Beginner Mandolin Class Description with Tim Connell

This workshop is for beginner to intermediate mandolin players ready to sharpen their technique and grow their repertoire. We'll cover picking, chord shapes, and basic theory, then dig into classic bluegrass and folk tunes. You'll leave with new songs under your fingers and a clear path for continued progress.

As both a master educator and a mandolin virtuoso, Tim is revered for his effective and entertaining workshops on the mandolin, music theory and improvisation. Drawing on an early grounding in music theory, comprehensive experience as a working musician and 17 years of public school music teaching, Tim efficiently and energetically conveys complex musical ideas to students of all ages and skill levels.

This class is limited to 12 students so register now! You can also do a drop in- if there is availability at $65 per workshop- contact Tracy Kim at 503.236.8613 if you'd like to drop in on a particular date.

Testimonials on Tim's workshops:

"I've attended hundreds of music workshops and many of them have been Tim’s—he is one of the best workshop presenters out there. Whether it be technique, theory, improvisation or repertoire, Tim is always prepared. He has a firm grasp of what he wants to cover, provides handouts in class, PDFs and audio examples online after class, and presents content in an understandable way, working from the basics to the advanced. If you have a chance to take a lesson or workshop with Tim, I highly recommend it."
Joel Schmidt
Seattle, WA

"With many, many workshops and lessons from Tim under my belt, I am still coming back for more, and in some cases I keep coming back to the same workshops I've done previously. Why? Because at the end of the day I walk away with something new and I have a great time. And, best of all, I have made considerable progress as a player. Highly recommended!
David Darr
Seattle, WA

About Tim Connell:
A graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and a virtuoso mandolinist with over twenty years professional performing experience, Tim Connell has created a sophisticated and original global mandolin style.  Regarded as one of the top North American interpreters of Brazilian choro, Tim has also developed his own unique voice for the instrument, described in a recent Mandolin Magazine cover story as “fiery and energetic, soulful and evocative.”  

Tim regularly tours Europe and North America in the international mandolin supergroup The Ger Mandolin Orchestra. He has been a featured guest artist at national conventions of the Classical Mandolin Society of America; he has been on staff at the prestigious Mandolin Symposium for several years and performs and teaches all over the country.
 

Tim has performed alongside top Brazilian musicians including Dudu Maia, Choro das Tres, Alessandro Penezzi, Eduardo Neves and Almir Cortes. He collaborates with jazz clarinet superstar Harvey Wainapel and the Berkeley Choro Ensemble and performed in the premeire of Wainapel’s new piece at the Berkeley Festival of Choro in May 2015.  Tim has performed with a roster of the greatest living American mandolinists, including David Grisman, Mike Marshall, Don Stiernberg, Rich Del Grosso, Chris Acquvella and many others. 
 

Tim is a restless and prolific bandleader and arranger, sideman and studio musician, currently touring with his Brazilian choro duo Rio Con Brio, 1930’s-era swing quartet Stumptown Swing, world mandolin duo Mando Planet and guitar wizard Eric Skye. In addition, Tim is an integral member of Americana songsters The Old Yellers, currently riding high on their new release "Ten from Town". In his solo act, Tim shares his career-long exploration of the world's many musical styles as realized on the mandolin and voice.

As a veteran teacher and workshop presenter, Tim has taught at the Alaska Folk Arts Camp and the Wintergrass Festival School among many other music camps.  He is currently an Adjunct Professor of Music at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR. Additionally, Tim was a contributor to the number-one selling mandolin instructional book, "Mandolin for Dummies".  He is also in-demand as an ensemble coach for both professional and amateur groups of all styles and instruments, helping bands improve their sound and overall vision and cleaning up arrangements as they head into the recording studio.

Additional workshop details:

A limit of 10 students per workshop to create an intimate learning environment. Pre-Register at $55 per 75 minute workshop or the Drop-in rate is $65.

Please call Tracy Kim for questions: (503)236-8613

or email: happyvalleyschoolofmusic@gmail.com