bluegrass mandolin instruction

I am offering mandolin lessons (bluegrass is the primary emphasis - but I can offer assistance on blues and some jazz that is the interest of the student) with an emphasis on helping players learn how to create their own solos to songs, how to figure songs out by ear, and how to apply music theory to make the creation of their own music easier. I can write out tab but emphasize learning by using recordings of the material covered during the lesson, which leads to a deeper understanding of the mandolin and a better developed ear. I have lots of playing, recording, and teaching experience. Here is a reprint of the ad I have posted elsewhere on the net:

I've played bluegrass, country, blues, jazz, and folk music for over 30 years - and have performed with many well known names and bands including Vassar Clements, Peter Rowan, Front Range, Steps Ahead, Paul Anastasio, Del McCoury, and more. Though banjo is my main bluegrass "axe", I have played mandolin with several well known players (and bands) including Kate McKenzie and Out of the Blue, the Muddy Bottom Boys, and others. I've won some instrument contests including the 1985 Telluride mandolin contest. My playing combines elements of Monroe style with some Frank Wakefield, Doyle Lawson, Adam Steffey, Jesse McReynolds, and jazz influences, though I'm not claiming to be as good as they are in their respective styles.

I can teach how to improvise while “bringing out” a melody, how to apply double stops to “fatten” up the sound of solos, use of pentatonics, blues scales and other scales / modes, crosspicking fundamentals, how to improvise over chord progressions so that the solo is interesting but the changes are clear to the listener, how to find various chords on the fingerboard, etc. I teach mainly by ear (but utilizing music theory). I can teach beginning to advanced students (though I guess it depends on what you mean by "advanced" - if you are "advanced", you probably don't need any lessons).

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