Mandolin

Sam Albright has been working with wood for over 50 years.  He now works out of his solar-powered shop located near Ellenburg, Washington making mandolins.  ArtistWorks had a chance to interview this talented mandolin luthier recently, who's also a student of Mike Marshall's online mandolin lessons. Because he doesn't just build mandolins - he also plays them.

AW:  How long have you been making mandolins?

Sam:  I finished my first mandolin in 2008. Actually I just found an old mandolin neck that I started way back in Art School in about 1975. And I’ve built several electric guitars and a banjo. This is really the first production run of instruments, with the final design really worked out in advance.

Sam Albright has been working with wood for over 50 years.  He now works out of his solar-powered shop located near Ellenburg, Washington making mandolins.  ArtistWorks had a chance to interview this talented mandolin luthier recently, who's also a student of Mike Marshall's online mandolin lessons. Because he doesn't just build mandolins - he also plays them.

AW:  How long have you been making mandolins?

Sam:  I finished my first mandolin in 2008. Actually I just found an old mandolin neck that I started way back in Art School in about 1975. And I’ve built several electric guitars and a banjo. This is really the first production run of instruments, with the final design really worked out in advance.

Read More

Thank you all for tuning into our live streaming event with Mike Marshall, it was a lot of fun and we've gotten some great feedback (check out the thread on Mandolin Cafe)!  For anyone that missed it, we've got the whole thing on the ArtistWorks YouTube channel (or you can just watch it below).

Moderated by Mandolin Cafe founder Scott Tichenor, Mike talks about all things mando - including the story of how he first linked up with the David Grisman Quintet in the 70s. Speaking of the Dawg, David Grisman joined us from an undisclosed location, providing insightful commentary and mando playing throughout the hour. Be sure to visit David Grisman's Acoustic Oasis, which has all the music from his prolific career available.

Thank you all for tuning into our live streaming event with Mike Marshall, it was a lot of fun and we've gotten some great feedback (check out the thread on Mandolin Cafe)!  For anyone that missed it, we've got the whole thing on the ArtistWorks YouTube channel (or you can just watch it below).

Moderated by Mandolin Cafe founder Scott Tichenor, Mike talks about all things mando - including the story of how he first linked up with the David Grisman Quintet in the 70s. Speaking of the Dawg, David Grisman joined us from an undisclosed location, providing insightful commentary and mando playing throughout the hour. Be sure to visit David Grisman's Acoustic Oasis, which has all the music from his prolific career available.

Read More

You are invited to a free online mandolin workshop with Mike Marshall, Wednesday March 6 at 7 PM Pacific. Mike will be joined by Scott Tichenor of Mandolin Cafe and we are even expecting "the Dawg" to drop by and join us.

This celebration of all things mandolin will include:

• • Some tasty playing by Mike Marshall
• • Good conversation about Mike and the mandolin
• • Your questions
• • Some mandolin technique teaching by Mike

This live streaming event will be streamed at Mandolin Cafe, The ArtistWorks Online Mandolin School with Mike Marshall (must be logged out to view), and ArtistWorks Google + Page.

There's no need to log in or register.  Just show up and watch. But you can click here to sign up and get more information and a reminder for the event.

Read More

Mike Marshall will be hosting a free online workshop about all things mandolin with Mandolin Cafe Founder Scott Tichenor on March, 6 at 7:00 PST.  

The event will be streamed live through Google Hangouts, and anyone can view the workshop live by tuning in at the ArtistWorks Google+ Page. Read more on Mandolin Cafe! 

Students Needed: There is room for a couple students to join in via webcam and be on the panel.  All will log in remotely via Google Hangouts. All will be onscreen and will be responsible for coming up with questions and/or comments. We'd like to have students who can speak about the school and give their impressions about it, as well as ask questions for Mike.

If you would like to be on the panel, please email Ian Alexander at: Ian@ArtistWorks.com 

Here's an interview Mike Marshall did with Mandolin Cafe 3 years ago, it's definitely worth checking out if you've never seen it. Mike breaks down the history on his 1924 F5 Gibson Lloyd Loar and even provides audio from the night in 1979 when he and Todd Phillips removed the virzi from Mike's mandolin. 

This interview was conducted well before Mike began teaching mandolin lessons online, and this quote really reinforces what he's doing at the School of Mandolin:

"Wouldn't it be nice… if some of the traditional and contemporary acoustic music that we all love could be studied at that level alongside classical music and jazz?

I can envision a day when this will be happening and I could certainly see myself involved in a school for acoustic music where this would be taking place." - Mike Marshall, 2010 interview with Mandolin Cafe

Here's an interview Mike Marshall did with Mandolin Cafe 3 years ago, it's definitely worth checking out if you've never seen it. Mike breaks down the history on his 1924 F5 Gibson Lloyd Loar and even provides audio from the night in 1979 when he and Todd Phillips removed the virzi from Mike's mandolin. 

This interview was conducted well before Mike began teaching mandolin lessons online, and this quote really reinforces what he's doing at the School of Mandolin:

"Wouldn't it be nice… if some of the traditional and contemporary acoustic music that we all love could be studied at that level alongside classical music and jazz?

I can envision a day when this will be happening and I could certainly see myself involved in a school for acoustic music where this would be taking place." - Mike Marshall, 2010 interview with Mandolin Cafe

Read More

On March 2nd and 3rd, Mike will be playing two shows with the Pacific Chamber Symphony titled the "Mike Marshall Concerto for Mandolin and Strings". 

Visit their website for more details:  http://pacificchambersymphony.org/

Read More

There's a really nice review of Mike Marshall's mandolin lessons, written by revered luthier James Condino.

 "I'm compelled to let everyone know what a fantastic resource this is. It is the most comprehensive mandolin instruction format that I've ever seen." -  James Condino

One of our mandolin students has written a great review of his experience taking online mandolin lessons with Mike Marshall. He posted this in the forums at the School of Mandolin but we wanted to showcase it here on the blog so everyone can read it. We've also linked to two of his Video Exchanges so be sure to click on the images below to watch. 

I've been a member of the Mike Marshall School of Mandolin (MMSM) for a little over one year now (first video submission response was on 12/24/11) and I'd like to share my thoughts on how it has gone.

One word: AMAZING. If you look at my first exchange and compare it to my most recent exchange, there is no comparison.

One of our mandolin students has written a great review of his experience taking online mandolin lessons with Mike Marshall. He posted this in the forums at the School of Mandolin but we wanted to showcase it here on the blog so everyone can read it. We've also linked to two of his Video Exchanges so be sure to click on the images below to watch. 

I've been a member of the Mike Marshall School of Mandolin (MMSM) for a little over one year now (first video submission response was on 12/24/11) and I'd like to share my thoughts on how it has gone.

One word: AMAZING. If you look at my first exchange and compare it to my most recent exchange, there is no comparison.

Read More

A clean melody is so important when you’re playing an instrument.   It’s even more important when you are playing the mandolin.  That is the focus of this holiday message and mandolin lesson using the classic Christmas song “Jingle Bells.”

Read More