Of Note

The June-July edition of Mandolin Sessions is up, with Marilynn’s article, “A Syncopated Twist on Chromatic Scales”. It’s the first article taken from her Brazilian Choro book, with an essay on playing chromatic passages, the sheet-music for an exercise from the book and a recording with Marilynn playing it. If you are enjoying Marilynn’s articles on Mandolin Sessions, please leave a comment or let Mel Bay know. Enjoy!… Read More »

The Mandolin Journal, magazine of the Classical Mandolin Society of America, just published a glowing review of “The Complete Mandolinist,” Marilynn’s mandolin method. An excerpt– “This well thought out book reflects the depth and scope of Ms Mair’s training and artistry and is the product of a lifetime of experience with the classical mandolin…. sure to become the standard in the US. Bravo!”
Buy it now at Amazon.
… Read More »

Carnaval is over and fall rodas start today, as the seasons are reversed here from those in the USA. Marilynn begins her autumn rodas by playing @ Forte Copacabana (info RH column). The EPM Saturday Choro school starts next week as Rio settles into the start of its academic year. Upcoming roda information will be posted in the calendar as it becomes available.… Read More »

Marilynn is back in Rio for March, right now experiencing her first Carnaval. Nothing else is happening in all of Brasil until next Wednesday. You can see her daily posts and pictures here.… Read More »

I just wrote the 1000th post on my blog Celebrating A Year. For two years and four months I’ve posted a photograph and a thought or poem every day. And for the past several months I’ve posted an mp3 of my music every week as well. Check it out! Here’s the photo that went with post 999.… Read More »

Marilynn has just written her first article for Mel Bay’s online publication “Mandolin Sessions”. Check out her explanation and mp3 recording for “Integrating a Variety of Rhythms” in the February/March issue.… Read More »

Fernando Duarte’s webpage Bandolim.net has posted a review of the new Choro book. “Mais do que um método de bandolim, o trabalho é um guia para quem quer conhecer o sotaque e as especificidades do choro.” [More than a method for bandolim, the work is a guide for those who want to learn the (Brazilian) accent and characteristics of Choro]. Interested? Read more…… Read More »

Blogger par excellence Jamie Dedes has written a very interesting article on Marilynn’s music and writing in her SATURDAY REVIEW column. Not too many people put these two sides of Marilynn together, but Jamie has done an excellent job, including links to music, articles, and a couple of videos. Whatever you know, you’ll find out something new about Marilynn here in Jamie’s article.

For other interviews and articles on Marilynn click this link.… Read More »

Marilynn & Paulo’s new Choro book was published by Mel Bay in November. You can order it here: Brazilian Choro – A Method for Mandolin or read more about it here. The book takes key concepts from the unwritten performance practice of Choro and creates a series of original exercises to teach the style, not simply the tunes. Music is placed in the context of its history, with pictures of Choro groups and rodas, and the book is bilingual, … Read More »

In addition to broadening my pick horizons, CMSA also introduced me to Herb Taylor, luthier extraordinaire. And although I really do have all the instruments I need, I fell in love with the sound of his octave mandolin and was considering a purchase when it was sold to another.  I’m definitely not a fan of unrequited love, so I now have an instrument on order from Herb, due for delivery in January. I’ll let you know when it arrives. In … Read More »