Intro to Mandolin
- Bluegrass
- Celtic
- Contemporary
- In-Person Classes
- Instrumental
**THIS IS AN IN-PERSON CLASS**
Are you ready to dive head first into the wide world of mandolin? Intro to Mandolin is a group class designed to give students the essential skills they need to start playing the mandolin, and to begin making music with others.
This course is designed to teach students the fundamentals of rhythm, melody, and harmony through popular mandolin repertoire. We will cover fundamental concepts – picking techniques, strumming patterns, left hand exercises, ear training, the Nashville Number System – while learning creative ways to practice and apply the concepts to our playing. Class will be taught by ear, with handouts provided afterwards.
By the end of the class, students will have acquired:
an understanding of how to hold the mandolin and pick in way that eliminates unnecessary tension and allows more freedom in our playing
how to play essential mandolin grooves
how to read and write a lead sheet
the ability to play the melody and strum the chords for a handful of tunes
ideas to keep practice productive, interesting, manageable, and fun
This class is geared towards beginner and developing mandolin players who are interested in pursuing any styles of music.
This class runs from 6:30-7:45pm and will be held on Mondays, Jan 13, 27, Feb 3, 10, 17
Please note:The class will be held at The Passim School of Music which is located at 26 Church St. Cambridge, MA. Classrooms are located on the third floor and, unfortunately, we do not have an elevator.
Limited to students 18 yrs of age or older; Pre-sales are highly encouraged! Online sale end 2 hours before the class begins. Tickets can be purchased at the door. before the class begins. 4 students are required for this class to meet. If a class is cancelled due to low enrollment, you will be notified and receive a full refund.
Maxfield Anderson
- Bluegrass
- Roots
Maxfield Anderson is an American roots multi-instrumentalist, teacher, writer and music director, currently living in Somerville, MA. As an artist, Maxfield aims to bring new light to honored traditions and to share the joy of making music with others.
Growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Maxfield’s home was filled with an array of musical styles. After years of playing violin, his attention was taken hold by bluegrass and western swing fiddle, quickly leading him to discover the mandolin. He moved to Boston to study mandolin and American roots music at Berklee College of Music. Additionally, Max is a proficient guitar player, and after a year of isolation, finally broke down and added clawhammer banjo to the repertoire.
Teaching music has always been a big part of Max’s artistry. He believes that traditional music is an excellent vessel for understanding an instrument and finding your own voice as a musician. Teaching at Club Passim since 2020, Max has taught group courses in Beginner & Intermediate Mandolin, Bluegrass Ensemble (co-taught with Trevin Nelson), and Intro to Tune Writing. He also offers private instruction on mandolin, fiddle, guitar, music theory, and tune writing out of his home studio.
In addition to performing and teaching, Maxfield recently wrote and music directed the ‘Homegrown Stringband’ roots trio at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, OH. The trio performed authentic bluegrass, folk, and old time string band music throughout the summer season of 2022.
Maxfield graduated from Berklee College of Music with a BFA in Music Performance. He is an active gigging musician in the Boston music scene, and has toured throughout the Northeast playing listening rooms, ball rooms, bar rooms, back rooms, front porches and festival stages.
