Mandolin Lessons

Minnix Music offers mandolin lessons for all ages. Willy Minnix has been teaching mandolin for about 10 years, and specializes in teaching people how to play mandolin quickly. Most students leave the first day able to play simple songs.


Willy specializes in alternate tunings for the mandolin. Most of the tunings that Willy teaches are based off of traditional fiddle tunings from England, Ireland and the Mountains of Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and North Carolina. The primary tunings that Willy uses are Dead Man's Tuning (D, D, A, D) and ADAD tuning. He also teaches GDGD tuning. Some students go on to learn standard tuning as well, but many are happy to stick to the alternate tunings, as they are simple enough to begin, but challenging enough to keep them interested.

Each year, for the past four years, Willy has published a new mandolin book. His first book "Mandolin Dead Man's Tuning: the Basics," has been one of the best selling books for Water Moccasin Press. People from all over the world have bought this book and have written about how it has helped them learn to play the mandolin.  https://tsw.createspace.com/title/3786876


Willy followed up "the Basics" with a Christmas songbook. This book contains over 30 classic Christmas tunes and carols that people love to play on the mandolin. https://tsw.createspace.com/title/5151438


Last year, Willy was hard at work on his increasingly popular "Dead Man's Tuning English, Scottish and Irish Ballads," which not only features DDAD tuning, but also ADAD, GDGD and standard tab. https://tsw.createspace.com/title/5252157

And this year 2015, just in time for Christmas, Willy released his "Mandolin Dead Man's Tuning: Pirates" book which is sure to please anyone who loves naval history, pirate lore, or songs of the sea! 

https://tsw.createspace.com/title/5871853

What kind of instrument do I need?

Minnix Music does offer rental instruments from time to time, but when you are thinking about purchasing your first mandolin, you might want to consider purchasing a Rogue mandolin, they are inexpensive, and will get you started, until you are ready to upgrade. Check them out at musicians friend here:  http://www.musiciansfriend.com/folk-traditional-instruments/rogue-rm-100a-a-style-mandolin?rNtt=rogue%20mandolin&index=1


What Styles Can I Learn?

Willy has played in a wide variety of bands covering many styles including blues, rock, country, gospel, Celtic, bluegrass and jazz, in addition to being classically trained. You can be sure that whatever style you want to learn to play, Willy can get you there!

What do I need to Bring?

Most people find the following items useful for music lessons:
A notebook
Colored Pencils, Pens or Markers
A Pencil
3x5 cards to make flash cards
A smart phone if you have one (to record or video technical details, and to look up chord charts)

Other items that are not essential, but helpful:
Songbooks or chord charts - you do not need to buy songbooks unless there is a particular artist that you really want to study, you can open up chord charts from sites like www.ultimate-guitar.com.
Stringed Instrument Workbook - this book contains graphs, blank chord diagrams, tab and staves and other important things to help you write down your lesson information - https://tsw.createspace.com/title/5697926

How much do lessons cost?

Willy teaches primarily half hour lessons, and they are $25 per lesson. Monthly payments for lessons are made at the first lesson for each month.

What do I do if I miss a lesson?

Willy is vary gracious and tries to work up a makeup date, so you do not lose the money you paid for the month. As long as you give Minnix Music 24 hours notice, we will do everything we can to help you make up your time. We also sometimes offer back to back lessons the following week, if the time slot is available, if you need to miss one week, and you can't make it up on a later date the same week.

How often should I practice? 

Because learning an instrument is a matter of not only understanding the knowledge of how music and instruments work, but also relies heavily on muscle memory, we recommend that you spend at least 20 minutes everyday practicing.

Is there a secret to becoming a great musician? 

Yes, practice. And listening to A LOT of music. You can only become as good as you allow yourself to be influenced. In order to gain a wide variety of influence, you need to inundate yourself with a lot of music. Listen to as many musicians as you can, and try to imitate them to learn how to play your instrument.