A NOVICE MANDOLIN Workshop with ALAN EPSTEIN

Saturday , October 14, 2006
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Location: Elderly Instruments
workshop ($35.00)

"But I don't have a mandolin," you might say in response to a promise to teach you how to play a tune on the mandolin in less than two hours. That's not a problem, because Elderly will loan mandolins to all workshop students who don't have one--the sweet-sounding instruments will be ready, willing, and tuned! when you arrive for the workshop.

Alan Epstein offered this "So You'd Like to Play the Mandolin" workshop at Elderly last February. It sold out fast and we had to turn away a dozen or more novice mandolin players, so Alan is teaching the workshop again: same cost, same smaller-than-normal class size, same two-hour course slightly tweaked: a little more time will be devoted to actual hands-on playing by the students, a bit less on the history of this fascinating instrument.

This workshop is intended for novices, for those who enjoy mandolin music and have considered learning to play but who haven't taken the first step--haven't held a mandolin, used a pick, played a chord. After a brief introduction to the instrument, a short survey of playing styles (bluegrass, classical, jazz, and other genres) including live demonstrations, the workshop will focus entirely on playing. Students will learn how to hold the mandolin, how to use a pick, how to finger simple chords, and more....and will learn to play their first mandolin tune during the workshop.

Who better to tout the talent of the instructor and the value of the workshop than those who have "been there"? Here's praise from students who attended Alan's first "Novice Mandolin" class at Elderly in February:

"Good tips on how to practice--excellent presentation.... This mandolin workshop was very well presented--clear and simple and interesting. I could have gone another hour." - Marcia Johnson

"Alan's workshop was an enjoyable introduction to mandolin basics, including sample exercises and chords.... It was informative and fun, exactly what I hoped for!" - Bob Blackman

"I like the idea there was no one who was out of beginning level showing off what they could do or asking upper level questions." - Beverly Tujague

"Alan Epstein had good background in a variety of mando music." - Mike Janczarek

"Knowledgeable teacher, friendly atmosphere.... Two hours may not be quite long enough, more 'hands on' instrument time." -
Joe Lentz

Since his recent move to Michigan, Alan has become active in various musical endeavors. He has coached several Bluegrass Ensemble Workshop courses at Elderly, where he is a popular mandolin teacher. He's a member of the bluegrass band The Hop-Ups, and he's often a special guest with Neptune Quartet. Alan founded and directed the Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra and has been a contributing writer for Mandolin Magazine. In 2004, he was a recipient of the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts Apprenticeship in Traditional Arts, studying mandolin with world-renowned Gypsy mandolinist Charley Rappaport.

Alan has taught at prestigious places like Augusta Heritage in Elkins, WV. In November he conducted a successful "hands and picks on" mandolin workshop at the Kalamazoo Nature Center, sponsored by GLAMA (Great Lakes Acoustic Music Association). Again, his Elderly workshop sold out fast last February, so if you're interested in learning to play the mandolin, sign up soon.

Check out recordings we carry featuring Alan Epstein