#52 Mando Mike on Teaching, Technique & the Broken Hand

Join Magnus Zetterlund with UK-based mandolin teacher Mike Giverin (Mando Mike) to explore why learning an instrument transforms lives. Mike shares his journey from seeing Nickel Creek at 14 to building his YouTube channel with 170+ free lessons. Discover his two teaching philosophies—nurturing absolute beginners and fixing technique for musicians switching instruments. Hear the story behind his book "How to Practice the Mandolin with a Broken Hand," dive into right-hand escape motions, and explore why chords are philosophically fascinating. Plus, insights on his band the Jaywalkers and why practice truly makes perfect.Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.Visit our website for more episodes:https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcastVisit Mike Giverins' website:https://www.mandomike.comTopics Covered:Mike's Origin StoryFirst encounter: Nickel Creek concert at age 14Started mandolin at a bluegrass session in Northwest UKEarly teacher also ran weekly bluegrass jam sessions24 years of mandolin playing since that first lessonChris Thile as primary inspirationMusical Background & TrainingBrass band experience (age 8-13) in the UK traditionLearned to read music formally; classical musician approachThree distinct musical styles shaped his playing: bluegrass, folk, and Irish4Square The Jaywalkers BandMando Mike YouTube ChannelStarted May 2018 with 3 videos per month (released simultaneously)Shifted to 2 videos per month after 2 yearsTotal: 170-200 free lessons (no monetization)Philosophy: "Shop front" for teaching style, not about views or subscriptionsAlways provides tab and music notation with videosPandemic-driven transition to online lessons filled his teaching schedulePairing with weekend gigging with Jaywalkers—exactly what he wantedTeaching Philosophy & Student CategoriesCategory 1: Absolute BeginnersOften retired people who've always wanted to learnJoy of opening up "a secret world" to new musiciansEmphasis on correct technique from day oneRecent student: Grateful Dead fan using lyric sheets instead of chord chartsCategory 2: Experienced Musicians (Guitar, Ukulele, Violin)Wrong pick directions and habits from other instrumentsHigh success rate after fixing pick strokes (2-3 tunes usually fixes the issue)Violinists: Good melody understanding, excellent reading, but need chord playing introductionGuitarists: Natural chord understanding but struggle with mandolin-specific pickingThe Bill Cheatham Solo CollaborationDavid Benedict's group video project featuring different playersMike's contribution: bluegrass-influenced soloChallenge: balancing complexity—not too fancy, but distinctly "you"Hundreds of takes wrestling with note selectionThe Broken Hand Story: "How to Practice the Mandolin with a Broken Hand"Christmas 2016: Family game of picking up a shrinking cereal box with teeth while leaning overMike fell and broke his left-hand middle finger (the bone you break when punching)Four weeks without fretting handSolution: intense right-hand workContent: right-hand patterns, cross-picking exercises, alternate picking progressionsDesperation breakthrough: playing fiddle tunes on open strings onlyResult: A book of pure right-hand techniques (tongue-in-cheek title, serious content)Exercise value: Playing melodies without fretting hand forces picking hand awarenessWhy Everyone Should Learn an InstrumentTravis Kelsey (Taylor Swift's fiancé, NFL player) podcast insight: proves practice makes you betterPhysical, mental, and subconscious benefitsBrain activation: learning instruments activates more areas than almost anything elseHumility and connection: requires approaching others with humility"Music for Life" teaching philosophy: enjoy the journey, growth is a bonusNot about becoming professional; about lifelong benefitsThe Philosophy of ChordsWhat are chords, really? Existential music questionRole of chords: accompanying a melody, creating harmonyChord rhythm variations: 2 per bar, 4 per bar, flexible depending on songTeaching challenge: explaining why G is G when you can't see the guitar fretboardSolution: Play-along tracks essential for understanding chords in contextStudents often overthink chords; they're simply what the song needsMandolin Rhythm vs. Bluegrass RhythmMandolin rhythm sounds different than guitar rhythm in rhythm sectionsBluegrass context: very specific percussive approach (chop chord)Mike's perspective: gets bored of chop chords quicklyAlternative rhythm approaches in folk/Irish settingsFiddle chopping (learned from Casey Dreason at Sore Fingers) opens new possibilitiesRich world of mandolin rhythm beyond bluegrass choppingReading Music & TablatureNot critical, but opens up learning possibilitiesMike's approach: teach full spectrum (by ear, tab, music notation)Benefits: when you find a song online, you can learn it without a teacher converting to mandolin tabRetired/beginner students often come from classical piano backgrounds and need score readingUK Bluegrass Scene6-7 festivals every summer across the countryMajor hubs: London, Chester (Northwest)Sore Fingers: Legendary Easter bluegrass camp at a private schoolWeek-long camp with American tutors covering mandolin, fiddle, banjo, old-time instrumentsPast instructors: Mike Marshall, Tim O'Brien, John Moore (Chris Thile's first teacher), Jacob JollifeFoursquare and Crossover: major UK bluegrass festivalsOnline Teaching ChallengesLack of simultaneous playing togetherImportance of play-along tracks to make chords sensibleTechnical exercise delivery vs. real-time guidanceTiming adjustments happen subconsciously in person; online requires explicit communicationResponsibility shifts to student for practice accountabilityPost-Pandemic Teaching ObservationsFewer students motivated by session playingMore people learning "just because they've always fancied it"Value of community: small online lesson communities fulfill musical needsBalance: encouraging progress often requires playing with others, but not everyone's goalFeatured Collaboration:Bill Cheatham solo (David Benedict video project)Mike's Websites & Contact:Mandomike.com (all mandolin content, free YouTube lessons)Jwalkers.co.uk (Jaywalkers band information)Teaching Resources:Book: "How to Practice the Mandolin with a Broken Hand" (right-hand techniques)YouTube: 170+ free lessons with tab and notationOnline lessons available through websitePlay-along tracks for all lessons (emphasized importance)Mentioned Events & Organizations:Sore Fingers (UK bluegrass camp, Easter)Foursquare (UK folk festivals)Crossover (UK bluegrass festival)Cardiff Bay Festival (Wales, where Magnus performed)Music for Life (UK school music teaching company)Chester location (Northwest UK, between Manchester and Liverpool)Key Philosophical Insights:"Learning an instrument is the best way of proving that practice makes you better"Chords are existential—they're what the song needs, not an overcomplicationTeaching reveals music through fresh eyes of non-musiciansPlaying together (sessions, bands) accelerates musicianship more than solo studyBrain development from instruments unmatched by other activitiesKey Techniques Discussed:Pick escape motionsCross-picking (not Jesse McReynolds style, just alternating)Grace notes/picked ornamentsRight-hand patterns without fretting handFiddle chopping on mandolinChord rhythm variationsOpen string exercises (removing fretting hand to fix picking)Rest str