Chris Kittredge
Drummer for Arrested Development Australian Tour 2011
Honestly, AIMM is very high level...it's something that I'm impressed with, would recommend, and would have wanted to come and study at in my younger years.
Dave Weckl
Drummer for Chick Corea
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