Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn the mandolin
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The mandolin turns up in Irish traditional music, Italian, Brazilian and American folk music and classical mandolin orchestras, so one small instrument opens several doors. Beginners' group classes run for eight to twelve weeks, and some ask for no experience of a stringed instrument at all.
Moderate£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksIndoorsWith othersUK and US
What a beginners' class covers
Early classes deal with the basics. The Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago says its Mandolin 1 class covers fretting with the left hand, using a pick, and basic chords and melodies. The Stables in Milton Keynes says its beginners' workshop introduces both melody and rhythm playing, with simple tunes and group playing.
Check what a "beginners" class expects. The Stables' workshop suits people who can already play basic open chords, while Old Town's Introduction to the Mandolin is aimed at people who have never played a stringed instrument. Reading music or tablature is useful but not essential, according to both The Stables and Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge.
A residential weekend may be a later step. Halsway Manor in Somerset says complete beginners on Simon Mayor's mandolin course "may find themselves struggling", and asks that players can get through a simple tune without stalling.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| The Crescent, Belfast | Traditional Irish banjo and mandolin, beginners; 12 weekly 45-minute classes; no previous experience needed | £99 or £94 |
| The Stables, Milton Keynes | Mandolin Beginners workshop; mandolins can be borrowed in limited numbers | £42 |
| British BMG Federation summer school, Halsway Manor, Somerset | Residential weekend; traditional music for mixed instruments, open to all levels | £200 non-resident to £330 full board (2025) |
| Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago | Introduction to the Mandolin or Mandolin 1; eight weekly 80-minute classes | $272, or $252 for members |
The Classical Mandolin Society of America lists more than 30 mandolin groups in its directory and holds a convention each autumn, hosted by member orchestras in a different North American city. It says its members range from beginners to professionals.
How to start
- Look for a beginners' class at an arts centre, folk-music school or adult-education college, and check whether it says "no previous experience needed".
- Ask whether the class lends instruments before you buy one; some venues keep a few to borrow.
- Once you can get through a simple tune, look for a mandolin orchestra, folk session or summer school to play with others.
Where to go
- The Crescent, Belfast: Traditional Irish Banjo and Mandolin for beginners UK
- The Stables, Milton Keynes: Mandolin Beginners workshop UK
- Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago: mandolin classes US
- Classical Mandolin Society of America: about the society US
We opened these links on 9 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Can I learn mandolin with no musical experience?
Yes. The Crescent in Belfast says no previous experience is needed for its beginners' class, and Old Town School of Folk Music runs an introduction for people who have never played a stringed instrument.
Do I need my own mandolin for a beginners class?
Usually it helps. The Stables in Milton Keynes recommends bringing one but can lend a limited number if you contact it first.
Do I need to read music to play the mandolin?
Not to start. The Stables and Hills Road Sixth Form College both say reading music or tablature is helpful but not essential.
Are there mandolin orchestras I can join?
Yes. The Classical Mandolin Society of America lists more than 30 groups, and the British BMG Federation runs a summer school with ensemble playing.
Where this comes from: The Crescent, Traditional Irish Banjo and Mandolin, Beginners; The Stables, Mandolin Beginners; Hills Road Sixth Form College, Introduction to Mandolin; Halsway Manor, Simon Mayor's Spring Mandolins; Halsway Manor, British BMG (Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar) Federation Summer School 2025; Old Town School of Folk Music, Mandolin classes; Classical Mandolin Society of America, About CMSA. Opened 9 November 2026.
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