Lou Martin "Twenty Studies in the First Position for Bluegrass Mandolinists, Op. 5"

This sounds like pretty serious stuff for students of the mandolin. Lou Martin, described as a “senior Monroe mandolin disciple, and Rounder Records solo artist, has released two self-published instruction books for mandolin.

“Twenty Studies in the First Position for Bluegrass Mandolinists, Op. 5” is designed to assist bluegrass mandolin players in becoming literate with standard musical notation.

“This familiar music will help the student sight-read, study, and practice toward their further comprehension of classical music norms,” according to the artist and teacher.

The second volume, “Fifteen Bluegrass Variations on ‘Red Haired Boy’ Op. 8” teaches traditional improvisation, usually one of the most perplexing subjects a dedicated bluegrass mandolinist must address.

This is taught using first position variations on a familiar Irish hornpipe “to delineate Monroe bluegrass as living art; the sound and structure of authentic bluegrass improvisation.”

The books are available in standard notation only.

Information is available at Martin’s Web site.