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Thread: Finding a teacher when you have very specific musical interests

  1. #1

    Default Finding a teacher when you have very specific musical interests

    Background: I bought my first mandolin about 8-9 years ago, learned my way around the fretboard on my own, then finally signed up for private lessons almost a year ago (early quarantine). My technical facility has improved considerably in that time, and I've also gotten a much better sense of the kind of rep I want to play. Outside of mandolin, I've been playing classical piano almost my entire life, so reading standard notation is no problem, and I have a solid grasp on music theory.

    I feel I am starting to reach the limits of how far I can go with my current teacher, who plays mandolin, but it's not his main instrument, and his knowledge of that instrument is predominantly focused on old-time music.

    My own musical interests as a mandolinist are:
    1. Baroque/classical (clarifier: I prefer Bach and Telemann to Calace, and archtops to bowlbacks)
    2. Irish fiddle tunes
    3. Old-time fiddle tunes


    I'd like to find a teacher who's into historically informed performance practice. I'm also curious about Marla Fibish's Irish course and Aaron Weinstein's chord melody course on Peghead Nation.

    As far as HIP goes, I'm based in the SF Bay Area, and I saw that the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra is offering lessons. They have a lutenist/guitarist, as well as several violinists. (No mandolinists, unsurprisingly.)

    This is all very open-ended, but I'm wondering if anyone has advice as to how I can guide my practice, if anyone has experience with the aforementioned Peghead Nation courses, experience training with non-mandolinists, etc.

    Thanks in advance!
    Eastman MD504
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  2. #2
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    Default Re: Finding a teacher when you have very specific musical interes

    I don’t have experience with either of the courses you mentioned, so apologize for not directly addressing your question. In reading your initial explanation and musical interests, though, Mike Marshall immediately came to mind. His musical interests seem to be quite broad, and his classical album with his amazingly talented wife was pretty darn fine. That said, I’m sure Mr. Weinstein could handle anything you throw at him. I don’t know enough about Ms. Fibish’s musical interests outside of IT to intelligently comment, though she’s an awesome player, for sure.

    Best of luck! Hopefully you’ll get responses from those with direct experience...
    Chuck

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  4. #3

    Default Re: Finding a teacher when you have very specific musical interes

    I also have very specific interests and found a teacher in a different country with deep expertise in playing the type of music I want to play on the mandolin. I had good results straying from the beaten path and think zoom offers the opportunity to not settle and get exactly what you want. Good luck!

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    Registered User Jill McAuley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Finding a teacher when you have very specific musical interes

    I think Marla's Peghead Nation course is really great value for the money, if you want to learn to play irish tunes on the mandolin with great feel and lift then I'd highly recommend Marla - she also does Zoom/Skype lessons as well.
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    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Finding a teacher when you have very specific musical interes

    Quote Originally Posted by standing.wav View Post

    As far as HIP goes, I'm based in the SF Bay Area, and I saw that the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra is offering lessons. They have a lutenist/guitarist, as well as several violinists. (No mandolinists, unsurprisingly.)
    https://sfmandolin.org/

    perhaps the SF Mandolin Orchestra can help.

    sfmo@sfmandolin.org

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    Default Re: Finding a teacher when you have very specific musical interes

    mandolessons.com is free and you can donate to his website !

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    Default Re: Finding a teacher when you have very specific musical interes

    My own involvement in HIP (on a different instrument) showed that it's necessary for immersion with other researchers and players, which constitute the best body of existing knowledge and practices. I googled a bit for your area of interest and got a hit or two. I would suggest contacting the folks who share this interest and following where this leads. Hopefully it will open doors.

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    Pataphysician Joe Bartl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Finding a teacher when you have very specific musical interes

    The Classical Mandolin Society of America (CMSA) has a list of teachers that you might take a look at. I expect that many of these would be amenable to Zoom lessons. They also have a list of professional mandolinists who have performed at CMSA conventions. Some of these offer online/Zoom lessons as well -- you could first check them out on Youtube to see if you like what they are doing. Good luck.

    Joe

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    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Finding a teacher when you have very specific musical interes

    Quote Originally Posted by Joe Bartl View Post
    The Classical Mandolin Society of America (CMSA) has a list of teachers that you might take a look at. I expect that many of these would be amenable to Zoom lessons. They also have a list of professional mandolinists who have performed at CMSA conventions. Some of these offer online/Zoom lessons as well -- you could first check them out on Youtube to see if you like what they are doing. Good luck.

    Joe
    I've attended a CMSA gathering and there are many players from the Bay area.

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  18. #10

    Default Re: Finding a teacher when you have very specific musical interes

    Quote Originally Posted by Jill McAuley View Post
    I think Marla's Peghead Nation course is really great value for the money, if you want to learn to play irish tunes on the mandolin with great feel and lift then I'd highly recommend Marla - she also does Zoom/Skype lessons as well.
    I pulled the trigger on this one and I've watched/played along with the first few videos. It's really great so far, and definitely worth the money.
    Eastman MD504
    Curt Mangan Monel, Light
    Dunlop Ultex Sharp, 1.14 mm

    IG: @standing.wav

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