CMSA Folk Song Project

This project of the CMSA Education Committee grew out of our Mandolins Make a Difference initiative to bring greater diversity and inclusion to mandolin activity.

The melodies for download here are intended to supplement a teacher’s usual teaching materials, in order to add variety and a more global perspective. Using melodies from different cultures may better engage students whose backgrounds are not Western European or North American. Many of these melodies have interesting facts and other aspects that may result in additional assignments or research. We hope this project puts mandolinists more in touch with global music and how music is woven through every culture on Earth.

We plan to continue to add to this collection and are happy to receive new melodies from anyone who would like to contribute. If you would like to submit a folk melody for the project, please email us at [email protected]