Lessons, Sales & Service Since 1986

Mandolin Lessons

I have a BA in music from Hampshire College and a certificate in violin from the New England Conservatory of Music. I opened my studio in 1986.  I play mandolin with Maple Ridge Bluegrass Band from Greenfield, MA with Terry Atkinson on guitar, John Rough on banjo and Joe Blumenthal on bass.  I studied Bluegrass in College and played with a variety of musicians and bands including Jim Henry, Tom Hanway, Craig Eastman and many more.

  • Lessons include a variety of classical, jazz, and folk styles including Celtic, Klezmer and Bluegrass, Irish, Scottish, English, Contra, southern/Appalachian/old-time, Texas Swing, and Cape Breton.
  • My method is to teach people to play beautiful music with the best tone and no discomfort. I use the Suzuki Method for children, and teach adults to read and play by ear.
  • For beginners, the focus is on how to hold the instrument, make a good sound, play in tune, and learn to play a few scales and a few tunes.
  • For more advanced players, the focus is on building a repertoire of tunes in a particular style or styles, picking patterns, ornamentation, chords and harmonies, and playing with a good danceable rhythm.
 

Rates & Policies

Please click here for important information about rates and policies.

First Sunday Jam Sessions

I run an informal acoustic music jam session out of my home in South Hadley.  It's the first Sunday of each month from about 1pm until about 4.  Anybody can come.  If the weather is nice, we sit outside.  If it's cold or rainy, we're inside.  Please RSVP so I know how many chairs to set out!  There's limited seating inside the house, so let me know in advance.

We sit in a circle and go around.  Each person suggests a tune or a song to play and starts it.  We use the Portland Collection, the Fiddler's Fakebook and Bill Matthieson's Waltz books.  We encourage singing! 

Any instrument is welcome as long as its acoustic.  There is no place to plug in outside.  We also are not fond of percussion instruments other than bodhrans, hand percussion or dumbecks.

Please come!  And an audience is welcome.  You never know who may show up and it is always entertaining!