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.

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 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 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 really enjoy your courses and your teaching style. It works for me nicely.  You obviously put a great deal of effort and thought into the classes.”—Mike B.

“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.

Register for Fiddle Tune Harmony for Mandolin with Matt Flinner

See the Octave Mandolin Techniques with Matt Flinner curriculum (1/8-3/16)

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

This course will teach students how to create the happiest sound in the world—two mandolins playing in harmony!  Each week, students will learn two standard fiddle tunes, along with ways of constructing harmony parts to those tunes.  Exercises will be given each week to help students learn more about the fretboard, get more adept at playing scales and double stops in the common keys of G, D, A and C, and find chord tones more easily in all keys.  Besides being able to create harmony parts, students will come away from the course with a stronger understanding of how melodies are created and how they relate to chords and chord tones.  The goal of the course is to give students a broader understanding of music theory and help them learn melodies more quickly (as well as create the happiest sound in the world…).

The course is intended for students at an intermediate to advanced level.  The course will start out fairly easy (lower intermediate?), and will gradually progress to a more advanced level.

The course runs from January 9-March 16.  Classes take place online on Tuesday afternoons at 2 pm and 9 pm eastern time, and practice/review sessions take place on Saturday mornings at 11 am eastern time.

Register here

THE CURRICULUM:

Week 1 (1/9)

Some vocal songs

Twin mandolins as lead and tenor harmony

Harmonizing Major Scales

Using 3rds and 4ths to create harmony

Bury Me Beneath the Willow

Wildwood Flower

Week 2 (1/16)

Harmony in G

G Major Scales

Chord Tones in G

Finding 3rds and 4ths

The Girl I Left Behind

Down Yonder

Week 3 (1/23)

Harmony in D

D Major Scales

Chord Tones in D

Harmony on the I Versus the V Chord

Soldier’s Joy

Forked Deer

Week 4 (1/30)

Harmony in A

A Major and Mixolydian Scales

Chord Tones in A

Positions up the Neck

Liza Jane

A Red Prairie Dawn

Week 5 (2/6)

Minor Keys

Minor chord tones and arpeggios

Minor chord inversions

Lonesome Moonlight Waltz

Cold Frosty Morning 

Week 6 (2/13)

Fast Moving Chord Progressions

Identifying chord tones on down beats

Arpeggio Inversions

Big Sandy River

Boston Boy

Week 7 (2/27)

Harmony in C

More Positions up the Neck

Double Stop Harmony

Denver Belle

Texas Gaks

Week 8 (3/12)

Three Part Harmony

Creating Baritone parts

Chord Tone Exercise in All Keys

Scotland

Big Mon

The course fee is $225.  

Register for Fiddle Tune Harmony for Mandolin with Matt Flinner

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

“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.

“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.

Register for Celtic Mandolin with Matt Flinner (1/3-3/2)

See the Octave Mandolin with Matt Flinner curriculum (1/8-3/16)

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

Celtic Mandolin returns this winter!  This course will explore techniques for playing lead and rhythm in traditional Irish fiddle tunes.   Each week, students can choose between three reels, jigs, songs or hornpipes to learn, along with several exercises to help with various aspects of technique.  During the class sessions, Matt will focus on one of the tunes each week, but students are given the option of learning one or two more if they have time, or focusing on one of the other tunes if they so choose.  Rhythm playing and picking technique on reels, hornpipes and jigs will be explored, as well as picking technique for triplets and various ways of playing ornamentations.  The course is recommended for players at an advanced beginner to intermediate level (though advanced players who want to learn some Irish tunes may enjoy it as well!).  

The live class sessions occur online on Monday evenings at 9 pm eastern time, and practice/review sessions take place on Saturdays from 10-10:45 am eastern time.

Students are NOT required to attend all (or any) of the live sessions; all sessions are recorded and uploaded to the class website where they can be viewed after-the-fact at the student’s leisure.  Students also have the option of downloading all class videos and practice videos, as well as all PDFs and practice mp3s for the course, so that they can revisit the materials any time.

Register here

Here is the curriculum:

WEEK 1 (1/3)

Picking Exercise I

Playing basic rhythm on reels

Rhythm Exercise I

A Few Scales

The Silver Spear

The Kerry Reel

The Concertina Reel

WEEK 2 (1/10)

Picking Exercise II

Adding some hammer-on and pull-off ornaments

Varying the octave

Rhythm Exercise II

The Maid Behind the Bar

The Earl’s Chair

The Mountain Road

WEEK 3 (1/17)

A few hornpipes

Adding triplets

Triplet picking exercise

The Boys of Blue Hill

King of the Fairies

The Rights of Man Hornpipe

WEEK 4 (1/24)

Jigs

Picking Exercise IV

Emphasizing the beat in 6/8 time

Playing rhythm on jigs

Rhythm Exercise III

The Kesh Jig

Out on the Ocean

My Darling Asleep

WEEK 5 (1/31)

Using chord inversions in your rhythm playing

Picking Exercise III

Pull-off ornaments

The Sally Gardens

The Pigeon on the Gate

Tarbolton Reel

WEEK 6 (2/7)

Jigs II

Further rhythmic ideas on jigs

Rhythm Exercise IV

Octave variations

The Cliffs of Moher

The Connaughtman’s Rambles

The Blackthorn Stick

WEEK 7 (2/14)

Slip Jigs

Picking Exercise V

Rhythm Exercise V

Patterns in 9/8

The Butterfly

Foxhunter’s Jig

Farewell to Whalley Range

WEEK 8 (2/28)

A few more reels

Tying it together: moving chords, ornaments and trills

Farewell to Ireland 

The Fisherman’s Lilt

The Fermoy Lasses

The Green Groves of Erin

The course fee is $225.  Register here.

“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 will dive into Irish and American fiddle tunes and roots music this winter with three eight-week long courses designed to help you improve your technique, learn some tunes and help you have more fun playing the mandolin (or octave mandolin)!

Octave Mandolin Techniques with Matt Flinner                           Curriculum         Registration

Fiddle Tune Harmony for Mandolin with Matt Flinner                   Curriculum         Registration

Celtic Mandolin with Matt Flinner                                              Curriculum         Registration 

The Octave Mandolin Techniques with Matt Flinner course (January 8-March 16): 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.  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.  

The Fiddle Tune Harmony for Mandolin with Matt Flinner course (January 9-March 16): this course will teach students how to create the happiest sound in the world—two mandolins playing in harmony!  Each week, students will learn two standard fiddle tunes or songs, along with ways of constructing harmony parts to those tunes.  Exercises will be given each week to help students learn more about the fretboard, get more adept at playing scales and double stops in the common keys of G, D, A and C, and find chord tones more easily in all keys.  Besides being able to create harmony parts, students will come away from the course with a stronger understanding of how melodies are created and how they relate to chords and chord tones.  The goal of the course is to give students a broader understanding of music theory and help them learn melodies more quickly (as well as create the happiest sound in the world…).

The course is intended for students at an intermediate to advanced level.  The course will start out fairly easy (lower intermediate?), and will gradually progress to a more advanced level.

Register here. 

The Celtic Mandolin with Matt Flinner course (January 3-March 2) will explore techniques for playing lead and rhythm in traditional Irish fiddle tunes.   Each week, students can choose between three reels, jigs, songs or hornpipes to learn, along with several exercises to help with various aspects of technique.  During the class sessions, Matt will focus on one of the tunes each week, but students are given the option of learning one or two more if they have time, or focusing on one of the other tunes if they so choose.  Rhythm playing and picking technique on reels, hornpipes and jigs will be explored, as well as picking technique for triplets and various ways of playing ornamentations.  

The course is recommended for players at an advanced beginner to intermediate level (though advanced players who want to learn some Irish tunes may enjoy it as well!).  

Register here,

Register for Octave Mandolin Techniques with Matt Flinner

Register for the Fiddle Tune Harmony for Mandolin with Matt Flinner

Register for Celtic Mandolin with Matt Flinner

The Octave Mandolin Techniques course (January 8-March 16) meets on Monday evenings at 9 pm eastern time, with follow-up practice sessions Saturday mornings at 11 am eastern time.  The weeks of February 19 and March 4 are off due to Matt’s tour schedule; students will have eight Monday class sessions and eight Saturday follow-up practice sessions over the course of 1o weeks.  All live sessions are recorded and uploaded to a class website, where they are viewable generally by the following day. Register here.

The Fiddle Tune Harmony for Mandolin course (January 9-March 16) meets on Tuesdays at 2 pm and 9 pm eastern time, with follow-up practice sessions Saturday mornings at 11 am eastern time.  NOTE: Tuesday afternoon sessions are set up as a more convenient time for our friends in the UK and Europe (and, actually for many in the U.S. as well)!  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).  The weeks of February 20 and March 5 are off due to Matt’s tour schedule; students will have eight  class sessions and eight Saturday follow-up practice sessions over the course of 10 weeks.  All live sessions are recorded and uploaded to a class website, where they are viewable generally by the following day. Register here.

The Celtic Mandolin course (January 3-March 2) meets on Wednesdays at 9 pm eastern time, with follow-up practice sessions Saturday mornings at 12:30 pm eastern time.    The week of February 21 is off due to Matt’s tour schedule; students will have eight class sessions and eight Saturday follow-up practice sessions over the course of nine weeks.  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.   Just register for the course(s) you want to take, and we’ll send you a confirmation along with an invoice for the course fee ($225 per course).  You’ll be all set!

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 winter 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 Octave Mandolin Techniques with Matt Flinner

Register for the Fiddle Tune Harmony for Mandolin with Matt Flinner

Register for Celtic Mandolin with Matt Flinner

You can always ask questions about the courses via email ([email protected]), and I’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.  I hope to see you this winter!

All the best,

Matt

“Your classes are moving me forward so very much. Thank you.” —Jean C.

“I started playing the mandolin a little over two years ago. I played the piano as a child, but having never played a stringed instrument before, my intention was to study as much as I could about technique, theory, improvisation and the various genres of music for the mandolin.  To that end, I have taken nearly every course Matt has offered, even three at a time! 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.

Register for Early Country Mandolin with Matt Flinner

See the McReynolds Style Mandolin with Matt Flinner curriculum (10/3-12/9)

See the Music Theory for Mandolin Players with Matt Flinner curriculum (10/4-12/2)

The Early Country Mandolin course will explore the roots of country music from the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s.  Students will learn melodies and rhythm for songs from early pioneers such as the Callahan Brothers, the Blue Sky Boys, the Louvin Brothers and the Monroe Brothers, along with exercises focusing on tremolo, double stops, playing in various keys, a bit of improv and more.  

The course is recommended for advanced beginner (knowledge of basic chords and at least a few songs and tunes s helpful) to intermediate players.  

60-minute class sessions take place online every Monday evening from October 2nd to December 4th at 9 pm eastern time, and 45-minute practice/review sessions take place every Saturday morning from October 7th through December 9th at 10 am eastern time.  The weeks of October 30th and November 20th are off due to Matt’s tour schedule and the Thanksgiving holiday.  

NOTE: It is helpful, but not essential, to be present for the live sessions.  All class sessions are recorded and available to view on the class website by the following day.  Here is the curriculum:

Register here

WEEK 1 (10/2)

A bit of old-time mandolin

Picking Exercise I

Rhythm Exercise I

Getting better tone and volume

Ida Red (Fiddlin’ Powers & Family)

WEEK 2 (10/9)

The Blue Sky Boys

Tremolo Exercise #1

Double Stop Exercise #1

Hills of Roane County

The Butcher Boy

WEEK 3 (10/16)

Some Ragtime style 

Picking exercise #2

Double stop exercise #2

Moving smoothly between double stops

Nobody’s Business (Riley Puckett)

Just Because (Lone Star Cowboys)

WEEK 4 (10/23)

The Lilly Brothers

Picking Exercise #3

Double Stop Exercise #3

A few Everett Lilly licks

Bring Back My Blue Eyed Boy

Little Annie

WEEK 5 (11/6)

The Louvin Brothers

Tremolo Exercise #2

Double Stop Exercise #4

Cash on the Barrelhead

You’re Running Wild

WEEK 6 (11/13)

The Monroe Brothers

Picking Exercise #4

A few Bill Monroe licks

Goodbye, Maggie

Where Is My Sailor Boy?

WEEK 7 (11/27)

The Callahan Brothers

Some bluesy licks

Melodic Pattern I

Double Stop Exercise #5

Freight Train Whistle Blues

She’s Just that Kind

WEEK 8 (12/4)

Some more Monroe Brothers

Picking Exercises for Speed

A few more Bill Monroe licks

Have a Feast Here Tonight

Rollin’ On

The course fee is $225.  

Register for Early Country Mandolin with 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.

“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.

Register for McReynolds Style Mandolin with Matt Flinner

See the Early Country Mandolin with Matt Flinner curriculum (10/2-12/9)

See the Music Theory for Mandolin Players with Matt Flinner curriculum (10/4-12/2)

This course will help you learn the basics of crosspicking on the mandolin in the style of the great Jesse McReynolds.  Material will focus on various crosspicking patterns and double stops and positions in various keys to create unique and often intricate solos on bluegrass standard songs.  Arrangements will start out fairly simple and will progress to more complex solos as we explore some of McReynolds’ approaches to playing melody, along with some other approaches to incorporating crosspicking into your playing.  We’ll also explore a couple of great “standard” picking tunes by Jesse.  It’s a great way to add some color and flair to your playing!

Classes will meet on Tuesdays at 2 pm and 9 pm eastern time from October 3 to December 5, with the weeks of October 31 and November 21 off due to Matt’s touring schedule and the Thanksgiving holiday.  Follow-up practice sessions, in which Matt will review all of that week’s material with the students, take place on Saturdays at 11 am from October 7 to December 9 (again, with November 4 and 25 off due to Matt’s touring schedule and the Thanksgiving holiday).  

Attendance to the live class and review sessions is encouraged but not essential, as all sessions are recorded and available to view on the class website by the following day. 

This course is recommended for intermediate to advanced players.

Register for McReynolds Style Mandolin with Matt Flinner

WEEK 1 (10/3)

Intro to cross picking

Crosspicking Pattern 1

Double Stops in the key of A

Playing cross picking patterns over double stops

Don’t Say Goodbye if You Love Me

Dixie Road

WEEK 2 (10/10)

The Key of D

Double Stops in D

Moving from one double stop to another

Crosspicking on the high strings

Crosspicking on the low strings

Take My Ring from Your Finger

Rabbit in the Log

WEEK 3 (10/17)

Key of G

Crosspicking Pattern II (DEDEADEA)

Low and high double stop positions

Sweet Little Miss Blue Eyes

Where the Soul of Man Never Dies 

WEEK 4 (10/24)

Adding intermediate double stops

Diatonic Double Stop Exercise in G

Varying the picking pattern (Pattern 1 and pattern 2 on same part of melody to create syncopation)

Gosh I Miss You All the Time

Deep Elem Blues

WEEK 5 (11/7)

Some non-cross picking McReynolds tunes 

Picking Exercise III

Minor double stops

Border Ride

Witch Grass

WEEK 6 (11/14)

Keys of E and B

E and B double stop exercises

Low and high positions in E and B

It’s a Lonesome Road

Alabam’

WEEK 7 (11/28)

More advanced tunes in G

Crosspicking Pattern 3

Throwing In Occasional Crosspicking in Solos

I Wonder Where You Are Tonight 

Stay All Night 

WEEK 8 (12/5)

A couple of McReynolds classics

Combining picking patterns

More double stop exercises

Changing octaves

Stony Creek

Sweet Georgia Brown

The course fee is $225.  

Register here

“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.  

Register for Music Theory for Mandolin Players 

See the Early Country Mandolin curriculum (10/2-12/9)

See the McReynolds Style Mandolin curriculum (10/3-12/9)

Welcome to the Music Theory for Mandolin Players online course!  This course is intended to help students learn more about the mandolin fretboard and learn some music theory along they way as they progress through a series of exercises week by week.  Students will be given a mix of scale, arpeggio, chord, transposition and ear training exercises each week to help them find their way around the fretboard in various keys.  We’ll also do a bit of musical analysis on some familiar melodies and chord progressions from the songs of the Beatles—a band that had a remarkable variety in melody and chord writing that ranged from simple to complex to sublime.  Students at all levels are encouraged to participate, though the course will likely be most beneficial to students at an upper beginner to higher intermediate level. 

Class sessions meet every Wednesday evening from October 4th to November 29th at 9 pm eastern time, and practice/review sessions meet every Saturday from October 7th to December 2nd at 12:30 pm eastern time.  The week of November 22nd will be off for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Students are encouraged to attend the live sessions to be able to interact more directly with the instructor, but live attendance is NOT required.  Students will be able to view the recordings of all of the sessions any time afterward as often as they want through the class website.

Students are encouraged to prioritize certain exercises according to their ability level, and are given the option of adding to many of the exercises in order to further challenge themselves if they wish to.  Part of the intent of the course is to challenge students at a variety of levels, and to help students advance their playing, learn new musical ideas and have more fun playing the mandolin regardless of their ability level.

Register for Music Theory for Mandolin Players

WEEK 1 (10/4)

Major Scales

Numbering notes in the scale

Transposing melodies

Chord study #1 

I-IV-V Progressions 

Melodic exercise I: Yellow Submarine

WEEK 2 (10/11)

Minor Scales

Chord study #2

Ear training exercise #1

Scale exercise I

Melodic Exercise II: Girl

WEEK 3 (10/18)

Modes

Diatonic chord exercise

Closed position scales

Scale Exercise II

Chord study #3

Melodic Exercise III: If I Fell

WEEK 4 (10/25)

Chord Inversions

Chord tones as melodic devices

Chord tones as improv devices

Arpeggio Exercise I

Melodic Exercise IV and analysis: Blackbird

WEEK 5 (11/1)

Interval studies

Double stops as chord tones

Ear training exercise #2

Scale Exercise III

Arpeggio Exercise II

Melodic Exercise V: It’s Only Love

WEEK 6 (11/8)

Dominant 7 chords

Types of cadences

Voice leading in cadences

Secondary dominants

Ear training exercise #3

Melodic Exercise VI: Maxwell’s Silver Hammer

WEEK 7 (11/15)

Modulation

Common tones in chords

Chord exercise #3 (using common tones to find chords)

Scale Exercise III

Arpeggio Exercise III

Melodic Exercise VII: All You Need Is Love

WEEK 8 (11/29)

Chromaticism

More with modulation

Scale and arpeggio review

Ear Training Exercise #4

Melodic Exercise VIII: Martha My Dear

The course fee is $225.  

Register here.

“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 this fall with three eight-week long courses exploring the roots of bluegrass and country, the nuts and bolts of melody and harmony, and the playing style of one of the all-time greats, Jesse McReynolds.  Each course is designed to help you improve your technique, learn some tunes and help you have more fun playing the mandolin!

Early Country Mandolin with Matt Flinner                        Curriculum         Registration

McReynolds Style Mandolin with Matt Flinner                   Curriculum         Registration

Music Theory for Mandolin Players with Matt Flinner         Curriculum         Registration 

The Early Country Mandolin course (October 2-December 9) will focus on getting students more familiar with songs from the early days of country music (mainly from the 1920s, 30s and 40s) 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 early country, old-time and bluegrass artists including the Louvin Brothers, the Blue Sky Boys, the Monroe Brothers and several others.  We’ll learn solos by these early masters, along with other 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 course is intended for students at an advanced beginner to intermediate level.  More advanced students may benefit from the focus on fundamentals (plus learn some great tunes!). 

Register here.  

The McReynolds Style Mandolin course (October 3-December 9) will help you learn the basics of crosspicking on the mandolin—mainly in the style of the great Jesse McReynolds.  Material will focus on various crosspicking patterns and double stops and positions in various keys to create unique and often intricate solos on bluegrass standard songs.  Arrangements will start out fairly simple and will progress to more complex solos as we explore some of McReynolds’ approaches to playing melody, along with some other approaches to incorporating crosspicking into your playing.  It’s a great way to add some color and flair to your playing!  And we’ll not just focus on cross picking; we’ll look at some other beautiful tunes by Jesse in a more “standard” picking style as well.  

This course is recommended for intermediate to advanced players.

Register here. 

The Music Theory for Mandolin Players course (October 4-December 2) is intended to help students learn more about the mandolin fretboard and learn some music theory along they way as they progress through a series of exercises week by week.  Students will be given a mix of scale, arpeggio, chord, transposition and ear training exercises each week to help them find their way around the fretboard in various keys.  We’ll also do a bit of musical analysis on some familiar melodies and chord progressions from the music of the Beatles.  Students at all levels are encouraged to participate, though the course will likely be most beneficial to students at an upper beginner to higher intermediate level. 

Register here,

Register for Early Country Mandolin with Matt Flinner

Register for McReynolds Style Mandolin with Matt Flinner

Register for Music Theory for Mandolin Players with Matt Flinner

The Early Country Mandolin course (October 2-December 9) meets on Monday evenings at 9 pm eastern time, with follow-up practice sessions Saturday mornings at 11 am eastern time.  The weeks of October 30 and November 20 are off due to Matt’s tour schedule and the Thanksgiving holiday; students will have eight Monday class sessions and eight Saturday follow-up practice sessions over a 10-week period.  All live sessions are recorded and uploaded to a class website, where they are viewable generally by the following day. Register here.

The McReynolds Style Mandolin course (October 3-December 9) meets on Tuesdays at 2 pm and 9 pm eastern time, with follow-up practice sessions Saturday mornings at 11 am eastern time.  NOTE: Tuesday afternoon sessions are set up as a more convenient time for our friends in the UK and Europe (and, actually for many in the U.S. as well)!  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).  The weeks of October 31 and November 21 are off due to Matt’s tour schedule and the Thanksgiving holidays; students will have eight (or 16, if you attend both Tuesday sessions) class sessions and eight Saturday follow-up practice sessions.  All live sessions are recorded and uploaded to a class website, where they are viewable generally by the following day. Register here.

The Music Theory for Mandolin Players course (October 4-December 2) meets on Wednesdays at 2 pm and 9 pm eastern time, with follow-up practice sessions Saturday mornings at 12:30 pm eastern time.  The week of November 22 is off due to the Thanksgiving holiday; students will have eight class sessions and eight Saturday follow-up practice sessions over a nine week period.  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 fall 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 Early Country Mandolin with Matt Flinner

Register for McReynolds Style Mandolin with Matt Flinner

Register for Music Theory for Mandolin Players with Matt Flinner

You can always ask questions about the courses via email ([email protected]), and I’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.  I hope to see you this fall!

All the best,

Matt

“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.

Register for the Everything Jamming course with Matt Flinner

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.  

Register for the Everything Jamming II course with Matt Flinner

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

Register here

“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 was very impressed and feel better about my confidence level, how I play and focus now. The course just worked for me and got me over a hump in terms of my motivation and focus.”—Donna O.

Register here for the Monroe Mandolin Intensive with Matt Flinner

See the Mandolin Tune Studies with Matt Flinner curriculum

See the Everything Mandolin Jamming II with Matt Flinner curriculum

This course is intended for students at an intermediate to advanced level who want to focus more exclusively on the distinct mandolin style of Bill Monroe.  Students will learn many concepts in bluegrass style playing, but with a uniquely “Monroe” take on them.  Focus will be on rhythmic drive, the bluesy side of bluegrass, and learning the fretboard in various keys while learning many classic Monroe mandolin solos.

Class sessions take place on Tuesday evenings at 9 pm eastern time, with follow-up practice sessions on Saturdays at 11 am eastern time.  Students are welcome to attend the live sessions, but it is not required.  All class sessions are recorded and available to view on the class website at the students’ convenience.  

The course runs from August 22nd through September 23.  The week of August 29th will be off due to Matt’s touring schedule.  The are a total of eight live class sessions (four class sessions and four review sessions) during the course. 

The course fee is $125.  Register here

Here is the curriculum:

WEEK 1 (8/22)

Using open strings

Picking exercise I

Playing backup

Playing fills behind the vocal

I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky

Gotta Travel On

Midnight on the Stormy Deep

On and On

WEEK 2 (9/5)

The blues

Finding blue notes in position playing

Down picking exercise

A few bluesy licks and fills

Can’t You Hear Me Calling

Honky Tonk Swing 

Rocky Road Blues

Blue Night

WEEK 3 (9/12)

Some more bluesy licks

Down-picking exercise II

Triplet picking exercise

Little Maggie

Get Down on Your Knees and Pray

Close By

Brand New Shoes

WEEK 4 (9/19)

Playing out of the chop chord position

Double stops in the chop chord position

A few chop chord licks 

When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again

Sittin’ On Top of the World

Out in the Cold World

Virginia Darlin’

The course fee is $125.  

Register here for the Monroe Mandolin Intensive with Matt Flinner