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While we're on summer break from rehearsals, we’re offering other ways to bring mandolin music to Seattle. First up, it’s a mandolin workshop series:

July 22: Reading Session

Bring a music stand and your mandolin- or violin-family instrument, guitar, bass — or anything else! Led by SMO President Martin Stillion, we’ll read through long-neglected or never-seen tunes (mostly Italian) from the SMO library. 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Please or call 425-772-0231 to let us know you're coming.

Please download and print music in advance for the part(s) you'd like to play. There are 15 pieces here at varying levels of difficulty. What we'll play may depend on who shows up.

If you use a tablet or other device for sheet music, please save your music to the device's hard drive. Do not count on having internet access in the rehearsal room.

July 29: Open Mic

Working on a tune or song of your own? Bring it and we’ll spend the evening playing for each other in solos or small groups. All instruments and styles welcome. 7 to 8:30 p.m.

All workshops and sessions are free of charge and open to everyone. Each event will be held on a Wednesday, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at OneLife Community Church, 3524 NE 95th St. in Seattle's Matthews Beach neighborhood. See you there!

June 24–July 15: Workshops

  • Jeff Brumley
    June 24: Playing by Ear with Jeff Brumley
    Do you ever feel a little too stuck to the notes on your page? Do you wonder how other folks can just hear something and play along? SMO Director Jeff Brumley will lead a hands-on workshop to develop your listening skills and connect your ears to your instrument. The session will be led on mandolin, but the material applies to any instrument. 7 to 8:30 p.m.

    Playing by Ear video

  • Tom Hudon
    July 1–15: Mandolin Chords I, II, & III with Tom Hudon
    If you’re comfortable playing a tune on the mandolin, or even reading music — but you’re curious about playing chords and backup — these workshops are for you. We’ll start with the basics: learn some simple chords and practice strumming along to familiar songs. In workshops II and III we’ll explore progressions, look at movable chord forms, and time permitting, discuss theory and chord extensions. Our instructor, SMO mandocellist Tom Hudon, has decades of experience on lead and rhythm mandolin in a variety of styles. 7 to 8:30 p.m.

    Workshop I video

    Workshop II video

    Workshop III video