Workshop cost: $50 (discounts for Arden Club Members, students & limited income)

Workshop + evening concert combo: $70 (discounts for Arden Club Members, students & limited income)

Registration & Tickets: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E343718&id=175

Elevate your playing with Jacob Jolliff, one of the most virtuosic and influential mandolinists on the contemporary bluegrass scene. A National Mandolin Champion and veteran of groups like Yonder Mountain String Band and Béla Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart, Jacob is renowned for his clinical precision, lightning-fast speed, and sophisticated harmonic vocabulary.

This workshop is a deep dive into the technical and creative habits required to master the mandolin in both traditional and modern acoustic settings.

Workshop Highlights & Topics

• Elite Technique & Dexterity Jacob will share his personal regimen for building speed, accuracy, and “clean” tone. Focus will be placed on pick grip, economy of motion, and left-hand strength to help you navigate demanding passages with ease.

• Melodic Embellishment Learn how to take a simple melody and transform it into a complex, bluegrass-ready solo. Jacob will demonstrate how to add ornaments, double-stops, and rhythmic variations that stay true to the tune while showcasing your technical range.

• The Art of Improvisation Demystify the fretboard using Jacob’s approach to harmonic awareness. Explore how to move beyond basic pentatonic scales into more sophisticated note choices and “jazz-adjacent” bluegrass runs.

• Rhythmic Chop & Support The mandolin is the “drum kit” of the bluegrass band. Jacob will break down the mechanics of a perfect “chop,” focusing on timing, muting, and how to provide a rock-solid foundation for other soloists.

• Modern “Newgrass” Concepts Drawing from his experience with experimental ensembles, Jacob will discuss how to integrate non-traditional influences—from classical to jazz—without losing the essential “drive” of bluegrass music.

Participant Information

• Skill Level: Designed for intermediate to advanced players, though ambitious beginners will benefit from observing Jacob’s world-class technique and practice philosophy.

• What to Bring: Please bring a mandolin, a pick, and a tuner.

• Format: This is an interactive session featuring technical demonstrations, melodic breakdowns, and an open Q&A session.

Tickets: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E343718&id=175