WELCOME

Welcome to our 5th year at the Mandolin Symposium — another exciting six-day mandolin experience. Our purpose at the Symposium is to expose students of the mandolin at every level to the diversity of music and technique that has developed over the past few hundred years throughout the world and here in America.

For most of you, your mandolin education has probably been much the same as for the rest of us. At some point we heard all this very cool music that inspired us to play the instrument. From there you began your search.

Perhaps you were lucky enough to have someone in your area from which you were able to take lessons. But by and large there has not been any way for mandolin players to seek formal educational on the art of the mandolin. We are usually relegated to a ‘catch as catch can’ approach to gathering information and improving ourselves. (A book here, and transcription there, maybe a video or a cd)

It was our hope in the beginning that by creating the Mandolin Symposium, we could fill the void between what has been basically a folk music approach to learning and perhaps begin to see the possibilities for a more systematic approach to studying and learning about the wide range of mandolin styles that exist. What we have discovered is a group of mandolin students whose quest for knowledge about the mandolin and mandolin music has driven us to continue to offer new and exciting challenges each year.

Each day begins with a music appreciation class that explores the history of the Mandolin and the roots of much of the modern day music and styles. Following Music Appreciation, a variety of electives are offered for beginning, intermediate and advanced players of all ages.

Instruction covers in-depth explorations of various mandolin styles and techniques, including bluegrass, jazz/swing, classical, Celtic, Latin and Dawg music.

Of course, in the end you will probably learn as much from each other as you will from any of our instructors, but for sure you will come away inspired and with a nice overview of the current state of the art of the mandolin as well as some piece of history about this most glorious of instruments.

We feel that we have provided a well-rounded program for all styles, levels and interests. At the very least the Mandolin Symposium will provide a way for us all to get together, to hear about some music we didn’t know about and see all these amazing teachers bounce ideas off of one another.

The Mandolin Symposium is held on the beautiful campus of the University of California, Santa Cruz, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Registration includes tuition, campus apartment housing, and all meals.

Check the Registration page for Fees and housing options.

Thanks to each and every one of you who have made this new adventure a reality.

David Grisman § Mike Marshall § Stephen Ruffo