Mike Mitchell
About
LessonFace Teacher of the Year 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 with over 4,300 lessons taught since 2013!
From a recent "first lesson" parent:
Thank you for an awesome first lesson and for even spending extra time. That's how you can tell someone has passion for what they teach. I do the same when I'm teaching cardiology :). Dakota said it went by so fast and felt like 5 minutes which is a huge compliment coming from her. She left feeling motivated! I'm so glad we met you this weekend and I look forward to watching Dakota bloom into the next level of her fiddle playing with you as her mentor.
Now offering a beginner guitar course for kids! Great rates for family budgets! We use the Mel Bay Children's Guitar Method and have every page professionally video-recorded so that your child gets to practice everyday, with the teacher!
— Mike teaches violin, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo, ukulele, voice, bass, and specializes in teaching/coaching youth bluegrass bands
Founder/director of The Floyd Music School. Nationally recognized and a member of the Virginia String Teacher’s Association, I also direct the Songwriter Mentorship Program at the International Bluegrass Music Association and am a member of Folk Alliance International.
I’ve played strings and fretted instruments for 45 of the last 50 years and taught for 25. My approach is traditional, with emphasis on the heritage music of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Honored at The White House by President Obama for achievements in Heritage Music Instruction, Summer, 2008 and listed as a ‘teacher of note’ within 27 counties in Southwestern Virginia by The Crooked Road organization.
My students play in the Roanoke Youth Symphony and Blacksburg Community Strings, have won first place in numerous Bland Competitions and fiddle contests, have attended Shasta, Mike Block and Mark O’Connor summer music camps and Roanoke Symphony’s Summer Music Institute. Former students have attended the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, Belmont University in Nashville, North Carolina School of the Arts and the Berklee School of Music in Boston. Graduates of my studio are also signed recording artists on the Traviana records Label.
For me performing and recording are in harmony with teaching, and I would not excel in either effort without the other.
As a singer/songwriter and recording artist, Mike’s 2018 album release, “Small Town” debuted on the Billboard Bluegrass at #2 in December, 2018. His latest album, “Fathers & Sons” has enjoyed three top-ten hit songs and has been in the top ten album charts for 8 months.
He tours internationally with the Mike Mitchell Band, and plays in regional Jazz and Classical ensembles. Mike is also a session musician for Bluegrass record labels, worldwide.
Self-Paced Course
Whether you are a beginner violinist or fiddler, this self paced course is an easy and entertaining way to learn solid fundamentals and technique. The first 7 lessons are free!
Playing the Fiddle with Mr. Mike >>
Group Class Reviews
The Jam session gives me an opportunity to play with people that are better than me, this helps make me become a better banjo player, also its lots of fun to be in a group playing with other musicians.
Fun... It's great playing with others.
Every class has been great.
This class is great fun. Mike is the best teacher.
The best
Lots of fun!
I really like Mr.Mike. I like him because he is always funny but also at the same time serious about guitar. I also think that it is very cool that plays a ton of different instruments and has his music school called Floyd Music School!
These pickers and fiddlers are really coming along!
My both sons have been taking group lesson since January and is having a lot of fun learning. Can't wait to see their first recorded song. Thanks so much for this opportunity!
Just love this class. Mike is so talented, technical, patient, spontaneous, etc; and so much fun to play with so many different levels of people. Enjoying it immensely!
Kids had fun! Thanks so much.
Teaching Style
Do you want to play? have you always wanted to play, and perhaps had a failed attempt or two? I guarantee that you or your child will be playing in your first lesson, playing songs in three months, and working on being a musician after your first year.
Curriculum
This 5 level course in Violin/Fiddle follows a traditional method. We use the String Builder series, written in the 1950’s by Dr. Samuel Applebaum, in conjunction with the method books of the 19th century’s great masters: Wohlfarht, Sevcik, and Kreutzer. O'Connor Method and Suzuki music is also used. Now you might be thinking, “O no, I have to buy all of these books right away…” but that is not the case. String Builder Book 1 will take you through the first level alone, we then add Suzuki book 1 for the second level. At level three we will add Wohlfahrt violin studies book 1 and Sevcik Bowing Studies book 1. Further method books and performance pieces will be added at continuing levels. Our fiddle tunes will be taken from a number of sources, and our own Floyd Music School transcriptions.
For fretted instrument study, we use the Mel Bay guitar method books in conjunction with method books from Berkeley Press. An interesting banjo method, first published in 1908, is the Emile Grimshaw method. This teaches banjo in both noted music and Tablature. The Complete Mandolinist by Marylin Mair is the most comprehensive mandolin method available today, and I highly recommend we use it!
All this being stated, I understand that some folks want to learn to play by ear, or strictly by TAB. As long as they are willing to practice and put in the work needed, I am willing to teach!
Credentials & Affiliations
Board member: Virginia String Teachers Association, International Bluegrass Music Association Songwriters' Committee, Member of: Folk Alliance International, Americana Music Association