Why bother with mandolin techniques? That is the question…I spent thirty years of my life teaching in high school. I read about everything I could find on the art of teaching. But I must admit that once in a while, some situations still make my jaw drop. Recently, a music teacher told me that almost all of his students were unwilling to play technique works, exercises, scales, etudes, etc. If someone thinks he can cut short his learning by avoiding techniques, he is the perfect candidate to become an early dropout. He will very soon get tired of knocking his head on the wall and will succumb to his limits.