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Week 4
Bluegrass Week
Beginning Bluegrass Mandolin
John Rossbach
The mandolin was the favored instrument of Bill Monroe, a
man who became the acknowledged Father of Bluegrass and forever changed the
course of American music. This class will be a fun get-together for those who
wish to learn the basics of the bluegrass mandolin style.
My goals are to help you become a solid backup player in a bluegrass band, and
for you to begin your journey towards becoming an effective mandolin soloist.
We will study effective techniques for right and left hand coordination. We will
discuss differing approaches used by masters in the field. You値l be exposed to
a variety of chord forms and to the importance of keeping a steady rhythm while
exploring them. We値l discuss the process of choosing the tools of the trade,
including the right instrument for you, the right pick for your style, and
learning tools such as books and videos. We値l stress the essential process of
familiarizing yourself with the most influential bluegrass recordings.
Secondly, we値l explore the commonly shared values of tradition-based music
forms. We値l focus on how to be a more effective listener and the value of
learning how to play by ear. We値l learn more about how to complement the sound
of your fellow musicians and how to earn the respect of new musical comrades.
You will learn the value of knowing how to blend into a jam session before
aspiring to distinguish yourself on stage.
By the time you start this class, you should at least know how to tune your
instrument and be able to play a couple of simple two-finger chord forms on the
mandolin.
You will be required to take basic notes on technique, so bring a note pad and
pen. Bring a cassette or disc recorder, if at all possible. Bring several medium
or heavier-gauged flat picks, and most importantly, bring your mandolin, a
willing heart and an open mind.
Musically Yours,
John Rossbach
315 422- 0718
john@johnrossbach.com
www.johnrossbach.com
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