Intro to the Mandola Instructional Video Questions
Available on our Website (click here)
Date: 7/05/09
Subject: Re: Folk of the Wood Contact Form: Mandola DVDMickey, I've been working on the A scale, thank you for showing me the "path" up the neck. In addition to the A scale I've been working on "one string" scales on all strings to get used to moving up and down the neck, very cool. Like I mentioned before, I've been playing mandolin for a while and am using the same fingerings on the mandola. On the DVD you're using your 4th finger on the 5th fret (I use my 3rd finger). Is this something I should change? I guess I should mention that I've got a Big Muddy mandola with a 15 1/2" scale length. I've also started playing with the chord arpeggios, nice...
I really like your song "Lincoln County Air". Do you have a CD available?
Thanks, Dave
In ref to your questions above:
1. Yes, the 4th finger on the 5th fret is a comfortable positioning for a long scale mandola. However, your scale length may feel comfortable with your 3rd finger ... so, as long as you're not impeding your facility, I'd say, most definitely use what's comfortable. If you do feel you're having to stretch your 3rd finger, then you'll want to use the 4th finger.
2. Thanks for your kind words regarding my "Lincoln County Air" song ... and, a CD isn't currently available, however, I am working on a new record label and will consider recording a mandola CD ... it would be a great concept. Stay tuned at the site I'm in the process of building now: www.acousticforest.com for any updates on my recording projects.
All my best, Mickey
Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 18:10:36 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Mandola lessonsMickey,
Thanks for getting that DVD out, you're.awesome.
I would like to get the advanced melodies on the mandola lessons in printed form. Either printable from your site or I'd be happy to purchase them from you. To be perfectly honest with you I like to see the whole lesson in paper/book form toÊkeep my music time and my computer time seperate, not to mention that I really like to play outside at this time of year. One of the attractions of acoustic music to me is the contrast value...
Thanks, Dave
Subject: use octave mando strings on my 20 1/4 " scale mandola?
Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 00:10:47 -0400Mickey,
I'm so glad you made the mandola DVD, especially since so very little is available for mandola. The DVD is extremely helpful.
Lynn
Date: 1/17/09
Subject: Re: Mandola DVD
Hi Mystic west
I just wanted to make sure that the DVD "Introduction to the Mandola" byMickey Cochran is in PAL format before I order it.
Thanks a lot
Zlatko M.
Greetings Zlatko ...
Region 1 DVDs ...
They've played without any issues as far as I know. We've sent DVD's all over the world, and I cannot recall one being incompatible. We've sent quite a few to England, the Netherlands, Germany, etc. and no one's complained yet. However, maybe it's because they were playing these DVDs on their computer instead of on an incompatible PAL DVD player?
So, to be perfectly upfront on this, they were produced as Region 1 DVDs if I recall. And, it is a possibility that it will not work on a PAL DVD player, however, I'm sure it works on all computers. And, to date, I have not heard one complaint from overseas that the DVD didn't play on a PAL system.
Wish you the best in your research ... If I can ever be of assistance with your mandola playing, please e-mail me.
All my best,
Mickey Cochran
Folk of the Wood
Mystic West Products
Acoustic Music Instruction
PO Box 2810
Alto, New Mexico 88312http://www.folkofthewood.com
http://www.mysticwestproducts.com
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:08:07 -0700
Subject: How To Play MandolaCan you tell me when How to Play Mandola will be available?
Thank you.
Julie S. W.
County of Mendocino, Administration Center
Greetings Julie,
Thanks for writing!
Yes, "Introduction to Mandola" (How to Play Mandola) is currently
available on the site:
http://www.mysticwestproducts.com
at the following URL:
https://www.mysticwestproducts.com/proddetail.php?prod=DVD002
Let me know if you have any problems whatsoever with accessing this site.
And, feel free to write ...
Mickey Cochran
Mystic West Products
Acoustic Music Instruction
PO Box 2810
Alto, New Mexico 88312
http://www.mysticwestproducts.comHi Mickey, As you know, there is practically nothing worthwhile available in terms of mandola instruction-- with the exception of the information on your web site and your DVD. I don't think other materials, the chord books and the small booklet now on the market, are helpful. I would be most interested in something that reinforces your DVD, but more advanced instruction would be welcome. I am a middle aged enthusiast who noodles around with my mandolin and mandola after a day in the courtroom, who will never be more than a middling intermediate player--if I am lucky! I study americana albums and there are many with arresting touches of mandola--most recently, Joan Osborne's latest. It seems mandola players comprise a very exclusive club, and the knowledge is arcane. I peruse web sites, mandolin cafe, etc. in search of enlightenment, and there is little to be had! I suspect there are a lot of the less talented but enthusiastic like me "out there" who would like to explore this gorgeous instrument. And, Weber and others, might increase their mandola niche if instruction materials of your caliber were available.
So good luck with your endeavor. It will be welcome!Julie S. W.
County of Mendocino, Administration Center
Thank you, Mickey....I have the DVD and your musicianship is
awesome! I also wish to acquire your mandola book as soon as it is
available. Do you have a publication date?
Thank you, again.
Julie S. W.
County of Mendocino, Administration Center
Hi Julie,
Thanks so much for the nice comments.
As a help to me, and for my next focus, are you looking for something
more advanced or something that reinforces the video?Thanks for your input, Mickey
Date: Sat, 04 Jun 2005 15:53:30 -0400
Subject: Greetings and a question
Hi Folks (this follows up my Saturday voice mail);
Hope all is well with you and yours. I enjoy your website -- too
much to take in, in one sitting though.
BTW, I am enjoying Mickey Cochran's Intro to the
Mandola DVD I recently purchased from you all, but all I can do is watch
at this point. Paul B. S.Thanks for tuning in with us and purchasing my mandola DVD...please stay in touch and let me know how else I might assist. Mickey
Subject: Mandola / Mandocello
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2005 10:10:24 -0500Mickey: I'm thinking about ordering (among other things) your DVD on the mandola. I'm wondering if it could be useful for the mandocello as well (or is there a mandocello DVD available or in the works I overlooked)? Thanks.
Stephen W. G.Hi Stephen,
Sure, it would be useful...however, you'll have to differentiate the noting to ensure that you find the best inversions...that befits the mandocello. For instance, some passages would be impossible to accomplish on the mandocello when using the same finger pattern offered up on the mandola DVD.
You can use the technique, theory and most positioning...only, again, you would have to come up with some new patterns for your mandocello to accomplish the studies and pieces. Could be a good thing though since it will force you to explore the fingerboard instead of learning things by rote.
Thanks for tuning in, Mickey
Subject: Mandola
Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2005 18:27:16 +0100I've got as well Mickey's mandola introduction video - but without booklet.
Can I download the TABs of the songs (Chapter V and VI) somewhere?Is there a second video for Mandola?
Thanx
Tomm, GermanyGreetings Tomm,
Some of the exercises, tune and methodologies to the Intro to the Mandola video can be found at:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3.htm
Hopefully, we can finish out a sequel on the mandola...at the very least, we do hope to tab out the video on our web site as linked from above.
Let me know if I can answer any technique questions for you...
Mickey
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2003 09:54:50 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: song
Hi Mickey
I really like your song Lincoln County Air played on the absaroka (which i recently purchased) Is this available in tab on anything you have?
Rome Harris
Greetings Rome,
Thanks so much for your kind words...and, yes, we do hope to have all of our originals tabbed out which will include Lincoln County Air...
Our "Introduction to Mandola" video has an arrangement of Lincoln County Air that would transcribe directly to mandolin. In fact, most of the techniques, and songs, taught in the mandola video can be directly applied to the mandolin.
Please stay tuned for tab arrangements to be listed on our website.
Keep on Pickin', Mickey
Subject: Beginning Mandola Video from Mickey Cochran
Date: Tue, 6 May 2003 09:17:58 -0700
I loved that video. I wish you would put that on DVD, I don't want my tape to ever break. Can Mr. Corchran ever do an advanced mandola video. Very pleased with the product, tons of good information in there.
Robert Hutchinson
Greetings Robert,
Yes...DVDs are in the works...thanks so much for your kind words regarding my Mandola video.
Be aware, your tape does have a lifetime warranty...if it does break, we'll send you a replacement free of charge.
Mickey
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2002 07:50:20 -0700 (PDT)
Good Morning Mickey,
Just a quick note to tell you how much I enjoyed your video "An Introduction to the Mandola." Having played mandolin for several years, I wanted to extend my musical range and thought the mandola would be a logical, worthwhile pursuit. I must tell you what a valuable, concise, pithy resource you've created. I found the information to be extradordinarily useful and was amazed at the amount of material covered in slightly less than two hours. While the initial information presented would be useful to a novice player, you've wasted little time on repetition and the tape quickly progressed beyond my skills. By the time I was 50 minutes into it I encountered material which will keep me occupied for a long, long time to come in learning to master this instrument. I found the technique sections dealing with arpeggio and cross picking most valuable and the "food for thought" offered in Chapter VII, New Dimensions in Mandola, was worth the purchase price in and of itself. Again, thank you for creating this wonderful resource and I'll look forward to your future productions. Errol Dimenstein
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