What is The Academy?

Think of it like a real semester of music school — but focused, affordable, and 100% online.

Each 6-week course includes:

• ✅ Weekly live Zoom classes with an expert instructor

• ✅ Replays if you can’t make it live

• ✅ PDF/tab resources for every class

• ✅ A community of pickers learning alongside you

Choose from 3 unique courses this semester, or bundle them together if you’re feeling ambitious.

Meet Your Instructors

Check out what classes we are offering

for Fall 2025!

What do all your flatpicking heroes have in common? They know the language of bluegrass guitar.

In this class Aiden Schnell will help you:

• Learn the most common bluegrass kickoffs and endings

• Integrate them into your favorite vocal songs and fiddle tunes

• Understand what makes these phrases unique

• Use the concepts to create your own kicks and endings

➡ Perfect for: Beginner–Intermediate pickers who want to sound more authentic at jams.

Taught by Aiden Schnell

Ever wanted to explore the entire fretboard with confidence?

In this class Hayes will help you:

• Learn visualization methods and applied theory to unlock up-the-neck playing

• Build your fiddle tune repertoire up the neck

• Understand how tunes like Billy in the Lowground connect to triads

• Gain the freedom to move anywhere on the neck without getting lost

➡ Perfect for: Intermediate players who know open-position tunes but want to expand their fretboard fluency.

Taught by Hayes Griffin

Take your ear training and improvisation to the next level with this unique study of phrase modulation — repeating a phrase in a new key or chord context.

In this class Max Rainwater will help you:

• Train your ear to detect when phrases are modulated/transposed

• Play passages that use phrase modulation on your instrument

• Learn to “hear like a detective” and recognize recurring motifs

• Deepen your understanding of arrangement and improvisation

➡ Perfect for: Intermediate pickers ready to challenge their ears and musical imagination.

Taught by Max Rainwater

• 📅 Start Date: Sept. 1, 2025

• 🕒 Length: 6 weeks (1 live class per week)

• 💻 Where: Zoom (replays available if you can't attend class live!)

• 📂 What’s Included: Live instruction, PDF/tab downloads, access to replays, and a supportive student community

• 🎯 Skill Level: Courses range from beginner-friendly to advanced — choose what fits your goals

Why choose The Academy?

Because learning in real time, with expert feedback and peers to cheer you on creates results you can’t get from YouTube alone.

You’ll walk away with:

• ✅ A clear plan and weekly accountability

• ✅ Direct coaching from world-class flatpickers

• ✅ Practical tools you’ll actually use at jams and gigs

• ✅ A sense of momentum and excitement in your playing

Choose your courses: