Teaching
You don’t just get a lecturer with Nina, you get a mentor for life!
Vincent Varrie (Diploma in Music, Advanced Diploma specialising in Music Performance and Honours in Music specialising in guitar education)
Nina’s teaching experience spans across twenty years in which she has taught privately and held teaching positions at Pro Arte Alphen Park (2005-2010) and Crawford College (2002-2010).
Since 2013 Nina Fourie-Gouws has been a guitar lecturer at Stellenbosch Konservatorium, University of Stellenbosch, where she teaches pre-undergraduate, undergraduate and postgraduate practical music studies, accompaniment, repertoire studies and teaching methodology.
Nina is an inspiring teacher, who goes the extra mile for her students. She has been a major part of my classical guitar journey!
Tim ter Huurne (Cum Laude for Trinity LTCL, top 10 ATKV Musiq, BMus and MPhil at Stellenbosch University. Tim has since gone on to study a Master in Classical Guitar in Europe)
The dynamic guitar department at Stellenbosch University offers a holistic, career driven approach to performing arts and education with one common goal: to inspire students to strive for the highest level of musical expression and develop their talent on the guitar to its fullest potential.
Guitar students at Stellenbosch University enjoy many opportunities for solo and ensemble performances. They also gain valuable interactive education experience with practical based Teaching Method modules as well as through options to partake in a variety of vibrant community outreach programs.
In addition, Nina also offers private part-time music lessons through Stellenbosch Konservatorium. These lessons are offered to scholars, students from other faculties or anyone else interested in extra-mural specialist training.
Nina Fourie-Gouws holds a Masters in Music Performance degree at the University of Pretoria, a Licentiate in Classical Guitar Teaching from the University of South Africa, and a Postgraduate in Music Performance from the South African College of Music, University of Cape Town.
Fun Facts:
- Since 2014 Stellenbosch Konservatorium has hosted over 20 Guitar Department Concerts!
- Here’s an inspiring statistic from the Teaching Methodology side: Six of Nina’s recent guitar graduates from Stellenbosch Konservatorium are currently teaching 250 guitar students in total. Guitar education is alive and well in the Western Cape, South Africa!
- Over a 4 year span a total of 4 of Nina’s guitar students have been either finalists or overall winners in the ATKV Albert Engel bursary competition for musical excellence.
Testimonials:
"This is my fourth year as a student of Nina's and I can honestly say that she is the reason I am still studying music today. Under her guidance and care, I have received the ATKV Albert Engel bursary award in 2017 which allowed me to study music full time at Stellenbosch. Since then I have performed in many different ensembles as well as a soloist in and around Stellenbosch and Cape Town. Apart from being a musician of great prestige, her thoughtful approach towards teaching and great care given to her students is what separates her from other teachers and is also what shaped me as a musician today. I am a proud student of Nina." - Brent January (BMus specialising in guitar performance) -
"My main instrument is the classical guitar and I’ve been broadening my knowledge and expertise on the instrument under Nina’s tutelage for over 4 years. Her mentorship throughout my studies has allowed me to gain confidence as a musician and person overall, exposing me to new and unique perspectives whenever I find myself in a rut. Under her guidance, I’ve been able to successfully audition for my current degree, have earned an award for outstanding progress, been nominated for the ATKV award, and have had the opportunity to play at churches and festivals. I honestly feel blessed to have Nina as my lecturer as she has such an effective way to push her students to go that extra mile and to take risks. She has given me priceless advice and hands on experience, ultimately helping me grow my appreciation for the guitar and develop as a well-rounded musician." - Damian Christians (BMus specialising in guitar performance) -