Everything Mandolin Jamming II Curriculum (8/23-9/23)

“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.

See the Mandolin Tune Studies Curriculum (August 21-September 23)
See the Monroe Mandolin Intensive Curriculum (August 22-September 23)

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,
the Beatles, Bob Marley, Bo Diddley 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.
This course is a continuation of the Everything Mandolin Jamming I course which concludes on
July 15, but students do not to have taken that course in order to take the Everything Mandolin
Jamming II course.

The course fee is $125.

EVERYTHING JAMMING II CURRICULUM:

WEEK 1 (August 23)
Folk rhythms II
Getting around the neck in G
Mixing rhythm into your lead playing II
What Goes On
You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
The Home of the Blues
Me and Bobby McGee

WEEK 2 (September 6)
Bo Diddley rhythms
Blues licks in various keys and positions
Not Fade Away
I Want Candy
Please Go Home
American Girl

WEEK 3 (September 13)
Songs with Reggae rhythms
Double stops in melody
Three Little Birds
I Shot the Sheriff
Pulling the Devil By the Tail
Mother and Child Reunion

WEEK 4 (September 20)
Tying it all together—blues, double stops, licks and rhythms in lead playing
More complex chord progressions
Mixing in various chord and rhythm styles
Here, There and Everywhere
House of the Rising Sun
Eight Miles High
Your Song