Mandolin Instructors

• Phil Sanders --> Click HERE for bio info

   

  Phil Sanders ( psanders@thefretshop.com ) — Strings [Mandolin / Violin]
  
  Senior member and State Chapter officer of the American String Teachers Association, Mr. Sanders has taught at The Fret Shop since 1999, as well as for a private school in Huntsville [3rd thru 9th grades] since 2002.  Three of his students were named “Alabama String Student of the Year” in 2007, 2008 and 2009.  Mr. Sanders teaches to the American Standards for Music Education, covering all styles of music, and he is a proud member of The Fret Shop team.

• Greg Staggs --> Click HERE for bio info

   

  Greg Staggs ( gstaggs@thefretshop.com ) — Mandolin and Bluegrass Studies
  
  Greg was born here in Huntsville and has spent the better part of his life playing and teaching music. His father had a baritone ukulele in his hands by the age of four, playing songs in the living room with the family and joining his mom and dad on stage for hootenannys at the North Parkway VFW hall. Playing the guitar at five and receiving formal piano lessons at six, he was also introduced to mandolin by his uncle and learned claw-hammer banjo from his father at 12.
  
  Greg has toured the southeast playing in rock, grateful dead, original music and bluegrass bands. While living in Los Angeles he was (and is) in a band called The F.O.C.K.R.s that played weekly at the Canter’s Kibitz Room. Fellow players included the current Bassist for Heart, Guitarist for Lou Reed, Guitarist for bands such as English Beat and various musicians who were back from touring. Currently here in Alabama you can find him playing bass for T.U.B., mandolin for 45 Surprise and banjo with the Tangled String Band, as well as solo gigs on guitar at various clubs and restaurants.
  
  Though his father was a computer scientist for NASA and read music, he believed in playing by ear and was primarily interested in roots music. Greg has kept a similarly practical approach to music instruction while also using general theory concepts to simplify the learning of music and how to apply these ideas to any instrument. Specializing in beginning students, Greg will get you up to speed and have you playing the songs you love quickly on Guitar, Bass, Banjo or Mandolin.
  
  Please contact him at (205) 345-7906 about available times and days.