Matt Flinner

“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.

“I’ve practiced more in two weeks than I have in months!  Really enjoying how it’s going.”—Donna O.

“I have to say that making everything available online is a great convenience for me. Being able to stop and return to a more challenging exercise or a newer phrase is great for learning. I also really appreciate your availability to answer questions offline. This is a great course, and I feel as though I’m improving daily because of it.”—Joe C.

Sale extended!  Register by May 22nd and save $25!

See the Bluegrass Mandolin Jamming with Matt Flinner curriculum

See the Everything Mandolin Jamming with Matt Flinner curriculum

This course will get in-depth in helping students create variations and improvise on fiddle tunes and bluegrass songs—though the concepts will apply to any style of music.  Upon registering, students will receive PDFs in tablature and standard notation for two tunes: Dry and Dusty and the Bluegrass Stomp, along with mp3s of each tune and links to videos of the tunes played slowly.  During the four-week course, we’ll look at various ways of playing the melodies to both tunes as well as various ways of getting outside the melodies using double stops, positions up the neck, blues ideas and different rhythms and licks.  Each week, we’ll explore a different approach to soloing and talk about how to use these approaches on our two tunes and relate these concepts to other tunes and songs students may already know.  The goal is to create more possibilities in our soloing and to have more fun playing music with other people—and to learn two tunes REALLY well!

The course is intended for students at an intermediate to advanced level.  Exercises at a variety of levels will be given each week; students will be encouraged to focus on the exercise(s) that they feel best suits their ability level and/or interest.  

Class sessions will take place on Monday evenings at 9 pm eastern time from June 13 to July 11 (with the week of June 27 off due to Matt’s touring schedule), and practice/review sessions will take place on Saturdays at 10 am eastern time from June 18 to July 16 (again, with the week of June 27 off).  Students are encouraged to attend the live sessions, but they can also review the recordings of any and all sessions at their convenience.  

The course fee is $125.  Register by May 22nd for just $100!

Register for Mandolin Tune Studies with Matt Flinner

TUNE STUDIES CURRICULUM

Dry and Dusty

Bluegrass Stomp

WEEK 1 (June 13)

Octave Variations

Blue notes

Throwing in some blues licks

Picking Exercise I

WEEK 2 (June 20)

Double stops

Double Stop Exercise I

Double Stop Exercise II

Quarter note triplet rhythms

WEEK 3 (July 5)

Chord tones

Arpeggio Exercise I

Creating musical lines using chord tones

Eighth note triplet rhythms

WEEK 4 (July 11)

Getting up high on the neck

Positions II, III and IV in D

Licks in various positions

Combining blues, double stops and rhythms

Sale extended!  Register by May 22nd and save $25!

“After buying six mandolins and umpteen books…I am convinced your course is best $100 I have invested in my mandolin journey to date.  Finally, I’m getting the discpline I need with your exercises to learn scales, arpeggios, double stops, fingering techniques, learn the fretboard (the essential tools I need)…and most importantly to learn how those things fit into playing tunes.”—Rick D., Bluegrass Mandolin 101 student

“I have to say that making everything available online is a great convenience for me. Being able to stop and return to a more challenging exercise or a newer phrase is a great for learning. I also really appreciate your availability to answer questions offline. This is a great course, and I feel as though I’m improving daily because of it.”—Joe C., Bluegrass Mandolin 101 student

Sale extended!  Register by May 22nd and save $25!

Register for Bluegrass Mandolin Jamming with Matt Flinner

See the Mandolin Tune Studies Curriculum

See the Everything Mandolin Jamming Curriculum

This course is intended to help the aspiring mandolinist build up repertoire and find ways of creating new solos over commonly played standards; it’s also designed in the hope that it will encourage students to get out and jam with other players!

This course is offered at Europe-friendly times!  Class sessions take place at 2 pm eastern time (7 or 8 pm in most of Europe) and 9 pm eastern time.  Students are welcome to join whichever session is more convenient for them…or they can join both!  Students who cannot make it to the live sessions are able to view the sessions afterwards on the class website—generally by the following day. 

Each week, we’ll look at four bluegrass standard tunes.  Students will be given lead sheets (in standard notation and tablature) for each song, as well as a few exercises to help them learn more about the fretboard and start incorporating new ideas into their solos.  Concepts and tunes will be taught during the class session, and all tunes will be revisited during Saturday practice sessions in a “jam session” format, where each song is played several times though, and students have the opportunity to try out some of the week’s concepts on the tunes (with guidance from Matt).

Classes meet every Tuesday from June 14 to July 12 (the week of June 27 is off due to Matt’s touring schedule) at 2 pm eastern time (7 or 8 pm in the UK and Europe) as well as 9 pm eastern time.  We hope this will be convenient for folks in various time zones, including Europe and around the world!  There will also be 45-minute review sessions every Saturday at 11 am eastern time (4 or 5 pm in the UK and Europe).

The course fee is $125.  Register by May 22nd for just $100!

Register for Bluegrass Mandolin Jamming with Matt Flinner

Here is the curriculum:

WEEK 1 (6/14)

Key of G

Positions in G

Double stops in G

Going between single notes and double stops

Long Journey Home

I Believe in You Darling

You Don’t Know My Mind

Long Gone

WEEK 2 (6/21)

Adding some blues

Using bluesy double stops

A few bluesy licks

The Whole World Round

Rocky Road Blues

Those Memories of You

Hear Jerusalem Moan

WEEK 3 (7/6)

Tunes Using Minor Chords

A Variety of Minor Chord shapes

E Minor Scales and Patterns

Throwing in Some Minor Double Stops

Wait a Minute

Sweet Thing

Foggy Mountain Breakdown

Fair and Tender Ladies

WEEK 4 (7/12)

Some more challenging chord progressions

Finding double stops in chord progressions (r-3 as a starting point)

Using chord tones in soloing

Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down

I Wonder How the Old Folks Are at Home

Redwood Hill

Kentucky Waltz

Register by May 22nd and save $50!

“Thanks for the terrific class! I had my mandolin lurking in the corner for 9 months before I took this class. I played with it now and then but felt out of my depth, having only played piano in the past. A few weeks into your class, I couldn’t put down my mandolin, practicing far more than my kids want me to. In addition to the wonderful tunes we learned in class, I started to pick out other melodies like Christmas carols, simple gifts, harry potter, star wars; anything I hear I want to find it on the mandolin.”—Randy R.

“Your classes are the best and most successful learning approach for me, Thank you.”—-Eric B.  

Sale extended!  Register by May 22nd and save $25!

Register for the Everything Jamming course with Matt Flinner

See the Mandolin Tune Studies Curriculum (June 13-July 16)

See the Bluegrass Mandolin Jamming Curriculum (June 14-July 16)

This course is intended to help students expand their musical horizons with familiar songs that seem to work their way into jam sessions now and then (and you walk away thinking “I wish I had learned that one”).  Various styles of lead playing and rhythm playing will be explored, including folk, rock and a bit of swing and blues.  Students will be given the melodies and chords to four songs each week, along with suggestions for creating their own solos, practical guides to playing the chords and rhythmic exercises to help students feel comfortable with the various grooves and rhythmic feels. Students will be encouraged to learn the chords to all four songs and to especially focus on one song for the melody and soloing suggestions (whichever song best suits their ability level, or whichever song they like best!).  Songs by Bob Dylan, Richard Thompson, the Beatles, Tom Petty, the Rolling Stones and many more will be explored.  It’s a great way to learn more about the fretboard while getting some practical guides to lead and accompaniment—and most of all, to have fun playing music!  The course is intended for players of all ability levels (though absolute beginners will likely find it too difficult) who want to expand their musical possibilities.  

Class sessions meet on Wednesday evenings at 9 pm eastern time, and practice/review sessions meet on  Saturdays at 12:30 pm eastern time.  Students are encouraged to attend the live sessions (via Zoom), but all sessions are recorded and uploaded to a class website so that students can review them any time if they are unable to attend the sessions.  

The course fee is $125.  Register by May 22nd for just $100!

Register for the Everything Jamming course with Matt Flinner

EVERYTHING JAMMING CURRICULUM

WEEK 1 (June 15)

Folk rhythms

Playing basic rhythm in four keys

Mixing rhythm into your lead playing

A few blues ideas

Buckets of Rain

Ripple

Souvenirs

Homegrown Tomatoes

WEEK 2 (June 22)

Rock rhythms

Closed position chords

Adding some double stops

Atlantic City

Free Fallin’

You Can’t Always Get What You Want

Out on the Weekend

WEEK 3 (July 7)

More complex chord progressions

Some swing-style rhythms

More double stops

Mr. Blue Sky

Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone

When I’m 64

All My Loving

WEEK 4 (July 13)

Mixing in various chord and rhythm styles

Some more rock & blues rhythms

Tangled Up in Blue

Tear Stained Letter

A Whiter Shade of Pale

Hot Rod Lincoln

Register by May 22nd and save $25!

“This was the best online learning experience I’ve ever had.  And, for the time and money, the best music learning experience in any format:  DVD, video, group, or individual live lessons.”—Christine R. 

“After buying six mandolins and umpteen books…I am convinced your course is best $100 I have invested in my mandolin journey to date.  Finally, I’m getting the discpline I need with your exercises to learn scales, arpeggios, double stops, fingering techniques, learn the fretboard (the essential tools I need)…and most importantly to learn how those things fit into playing tunes.”—Rick D. 

Sale extended—register by May 22nd and save $25!

The Bluegrass Mandolin 101 online lessons program continues this summer with three four-week long intensive courses designed to help you improve your technique, learn the fretboard, learn some tunes and help you have more fun playing the mandolin!

Mandolin Tune Studies with Matt Flinner                               Curriculum         Registration

Bluegrass Mandolin Jamming with Matt Flinner                           Curriculum         Registration

Everything Mandolin Jamming with Matt Flinner                          Curriculum         Registration

The Mandolin Tune Studies course (June 13-July 16) is intended to help students create variations and improvise on fiddle tunes and bluegrass songs—though the concepts will apply to any style of music.  Upon registering, students will receive PDFs in tablature and standard notation for two tunes: Dry and Dusty and the Bluegrass Stomp, along with mp3s of each tune and links to videos of the tunes played slowly.  During the four-week course, we’ll look at various ways of playing the melodies to both tunes as well as various ways of getting outside the melodies using double stops, positions up the neck, blues ideas and different rhythms and licks.  Each week, we’ll explore a different approach to soloing and talk about how to use these approaches on our two tunes and relate these concepts to other tunes and songs students may already know.  The goal is to create more possibilities in our soloing and to have more fun playing music with other people—and to learn two tunes REALLY well!   Register by May 22nd and save $25!

Register here. 

The Bluegrass Mandolin Jamming course (June 14-July 16) is intended to help students play bluegrass music with other people.  Each week, students will receive four new tunes (from beginner to advanced level) along with ways of playing rhythm, approaches to creating variations on the tune, and some exercises to help with fundamental technique.  The goal is to help students learn more tunes, learn practical approaches to playing those tunes, and get out and play with other people!   Register by May 22nd and save $25!

Register here. 

The Everything Mandolin Jamming course (June 15-July 16) is intended to help students expand their musical horizons with familiar songs that seem to work their way into jam sessions now and then (and you walk away thinking “I wish I had learned that one”).  Various styles of lead playing and rhythm playing will be explored, including folk, rock and a bit of swing and blues.  Students will be given the melodies and chords to four songs each week, along with suggestions for creating their own solos, practical guides to playing the chords and rhythmic exercises to help students feel comfortable with the various grooves and rhythmic feels. Students will be encouraged to learn the chords to all four songs and to especially focus on one song for the melody and soloing suggestions (whichever song best suits their ability level, or whichever song they like best!).  Songs by Bob Dylan, Richard Thompson, the Beatles, Tom Petty, the Rolling Stones and many more will be explored.  It’s a great way to learn more about the fretboard while getting some practical guides to lead and accompaniment—and most of all, to have fun playing music!  The course is intended for players of all ability levels (though absolute beginners will likely find it too difficult) who want to expand their musical possibilities.  Register by May 22nd and save $25!

Register here. 

Register for the Mandolin Tune Studies course with Matt Flinner

Register for Bluegrass Mandolin Jamming with Matt Flinner

Register for Everything Mandolin Jamming with Matt Flinner

The Mandolin Tune Studies course (June 13-July 16) meets on Monday evenings at 9 pm eastern time, with follow-up practice sessions Saturdays at 10 am eastern time.  Students will have four Monday class sessions (June 23, 30, July 14 and 21) and four Saturday follow-up practice sessions (June 26,  July 3, 17 and 24).  All live sessions are recorded and uploaded to a class website, where they are viewable generally by the following day (in the case of Saturday practice sessions, they’re usually available to view later that day). Register here.

The Bluegrass Mandolin Jamming course (June 14-July 16) course takes place on Tuesday afternoons and evenings at 2 and 9 pm eastern time.  We’ll also have practice/review sessions on Saturdays at 11 am eastern time.  NOTE: Tuesday afternoon sessions take place at 2 pm eastern time—a more convenient time for our friends in the UK and Europe!  2 pm eastern time translates to 7 or 8 pm in the UK and most of Europe.   Students are welcome to join in on either or both of the Tuesday sessions each week (they will be essentially identical to one another in content).  Tuesday class sessions will take place June 21, 28, July 12 and 19, and Saturday follow-up practice sessions will take place June 26,  July 3, 17 and 24.  All live sessions are recorded and uploaded to a class website, where they are viewable generally by the following day (in the case of Saturday practice sessions, they’re usually available to view later that day). Register here.

The Everything Mandolin Jamming course (June 15-July 16) meets on Wednesday evenings at 9 pm eastern time, with follow-up practice sessions Saturday mornings at 12:30 pm eastern time.  Students will have four Wednesday class sessions (June 22, 29, July 13 and 20) and four Saturday follow-up practice sessions (June 26,  July 3, 17 and 24).  All live sessions are recorded and uploaded to a class website, where they are viewable generally by the following day (in the case of Saturday practice sessions, they’re usually available to view later that day). Register here.

All students access to the live sessions as well as all materials (PDFs, mp3s, practice videos and class session videos), which they can download for future use.  

The course fee for each course is $125.   Register by May 22nd for just $100!

Here’s a little more info about the Bluegrass Mandolin 101 online experience that I hope will give you a good idea of how the program works.

BLUEGRASS MANDOLIN 101 

Matt Flinner started the Bluegrass Mandolin 101 program in the fall of 2013.  Along the way, the program has helped hundreds of students improve their mandolin playing in a wide variety of styles.  The program offers a unique approach to online mandolin lessons that gives students the best of both live lessons as well as recorded mandolin instructional videos, audio recordings and written materials.  The courses focus on helping mandolin students get to the next level in their playing and broaden their understanding of a variety of American musical traditions. 

A UNIQUE APPROACH: LIVE INSTRUCTION AND INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS

Part of what makes the Bluegrass Mandolin 101 program unique is the fact that students follow a step-by-step program of live lessons over a four or eight week course.  The courses follow a carefully planned curriculum in the given style or area of technique, and the live lessons get a little more challenging each week as the course progresses.  Classes meet twice per week: on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday evening, depending on the course, and on Saturday morning/afternoon, when students can join a follow-up practice session to review that week’s material.  Students can view the live lessons via their computer, iPad or smart phone.  Students are encouraged to ask questions during the class sessions via a chat window and/or their external or built-in microphone (this microphone is muted unless the student requests to use it).  And students do not need a webcam.  

All live sessions are also recorded so that students can review them any time if they are unable to make it to the live sessions; this also gives students the added convenience of going through the material as many times as they want to.  Students are given access to a private class website where they can find these recorded sessions and they can also view and download all PDFs of the materials and several practice mp3s of that week’s song(s) recorded at various tempos.  Students will also be given download links for all class videos so that they can view them offline at their convenience on into the future.  In essence, all materials from the course are for the students to keep.  

One aspect of the live class schedule that makes the program so effective is that students are generally more encouraged to practice in order to keep up with the schedule.  Students are given a list of suggested priorities each week, depending on their ability level and amount of practice time, and all material is then reviewed in the Saturday practice session so that students get another chance to run through it with the instructor.  Just by showing up, students will run through the material twice each week—for many of us, that’s already an improvement!  

HOW INTERACTIVE ARE THE COURSES?

All live sessions are interactive; students can ask questions and/or demonstrate tunes or exercises via live microphone or telephone, or via a chat window (most students opt for this approach).  The instructor is able to immediately respond and demonstrate the answers for the whole class.  Another form of interaction comes via mp3 recordings; students can record mp3s on their own time of themselves playing the material (or anything else they want to send in) and send it to the instructor for feedback, which is also recorded in mp3 form and sent back to the student.  Students can post their mp3s on the class site (and likely get encouraging feedback from other students in addition to the instructor) or email them privately to the instructor.

HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO PRACTICE?

That is completely up to the student.  While, say, 30 minutes per day might be a good recommendation for practice time, students can make whatever they choose of this course based on their own schedule and aspirations.  Practicing week to week (again, say 30 minutes per day) will help students keep up with the week’s lessons and concepts, but the instructor knows that people have busy lives!  This is why all instructional material is archived and available for download so that students can learn on their own time after the course has finished as well as during the eight weeks of classes.  However, one advantage to the four-week scheduled course is that by practicing at least somewhat regularly, students are more able to be prepared for the following week’s lessons and therefore take full advantage of the live and recorded mix of lesson material.

Students can decide whether to practice along with the class session or with the shorter individual videos (or both), depending on what they want to focus on for that week.  Material is given each week that is targeted toward various ability levels; a song is given which is playable for beginning to intermediate players (or intermediate to advanced, depending on the course), and various concepts relating to that song are also given to educate and challenge players at beginning, intermediate and even advanced levels.  The student essentially decides how much they want to take on for the week (and the course) based on their ability level and how much practice time they have.  Any material they were unable to get to during the week and want to revisit later will be available in the archived videos and PDFs.  The instructor will also give students a recommended list of priorities each week to help students take the best advantage of their practice time.

THE CLASS WEBPAGE

This is the virtual gathering place for the courses, where students can view the instructional videos, view and/or download all written materials, listen to mp3s of Matt playing the tunes, get listening recommendations, ask questions, submit their own mp3s for feedback and generate forum discussions.  It’s a great place to drop by any time and explore, learn and discuss.  

REGISTRATION FEE

Fees for the 4-week summer courses are $125 each.  Register by May 22nd for just $100!

Here are a few quotes from some past students about their experiences in the Bluegrass Mandolin 101 program:

“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.

“I’ve practiced more in two weeks than I have in months!  Really enjoying how it’s going.”—Donna O.

“I have to say that making everything available online is a great convenience for me. Being able to stop and return to a more challenging exercise or a newer phrase is great for learning. I also really appreciate your availability to answer questions offline. This is a great course, and I feel as though I’m improving daily because of it.”—Joe C.

“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.

To visit the registration pages, click one of these links:

Register for the Mandolin Tune Studies course with Matt Flinner

Register for Bluegrass Mandolin Jamming with Matt Flinner

Register for Everything Mandolin Jamming with Matt Flinner

“I have done some online courses, some one-on-one instruction and some camps.  The course I just finished with you has been the most useful by a pretty large margin.  Thanks for both the thought and effort that went into the design and material preparation and for the personal presence you bring to it.”—Steve F.

“I got a lot out of it! Everyday I have a practice routine based of the summer intensive. You have helped me by leaps and bounds.”—Sandy N.

Register here for the New Acoustic Mandolin with Matt Flinner course

See the Octave Mandolin Techniques with Matt Flinner Curriculum

See the Mandolin Fundamentals with Matt Flinner Curriculum

 “New Acoustic” music has come a long way since it first started up some 40 years ago.  What was started by the likes of David Grisman, Tony Trischka, Sam Bush and others in the 1970s as an outgrowth of bluegrass and jazz has grown into a wide-ranging music incorporating elements of rock and roll, Hot Club Jazz, folk music, old-time music and more.  We’ll explore this modern frontier of music and give students many of the tools they’ll need to play the tunes as well as improvise and play backup in new ways with new rhythms.  Tunes by the masters listed above, plus a few from Tony Rice, Darol Anger, Bela Fleck and other pioneers of New Acoustic music will be featured, along with exercises to help students learn the fretboard and improve their fundamental skills—all for the purpose of playing more effectively in any style (and, especially, having more fun playing the mandolin!).  

This course runs from April 5 to June 11.  Classes take place on Tuesday evenings at 9 pm, and follow-up practice sessions take place on Saturdays at 11 am eastern time.  While it is recommended, students do not need to be present for the live sessions, as all sessions are recorded and available to view by the following day.  Students may also download all class sessions and watch them offline at their convenience.  

This course is recommended for students at an intermediate to advanced level.  

The course fee is $225.  Register here.  

WEEK 1 (4/5)

New Acoustic Fiddle Tunes

Slightly more complex chord progressions

Variations using octaves and chord tones

Major scale exercises 

Picking Exercise I

Cazadero

Blue Mountain

WEEK 2 (4/12)

Major 7, Dominant 7 and Minor 7 chord forms

Some David Grisman rhythms and licks

A few blues ideas

Acousticity

A Robot Plane Flies Over Arkansas

WEEK 3 (4/19)

Some jazz waltzes

Rhythmic patterns in the jazz waltz

Using chord tones

Some positions up the neck

Devlin

Waltz for Indira

WEEK 4 (4/26)

Minor Keys

Mixolydian and Dorian modes

Melodic patterns 

A few minor licks

Picking Exercise II

Tzigani

Katmandu

WEEK 5 (5/4)

Some Latin rhythms

Diatonic 4-note chord exercise

More with chord tones

Mugavero

Redhill

WEEK 6 (5/17)

Advanced New Acoustic rhythms

Going between 4/4 and 3/4

Rhythmic exercise II

Rattlesnake

Slipstream

WEEK 7 (5/24)

Some rock and funk rhythms

Some Sam Bush grooves and licks

Picking Exercise III

Stingray

The Lochs of Dread

WEEK 8 (5/31)

Tying it all together

Advanced chord progressions

Using chord tones 

More melodic patterns

Using various grooves in a tune

Neon Tetra

Key Signator

The course fee is $225.  

Register here. 

“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 for Octave Mandolin Techniques with Matt Flinner

See the New Acoustic Mandolin with Matt Flinner curriculum

See the Mandolin Fundamentals with Matt Flinner curriculum

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 here.

Here is the curriculum for the Octave Mandolin Techniques course: 

WEEK 1 (4/4)

Playing basic chord progressions in G, D and A

Using open chords and some variants

Adding basslines in rhythm playing

Hard Times

The Wind that Shakes the Barley

WEEK 2 (4/11)

Using a capo for difficult keys

Fingering melodies I

Scales in G, D and A

Using open strings and chords

Last Train from Poor Valley

Lady Anne Montgomery

WEEK 3 (4/18)

Three note chords

Adding some minor chords

More basslines

Matty Groves

Miss McLeod’s Reel

WEEK 4 (4/25) 

Some waltzes

Rhythm in waltz time

Crosspicking patterns

Do You Love an Apple?

The Lakes of Pontchartrain

WEEK 5 (5/3)

Double stops in lead and backup

Double stop exercise in D

Getting up the neck a little

Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore

The Maid Behind the Bar

WEEK 6 (5/16)

Jigs

Playing lead and rhythm on jigs

Picking Exercise II

Strumming patterns on jigs

Double stops in backup II

The Jolly Soldier/Blarney Pilgrim

The Kesh Jig

WEEK 7  (5/23)

Major & minor 3-note chords

Double stops in backup III

Using chord substitutions

The Dimming of the Day

Streets of London

WEEK 8 (5/30)

Tying it all together

More advanced fingerings

Double stops and 3-note chords in lead playing

Orphan Girl

Mary and the Soldier

The course fee is $225. 

Register for Octave Mandolin Techniques with Matt Flinner

“This was the best online learning experience I’ve ever had.  And, for the time and money, the best music learning experience in any format:  DVD, video, group, or individual live lessons.”—Christine R. 

“I’ve learned so much from your courses and have improved greatly due to learning some basic skills and music theory.”—Jamie J.

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

Register for Mandolin Fundamentals with Matt Flinner

See the Octave Mandolin Techniques with Matt Flinner curriculum

See the New Acoustic Mandolin with Matt Flinner curriculum

The Mandolin Fundamentals course is intended to help students improve their technique in both the right and left hand, and to give students a more solid understanding of the fretboard while getting ideas of the “tools” used in soloing and rhythm playing.  Each week, students will be given a handful of exercises in the areas of picking technique, fingering technique, scales, arpeggios, chords, double stops and tremolo.  We’ll also look at a tune each week—from old-time, bluegrass, Celtic, classical or the Beatles—and try applying concepts from the exercises to them.  The goal is to help students play with more ease and better tone, and to get ideas to help them advance more quickly and have more fun playing with others.  The course is intended for students at any level who want to improve their skills, though absolute beginners will likely find it too difficult.  Knowledge of some fiddle tunes and basic chords and rhythm playing is a must!

Classes meet every Wednesday from April 6th to May 25th at 9 pm eastern time, with practice/review sessions every Saturday from April 9th to May 28th at 12:30 pm eastern time.  Students are encouraged to attend the live sessions, but will be able to view the sessions afterwards on the class website in the event they cannot attend live. 

Register here.

Here is the curriculum: 

Week 1 (4/6)

Picking Exercise on One String

Fingering Exercise I

Double Stop Exercise I

Major Scale Exercise I

Lick #1

Music for a Found Harmonium

Week 2 (4/13)

Picking Exercise on Two Strings

Getting around on the circle of 5ths

Fingering Exercise II

Major Arpeggio Exercise I 

Chord Exercise I

Fire on the Mountain

Week 3 (4/20)

Picking Exercise on Two Strings II

Double Stop Exercise II

Chord Exercise II

Major Scale Exercise II

Lick #2

Blowin’ in the Wind

Week 4 (4/27)

Tremolo Picking Exercise I

Minor Arpeggio Exercise I

Minor Scale Exercise I

Position shifts I

Minor Double Stop Exercise

Because

Week 5 (5/5)

Picking Exercise on Three Strings

Fingering Exercise III

Diatonic Double Stop Exercise

3-note Major Chord Inversions

Lick #3

Bach Prelude (Cello)

Week 6 (5/10)

Picking Exercise on Two Strings III

Arpeggio Exercise II

Position shifts II

Minor Scale Exercise 

Bach Bouree

Week 7 (5/18)

Tremolo Picking Exercise II

Four-note major and minor chords

Lick #4

Diatonic Double Stop Exercise II

Recuerdos de la Alhambra

Week 8 (5/25)

Picking Exercise on Four Strings

Diatonic Chord Exercise II

Diatonic Arpeggio Exercise

Here, There and Everywhere

The course fee is $225.

Register for Mandolin Fundamentals with Matt Flinner

“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.

The Bluegrass Mandolin 101 online lessons program continues in spring of 2022 with three brand new eight-week long courses covering a wide range, from fundamental technique to modern “New Acoustic” music to the rare but wonderful octave mandolin.   Courses for a variety of levels from advanced beginner to intermediate to advanced students will be offered on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with follow-up practice sessions on Saturdays from early April through late May/early June.  Show up live for the streamed sessions on Zoom or stream them later on the class website.  Or both!

Octave Mandolin Techniques with Matt Flinner              Curriculum                  Registration

New Acoustic Mandolin with Matt Flinner                 Curriculum                  Registration

Mandolin Fundamentals with Matt Flinner               Curriculum                  Registration 

Octave Mandolin Techniques with Matt Flinner (April 4-June 11): This course will explore 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.  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 a bit different).  

The course is intended for students of all ability levels who are interested in learning the octave mandolin; however, absolute beginners will likely find it too difficult.  Knowledge of basic rhythm playing and chords, plus some melodies (especially fiddle tunes) is a must.  

Register here. 

New Acoustic Mandolin with Matt Flinner (April 5-June 11). This course will explore modern string band music—an outgrowth of various American roots musics including bluegrass, jazz and old-time music as well as rock and roll, blues and funk. This course will teach students a wide variety of rhythm patterns for both lead and backup playing, explore the fretboard with various chord forms and exercises in jazz harmony, and look at improvisation in a variety of musical contexts and styles.  Along the way, students will learn several tunes and get tips on how to solo and play backup on them.  

The course is intended for intermediate to advanced level students.  

Register here.  

The Mandolin Fundamentals with Matt Flinner course is intended to help students improve their technique in both the right and left hand, and to give students a more solid understanding of the fretboard while getting ideas of the “tools” used in soloing and rhythm playing.  Each week, students will be given a handful of exercises in the areas of picking technique, fingering technique, scales, arpeggios, chords, double stops and tremolo.  We’ll also look at a tune each week—from old-time, bluegrass, Celtic, classical or the Beatles—and try applying concepts from the exercises to them.  The goal is to help students play with more ease and better tone, and to get ideas to help them advance more quickly and have more fun playing with others. 

This course is intended for students at any level who want to improve their skills, though absolute beginners will likely find it too difficult.  Knowledge of some fiddle tunes and basic chords and rhythm playing is a must!

Register here. 

Register for Octave Mandolin Techniques with Matt Flinner

Register for New Acoustic Mandolin with Matt Flinner

Register for Mandolin Fundamentals with Matt Flinner

The Octave Mandolin Techniques course (April 4-June 11) course takes place on Monday evenings at 9 pm eastern time.  We’ll also have practice/review sessions on Saturdays at 10 am eastern time.  Students will have eight Monday class sessions class sessions which will take place April 4, 11, 18, 25, May 3 (on a Tuesday due to a family event), May 16, 23 and 30, and Saturday follow-up practice sessions will take place April 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 21, 28 and June 11.   All live sessions are recorded and uploaded to a class website, where they are viewable generally by the following day.  Register here.

The New Acoustic Mandolin course (April 5-June 11) meets on Tuesday afternoons and evenings at 2 pm and 9 pm eastern time, with follow-up practice sessions Saturday mornings at 11 am eastern time.  NOTE: Tuesday afternoon sessions take place at 2 pm eastern time—a more convenient time for our friends in the UK and Europe!  2 pm eastern time translates to 7 or 8 pm in the UK and most of Europe.   Students are welcome to join in on either or both of the Tuesday sessions each week (they will be essentially identical to one another in content).  Tuesday class sessions will take place April 5, 12, 19, 26, May 4 (on a Wednesday due to a family event), May 17, 24 and 31, and Saturday follow-up practice sessions will take place April 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 21, 28 and June 11.  All live sessions are recorded and uploaded to a class website, where they are viewable generally by the following day. Register here.

The Mandolin Fundamentals course (April 6-May 28) meets on Wednesday evenings at 9 pm eastern time, with follow-up practice sessions Saturdays at 12:30 pm eastern time.  Students will have eight Wednesday class sessions which will take place April 6, 13, 20, 27, May 5 (on a Thursday due to a family event), May 10 (on a Tuesday due to Matt’s tour schedule), 18, 25, and Saturday follow-up practice sessions will take place April 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21 and 28.  All live sessions are recorded and uploaded to a class website, where they are viewable generally by the following day. Register here.

ALL class materials (PDFs, practice mp3s, short practice videos and class session videos) are available for students to download and keep for future use.  

The course fee for each course is $225. 

All students access to the live sessions as well as all materials (PDFs, mp3s, practice videos and class session videos), which they can download for future use.  

Here’s a little more info about the Bluegrass Mandolin 101 online experience that I hope will give you a good idea of how the program works.

BLUEGRASS MANDOLIN 101 

Matt Flinner started the Bluegrass Mandolin 101 program in the fall of 2013.  Along the way, the program has helped hundreds of students improve their mandolin playing in a wide variety of styles.  The program offers a unique approach to online mandolin lessons that gives students the best of both live lessons as well as recorded mandolin instructional videos, audio recordings and written materials.  The courses focus on helping mandolin students get to the next level in their playing and broaden their understanding of a variety of American musical traditions. 

A UNIQUE APPROACH: LIVE INSTRUCTION AND INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS

Part of what makes the Bluegrass Mandolin 101 program unique is the fact that students follow a step-by-step program of live lessons over a four or eight week course.  The courses follow a carefully planned curriculum in the given style or area of technique, and the live lessons get a little more challenging each week as the course progresses.  Classes meet twice per week: on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday evening, depending on the course, and on Saturday morning/afternoon, when students can join a follow-up practice session to review that week’s material.  Students can view the live lessons via their computer, iPad or smart phone.  Students are encouraged to ask questions during the class sessions via a chat window and/or their external or built-in microphone (this microphone is muted unless the student requests to use it).  And students do not need a webcam.  

All live sessions are also recorded so that students can review them any time if they are unable to make it to the live sessions; this also gives students the added convenience of going through the material as many times as they want to.  Students are given access to a private class website where they can find these recorded sessions and they can also view and download all PDFs of the materials and several practice mp3s of that week’s song(s) recorded at various tempos.  Students will also be given download links for all class videos so that they can view them offline at their convenience on into the future.  In essence, all materials from the course are for the students to keep.  

One aspect of the live class schedule that makes the program so effective is that students are generally more encouraged to practice in order to keep up with the schedule.  Students are given a list of suggested priorities each week, depending on their ability level and amount of practice time, and all material is then reviewed in the Saturday practice session so that students get another chance to run through it with the instructor.  Just by showing up, students will run through the material twice each week—for many of us, that’s already an improvement!  

HOW INTERACTIVE ARE THE COURSES?

All live sessions are interactive; students can ask questions and/or demonstrate tunes or exercises via live microphone or telephone, or via a chat window (most students opt for this approach).  The instructor is able to immediately respond and demonstrate the answers for the whole class.  Another form of interaction comes via mp3 recordings; students can record mp3s on their own time of themselves playing the material (or anything else they want to send in) and send it to the instructor for feedback, which is also recorded in mp3 form and sent back to the student.  Students can post their mp3s on the class site (and likely get encouraging feedback from other students in addition to the instructor) or email them privately to the instructor.

HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO PRACTICE?

That is completely up to the student.  While, say, 30 minutes per day might be a good recommendation for practice time, students can make whatever they choose of this course based on their own schedule and aspirations.  Practicing week to week (again, say 30 minutes per day) will help students keep up with the week’s lessons and concepts, but the instructor knows that people have busy lives!  This is why all instructional material is archived and available for download so that students can learn on their own time after the course has finished as well as during the eight weeks of classes.  However, one advantage to the four-week scheduled course is that by practicing at least somewhat regularly, students are more able to be prepared for the following week’s lessons and therefore take full advantage of the live and recorded mix of lesson material.

Students can decide whether to practice along with the class session or with the shorter individual videos (or both), depending on what they want to focus on for that week.  Material is given each week that is targeted toward various ability levels; a song is given which is playable for beginning to intermediate players (or intermediate to advanced, depending on the course), and various concepts relating to that song are also given to educate and challenge players at beginning, intermediate and even advanced levels.  The student essentially decides how much they want to take on for the week (and the course) based on their ability level and how much practice time they have.  Any material they were unable to get to during the week and want to revisit later will be available in the archived videos and PDFs.  The instructor will also give students a recommended list of priorities each week to help students take the best advantage of their practice time.

THE CLASS WEBPAGE

This is the virtual gathering place for the courses, where students can view the instructional videos, view and/or download all written materials, listen to mp3s of Matt playing the tunes, get listening recommendations, ask questions, submit their own mp3s for feedback and generate forum discussions.  It’s a great place to drop by any time and explore, learn and discuss.  

REGISTRATION FEE

The course fee is $225 for each course.  

If you have questions about any of the courses, email Matt at [email protected]

Here are a few quotes from some past students about their experiences in the Bluegrass Mandolin 101 program:

“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.

“I’ve practiced more in two weeks than I have in months!  Really enjoying how it’s going.”—Donna O.

“I have to say that making everything available online is a great convenience for me. Being able to stop and return to a more challenging exercise or a newer phrase is great for learning. I also really appreciate your availability to answer questions offline. This is a great course, and I feel as though I’m improving daily because of it.”—Joe C.

“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.

To visit the registration pages, click one of these links:

Register for Octave Mandolin Techniques with Matt Flinner

Register for New Acoustic Mandolin with Matt Flinner

Register for Mandolin Fundamentals with Matt Flinner

View curricula for each course here:

Octave Mandolin Techniques with Matt Flinner Curriculum

New Acoustic Mandolin with Matt Flinner Curriculum

Mandolin Fundamentals with Matt Flinner Curriculum

Hi everyone,

Tunes are up for our weekly Drink Up and Stay Home Virtual Bluegrass Space Jam, which happens FRIDAY, April 8th.

NOTE: the jam will be ONE HOUR EARLIER than normal, at 8 pm eastern time.

Click here to download the zip file of PDFs for this week: Facebook Jam 73

We’ll play some Norman Blake, John Hartford, Alice Gerrard, J.D Crowe, the Osborne Brothers…plus a song about space.  And plenty of bluegrass classics.  

The jam will take place on Facebook Live at 8 pm eastern time.  Feel free to bring a mandolin, or guitar, or banjo, or accordion, spoons, autoharp.  Or just hang out and listen.  

Here’s where you can find the event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1102581830307510/

We’ll play for about an hour or so.  Bring a beverage and comfy chair and we’ll try to ease our sense of isolation at least for a bit.  

If  you’d like to make a donation to keep these jams going, you can do so via:   

Paypal: [email protected]  or  

Venmo: @Matt-Flinner-Mando 

Hope to see you on Friday!

Thanks,
Matt

“This was the best online learning experience I’ve ever had.  And, for the time and money, the best music learning experience in any format:  DVD, video, group, or individual live lessons.”—Christine R. 

“After buying six mandolins and umpteen books…I am convinced your course is best $100 I have invested in my mandolin journey to date.  Finally, I’m getting the discpline I need with your exercises to learn scales, arpeggios, double stops, fingering techniques, learn the fretboard (the essential tools I need)…and most importantly to learn how those things fit into playing tunes.”—Rick D. 

The Bluegrass Mandolin 101 online lessons program continues in winter of 2022 with three eight-week long courses in various styles of American string band music, from the roots of old-time songs and fiddle tunes to the upper stratosphere of modern bluegrass and jazz-influenced fiddle tunes.  Courses for a variety of levels from advanced beginner to intermediate to advanced students will be offered on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with follow-up practice sessions on Saturdays from early January through mid-March.  Show up live for the streamed sessions on Zoom or stream them later on the class website.  Or both!  

Old-Time Mandolin 101: Old-Time Songs and the Carter Family with Matt Flinner                                 Curriculum         Registration

Advanced Fiddle Tunes and Improvisation with Matt Flinner                                                               Curriculum         Registration

Old-Time Mandolin 102: Tunes and Techniques with Matt Flinner                                                        Curriculum         Registration

The Old-Time Mandolin 101: Old-Time Songs and the Carter Family will focus on getting students more familiar with Appalachian old-time songs and help them improve their mandolin fundamentals along the way.  Students will get pointers on how to maximize their tone, various approaches to rhythm playing and chords, making use of open strings, double stops as well as learning a new song (or two or three!) each week.  Each week, we’ll look at two standard songs from the old-time repertoire, plus one song from the Carter Family (some of which are also part of the standard old-time repertoire).  We’ll learn ways of playing lead starting with simple melodies, then gradually progressing to more advanced concepts such as adding double stops, changing octaves, stepping away from the melody and more.  The goal is to help students be able to play more effectively with others, be able to accompany themselves when singing, improve their picking skills and knowledge of the fretboard, and, especially, to have more fun playing the mandolin.

The course is intended for students at a beginner to intermediate level.  More advanced students may benefit from the tone exercises and focus on fundamentals (plus learn some great tunes!).  

Register here. 

The Advanced Fiddle Tunes and Improvisation course is intended to help the intermediate to advanced mandolinist learn some new tunes while exploring various ways of learning the fretboard and improving their improvisational skills.  Fiddle tunes in various keys will be taught each week, and students will be given suggestions on how to improvise and/or create variations on these tunes.  Special attention will be given to more “modern” fiddle tunes by the likes of John Hartford, Darol Anger, Norman Blake, Vassar Clements and others.  Scale and arpeggio exercises, picking exercises and fingering exercises will also be given to help students increase their improvisation skills.  Students will explore melodic ideas from bluegrass, Texas fiddle tunes and jazz to expand their improvisational tool kit.   

The course is intended for intermediate to advanced level students.  

Register here.  

The Old-Time Mandolin 102: Tunes and Techniques will introduce students to old-time tunes at a variety of difficulty levels while drilling the fundamentals: getting students to improve their picking skills, learning double stops in various keys, and improving tone and speed along the way.  Each week, we’ll look at three or four old-time fiddle tunes at various levels of difficulty; students can decide which tune(s) to focus on based on their ability level and interest.  We’ll add various exercises each week to help with difficult picking passages, help students get better tone, and add drone strings and double stops for a fuller sound.  We’ll also look at the similarities between playing lead and rhythm in old-time music, and talk about the mandolin’s unique role as a lead and/or rhythm player; we’ll even blur the lines between lead and backup and find ways of playing in an old-time jam where we can maximize the mandolin’s unique sound.  The goal of the course will be to help students be more comfortable playing with other people, improve their picking, tone, volume and confidence, and, as always, to have more fun playing the mandolin!

The course is intended for students at an intermediate level, but more advanced students may benefit from the picking and tone exercises and the focus on other fundamentals (plus learn a whole lot of great tunes!).  

Register here. 

Register for Old-Time Mandolin 101: Old-Time Songs and the Carter Family with Matt Flinner

Register for Advanced Fiddle Tunes and Improvisation with Matt Flinner

Register for Old-Time Mandolin 102: Old-Time Tunes and Techniques with Matt Flinner

The Old-Time Mandolin 101: Old-Time Songs and the Carter Family course (January 10-March 12) course takes place on Monday evenings at 9 pm eastern time.  We’ll also have practice/review sessions on Saturdays at 10 am eastern time.  Students will have eight Monday class sessions (January 10, 17, 24, 31, February 14, 21, 28 and March 7) and eight Saturday follow-up practice sessions (January 15, 22, 29, February 5, 19, 26 and March 5 and 12).    All live sessions are recorded and uploaded to a class website, where they are viewable generally by the following day. Register here.

The Advanced Fiddle Tunes and Improvisation course (January 11-March 19) meets on Tuesday afternoons and evenings at 2 pm and 9 pm eastern time, with follow-up practice sessions Saturday mornings at 11 am eastern time.  NOTE: Tuesday afternoon sessions take place at 2 pm eastern time—a more convenient time for our friends in the UK and Europe!  2 pm eastern time translates to 7 or 8 pm in the UK and most of Europe.   Students are welcome to join in on either or both of the Tuesday sessions each week (they will be essentially identical to one another in content).  Tuesday class sessions will take place January 11, 18, 25, February 1, 15, 22, March 1 and 15, and Saturday follow-up practice sessions will take place January 15, 22, 29, February 5, 19, 26 and March 5 and 19.  All live sessions are recorded and uploaded to a class website, where they are viewable generally by the following day. Register here.

The Old-Time Mandolin 102: Tunes and Techniques course (January 12-March 19) meets on Wednesday evenings at 9 pm eastern time, with follow-up practice sessions Saturdays at 12:30 pm eastern time.  Students will have eight Wednesday class sessions (January 12, 19, 26, February 9, 16, 23, March 2 and 16) and eight Saturday follow-up practice sessions (January 15, 22, 29, February 12, 19, 26 and March 5 and 19).  All live sessions are recorded and uploaded to a class website, where they are viewable generally by the following day. Register here.

ALL class materials (PDFs, practice mp3s, short practice videos and class session videos) are available for students to download and keep for future use.  

The course fee for each course is $225.  

All students access to the live sessions as well as all materials (PDFs, mp3s, practice videos and class session videos), which they can download for future use.  

Here’s a little more info about the Bluegrass Mandolin 101 online experience that I hope will give you a good idea of how the program works.

BLUEGRASS MANDOLIN 101 

Matt Flinner started the Bluegrass Mandolin 101 program in the fall of 2013.  Along the way, the program has helped hundreds of students improve their mandolin playing in a wide variety of styles.  The program offers a unique approach to online mandolin lessons that gives students the best of both live lessons as well as recorded mandolin instructional videos, audio recordings and written materials.  The courses focus on helping mandolin students get to the next level in their playing and broaden their understanding of a variety of American musical traditions. 

A UNIQUE APPROACH: LIVE INSTRUCTION AND INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS

Part of what makes the Bluegrass Mandolin 101 program unique is the fact that students follow a step-by-step program of live lessons over a four or eight week course.  The courses follow a carefully planned curriculum in the given style or area of technique, and the live lessons get a little more challenging each week as the course progresses.  Classes meet twice per week: on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday evening, depending on the course, and on Saturday morning/afternoon, when students can join a follow-up practice session to review that week’s material.  Students can view the live lessons via their computer, iPad or smart phone.  Students are encouraged to ask questions during the class sessions via a chat window and/or their external or built-in microphone (this microphone is muted unless the student requests to use it).  And students do not need a webcam.  

All live sessions are also recorded so that students can review them any time if they are unable to make it to the live sessions; this also gives students the added convenience of going through the material as many times as they want to.  Students are given access to a private class website where they can find these recorded sessions and they can also view and download all PDFs of the materials and several practice mp3s of that week’s song(s) recorded at various tempos.  Students will also be given download links for all class videos so that they can view them offline at their convenience on into the future.  In essence, all materials from the course are for the students to keep.  

One aspect of the live class schedule that makes the program so effective is that students are generally more encouraged to practice in order to keep up with the schedule.  Students are given a list of suggested priorities each week, depending on their ability level and amount of practice time, and all material is then reviewed in the Saturday practice session so that students get another chance to run through it with the instructor.  Just by showing up, students will run through the material twice each week—for many of us, that’s already an improvement!  

HOW INTERACTIVE ARE THE COURSES?

All live sessions are interactive; students can ask questions and/or demonstrate tunes or exercises via live microphone or telephone, or via a chat window (most students opt for this approach).  The instructor is able to immediately respond and demonstrate the answers for the whole class.  Another form of interaction comes via mp3 recordings; students can record mp3s on their own time of themselves playing the material (or anything else they want to send in) and send it to the instructor for feedback, which is also recorded in mp3 form and sent back to the student.  Students can post their mp3s on the class site (and likely get encouraging feedback from other students in addition to the instructor) or email them privately to the instructor.

HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO PRACTICE?

That is completely up to the student.  While, say, 30 minutes per day might be a good recommendation for practice time, students can make whatever they choose of this course based on their own schedule and aspirations.  Practicing week to week (again, say 30 minutes per day) will help students keep up with the week’s lessons and concepts, but the instructor knows that people have busy lives!  This is why all instructional material is archived and available for download so that students can learn on their own time after the course has finished as well as during the eight weeks of classes.  However, one advantage to the four-week scheduled course is that by practicing at least somewhat regularly, students are more able to be prepared for the following week’s lessons and therefore take full advantage of the live and recorded mix of lesson material.

Students can decide whether to practice along with the class session or with the shorter individual videos (or both), depending on what they want to focus on for that week.  Material is given each week that is targeted toward various ability levels; a song is given which is playable for beginning to intermediate players (or intermediate to advanced, depending on the course), and various concepts relating to that song are also given to educate and challenge players at beginning, intermediate and even advanced levels.  The student essentially decides how much they want to take on for the week (and the course) based on their ability level and how much practice time they have.  Any material they were unable to get to during the week and want to revisit later will be available in the archived videos and PDFs.  The instructor will also give students a recommended list of priorities each week to help students take the best advantage of their practice time.

THE CLASS WEBPAGE

This is the virtual gathering place for the courses, where students can view the instructional videos, view and/or download all written materials, listen to mp3s of Matt playing the tunes, get listening recommendations, ask questions, submit their own mp3s for feedback and generate forum discussions.  It’s a great place to drop by any time and explore, learn and discuss.  

REGISTRATION FEE

Fees for the 8-week summer courses are $225 each.  

Here are a few quotes from some past students about their experiences in the Bluegrass Mandolin 101 program:

“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.

“I’ve practiced more in two weeks than I have in months!  Really enjoying how it’s going.”—Donna O.

“I have to say that making everything available online is a great convenience for me. Being able to stop and return to a more challenging exercise or a newer phrase is great for learning. I also really appreciate your availability to answer questions offline. This is a great course, and I feel as though I’m improving daily because of it.”—Joe C.

“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.

To visit the registration pages, click one of these links:

Register for Old-Time Mandolin 101: Old-Time Songs and the Carter Family with Matt Flinner

Register for Advanced Fiddle Tunes and Improvisation with Matt Flinner

Register for Old-Time Mandolin 102: Old-Time Tunes and Techniques with Matt Flinner