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The Spokane Mandolin Congress recruits guest instructors each year, and also includes its local panel of professional mandolin performer/instructors. Collectively, we are able to offer a broad and deep selection of workshop topics. Each instructor has his performance specialty, but can cross easily into other styles and techniques.

The topics that will be included in the final are the ones that receive the most interest. Please note that only one topic per level per session will be offered, that being the one most often selected during the resistration period.

Here is the way it is shaping up:   

SESSION 1  (9AM – 10:45AM)  

Beginner

Allow Me To Introduce To You, The Mandolin                                                                   (Dan Gore)

Intermediate

Kick It Up A Notch: Making Mandolin Jam                                                            (Sam Lyman)  

Old Time Mandolin                                                                                                        (Sam Lyman) 

Blues Styles for Mandolin                                                                                           (Sam Lyman) 

Intermediate-Advanced

Swing Class with Melodic Emphasis                                                                        (Don Thomsen)  

The Mandolin As An Accompanying Instrument In Folk And Americana                  (Don Thomsen)   

Introduction to Brazilian Choro style mandolin                                                 (Dan Gore)

Advanced

Playing The Changes                                                                                                      (Don Julin)  

Improve Your Groove                                                                                                    (Don Julin) 

SESSION 2  (10:45AM – 12:30PM)

Beginner

Vocal Backup for Solo and Small Ensemble Mandolin Playing                     (Sam Lyman)  

Every Song Is (Or Can Be) A Mandolin Song                                                         (Sam Lyman) 

Intermediate

Brazilian Choro, Intro to Samba Rhythms                                                              (Dan Gore)

Position Shifts and How to Not Tangle Your Fingers                                        (Dan Gore)  

Intermediate-Advanced

Experiencing the Power of Pentatonic Scales                                                     (Don Julin)  

Get Rhythm Part Two                                                                                                    (Don Julin)  

Easy Classical Duets                                                                                                        (Don Julin) 

Advanced

Swing Progressions                                                                                                        (Don Thomsen)  

SESSION 3  (1:30 - 3:15PM)

Beginner

Irish Polkas Rock                                                                                                              (Don Thomsen)

Intermediate

Long Journey Home: Building a Traditional Bluegrass Style Break             (Don Julin) 

Jamming For Dummies: Everyone Can Improvise!                                            (Don Julin) 

Building a Traditional Bluegrass Style Mandolin Break                                   (Don Julin)  

Easy Classical Duets                                                                                                        (Don Julin) 

 

Intermediate-Advanced

Larger Bodied Mandolins And How They Are Played                                      (Ken Glastre) 

Advanced

Arpeggios From Beethoven To Grisman                                                                                (Dan Gore) 

SESSION 4  (3:15 - 5:00PM)

Beginner

Get Rhythm Part One                                                                                                    (Don Julin)   

Playing Some EZ Fiddle Tunes                                                                                   (Don Julin) 

Intermediate

Picking Patterns And Triplets In Irish Music                                                         (Don Thomsen)  

Scales And Double Stops, Connecting The Dots                                                 (Don Thomsen)   

Learn A Few Tunes By Ear, It’s The Irish Way!                                                     (Don Thomsen)  

Intermediate-Advanced

The Mandolin Orchestra                                                                                              (Dan Gore) 

Advanced

Crossing the Old-Time Threshold with Old Crow Medicine Show             (Sam Lyman)