Category Archives: Uncategorized

Enjoy A Musical Holiday Season

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from www.Fretmentor.com Each and every year, I hold a holiday party where students learn to play Christmas tunes.  They are assigned a song and together, work for weeks on playing the tunes.  We held our party last week … Continue reading

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SIRSY – One of a Kind Duo

The other night I met some friends at a local gathering spot in Jupiter, Florida, known for its music.  Every so often, should the urge hit me, I will head out to listen to new bands.  My friend invited me … Continue reading

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To Pedal or Not to Pedal – Part II

To Pedal of Not To Pedal – Part II This is part 2 of our article on purchasing and setting up a pedal board (See Fretmentor’s Blog entitled “To Pedal or Not To Pedal Part 1”, where we talked about … Continue reading

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Are Community School Music Classes For Me?

Fretmentor Group Classes Its that time of year again.  A new year, new year resolutions, and proud new owners of musical instruments acquired from the holiday.  Now the hard part.  How do you learn to play guitar, banjo or mandolin … Continue reading

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The Avett Brothers at the Paramount Theatre

  Best time of my life!  The Avett Brothers show at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Cedar Rapids was like a dream come true.  With seats in the middle orchestra section Row C – yes, Row C! – it was … Continue reading

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Meeting Alan Munde

An Interview With Banjo Legend Alan Munde On the weekend of January 28th, 2012, I had the honor of hosting banjo legend Alan Munde at my Fretmentor workshop for banjo, guitar, mandolin and fiddle players.  Additional instructors at this event … Continue reading

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KT Tunstall & A Bahamas Cruise

KT Tunstall Concert & A Cruise To The Bahamas Talk about going to see a concert in style.   On the weekend of May 16-17, 2015, a very special woman in my life and I took a romantic two night cruise … Continue reading

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Serious Music Students?

Raise Your Hand If You Are A Serious Music Student I regularly teach community education music classes through the Palm Beach County School system.  The classes at Palm Beach Gardens High School are primarily for beginning students, many who have … Continue reading

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Matchbox Blues

Matchcovers & Music What is the Connection? Over the past number of months, I have been busy working on a new blues instructional program for fretted instruments.  One of the songs incorporated in my lesson plan is “Matchbox Blues”, which … Continue reading

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First Time’s A Charm

A recent feature for Fretmentor’s Blog is to hear about the experience of other music lovers, students and performers .  Today,  I have invited a guest (Doug Cone) to contribute a story on his experience performing music for the time … Continue reading

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The Gift of Music

A new feature for Fretmentor’s Blog is to hear about the experience of other music lovers, students and performers .  Today,  I have invited a guest (Silvia White) to contribute a story on her recent experiences playing music for a … Continue reading

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Pickin With Alan Munde

You know life is good when you get the chance to play music with one of the all-time great banjo players in the world.  That is what we did today not far from the Atlantic Ocean. Alan Munde, the legendary … Continue reading

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Fretmentor’s 3rd Annual Workshop – A Bucket List Item

Alan Munde, Byron Berline & Jim Hurst Fretmentor’s Banjo, Fiddle, Guitar, & Mandolin Workshop Lake Worth,  Florida Almost everyone has a bucket list and I guess you can add my first meeting with Alan Munde, Byron Berline and Jim Hurst … Continue reading

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Alison Krauss & Union Station

August 20, 2011 in Ft Lauderdale, Florida If your talking about getting your money’s worth, the show I saw last night speaks volumes.  Alison Krauss and Union Station performed on August 20, 2011 at the Broward Center for the Performing … Continue reading

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Recitals, Video & Nerves

Does A Videotaped Music Recital Assist A Student? I remember when I was in high school and had to give a demonstration speech.  It was videotaped. Right from the beginning, I hated the thought of having to demonstrate something in … Continue reading

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