Mandolin with Tara L.

I started playing acoustic guitar when I was seven years old. I then started traveling more and found the mandolin to be so much easier to carry around and so much fun, it was hard to stop playing it. I have been playing and teaching mostly bluegrass, old time, Irish, blues, folk, and swing jazz styles for many years. I have taught both privately and have also done various workshops at festivals. I have taught multiple years for instance at the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival in PA, The Traditions week at Common Ground on the Hill Festival in MD, Delaware Valley Festival, Grey Fox Festival, etc. I have taught all ages of students- from young kids to folks in their 90's. I have taught for schools, art organizations, run my own music camps, and have taught at plenty of workshops and camps led by others. I have performed professionally in various line ups over many years in a variety of styles. I have performed at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Geographic, The 9:30 Club, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Watermelon Park Festival, and a wide range of Universities, Arts Centers, and Clubs. I have also won many awards for my mandolin skills at a variety of contests like The Galax Fiddlers Convention, and first place at The Mount Airy Fiddlers Convention, The Deer Creek Fiddlers Convention, and The Watermelon Park Festival. My students learn to have fun with music. I am comfortable teaching in-person or online. Students can work on rhythms, melodies, improvisation, song writing, arranging tunes, music theory, getting into and/or hanging on in a jam session, etc. I make my students fun play along recordings to help them practice and have fun. Try a lesson and see for yourself have you can make some quick progress with music and have a great time doing it.