Matt Flinner

Mandolin Fundamentals and Technique with Matt Flinner Curriculum (10/9-12/7)

 

 

“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 the Mandolin Fundamentals and Technique with Matt Flinner course

 

See the Carter Family Mandolin  curriculum (10/7-12/7)

See the Grateful Dead Mandolin curriculum (10/8-12/7)

 

 

The Mandolin Fundamentals and Technique 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, swing, 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 October 9th to December 4th at 9 pm eastern time, with practice/review sessions every Saturday from October 12th to December 7th at 12:30 pm eastern time.  The week of November 27th will be off due to the Thanksgiving holiday.  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 (10/9)

Picking exercises

Picking Exercise I

Picking Exercise II 

Major Scale Exercise I

Lick #1

Music for a Found Harmonium

 

Week 2 (10/16)

Fingering exercises

Fingering Exercise I (one string)

Fingering Exercise II (across the strings)

Major Arpeggio Exercise I 

Lick #2

Blackberry Blossom (and variations)

 

Week 3 (10/23)

Double stop exercises

Double Stop Exercise II

Double Stop Exercise III

Major Scale Exercise II

Lick #3

Eight More Miles to Louisville

 

Week 4 (10/30)

Picking exercises—tremolo

Tremolo Picking Exercise I

Tremolo Picking Exercise II

Lick #4

Tennessee Waltz

 

Week 5 (11/6)

Chord exercises

Chord Exercise I

Chord Exercise II (diatonic chords)

Diatonic Double Stop Exercise

Lick #5

Home Sweet Home

 

Week 6 (11/13)

Scale exercises

Major Scale Exercise III (various positions)

Minor Scale Exercise I (low position)

Lick #6

Position shifts

Liza Jane

 

Week 7 (11/20)

Arpeggio exercises

Major Arpeggio Exercise II

Minor Arpeggio Exercise II

Lick #7

Jackson’s Hornpipe

 

Week 8 (12/4)

Position shifts II

Picking Exercise IV

Fingering Exercise III

Minor Scale Exercise II

Lick #8

Jethro’s Tune

 

The course fee is $225.  

Register for the Mandolin Fundamentals and Technique with Matt Flinner course