Willkommen
Lesson time: (2min 52sec)
Tom Bekeny stellt seinen Bluegrass-Mandolinenkurs für Anfänger vor und gibt Ratschläge für Einsteiger: Schule dein Gehör, such dir einen Musiker zum Nachahmen und jamme mit anderen.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Mandoline für Anfänger mit Tom Bekeny
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Introduction to Beginning Bluegrass Mandolin
Hi, my name is Tom Beckeny, and I'm here on behalf of Music Star Productions to talk to you about beginning bluegrass mandolin.
It's nice to be here, and I want to share a little bit about myself. I've been playing bluegrass for a long time now, since the mid-70s. I've been involved in touring, recording, performing, and playing bluegrass; it's been something I've truly enjoyed.
Four Key Takeaways for Aspiring Mandolin Players
Before we dive into playing the mandolin, there are a few important points I want you to keep in mind, especially for those of you who are looking to get more involved.
1. Develop Your Ear
- Listen Actively: One of the things I've noticed with many students is that they become overly dependent on written music, whether it's standard notation or tablature.
- Slow It Down: When I was learning, I would slow down vinyl records to half speed and lower the pitch by an octave. This gave me the opportunity to learn what the performer was doing. Nowadays, there are plenty of digital gadgets that can help you achieve this.
2. Find a Player to Emulate
- Identify Your Inspiration: It's crucial to find a player whose style excites you and interests you.
- Internalize Their Sound: Try to imprint that style in your mind and get that sound resonating within you.
3. Study Bluegrass History
A friend of mine once said it's vital to do your art history. Bluegrass has been around as a music form for just over 60 years.
- Listen to the Legends: Go back and listen to the first-generation players, like Bill Monroe, the originator of this music. This foundation will significantly enrich your playing.
4. Play with Friends
- Join Jam Sessions: Playing with others helps you develop your musicianship, timing, and understanding of how your instrument fits in with other instruments.
- Learn from Experienced Players: Whenever possible, play with people who are more experienced than you. This can provide a significant boost to your playing.
Embrace these principles, and you're sure to enhance your mandolin skills and enjoy your musical journey!
About the instructor
Tom Bekeny ist Mandolinist, Fiddler und erfahrener Mandolinenlehrer, der seit über 40 Jahren in den USA und im Ausland aufgetreten ist und unterrichtet hat - wenn er also aufschlüsselt, wie man spielt, lernst du von jemandem, der ein ganzes Leben sowohl auf der Bühne als auch im Unterrichtsraum verbracht hat. Er war Mandolinist in Bands der San Francisco Bay Area wie Done Gone, Tenbrooks und einer frühen Version der Grant Street String Band mit Laurie Lewis. Er trat mit Peter Rowan, den Rowan Brothers, David Grisman, George Cole, der Sängerin Lua Hadar und Jerry Garcia auf. Tom spielte fast 20 Jahre lang Mandoline in der hochgelobten Kathy Kallick Band und hat seit 1988 den Fiddle-Platz in High Country inne, Kaliforniens führender traditioneller Bluegrass-Band. Er hat mit vielen dieser Gruppen aufgenommen und wurde in der Sommerausgabe 2009 des Mandolin Magazine vorgestellt. Tom spielt außerdem in der überaus beliebten traditionellen Bluegrass-"Jam"-Band Bangers and Grass, an der Seite von Bluegrass-Größen der Westküste wie Jim Nunally, Steve Pottier, Bill Evans und Chad Manning. Über den Bluegrass hinaus spielt Tom Jazz-Mandoline mit seinem Trio The Missing Man Quartet (MM4), das geradlinigen Jazz mit originellen Arrangements spielt, die ihr Material aus der Welt des Jazz und den Standards des Great American Songbook schöpfen. 2013 veröffentlichte er ein Solo-CD-Projekt ("Jazzolin"), auf dem er Mandoline und Fiddle spielt, begleitet von Schlagzeug und Bass. read more