In this podcast episode, Hayes Griffin and Magnus Zetterlund are discussing:

The 5th anniversary of Mandolin Secrets Academy. How to use the powerful back-chaining technique while memorizing music. Playing baroque music on the mandolin while highlighting Magnus’s new classical mandolin lesson “The prelude from Bach’s 1st Cello Suite”.

We asked our community:

• Do you mostly play by tabs, notation, or by ear?
• Do you mostly play by tabs, notation, by ear, or by eye and ear?
• Do you attend music camps? If so, which ones?
• This week marks our 5th anniversary for our membership! Can you mention one thing that Mandolin Secrets Academy has done for you?

Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.

Visit our website for more episodes:
https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

In this podcast episode, Hayes Griffin and Magnus Zetterlund discuss the interesting subject of contest playing. Why do it? How to apply? What to focus on? It's not only a general discussion; they also look deeper at Hayes's successful adventure when he placed 2nd at Walnut Valley Festival, National Flat-Picking Championships, Winfield, KS, in September 2024. 

We are highlighting:

• The good reasons to attend a contest
• What makes a good contest repertoire
• How to craft a winning arrangement
• Hayes's new Collings guitar

Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.

Walnut Valley Festival, National Flat-Picking Championships, Winfield, KS:
https://www.wvfest.com/

Visit our website for more episodes:
https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

Magnus interviews mandolin player Patricia Cleary from Seattle in this month's episode. She's a member of Mandolin Secrets Academy and talks about her way of keeping focus and showing up for the mandolin daily with Magnus's guidance.

It's inspiring to listen to her interesting view on the mandolin as a great depressant and anti-anxiety. 

"You can't be angry or sad playing the mandolin; it evokes so much joy!"

Visit our website for more episodes:
https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

If you want personal guidance from Magnus, you can follow this link to book an intro call:
https://www.mandolinsecrets.com/apply

This month’s episode was recorded in a car, and Magnus and Hayes are having a discussion about: 

• Hayes’s visit to Sweden
• the Grenna Bluegrass Festival
• Leading workshops for players at different levels
• Playing good bluegrass breaks
• The art of slow and steady progress making
• + Much more

Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.

Visit our website for more episodes:
https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

Grenna Bluegrass Festival
https://www.grennabluegrass.se/

In this month’s episode, Magnus interviews one of Europe’s top bluegrass musicians, Ondra Kozák, from the Czech Republic. He plays mandolin, guitar, fiddle/violin, dobro, bass, etc. 

The episode is full of good tips from a professional music maker, and there is an exciting discussion about:

- Being a multi-instrumentalist
- The bluegrass scene in the Czech Republic
- Being a professional musician 
- + Much more

Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show:

The website of Ondra Kozák
https://ondrakozak.com/

Visit our website for more episodes:
https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

In this month’s episode, Magnus and Hayes are discussing:

• What is the best low-cost or "budget" instrument you've played?
• What is your favorite instrument shop and why?
• Do you perform any mandolin maintenance/repair yourself or take it to a luthier?
• Magnus's new lesson for the fiddle tune Red Haired Boy with some Adam Steffey Hero Licks.

Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.

Visit our website for more episodes:
https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

In this month’s episode, Magnus and Hayes are discussing:

• How do you visualize scales on the mandolin and guitar? Boxes, finger patterns, etc. 
• Anyone have a favorite app they use for practice?
• Magnus’s new lesson release for I’ve found a new baby
• Hayes’ guitar tube amps and the digital alternatives.
• Magnus’s shares a story when he became the national TV guitarist. 

Visit our website for more episodes:
https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

In this month’s episode, Magnus and Hayes are discussing:

• Do you use a tone-guard for your mandolin? Why or why not?
• Do you know how to learn a song by ear? If so, how did you acquire this skill?
• Magnus’s new lesson release for the Martin Taylor Jazz lick
• Guitar Club: Mickey Abraham Chromatic Connecting Lines

Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.

Visit our website for more episodes:
https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

Martin Taylor Jazz Lick for Mandolin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwO7tUv99Ng&t=2s

Mickey Abraham Chromatic Connecting Lines:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUXt329eFu4

In this week’s episode, Magnus and Hayes are discussing:

• What is one of the most frustrating things you’ve had to overcome in music and how did you do it?
• What does your practice routine look like right now?
• What type of pick do you prefer and why?
• Magnus's new lesson for Swedish fiddle-tune Hultkläppens Am Polska.

Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.

Visit our website for more episodes:
https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

Troy Grady
https://troygrady.com/

In this week’s episode, Magnus and Hayes are discussing:

• Do you have music goals for the New Year?
• What are your tips for learning music by ear?
• Do you play other mandolin family instruments? (Octave mandolin, mandola, mandocello, etc.) 

Here are weblinks mentioned in the show.

Sign up for LIVE stream notifications:
https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast