Mandolin Workshops with Don Julin and Alan Epstein
Caffe Lena Saratoga Springs, NY
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10:30-12:30 - Mandolin workshop - Get Rhythm
As great as the four finger bluegrass style chop chord is when playing traditional bluegrass, there are better choices when playing other styles of music on the mandolin. Whether you are into Jazz, swing, old time, bossa nova, rock, blues, or pop music, this workshop will expand your mandolin rhythm and chord vocabulary and get you playing great rhythm mandolin in a variety of styles including, swing and jazz, bossa nova/sambas, clave patterns, and more.
Intermediate Level
1:30-3:30 - Mandolin Workshop - Everyone Can Improvise!
Ever wonder how some musicians can just make up solos on the spot? This workshop explains some of the basic elements of the language of the improviser including two common types of improvisation used in a variety of musical styles.
Melodic improvisation: improvising based on the melody.
Harmonic improvisation: improvising based on the chord structure.
This workshop is open to all levels and can be useful to all instrumentalists.
The workshops will be led by mandolin virtuoso's Don Julin & Alan Epstein
Don Julin, author of the best selling "Mandolin For Dummies" (Wiley 2012) has developed a reputation for being one of the most eclectic mandolin players/teachers on the scene today. Based in Traverse City, Michigan, Don has been playing, teaching, and writing music with the mandolin for over 35 years.
During 2013-2016 Julin hit the road playing around 500 shows with Billy Strings, introducing this young, rising bluegrass star to the world. He currently is performing in a few regional groups. The Don Julin Quartet: an acoustic instrumental group, The Ol Microtones: an electric reggae band, and The Big Fun Jam Band: original compositions and jazz. Today, Don spends much of his time teaching at mandolin camps around America and running the online mandolin school Mandolins Heal The World.
Alan Epstein has been playing music since his college days in the early 1970's when his father bought him his first mandolin. Over the past 45 years, he has studied with some of the top mandolin players in the world, has played in numerous bluegrass bands, was the founder of the modern day Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra, toured with Don Julin's Neptune Quartet and since 2007 has been picking, singing, strolling and teaching the mandolin in the Capital district.
In 2017 Alan released two recordings highlighting his diverse style of mandolin playing, "Sunset on Meriden Hill" a mandolin and guitar duet instrumental recording with Jim Prendergast on guitar and "That Lonesome Bluegrass Sound" featuring Alan singing and playing mandolin on bluegrass standards accompanied by a full bluegrass band.
Location
Caffe Lena (View)
47 Phila Street
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
United States
