Transitioning to mandolin from bowed string instruments

 CMSA had a workshop about this very topic. And, the MMO is fortunate to have a number of players joining us recently and over the years who have and are making this transition!

A few of us attended this workshop. What I want to focus on is tremolo.

By the way...your facility with your left  hand...awesome! Those of us coming from other musical realms have to work on those upper positions. Share your knowledge you bowed string peeps!

Some come to the mandolin thinking it's tremolo everything...do it when you'd make a left hand vibrato.

Well...maybe. But no.

The style/era of the music makes a difference. 

Baroque (Bach, Handel) - No or as indicated by the conductor. 

Early classical (Mozart) - Same. 

Later Classical, Romantic - Under the slur, long notes - usually dotted quarter or more. 

Modern compositions for mandolin orchestra - follow the notation, the composer is explicit about the needs of the music.

As far as HOW to tremolo...relax...perhaps do the quarter note/eight note/sixteenth note/32nd note exercise and envision how to make it flow. Think about making that liquid string of notes louder and softer. Stay in the zone...no tension. Relax.

If there's any question or controversy about when to tremolo, look to Lon. He'll have the answer.

Minnesota "Ice Picks" performs at Open Mic!

 

Fantastic time at the first in person convention of the Classical Mandolin Society of America since the COVID hiatus. The organization was still active with "conventions in the cloud" that were well done and well received, but boy howdy, were folks happy to be back together in person again!

A number of MMO peeps attended: Daryl, Erik, Dotty, David Ingham, Jack, Jonathan, Lon, Lou, Cheryl.

We had an aHa moment and thought "hey, we have enough people to do an Open Mic ensemble. And we did!

In an odd confluence of events, the lower voices dominated, so Dotty switched to mandolin and we recruited friend Nancy King from the Atlanta Mandolin Orchestra to join us in performing John Goodin's Wedding March Suite and Peter O's Red Lodge Reel at Open Mic. And we were fortunate to get the slot. It was nerve wracking and fun! Thanks to all who participated.

Otherwise. In the lead up to the convention, a few of us gathered and tried rehearsing some of the pieces. Let us say, we shook our heads about this difficult music (some had unfamiliar time signatures, some had a difficult key - E Major - with ridiculously fast passages, some were absolutely gorgeous and easy to play...at a much slower tempo). We thought OMG how will this possibly come together with only 3 sectional rehearsals and 4 full ensemble rehearsals?

Cut to the chase. It did. The final concert was AMAZING.

There were a number of wonderful workshops. Many about the music of the Philippines and South America.

The program kept us busy and engaged the whole time. The Kalamazoo Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra did a very nice and tight performance featuring some singers doing some 1930's(?) style tunes and some other challenging works. They were wonderful. And great convention hosts!

No matter what skill level, people learn a lot, participate in the En Masse as best they're able and have the best time you can with a bass, guitar or mandolin in hand!

Next year's will be in Kansas City, which is drivable. Hope more MMO peeps will consider attending.

Please talk to any of us mentioned above about the experience and mark your calendars for November of next year (I've forgotten the date and it's not yet on classicalmandolinsociety.org website but will be soon no doubt).

As for transportation, there was a lot of carpooling. Erik rode with Daryl, Jack and David with Lou, Dotty with the Lou group up there and with Cheryl back. So don't figure you'll have to drive alone or go by plane!