teaching
Originally from Goshen, Indiana, Ethan Setiawan tried out numerous instruments before finding his way to the mandolin. Years later, Setiawan has a command of the instrument far beyond his twenty-some-odd years, and has won both the National Mandolin Championship at Winfield, KS and the Rockygrass Mandolin Championship. After taking lessons with Don Stiernberg through high school, Setiawan attended Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, studying there with Joe K. Walsh, Darol Anger, Natalie Haas, and Bruce Molsky, among others. Additionally, Ethan participated in the Acoustic Music Seminar for 2 years, a weeklong by-audition program by the Savannah Music Festival in Savannah, GA. Through AMS, Ethan has worked closely with Mike Marshall, Julian Lage, Casey Driessen, Bryan Sutton, and Darrell Scott. Setiawan is an in-demand side man and band member, and can be seen playing with his band Corner House, Darol Anger, and Tony Trischka among others.
In learning with Ethan, the focus is on the individuals’ unique talents and needs. Lessons are based around establishing a solid foundation on the instrument from which to move forward from in all styles of music including, but not limited to, bluegrass, Appalachian string band, Celtic, and classical. Examples of topics covered include right and left hand technique, chords, harmony and theory as it applies to the mandolin and tunes to build repertoire in roots styles. Good technique is the foundation of playing, so we’ll talk about the left and right hands and their relationship to one another, along with ideas for technique for each. We’ll cover helpful practice habits to help with progressing faster, and new ways to play things you already know, and hear some classic mandolin recordings that span the breadth of what the mandolin does.
He currently offers private lessons online and in person in the greater Portland, Maine area. He has taught the mandolin and led ensembles at Ossipee Valley String Camp, Ashokan Western & Swing Week, Great Lakes Music Camp, Mandolin Camp North, California Coast Music Camp, Jam Camp North, 317 Community Music Center, Club Passim School of Music, and TG Music. Get in touch with Ethan at the form below or by emailing ethancms@gmail.com.