We asked 2025 Lessonface Teacher of the Year in Mandolin, Rachel Coats, to share insights into her work as both a performer and educator. In this Q&A, she talks about what drew her to the mandolin, why it’s such a versatile and exciting instrument, and how she approaches teaching with patience and creativity. She also offers a peek into her cozy Nashville studio, shares essential gear and resources for students, and highlights the lasting lessons she hopes her students carry with them.
Raised on the smooth sounds of ‘60s rock, Brian Barnes has become a world-class teacher of just about anything that has strings on it. Barnes teaches the acoustic and electric guitar, banjo, mandolin, and ukulele. He started gigging at just 15 years old in his native Kentucky, and since then has roamed the country and the globe - from coast to coast and in 15 countries around the map.
