Courses  Instructors  How It Works Plans & Pricing Blog Resources 
x

Log In

Log In 
Don't have an account? Sign Up

Reset Password

Submit 
An email has been sent with instructions on how to reset your password.

Sign Up For Free

Then join a course

Our store is currently undergoing maintenance. Check back in a few hours.
Already have an account? Log In

Watch Mike Marshall’s Virtual Mandolin Orchestra

As we continue to stay at home and practice social distancing during these uncertain times, it can be easy to feel isolated from the outside world. That’s why ArtistWorks mandolin master Mike Marshall and mandolin student Martin Hietkamp decided to offer a beacon of unity amongst the mandolin community in the form of a collaborative virtual mandolin orchestra.

 

The idea first came into fruition after Martin sent Mike an edited video of himself playing two instruments simultaneously. Once Mike saw this video, he decided that this editing style would work perfectly for a mass performance of the classic bluegrass tune “Lonesome Moonlight Waltz” and quickly got to work transcribing parts for his students. These parts ranged from backing mandolin chords to improvised solos, and covered all levels of Mike’s mandolin school.

 

Once word got out about the virtual orchestra, a whopping 32 students from all around the globe signed up to be a part of Mike and Martin’s project. “I thought it would be cool for my students to have something like this to work on together during this crazy time,” Mike says. “And wow! I was really pleasantly surprised at how many people agreed to participate.”

 

Not only did this project provide a creative outlet for isolated students, but according to Mike it also taught them some valuable musical skills. “To play along with me on a prerecorded track and really get your part to sync up with my playing is perhaps a new challenge for them,” he says. “Many of them had never been in a recording situation where you had to overdub to a pre-recorded track.”

 

The end product is a beautifully edited, nearly 6-minute long mandolin masterpiece that broadcasts how although we are physically separated, music has the power to unite and heal us across all borders. “All of the students really got a big kick out of doing this project, and I think having something like this to distract us from the madness of our times for sure has healing properties,” says Mike.

 

We would like to thank all 32 of Mike’s students who participated in this moving video, and give extra special thanks to Martin Hietkamp for taking the time to edit everyone’s parts together! Check out the full video below to see this project in full form.

 

Want to join in on all the mandolin action? Sign up for online music lessons right here at ArtistWorks and get picking right alongside Mike Marshall. He covers everything from the basics like mandolin tuning and mandolin scales to masterful soloing, at your own pace. You can even sign up for free mandolin lessons and see what the hype is all about!

 

 

 

 

Comments

X

Affordable Plans

Each subscription is for a single school. Pricing and features can vary slightly per school.

$35
1 Month membership
renews monthly
Unlimited Access to Lessons
Unlimited Video Exchanges
Exclusive Content
Forums
$35/month (prepaid)
$90
3 Month membership
renews every 3 months
Unlimited Access to Lessons
Unlimited Video Exchanges
Exclusive Content
Forums
$30/month (prepaid)
$240
12 Month membership
renews every 12 months
Unlimited Access to Lessons
Unlimited Video Exchanges
Exclusive Content
Forums
$20/month (prepaid)
X