Matt Flinner

Octave Mandolin Techniques with Matt Flinner Curriculum (1/8-3/16)

 

 

“Your method, approach, pace and materials are the best I’ve seen in my years of perpetual learning.”—Jim H.

 

 

“Matt is a brilliant teacher. Every course is deep and rich with information. The material is thoughtfully explained, allowing a student to slowly transform the class material into music. I can’t imagine this journey without Matt Flinner.  His courses are a true life changing musical experience!”—Lisa S.

 

 

“Your course was exactly what I have been looking for.  It was well structured with a ton of good material.  I like that fact that we were given tunes to learn but also tools that allows me expand the lessons beyond the course tunes to others that I already know.”—Todd M.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Register by December 3 and save $50!

 

Register for Octave Mandolin Techniques with Matt Flinner

 

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

See the Celtic Mandolin with Matt Flinner curriculum (1/3-3/2)

 

Join Matt Flinner for an online course exploring the wonders of that rare but fun-to-play instrument, the octave mandolin.  This course will teach students how to play backup in various keys plus lead on fiddle tunes, folk melodies, Irish tunes and more.  Hints on how to get around on this bigger instrument will help students play melodies and backup with more facility and flexibility.  Each week, students will be given two songs or tunes to learn lead (if they want to) and backup to, along with exercises to help make more sense of the fretboard and help students make the most of this beautiful instrument.  

The course is intended for students of all ability levels.  Exercises will be given at a variety of levels each week, and students will be encouraged to focus on the exercises and/or tunes that are best suited to their level.  Students do not necessarily need to have an octave mandolin to take the course; all exercises and tunes can be played on a regular mandolin—though the fingering will be different.  

 

Register by December 3 and save $50!

Register here.

 

Here is the curriculum for the Octave Mandolin Techniques course: 

 

 

WEEK 1 (1/8)

Basics of playing in open keys

Rhythm Exercise I

Fingerings for melodies

Picking Exercise I

Sail Away Ladies

Sweet Sunny South

 

WEEK 2 (1/15)

Waltz time

Rhythm Exercise II

Using a capo for various keys

3-note chords

Green Grown the Laurel

Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore

 

WEEK 3 (1/22)

Songs in minor keys

Picking Exercise II

Rhythm Exercise III

Kilkelly

Graycoat Soldiers (Norman Blake)

 

WEEK 4 (1/29)

Irish tunes

Rhythm on reels

Double stops in backup playing

Double Stop Exercise I

My Love Is in America

The Wind that Shakes the Barley

Ships Are Sailing

 

WEEK 5 (2/5)

Arpeggiating chords in rhythm playing

Picking Exercise III

Adding basslines

Farewell to Ballymoney

As I Roved Out

 

WEEK 6 (2/12)

Irish tunes II

Rhythm on jigs

Picking Exercise IV

Tripping Up the Stairs

Blarney Pilgrim

The Queen of the Rushes

 

WEEK 7 (2/26)

Contemporary songs

More advanced chord progressions

Adding counterpoint lines

It All Comes Down to Love

Don’t Let Me Come Home a Stranger

 

WEEK 8 (3/11)

Tying it all together 

Picking Exercise IV

Using a mix of double stops and single lines in soloing & backup

More with double stops and counterpoint

The Good Ship Kangaroo

Si Beag, Si Mohr

Thousands Are Sailing to Amerikay

 

 

 

The course fee is $225. Register by December 3rd for just $175!

 

Register for Octave Mandolin Techniques with Matt Flinner