Profiles In Online Learning: Annie, Mandolin Student

Thu, 05/29/2014 - 4:57pm
Written by AW
Topics: Interview, mandolin, mike marshall, online learning

mandolin student annie Annie is a musical sign language interpreter who started off her musical journey tone deaf and discouraged at the idea of learning an instrument. She overcame her hesitation by teaching herself to play violin, and now takes Mike Marshall's mandolin lessons here at ArtistWorks. 

AW: How did you get into playing mandolin?

Annie: I was playing violin and you always play by turning to the left with your chin on the instrument, and you never get to play in the other direction. I wondered how good that could be for your body. I wanted to play more, and mandolin has the same fingering [as violin] and it's one less instrument because you're not dealing with the bow. So I tried mandolin and fell in love with it.

 

mandolin student annie Annie is a musical sign language interpreter who started off her musical journey tone deaf and discouraged at the idea of learning an instrument. She overcame her hesitation by teaching herself to play violin, and now takes Mike Marshall's mandolin lessons here at ArtistWorks. 

AW: How did you get into playing mandolin?

Annie: I was playing violin and you always play by turning to the left with your chin on the instrument, and you never get to play in the other direction. I wondered how good that could be for your body. I wanted to play more, and mandolin has the same fingering [as violin] and it's one less instrument because you're not dealing with the bow. So I tried mandolin and fell in love with it.

Mike Marshall's Mandolin Concerto No. 1

Thu, 05/08/2014 - 11:22am
Written by AW
Topics: bluegrass, classical, mandolin, mike marshall

mandolin concerto mike marshallAmerican Public Media has featured Mike Marshall's "Mandolin Concerto No. 1" on their program Performance Today. In Hour 2 of the broadcast, they play the full Mandolin Concerto which Mike composed himself for the New Century Chamber Orchestra and was influenced by his love for bluegrass as well as Bach.

For more information on the New Century Chamber Orchestra visit their website at ncco.org.

Tony Trischka Jams With Andy Statman

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 4:24pm
Written by ArtistWorks
Topics: Andy Statman, banjo, Great Big World, mandolin, Tony Trischka

Tony Trischka recently sat in with The Andy Statman Trio for an evening of amazing music.  Check out this video of their awesome jam.  It's exciting to watch a pair of masters let loose with some blistering bluegrass.  Need more?  Pick up Tony's new album, Great Big World, to hear Andy's mandolin on "The Danny Thomas" and the title track.

New Album from Mike Marshall and the Turtle Island Quartet

Thu, 02/27/2014 - 1:46pm
Written by AW
Topics: darol anger, mandolin, mike marshall

mike marshall and the turtle island quartet

ArtistWorks Mandolin instructor Mike Marshall has a new album coming out with the Turtle Island Quartet. The famous string quartet has been playing together since 1985 - ArtistWorks Fiddle instructor Darol Anger was actually one of the original founding members. The current lineup consists of David Balakrishnan (violin), Mark Summer (cello), Mateusz Smoczynki (violin), & Benjamin von Gutzeit (viola).

mike marshall and the turtle island quartet new albumThe new album is appropriately titled Mike Marshall and the Turtle Island Quartet and contains four original Mike Marshall compositions including his signature mandocello tune "Gator Strut" (which he teaches in his Mandolin school here at ArtistWorks). They also recorded Darol Anger's arrangement of the Robert Johnson blues tune, "Crossroads".

Mike served as producer for the album, which they recorded in Berkeley from 2011-2012. It will be released on March 18, 2014 but you can pre-order your copy today at the links below. For more information on the Turtle Island Quartet visit their website: http://turtleislandquartet.com.