Most colleges (two-year and four-year schools) have an external guitar program you can sign up for. These programs are given through the continuing education division. The benefits of these programs are that they are attached to the college, and certificates are usually awarded after each term.

For someone preparing for college, this kind of program can be very beneficial. Some schools offer some kind of pre-college preparatory credit that looks quite nice on college applications. Note that some courses are taught by students (as well as faculty) of the school. Fear not — these student teachers are usually working toward a music education degree and are beginning to work in their field.

If you want to do some research on music schools in your area — or anywhere else in the country — here's a resource for connecting with music colleges in the United States. This Web site allows you to search for music schools, colleges, and universities by state. Just go to www.a2zcolleges.com.

The external college/university learning option is good in many ways. The prices may vary depending on the prestige of the learning institution, but you get a focused learning experience from either a top student or one of the instructors of the college. Going forward, if you are looking at a school where you can learn more guitar and music in general, this is a good way to start. In 1981, Guitar Player magazine estimated that there were 510 guitar programs in schools in the United States and Canada. There may be many more now based on the popularity of the guitar. Do your homework and pick the way you want to go.