World's First Online Dobro School Opens at NAMM 2012

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Jan 19, 2012, 05:04 ET

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ArtistWorks announced today the launch of the world's first online dobro school at the 2012 NAMM show, partnering with multi-award winning dobroist Andy Hall (Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris). Starting today, resonator guitarists of all levels can learn dobro online by way of "Video Exchange" from the comfort of their living rooms. The School of Dobro with Andy Hall will be part of the ArtistWorks Academy of Bluegrass, which has quickly become the world's leading site and a magnet for those wanting to learn bluegrass banjo, mandolin, fiddle, guitar and bass online. The new website will be ArtistWorks' thirteenth online music school, all of which use the innovative Video Exchange™ learning method recently featured in the LA Times.

Andy Hall will join the Academy of Bluegrass' existing online faculty which includes Tony Trischka (banjo), Mike Marshall (mandolin), Darol Anger (fiddle), Bryan Sutton (guitar) and Missy Raines (bass), all offering personalized instruction online using Video Exchanges™. The School of Dobro with Andy Hall contains high quality, beginner, intermediate and advanced dobro lessons, featuring high quality multi-angles and slow motion, as well as a number of social features and exclusive performances and interviews.

Unlike traditional learning DVD's, instruction books, Skype lessons or video sites, ArtistWorks offers something more personal and effective. Students of any level can send videos of themselves practicing and receive personalized video responses from their teacher with feedback and individualized instruction. These videos are then posted for the entire school to view and learn from as Video Exchanges™. The platform allows high-profile music artists to teach from their home studios, on the road or even backstage before a show. Their experience in performing and recording allows them to understand what players of all levels need to learn in order to progress. No particular skill level or experience is required to learn on these sites, the video lessons cover everything a player needs to learn.

Go to www.academyofbluegrass.com to sign up from only $20 a month.

ABOUT ANDY HALL

Andy Hall plays and sings with excitement, passion, precision and a dynamic range that is quickly establishing him as one of the top players in acoustic music today. A founding member of the acclaimed bluegrass band, The Infamous Stringdusters, Hall won three IBMA awards with the group in 2007 (Best Album, Emerging Artist and Song of the Year) for their debut effort, Fork In The Road. Hall's last solo recording, The Sound of the Slide Guitar, won the 2008 IBMA award for Instrumental Album Of the Year. Also nominated for a Grammy in 2011 for their song "Magic #9", The Infamous Stringdusters continue to make an impression in the music world. Andy received his bachelor's degree from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and in the 15 years since then, he has shared the stage and recorded with a wide range of artists including Dolly Parton, Wynonna, Emmylou Harris, Lee Greenwood, Zack Brown, Charlie Daniels, Jack Black, Rodney Crowell and many others.

ABOUT ARTISTWORKS®

ArtistWorks® are the leaders in online music education and their online visual education platform allows virtuoso musicians to "Teach the World" by presenting their full method, technique or curriculum in HD video to subscribing students worldwide. Basic webcams, iPhones, iPads or Kindle Fire can be used by the students to submit videos to their teacher for critique and guidance. The Artists easily review student-submitted videos using the ArtistWorks® Video Management System (patent pending). These Video Exchanges™ are posted for all subscribing students to view and learn from. This groundbreaking use of video-exchange for the instruction of musical instruments has been implemented at the Billy Cobham School of Drums, Thomas Lang School of Drums, Howard Levy Harmonica School, Qbert Skratch University, Peery Piano Online, Andreas Oberg Guitar Universe, Martin Taylor Guitar Academy, School of Banjo with Tony Trischka, School of Mandolin with Mike Marshall, School of Fiddle with Darol Anger, School of Guitar with Bryan Sutton and School of Bass with Missy Raines.