Guitar Studies

Eastfield College offers a comprehensive program of courses which enables the student to pursue guitar study at the college/university level. Classes for beginners, intermediates and advanced performers are offered for youth, teens and adults through the college's Continuing Education Division.

Eastfield College offers a complete set of introductory classes, ensembles and private lessons for both the day and evening student. The entry level course for Guitar Studies is Guitar Class I — MUAP 1192. The course provides an introduction to elements common to acoustic and classical guitar styles and includes the study of chord progressions, melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic exercises. Correct technique and posture is stressed at each level of progress. Once the prerequisite skills of Guitar - I are mastered, the student may then progress to Guitar Ensemble — MUSI 1137 and private/applied guitar. These lessons are offered in both classical and jazz styles. Consult instructors for further information and for the prerequisites of these courses

Each member of the Guitar Studies Program is a skilled performer within his or her respective guitar style, and is an active member of the music making community in the Dallas area and abroad.

Guitar Club

The Guitar Studies Program in conjunction with SPAR, Student Programs and Resources, sponsors the campus Guitar Club. The club, which has elected student officers, provides guitar students numerous opportunities for cultural enrichment. The activities include hearing guest artists and teachers who are internationally known for their expertise in guitar, to field trips, concerts, student performances, and international field trips. In recent years, Guitar Club members have traveled for classes and performances to Mexico and Spain.

Guitar Classes

In addition, the Guitar Club sponsors local and international field trips.

NOTE: Guitar Classes for children, teens and adults are offered through the Continuing Education Division

Guitar Faculty

Eddie Healy (eddiehealy@hotmail.com) Eddie Healy began studying the classical guitar with Dr. Enric Madriguera. He went on to study with Tom Johnson at the University of North Texas, and received his Bachelor’s Degree in classical guitar performance there. He then completed a Master of Music degree with Robert Guthrie at Southern Methodist University. He was awarded a scholarship from the Dallas Federation of Music Clubs, and was the recipient of the Alice Jones-Berding scholarship in 1995.

Eddie currently teaches at The University of Texas at Dallas, Eastfield College, the Spring Creek and Central Park campuses of the Collin County Community College District and the Gray School of Music. He also performs regularly as soloist, accompanist and ensemble member in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. He has performed with the vocalists of The Orchestra of New Spain as well as string soloists from The Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He has been a judge at the Annual Texas International Guitar Competition/Festival and a co-director of the Annual Eastfield Collegiate Guitar Competition/Festival. He traveled to Spain in 2008 for a series of concerts and to Mexico in 2009 to perform at the 19th Annual International Guitar Festival of Morelia.

His original compositions have been performed in Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and the United States. Some were utilized as competition pieces by the Collin College One O’clock Guitar Ensemble when they received First Prize in their category at the University of Texas at Brownsville Guitar Ensemble Competition in 2007 and by the Guitar Arts Advanced Guitar Trio of Houston, Texas at the same competition in 2009. He has composed the theme to a series of podcasts produced by UTD titled, “A Conversation With…” and the alma mater for Rogers Middle School in Prosper, Texas. He is a member of ASCAP.

Eddie has recorded for the label, Schaefers Recording Cooperative. He is currently pursuing his PhD at UTD with his first guitar instructor, Dr. Madriguera, serving as his advisor.

"Eddie Healy performed each number with much care and precision and at the same time managed to deliver the emotional quality of which the classical guitar is capable."

-Gelene Simpson, Corsicana Daily Sun

Randall Nye (randy.nye@dcccd.edu) Randall Nye holds both Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Guitar Performance from Southern Methodist University where he was a scholarship student of Robert Guthrie. He has performed in master classes with Manuel Barrueco, Abel Carlevaro, Elliot Fisk, Oscar Ghigila, Jeffery Van and Jose Luis Rodrigo in Madrid, Spain. Additional private study was undertaken with Sharon Isbin, Enric Madriguera and Angel Romero.

Mr. Nye has taught and given performances throughout Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico and was a featured performer and teacher at the Yugoslavian International Guitar Festival in 1991, performing in concert
and on radio. He has taught at several colleges in the North Texas area. Currently serving as Lecturer at the University of Texas at Dallas, Collin County Community College, Richland College and Eastfield College,
where he is coordinator of Evening Guitar Studies and directs a guitar ensemble. Mr. Nye has also adjudicated in several solo and ensemble competitions. As an arranger, Mr. Nye’s arrangements and transcriptions have been studied and performed in many schools, universities and workshops throughout the United States and Mexico.

Sam Walker — Sam is a free-lance Guitarist in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
He started playing the guitar in elementary school. When he began high school, Sam became interested in jazz and was introduced to the music of various jazz guitarists such as Joe Pass, Jim Hall, Wes Montgomery, and Barney Kessel. These became some of his primary influences in the development of his own style.

Sam has performed/recorded with the contemporary Christian group Tocar and appears on Tocar's CDs "Maybe" (1998) and "Alright" (2000). More recently, Sam was featured on Dave & Daver’s CD “Jazz Lines” (2004 release).  In 2004, he recorded a CD with the Sam Walker Trio entitled “The Sam Walker Trio Plus One.”  It is a mix of original music and standard jazz fare.

He has performed in the pit orchestra for the musicals "Little Shop of Horrors", "Grease", "Cabaret", "Jesus Christ Superstar", “West Side Story”, and "Pump Boys and Dinettes" among others. Sam also was a member of the Univesity of North Texas' Jazz Singers in 1999 and participated in the recording of their CD "Yesterdays." It was during this time that he had the opportunity to play with Norah Jones, who was also a member of the group in 1999.

Sam has also performed/recorded with the Dallas Jazz Orchestra , the East Texas Symphony, the Phares Corder Orchestra, Calvary Temple of Irving, pianist/vocalist Melanie Skybell, University of North Texas "Two O'Clock Lab Band", just to name a few.

He currently teaches as an adjunct instructor at Tarrant County College South Campus and at Eastfield College in Mesquite.

Claire Greer - classical guitar

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