Introduction to the Mandolin Instructional Video

Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2004 14:57:12 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re: Fwd: Mandolin buying advice...

Thanks again Mickey,

Since my last email I looked for the MA120 on ebay and yours is a very good sale price. I guess I would also need a strap and a gig bag. I'll probably be going with that. I haven't found a teacher yet. Would your teaching video be appropriate for me? I imagine it is blue grass or old timey? Do you know of any kind of instruction material that would include these kinds of songs (renaissance and medieval)?

Thanks again,

Lisa

Greetings Lisa,

Sure, my instructional video is a methodology video focusing on building a foundation first and learning songs second. Hence, you will be learning all the mechanics of learning to play mandolin at an easy pace...and then the songs would support these exercises and techniques...my video is more eclectic and focuses more on technique...it is not a bluegrass oriented video...it does cover some old fiddle tunes and some slower melodies. As far as renaissance music goes, my suggestion would be to look for instructional material that's English fiddle oriented...of course, you'll first want a foundation and background in technique before attempting to knock out any renaissance pieces from musical notation.

Hope this helps, Mickey

Subject: back up mandolin
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2004 13:34:33 +0900

Dear Folk of the Wood,

I have to say the introduction to mandolin video has been very helpful in getting me started on mandolin. I haven't done much with the crosspicking book yet, but once I dive into that I'm sure it will pay huge dividends. Right now, I'm looking for a back up mandolin. Something I can practice in the car or take to the beach and not worry about it getting dinged up. Something cheap and durable that plays pretty well. I'm willing to go used. Including gig bag, I don't want to go over $250. Thanks for your time and help.

PS. Will there be an intermediate instruction video some time?

Neal

Greetings Neal...

I'm glad to assist:

1. For a Travel Mandolin:
My travel mandolin of choice is the Weber Sweet Pea...I take it everywhere I go...I use it for both flatpicking and fingerpicking...It has its own unique voice...it is not a standard size mandolin and does not have a standard voice expected of a mandolin...it is very lightweight and portable (even though a standard size mando is already somewhat portable)...

Instructional Videos:
I'd love to continue on with an intermediate and advanced video on mandolin...and, I appreciate your interest in wanting to pursue your studies further under Wisdom of the Wood's guidance...

There are other mando videos in the works...one is an overall technique video that discusses all of the different possible applications of mandolin...and the many potential mediums...demonstrating split string technique, crosspicking, fingerpicking, the bluegrass chop, tremolo, bends, slides, hammer-ons...and so on...

And, I also have scheduled a fingerpicking mandolin video...

Even so, I believe that you're right, the "Intro to Mando" video deserves a sequel...I'll try to write out a script for it...

Thanks for your input...and keep on pickin', Mickey

Subject: Instructional Video
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2003 08:36:47 -0800

Hello Mickey;
It is hard for a country boy to be too serious on a video huh? I feel relaxed watching your tape on how to play the mandolin. I am happy with my Kentucky KM-675S. It is beautiful and has a great sound. I would like to thank Nathan for his help in my selection. You folks are really organized and as they say in radio jargon, no air time is wasted. Thank you so much for your honest words. A soon to be mandolin player. Don Curry ( A very satisfied customer)

Greetings Don!

Thanks for the positive update...and your kind words regarding my teaching efforts. What can I say? I just love to play! And, teaching on a video allows me the opportunity to pick and share with others. I've been truly blessed to have had this opportunity in life and to have had so many appreciative students such as yourself. If I can ever personally assist you with questions regarding your mandolin journey, please e-mail me...I'm forever at your disposal.

Mickey

Subject: Question for You...
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2003 19:43:12 -0700

Earlier this year I purchased a mandolin and the Intro to the Mandolin tape from you. I am trying to learn Arkansas Traveler, but I am having a little trouble with the B part. I can't quite figure out the notes and was wondering if you have a tablature that you could email to me - or point me in the direction of. I have several tabs for this song, but they are all different.

Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, and Merry Christmas.

Jay Weaver

Greetings Jay,

We currently do not have tablature available for this particular video arrangement...however, there are some great tabs out there that follow the traditional melody of Arkansas Traveler...a great arrangement of this tune can be found in Ray Valla's book on mandolin...along with many other great fiddle tune arrangements:

http://www.melbay.com/product.asp?productid=93340BCD

93340BCD Book/CD Set 0786657782 $19.95

In this book, Ray Valla shares the insights of a veteran bluegrass mandolinist. This method would best be appreciated by a student with some previous musical experience, as fundamentals of note-reading on the mandolin are not addressed. This is, however, the ideal book for the intermediate to advanced player. It is filled with practical hints to improve your general musicianship and increase the speed of your progress. For example, Ray suggests learning a new tune by mastering its individual "licks" before attempting to assemble the whole. The book's 27 well-known bluegrass tunes are shown in standard notation and tablature with arrows indicating picking direction. Illustrated with photographs, charts and diagrams.

Subject: Intro to Mandolin video?
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2003 09:57:33 -0600

Any idea when you will be offering your Intro to Mandolin Video in DVD format? It's mentioned in the FAQ's that it's in the works, but on the order page, only VHS is offered.

Thanks,

Kirk Bales

Greetings Kirk,

Thanks for your interest in our videos...and, yes, it's in the works...we were hoping to have the DVD's completed at the end of this year...all of our videos are produced digitally....and, therefore, we do have each video stored on hard drive ready to convert to DVD...the main obstacle is the encoding of long VHS videos...for instance, the "Intro to the Mandolin" video is 2.5 hrs in length...for compression, it takes just the right encoder and coordinates to put it on one DVD...this is probably more info than you want to know, however, we'd like to be as informative as possible...especially in the case of the technicalities that prevent us from completing a long anticipated project timely.

Mickey

Subject: Lincoln County Regulator
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2003 18:30:50 -0400

"Lincoln County Regulator" (Intro song on the "Introduction to the Mandolin" Instructional Video)

Hello,
Enjoyed this song (as played by Mickey). Any idea where one could find the tab???
I have looked everywhere.
Thanks in advance,
Dave

Greetings Dave,

Thanks for your interest...

This song is an original written in honor of the historic area we live in: Lincoln County...which encompasses Ruidoso and Lincoln where Billy the Kid rode in the 1800s.

I'd love to tab this piece out...along with many others. I'll put it on the agenda...I can't say how long it might be; even so, upon its completion, I'll post it on our website...so, please stay tuned...and, keep on pickin', Mickey

Subject: Mandolin Video
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 11:40:00 -0400

I recently purchased Mickey's Intro to the Mandolin video. This has been
very helpful. However, through some of the melodies he does go a little
fast and I'm having a hard time determining what notes to play. It would be
helpful if tablature was provided for the songs that are taught. Is it
possible to get tablature for the songs he's playing. I have another book
of tabs, but he plays the melodies differently, and I prefer the sound of
his. I'm stuck on the "B" portion of Arkansas Traveler. He seemed to speed
up a little.

Regards,

Rick Sawyer

Greetings Rick,

I'd be glad to assist you:

Thanks for your enthused interest in my video...I agree...some of the melodies go by fairly quickly. I attempted to cram a lot of info within the 160 minute length...even so, each song in and of itself deserved quite a bit more time and could have been dissected even further.

I've considered compiling an extensive tab book to complement this video...with even more melodies and exercises...it might be awhile before it's completed...please stay tuned on our website for updates.

Be sure to let me know if I can ever assist you further...Mickey

Subject: Training video
Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2002 10:59:48 -0400

Bryan
I've been enjoying the new MMS3 and the mando video. I see the need of
having it in DVD form. The exercises and tunes need to be repeated in
short sections and using the VCR rewind/play is not the way. A DVD could
be played on a viewer program where selected short pieces could be
repeated continuously until stopped. This would help greatly on playing
along with the video.

Do you have any plans on coming out with a DVD version?

Is there a way to copy it to DVD other than buying the HP DVDR drive?

Is there a copyright problem if I can find a copying service to make me
a DVD? It would be a sub for the VHS tape.

Arctic Ed

Greetings Ed,

Yes, we will be producing this very same video on DVD...we have the complete set-up to do this. However, we would have to rewrite the video with the Chapter headings as link buttons. And, this is a completely new language...given time, maybe a month or so, our entire video catalog should reflect the optional DVD selection. Considering your request for the mando video, we will put it at the top of our list.

You're most welcome to copy it on to any other media you wish for personal use...or, if you want to wait, we hope to have this completed within the next 4 weeks...FOTW

Subject: into to mando video question...
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 19:12:54 -0700

Dear Mickey

Thanks for the Intro to Mandolin video... though Ive been trying to learn mandolin for about a year now, your video has already moved me giant steps ahead just on my first viewing. I do have two questions..

1)You appear to chord the 'D' using your 2nd and 3d finger on the G&E strings. Ive learned (via a MelBay chord book) to use 1st & 2nd. Is this a matter of what is comfortable or am I missing something down the line as my playing becomes more (hopefully) advanced. ie. should I 're-train' myself now to use the 2nd & 3d fingers?

2)When will your 'Advanced Mandolin Video' start production - hint,hint)!

Thanks again for your great help.

Rich Schramm

Thanks so much for the positive report on my video...

In answer to your questions:

1) You appear to chord the 'D' using your 2nd and 3d finger on the G&E strings. Ive learned (via a MelBay chord book) to use 1st & 2nd. Is this a matter of what is comfortable or am I missing something down the line as my playing becomes more (hopefully) advanced. ie. should I 're-train' myself now to use the 2nd & 3rd fingers?

The 2nd and 3rd finger D chord feels natural to me...it probably would be best to learn both positions...I find it's very easy to add the little finger on the third fret of the A string to make the full D7 chord. If you're already using your 1st and 2nd, then, by all means, continue to do so...later on, when you get into diminished chords, you're going to find the 2nd and 3rd fingers to be more practical.

2) When will your 'Advanced Mandolin Video' start production - hint,hint)!

Great idea! After I finish the next two guitar videos, I'll start production on an intermediate to advanced mando video...

Thanks so much for your kind support of my efforts...Mickey