View Full Version : Teachers in Boston?
ironlionzion
Oct-20-2004, 12:19pm
im a 20 year old music student in boston looking for a bluegrass mando teacher...2 years experience but never had a lesson...
~Steve
ChrisWallace
Oct-20-2004, 12:29pm
I'd recommend August Watters in a heartbeat. Actually, he's a regular contributor here at the cafe. Before I found August I went through a number of other teachers and he's the best...hands down. I've been taking lessons with him for over a year and whether you're looking to learn BG or any other genre (literally), he's the way to go.
He lives in Brookline (right off the Green Line)
iampeterfonda
Oct-20-2004, 12:58pm
I can second the recommendation of August Waters. I've only had a few lessons with him so far but I think he is a very thoughtful and knowledgable music teacher, and a very enjoyable person to talk with.
oakland
Oct-20-2004, 1:52pm
When I lived in Cambridge (7 years ago) I took lessons at Sandy's Music on Mass Ave between Central square and Harvard square. The teacher's name was Adam Dewey. He sure knows his bluegrass...
I also recommend August Watters. He is a fine musician and an experienced teacher with a strong background. (Among other things he teaches ear training at Berklee.) In addition to Bluegrass and mandolin, he has experience in several other styles and instruments.
My experience with August is that we have just begun playing in an ensemble together.
Rich Michaud
Oct-21-2004, 5:26am
John McGann is my man. He is a great teacher and well worth what he charges. He tapes the lesson for you and you can work on it typically for the 2 weeks between lessons. He gives you both practical and theoretical concepts and will push you quickly into improvisation. He is also a great guy. August is also a good choice-I know him as a friend and player-you can't go wrong with either choice
August Watters
Oct-22-2004, 9:25am
Wow -- how nice to sign on and find all the good references. Thanks to my students for their comments.
Jim Dalton is being modest -- he's a great teacher himself with a strong background in classical and Broadway. A versatile player and excellent improviser. And he lives on the North Shore, if anyone's looking up there for a teacher. More news: the ensemble Jim refers to is a very exciting mandolin quartet featuring some great players and a very interesting multi-style, multi-mando-instrumental concept. Stay tuned for more news -- including a major mando-event in the planning works now.
John McGann is of course a treasure to the mando community, and we're fortunate to have him here in the Boston area. He's joined me on the Berklee faculty this semester, so for anyone who's considering Berklee for the future, you should know that there's LOTS to do here, and the school is looking at ways to respond to the mando-community. For the first time in a few years, Berklee just this semester has admitted mandolin pricipals.
August W
http://www.augustwatters.com