John Knowles Fingerstyle Institute Application

John Knowles Fingerstyle Guitar Institute

🗓️ Institute Dates: June 29–July 2

📍 Location: Wanda L. Bass School of Music, Oklahoma City University

💵 Tuition: $399 — Payment will be collected after registration.

About the Institute

The John Knowles Fingerstyle Guitar Institute offers a rare, immersive experience in the artistry, nuance, and storytelling at the heart of American fingerstyle guitar. Led by C.G.P. John Knowles, whose arrangements and musical imagination have shaped generations of players, this institute invites guitarists into an environment defined by clarity, warmth, and depth of craft. Joined by the incomparable Richard Smith and master luthier-performer Kevin Muiderman, students explore tone production, touch, arranging, harmony, and the expressive detail that makes fingerstyle such a deeply personal art form.

This is not a program about flash or competition—it's a space where thoughtful players of all levels can grow through careful instruction, supportive collaboration, and hands-on mentorship from three of the most respected voices in the field.

No audition is required. Participants will be placed into sessions, labs, and small groups based on background, comfort level, and artistic goals.

What You’ll Explore

Technique & Touch

Refine the mechanics that shape tone, clarity, balance, and articulation—whether you're arranging solo pieces or accompanying your own melodies.

Arranging & Interpretation

Learn how John Knowles conceives and crafts his iconic arrangements, and apply those concepts to your own music.

Harmony in Motion

Discover how to move harmonically with purpose—understanding chord voice-leading, substitutions, transitions, and the emotional contour of a piece.

Collaborative Workshops

Play, listen, and learn in a supportive, small-group environment designed to strengthen musical confidence and sensitivity.

Tone & Instrument Mastery

Explore sound, setup, and responsiveness with Kevin Muiderman, whose deep knowledge of guitar design and artistry brings a rare dimension to the institute.

Who Should Apply

This institute is perfect for:

• Classical players curious about fingerstyle

• Singer-songwriters developing solo arrangements

• Acoustic players refining tone and touch

• Guitarists exploring arranging for the first time

• Intermediate to advanced players seeking new artistic depth

• Anyone who has been moved by the music of C.G.P.s and modern acoustic storytellers

If you value musicality, nuance, and the quiet power of thoughtful craftsmanship, this institute was created with you in mind.

Placement

All students will be placed into:

• Technique groups

• Arranging labs

• Interpretation sessions

• Masterclasses

• Performance workshops

Placement ensures you receive instruction that matches your background, comfort level, and goals.

Please Read:

I understand that the information in the application is true to the best of my knowledge and that the recording submitted is my own unedited performance. I also understand that Oklahoma City University and the Leyenda Foundation reserves the right to discharge students who have submitted false or misleading information in the application process.

If accepted as a student of a Leyenda Institute I agree not to bring any alcoholic beverages or firearms onto the OCU premises or to possess or engage in the illegal use of drugs while a student of the Leyenda Institute.

The applicant consents to the creation and distribution of any recording, broadcast, or electronic transmission of any kind, without compensation, made by Oklahoma City University and the Leyenda Foundation. The applicant similarly consents to the use of his/her likeness in photographs, video or any visual media created and distributed by Oklahoma City University, Charlie Christian Guitar Institute, and the Leyenda Foundation.