We are having our next concert next weekend on Sunday afternoon, music at 3 pm and a mandolin workshop at 12 noon. Jack Dwyer and Tim Connell teach at Lewis and Clark College near Portland and they are doing a "duo" mandolin musical trip around the world for us on Sunday. It should be a great afternoon of amazing music and I hope you all can make it out to the farm. If the weather doesn't cooperate we will move over into the barn. 

Jack and Tim are also doing a mandolin workshop for 2 hours at 12 noon. The workshop is just $35. Well worth it for a class from two top notch teachers. Appropriate for all levels. 

Music at 3 pm.... only $10                                                                                                             Get here a little early and hang out by the pond, it's a beautiful time of year.  

Lark Meadows Farm  4132 Hanson Rd Ellensburg, WA

What a day! It was hot in more ways than one. At about 102 degrees everybody was pretty laid back and tryin' to stay in the shade. I can't wait for our trees to grow about 50 ft taller (well I will have to wait won't I). The Jaybirds were right on, even in the heat. Our band Better Day did a little warm up set then the Jaybirds gave us 2 full sets of great music. Lots of in-tune vocal harmony and crisp, clean instrumentals kept everyone enthralled. Jim Nunally on guitar, Greg Spatz on fiddle, Nick Hornbuckle on banjo, Trisha Gagnon of bass and John Reischman on mandolin. I so hope they can come back some time in the future. Really nice folks and amazing musicians.

The crowd stuck to the shade for the afternoon event.

Duet with tight backup (John hit the high ones that day)

Nick Hornbuckle and Jim Nunally

Greg Spatz

Looking out to Manastash Ridge

Trisha Gagnon & Jim Nunally

Fine harmony vocals - mixing in the air

We are getting everything in place for our John Reischman and the Jaybirds concert on June 30th. Cory and Kiffen Dosch, came through over the weekend and we set up the stage in the "Cabana". We got to play a few tunes and try out the PA. The next day the sun was out and everybody was dancing. I think the concerts on our small farm are going to be a real hit, we've got to keep them just the right size though. Tickets for the June 30th show are selling so if you'd like to come go to:       http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/396410   and get them early we are limiting the sales. 

The top is carved, sanded and braced. In this prototype mandolin I'm using a single cross brace and a "oval" hole. This video shows the putting in the upper lining and gluing the top to the ribs (sides), and a couple quick shots of the perfling and binding. 

The next video will show carving and shaping the neck. 

There are many music lessons and videos online these days. It's amazing that we can see a video of a performance from just about anybody, past or present. And there are thousands of youtube videos from people of all levels from all over the world. I love it. Something the technology does well. A new, interactive way of learning over the web is happening at a site called ArtistWorks.com. I'm doing mandolin lessons with one of the great mandolin masters of our time, Mike Marshall. The thing about this site is that, we the students, send in videos of what we are working on and the teacher sends a video back in a few days with a reply. It's so cool! I just sent in my first couple videos the other day. It takes a bit to get comfortable sending yourself out there with mistakes and all, but that is the beauty of it,  the teacher can really know where you're at and actually help. There is a whole group of video lessons as well, to build a good foundation. Just the first response from Mike has opened some doors in my thinking that I've been struggling with for years. If you are into learning music I suggest checking out:           artistworks.com