Since picking up the mandolin aged 14, Mike has developed into one of the leading exponents of the mandolin working on the British roots music scene today. He has gathered a wealth of knowledge about the instrument over the years and is delighted to announce that he will be running his first ever Mandolin Workshop day on Saturday 4th February 2017. The aim of the day is to work on specific, essential mandolin techniques that are often overlooked in the early stages of learning the instrument, and will be ideal for intermediate and competent beginners who would like to improve their overall knowledge and skills on the mandolin. Complete beginners are welcome, but would need to bring own instrument and have at least attempted to try a few things out on the mandolin before coming along (many good introductory lessons are available on youtube).

The day will be split into two parts, the morning session from 10:30 until 1 (with a break in the middle) will be focused on essential mandolin techniques that all players, of any standard, need to know. Right hand technique, scales, chords, playing tunes … all the important stuff … will be discussed, plus, participants will be more than welcome to ask about other techniques that have been troubling them. The session will be constructed so that all attendees, of any standard, will learn useful techniques and tips that they may not have learnt previously or may have tried but struggled with in the past.

The afternoon will be focused around group playing and a few different pieces from different genres of music will be worked on as a larger ensemble. They will all be linked back to the techniques learnt earlier in the day so as to re-enforce and put into practice what is discussed in the morning session.

A lunch of sandwiches and snacks is included in the ticket price and tea/coffee/soft drinks will be available throughout the day. Players of other mandolin-family instruments (bouzouki, mandola etc) are more than welcome, although some of the techniques in the morning session may not transfer (chord shapes etc).