ADAM BROWN

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Role at Bellingham Music:

Mandolin Instructor

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Born and raised in New York City, Adam was fortunate enough to have listened to a variety of great  music from an early age... on the radio, on TV and at home. He started playing trumpet in the third grade and learned to play a variety of wind instruments before taking up the mandolin at the age of 17. He began his studies with the legendary mandolin and clarinetist Andy Statman and then continued his education with the likes of Frank Wakefield and Bill Monroe (who once said of Adam "That boy is a mighty fine teacher!"). He has also studied and played with David Grisman, Chris Thile and Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones - who happens to be a superb mandolin player!

Adam plays and teaches a variety of musical styles on the mandolin including Bluegrass. Blues, Jazz, Rock, Folk and many styles of Caribbean music as he played the steel drums professionally in Seattle for many years. Ska, Reggae, Rocksteady, Mento and Calypso... yes... they all sound fantastic on the mandolin!

His lessons focus on establishing a solid foundation of good technique and a good, basic understanding of chords, melody and harmony. You will then be able to start playing music right away... even if you are a beginner who has no previous experience with stringed instruments. Adam takes great pride in being a "pure" mandolinist and gets great pleasure from turning others on to the joys of music in general and the mandolin in particular.