Thomas Cassell
About
Welcome! My name is Thomas Cassell. I am a mandolinist and guitarist originally from the hills of Southwest Virginia - now in Nashville, TN. I have taught mandolin at East Tennessee State University's Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Program as well as the University of the South.
I have released several of my own recordings in addition to performing with artists including Billy Strings, Bryan Sutton, Becky Buller, Jim Lauderdale, Missy Raines, Circus No. 9, and countless others. In 2020 I was awarded the Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association.
Additionally, I hold hold a bachelor's in Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies as well as a master's in Appalachian Studies (music concentration), both from East Tennessee State University.
Enough about me. I love to teach lessons and see students achieve their goals, as broad as they may be. I prefer one on one, weekly or bi-weekly, as that seems the best method to maintain upward momentum. In our lessons, we will use ear training methods (as playing by ear is incredibly valuable in folk musics), tab and standard notation, and even Nashville Number System.
Though I have hundreds of available transcriptions, from beginner to intermediate, I prefer to work on specifically what you want to study, and build the curriculum around your needs. The student has just as much control and input as the teacher, a shared learning experience.