Octave Mandolin Course

[ajschnitzelbank]

Does anyone know if Matt may be teaching this OM course again? I tried reaching out to him via the email addresses on his website but had no luck (one was returned “inbox is full” and the other I got no reply; maybe he’s having email spam issues).

Thanks. And apologies for resurrecting an old thread.

[Kenny]

I don’t know if it’s firmed up yet but Matt did mention in one session of the current course that he’s got another OM workshop planned. As soon as I hear something confirming an OM workshop I’ll post here. I’m taking his Folk and Bluegrass Rhythm workshop now. It’s my fourth Matt Flinner workshop and every one has been exceptional.

[mandocello8]

I was in the very first Matt Flinner OM class and I think it was very good. He used a couple of neat tricks early on to establish the mindset of "hey, this is better than the small mandolin". I recommend!

[Bluey]

How is the course done though?
Do you gain access to videos or something?

[mandocello8]

this was 2 years ago now, things may have changed, email Matt F. and ask him directly. back when, it was live on zoom in "webinar" mode. all lessons were recorded for replay. sound and video quality was excellent.

[Kenny]

How is the course done though?
Do you gain access to videos or something?

Matt does a weekly Zoom workshop, generally Mon, Tue or Wed, depending on the course. He sends out PDFs of the materials just before each workshop session then has a practice session on Saturday. It’s interactive via a text chat during the Zoom sessions and he provides a forum where we interact with questions, pointers, et al. Each week he posts videos of the workshop segments so you can practice along and he also posts MP3s for play along practicing. When the course ends he posts the videos of the full sessions (in SD and HD) that you can download. I’ve done five workshops and have just signed up for #6, so clearly I’m finding it helpful. Whether you’re a tyro or an ace there’s much to gain from Matt’s offerings.

[dulcillini]

One of the builders on this site offered a short scale octave a few years ago. If my memory serves me, it was in the 18-19 inch scale length range. Do any of you know or remember who that might have been? One of my regrets was that years ago, I sold a Weber Bridger Mandola with a 17.5 inch scale length to a guy who converted it into an octave mandolin, using lighter strings by Thomastik. Why didn't I think of that ?? Anyway, it is long gone now, but I have tried the traditional length octaves and the bouzoukis and I really struggle with the fretting. My hands are not large. Thanks in advance for any info.

[Bluey]

Matt does a weekly Zoom workshop, generally Mon, Tue or Wed, depending on the course. He sends out PDFs of the materials just before each workshop session then has a practice session on Saturday. It’s interactive via a text chat during the Zoom sessions and he provides a forum where we interact with questions, pointers, et al. Each week he posts videos of the workshop segments so you can practice along and he also posts MP3s for play along practicing. When the course ends he posts the videos of the full sessions (in SD and HD) that you can download. I’ve done five workshops and have just signed up for #6, so clearly I’m finding it helpful. Whether you’re a tyro or an ace there’s much to gain from Matt’s offerings.

Thanks, i'm interested but it looks like registration is basically closed.
Also, time zone difference will probably mean I can't attend the Zoom call.

[Marcus CA]

Matt's spring session classes will begin the last week of March, and the registration for those is still open --- although the discount will be ending in an hour. He hasn't updated the header on the web page yet, though, so that still refers to his winter session classes, which are almost finished. However, all the info on the page is accurate for the upcoming session.
https://www.mattflinner.com/2018/06/...ard-exercises/

That's the good news. The bad news is that Matt isn't offering an OM course this time. I took the first one, which was when I started this thread, and I would have taken the one last year, except that Matt was also offering a New Acoustic Music course, which I was even more interested in, so I took that one instead.

During the summer, Matt's courses only run for four sessions because he's out at the festivals and workshops, but his courses during the other three seasons always run for eight sessions, and are ALWAYS excellent. During the registration period, he lists a very detailed curriculum for each upcoming course, with the techniques and tunes that he will be covering in each session, so you'll have a clear sense of what you'll be learning if you sign up.

[Kenny]

Thanks, i'm interested but it looks like registration is basically closed.
Also, time zone difference will probably mean I can't attend the Zoom call.

OM isn’t being offered this spring, sorry. I’m looking forward to the next one, whenever it may come, having enjoyed the prior (second) OM session.

People attend Matt’s Zoom sessions from around the world. The 9 p.m. sessions can be awkward for Germany and Japan but people there do join! Since he posts video recordings of the sessions and practice MP3s (usually the next day) the only thing you’d miss by not being in the live session would be opportunity to type a comment or question in the chat window. Each class has a forum where you can talk with other participants between Zoom times.

[thirdposition]

Somewhat off topic but... I enrolled in the Joe K. Walsh course through Pedhead Nation a week ago. I love it! super helpful approach. Great sheet music, play along tracks, and plenty of videos for each song. I was excited to learn the song Palmer off of his new record. I highly recommend.
-Jonathan