Matt Flinner

Celtic Mandolin with Matt Flinner Curriculum (1/3-3/2)

 

 

“Your courses have opened my musical mind, focused my practice and expanded my skill far beyond expectation.”—-Steve F.

 

 

“I’ve participated in many online learning programs, but so far, your format is the best I’ve ever seen. I am so pleased I happened upon your courses.”—Gina M.

 

“The level was perfect. Mentally I understand many things that have opened up the fingerboard a lot; now I need some quality time to get it under my hands. I found things challenging without feeling out of reach.”—Stan M.

 

“I’m really enjoying the course. The first time I’ve actually practiced an instrument in my 60 years!”—Skip H.

 

 

Register for Celtic Mandolin with Matt Flinner (1/3-3/2)

 

 

See the Octave Mandolin with Matt Flinner curriculum (1/8-3/16)

See the Fiddle Tune Harmony curriculum (1/9-3/16)

 

Celtic Mandolin returns this winter!  This course will explore techniques for playing lead and rhythm in traditional Irish fiddle tunes.   Each week, students can choose between three reels, jigs, songs or hornpipes to learn, along with several exercises to help with various aspects of technique.  During the class sessions, Matt will focus on one of the tunes each week, but students are given the option of learning one or two more if they have time, or focusing on one of the other tunes if they so choose.  Rhythm playing and picking technique on reels, hornpipes and jigs will be explored, as well as picking technique for triplets and various ways of playing ornamentations.  The course is recommended for players at an advanced beginner to intermediate level (though advanced players who want to learn some Irish tunes may enjoy it as well!).  

 

The live class sessions occur online on Monday evenings at 9 pm eastern time, and practice/review sessions take place on Saturdays from 10-10:45 am eastern time.

Students are NOT required to attend all (or any) of the live sessions; all sessions are recorded and uploaded to the class website where they can be viewed after-the-fact at the student’s leisure.  Students also have the option of downloading all class videos and practice videos, as well as all PDFs and practice mp3s for the course, so that they can revisit the materials any time.

 

Register here

 

Here is the curriculum:

 

WEEK 1 (1/3)

Picking Exercise I

Playing basic rhythm on reels

Rhythm Exercise I

A Few Scales

The Silver Spear

The Kerry Reel

The Concertina Reel

 

WEEK 2 (1/10)

Picking Exercise II

Adding some hammer-on and pull-off ornaments

Varying the octave

Rhythm Exercise II

The Maid Behind the Bar

The Earl’s Chair

The Mountain Road

 

WEEK 3 (1/17)

A few hornpipes

Adding triplets

Triplet picking exercise

The Boys of Blue Hill

King of the Fairies

The Rights of Man Hornpipe

 

WEEK 4 (1/24)

Jigs

Picking Exercise IV

Emphasizing the beat in 6/8 time

Playing rhythm on jigs

Rhythm Exercise III

The Kesh Jig

Out on the Ocean

My Darling Asleep

 

WEEK 5 (1/31)

Using chord inversions in your rhythm playing

Picking Exercise III

Pull-off ornaments

The Sally Gardens

The Pigeon on the Gate

Tarbolton Reel

 

WEEK 6 (2/7)

Jigs II

Further rhythmic ideas on jigs

Rhythm Exercise IV

Octave variations

The Cliffs of Moher

The Connaughtman’s Rambles

The Blackthorn Stick

 

WEEK 7 (2/14)

Slip Jigs

Picking Exercise V

Rhythm Exercise V

Patterns in 9/8

The Butterfly

Foxhunter’s Jig

Farewell to Whalley Range

 

WEEK 8 (2/28)

A few more reels

Tying it together: moving chords, ornaments and trills

Farewell to Ireland 

The Fisherman’s Lilt

The Fermoy Lasses

The Green Groves of Erin

 

The course fee is $225.  Register here.