Michigan Academy of Folk Music

Family folk sing has been an amazing resource for our family. My toddlers love Miss Georgia! I hear the songs and finger plays we learn all week long. This class has really built my kids' confidence and is a great foundation for our music education!

Taking mandolin lessons from Nate has been pure joy! He is patient, fun, kind, and incredibly talented! MAFM is a place for ALL ages. The programs for children, families, adults, teens . . . are amazing. MAFM is a welcoming place to explore all of the possibilities on what it means to make music and sing together. If there is even an inkling of trying it out, be brave and walk in the door! It is so much fun and a true gem that Holland has such a remarkable place to learn and build community through music.

Trying to review MAFM is overwhelming. There is so much to say. This is a community unlike any other. Excellence is expected, and achieved. Students are challenged to be their best. Nate and his staff are patient and gifted teachers, musicians and mentors. Our kids consider him one of their best friends. Music is the highlight of our week. We’re so thankful Nate and Jessica put down roots and shared God’s gifts with the community around them.

MAFM has brought community and creativity into our education, home, and daily life. We couldn't be more thankful for the hard work put forth to teach both skills and a love for music.

Nate is not only a talented musician, he is also a gifted teacher! Our daughter was 8 when she joined MAFM & started playing the fiddle and less than 2 years later, she is able to play beautifully and confidently. Nate's approach to teaching music creates a very low stress environment. He encourages improvisation which keeps the creative energy flowing and the correction he gives in class is done in a gentle, lighthearted way.I can attest to this from a student's perspective as well. A month ago, I joined the adult guitar class with very little knowledge of how to play. Nate's group classes are small enough that he's able to give personal attention & helpful tips to each student. Now, several weeks in, I've learned how to read chord charts, play some basic songs & build technical skills (and have fun while doing it!). For any child or adult seeking to learn an instrument, MAFM is the best choice!Melissa

We have had two of our children do music lessons with MAFM over the past couple years and it has been a delightful experience. I love that the children are learning to play improv with others and many aspects of playing together that I never learned growing up in a classical music education. It has given them a sense of freedom to just enjoy what they are learning. Our favorite part is the community of both children and teachers that welcome all with kindness and make learning together enjoyable. We have really enjoyed the barn dances together as a family and family folk sing with our little ones this summer, also! So fun to make be able to bring the gift of music to all ages in our family. Nate and Jessica and the interns at MAFM are all top notch people, and we love our time together!

I was there to pick up my grandson. People seem to drive pretty fast on the main road.

Nate Roberts is a great private teacher. As a life long music teacher and someone taking lessons from him in retirement I can say his depth of knowledge is very deep. He can teach beginners through professional players equally well. I have been taking lessons for over a year and have made great progress. His process is very clear and he makes lessons really fun. Nate Roberts is truly a master teacher.

After retiring, I decided to learn to play a new instrument so I began inquiring about a mandolin teacher. A friend of a friend of a friend. . .told me the good things he heard about MAFM and Nate. I'm so happy I was pointed in his direction. I highly enjoy my lessons and have progressed much faster than I thought possible. Nate makes learning fun! He's super patient, always encouraging, and always positive. I'm learning tons of new musical skills and credit Nate's teaching with my continued progress.

I cannot begin to express how lucky we feel to be involved with Michigan Academy of Folk Music. Our kids' skills on each of their instruments have progressed so quickly, and they (and us) are amazed at how soon they have been able to play with a group of others (in an ensemble) and make music that is enjoyable. Nate's teaching skills have challenged them, while at they same time encouraged them. My kids have continually become more confident and comfortable playing with and in front of others. They have also developed a real love of folk music. As folk music has such deep roots in American History, I love that they are experiencing this. Whether they stick with folk music long term or not, they will have considerable instrumental skills that can be carried forward in many different directions. Thank you so much, MAFM!