Episodes

  • #37 Finding your own style with Radim Zenkl
    Jan 28 2025

    In this month’s episode, Magnus interviews one of the most innovative mandolin players on the world, Radim Zenkl, from the Czech Republic. He plays a variety of styles and genres and has a career in both USA and Europe.

    The episode is full of good tips from a professional music maker, and there is an exciting discussion about:

    • Finding your own style
    • Being influenced about different music genres
    • Being a professional musician
    • + Much more

    Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.

    The website of Radim Zenkl:
    https://zenkl.com/

    Visit our website for more episodes:
    https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

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    35 mins
  • #36 Holiday greetings and gear talk
    Dec 23 2024

    In this podcast episode, Hayes Griffin and Magnus Zetterlund are discussing:

    • What music-related items are on your holiday wish list this year?
    • Does your mood affect your music playing or practice?
    • Are you joining the Mandolin Player’s Holiday Challenge?
    • Magnus’s new three-part arrangement of We Wish You A Merry Christmas
    • Hayes’s guitar arrangements of We Wish You A Merry Christmas


    Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show:

    Visit our website for more episodes:
    https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

    Welcome to the MANDOLIN PLAYER'S HOLIDAY CHALLENGE (Your FREE 5-Day Video Course)
    https://www.mandolinsecrets.com/holiday

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    35 mins
  • #35 Play by tabs/notation vs by ear
    Nov 26 2024

    In this podcast episode, Hayes Griffin and Magnus Zetterlund are discussing:

    The 5th anniversary of Mandolin Secrets Academy. How to use the powerful back-chaining technique while memorizing music. Playing baroque music on the mandolin while highlighting Magnus’s new classical mandolin lesson “The prelude from Bach’s 1st Cello Suite”.

    We asked our community:

    • Do you mostly play by tabs, notation, or by ear?
    • Do you mostly play by tabs, notation, by ear, or by eye and ear?
    • Do you attend music camps? If so, which ones?
    • This week marks our 5th anniversary for our membership! Can you mention one thing that Mandolin Secrets Academy has done for you?

    Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.

    Visit our website for more episodes:
    https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast


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    34 mins
  • #34 How to succeed with contest playing
    Oct 29 2024

    In this podcast episode, Hayes Griffin and Magnus Zetterlund discuss the interesting subject of contest playing. Why do it? How to apply? What to focus on? It's not only a general discussion; they also look deeper at Hayes's successful adventure when he placed 2nd at Walnut Valley Festival, National Flat-Picking Championships, Winfield, KS, in September 2024.

    We are highlighting:

    • The good reasons to attend a contest
    • What makes a good contest repertoire
    • How to craft a winning arrangement
    • Hayes's new Collings guitar

    Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.

    Walnut Valley Festival, National Flat-Picking Championships, Winfield, KS:
    https://www.wvfest.com/


    Visit our website for more episodes:
    https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast


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    43 mins
  • #33 Show up for the mandolin every day with Patricia Cleary
    Oct 1 2024

    Magnus interviews mandolin player Patricia Cleary from Seattle in this month's episode. She's a member of Mandolin Secrets Academy and talks about her way of keeping focus and showing up for the mandolin daily with Magnus's guidance.

    It's inspiring to listen to her interesting view on the mandolin as a great depressant and anti-anxiety.

    "You can't be angry or sad playing the mandolin; it evokes so much joy!"


    Visit our website for more episodes:
    https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

    If you want personal guidance from Magnus, you can follow this link to book an intro call:
    https://www.mandolinsecrets.com/apply

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    22 mins
  • #32 Play good bluegrass breaks with Hayes Griffin
    Sep 3 2024

    This month’s episode was recorded in a car, and Magnus and Hayes are having a discussion about:

    • Hayes’s visit to Sweden
    • the Grenna Bluegrass Festival
    • Leading workshops for players at different levels
    • Playing good bluegrass breaks
    • The art of slow and steady progress making
    • + Much more

    Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.

    Visit our website for more episodes:
    https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

    Grenna Bluegrass Festival
    https://www.grennabluegrass.se/

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    36 mins
  • #31 Being a multi-instrumentalist with Ondra Kozák
    Aug 6 2024

    In this month’s episode, Magnus interviews one of Europe’s top bluegrass musicians, Ondra Kozák, from the Czech Republic. He plays mandolin, guitar, fiddle/violin, dobro, bass, etc.

    The episode is full of good tips from a professional music maker, and there is an exciting discussion about:

    - Being a multi-instrumentalist
    - The bluegrass scene in the Czech Republic
    - Being a professional musician
    - + Much more

    Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show:

    The website of Ondra Kozák
    https://ondrakozak.com/

    Visit our website for more episodes:
    https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

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    34 mins
  • #30 What is your favorite instrument shop and why?
    Jul 9 2024

    In this month’s episode, Magnus and Hayes are discussing:

    • What is the best low-cost or "budget" instrument you've played?
    • What is your favorite instrument shop and why?
    • Do you perform any mandolin maintenance/repair yourself or take it to a luthier?
    • Magnus's new lesson for the fiddle tune Red Haired Boy with some Adam Steffey Hero Licks.

    Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.

    Visit our website for more episodes:
    https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast


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    40 mins