Lessons

I usually teach from my home music studio (with masks during the pandemic) or online--either using Zoom or Google Duo or another app of your choice anytime.

I've been playing the mandolin since 1978 and the guitar since 1971.

Lessons include playing by ear, reading music, understanding the theory behind song structures, learning melodies, practicing chords, scales, arpeggios, and ornaments with exercises. Lessons come with stories, anecdotes, wandering philosophical observations, and exhortations on the importance of perseverance and persistence. I play all styles of music--folk, blues, jazz, rock, klezmer, Irish, bluegrass--except classical. I only dabble in classical. I also write my own music and I have two books of original instrumental music that I sometimes use as teaching tools to illustrate theory and to play harmonies with students and band members.

My main influences are David Grisman, Chris Thile, Mike Marshall, Sam Bush, Jethro Burns, The Grateful Dead, B.B. King, The Allman Brothers, Santana, Dave Apollon, John McLaughlin, Ravi Shankar, Jorma Kaukonnen, and more. Pretty diverse. I have a radio show on KOWS 92.5 where I play all of these artists and feature local Sonoma County and Bay Area bands.

My fee is $50/hour or $180 for four scheduled lessons, usually held once a week, but more often or less often as you like. (Venmo or PayPal me.)

You can send me a private message via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/phillawrencemandolin or email--phlawrence53@yahoo.com