Bluegrass Mandolin 101 Curriculum

This course has concluded. To view the current list of courses offered, visit the Winter Online Course page.

Here is the curriculum for the Bluegrass Mandolin 101 online course, which runs from January 4-March 5. The course is intended for beginner-intermedaite players (though many of the fundamentals covered should be beneficial to players at any level). Classes take place Monday evenings at 9 pm eastern time, and review sessions take place on Saturday mornings at 10 am eastern time (note: the week of February 22nd is off, due to Matt’s tour schedule). The registration fee is $200.

Go back to the info page here.

BLUEGRASS MANDOLIN 101 WITH MATT FLINNER CURRICULUM:

Week 1 (1/4)

Three warmup exercises
Intro to position playing
Intro to double stops
Will the Circle Be Unbroken
Bonus Material: Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie

WEEK 2 (1/11)

Moving to the key of A
Some tag licks to add to your solos
Backup playing and fills
I’ll Fly Away
Bonus Material: Long Black Veil

WEEK 3 (1/18)

Small position shifts
Adding some more licks to your solos
Double stop exercises in D
Banks of the Ohio
Bonus material: Keep on the Sunny Side of Life

WEEK 4 (1/25)

Position playing II
Three different kickoffs
Chord tones in position playing
Man of Constant Sorrow
Bonus Material: Evening Prayer Blues

WEEK 5 (2/1)

Shifting from Position I to Position II
Transposing to other keys
Bury Me Beneath the Willow
Bonus Material: You Are My Sunshine

WEEK 6 (2/8)

More position shifts
Turnarounds: I-V-I progressions
Double stop exercises in C
Sittin’ On Top of the World
Bonus material: Gold Watch and Chain

WEEK 7 (2/15)

Moving double stops around to create melody
An approach to improvising
Soldier’s Joy
Bonus material: Panhandle Country

Week 8 (2/29)

Tying it all together
Adding some licks and improvising
Combining double stops and licks
My Home’s Across the Blue Ridge Mountains
Bonus tune: Foggy Mountain Top

See the Bluegrass Mandolin 102 with Matt Flinner curriculum.

See the Newgrass Mandolin with Matt Flinner curriculum.

Go to the Bluegrass Mandolin 101 online program information page.