Introduction to the Octave Mandolin DVD Format Recorded in Digital Format 1 Hour 50 Minutes in Length Level: Beginning to Intermediate (with segments of interest to the pro) A great instructional DVD to learn to play bouzouki in the Octave Tuning: gG dD AA EE Intro to the Octave Mandolin DVD: Retails: 39.95 Current Sale Price: 34.95 Shipping: Free Add to Your Shopping Cart Published by: Mystic West Productions

Product Reviews

Kathleen Rushing Product Review of the "Intro to Octave Mandolin" Video:

Posted April 20, 2008: I am working through Mickey Cochran's DVD: Intro to the Octave Mandolin and finding it a great tool.
It is one of the few videos I found available teaching the Octave Mandolin and it seems to be more informative and versatile than others I have attempted to learn from.

Mickey's style is to work the learner through simple steps with nice bite size practice sessions, showing both the right and the left hand in split screen. He includes a great selection of tunes for demonstration. Mickey has a very unique, casual manner about his teaching and I find myself thinking, "Oh, I can do that!" I particularly like the easy flow and pace of the DVD. His session on scales and harmonies is essential and fundamental, providing the octave mandolin player with improvisational tools, keeping one busy for hours listening to and marveling and how beautiful one can play!
Mickey's playing enhances this beautiful instrument, bringing out a haunting mystical quality that only the Octave provides in the string family. I the I would highly recommend Mickey's Intro to the Octave Mandolin to any aspiring player. Kathleen Rushing, musician, teacher

Russell Godfrey Product Review of the "Intro to Octave Mandolin" Video:

From learning such fundamentals as "proper" hand positioning to fingerpicking improv, this DVD is a must for beginners right up to veteran players. Mickey's easy and relaxed style guides you through the process from tuning, holding the instrument, chord charts, to step by step tune breakdown from simple to advanced, and then into some improvisational fingerpicking.

Starting with basic melodies, broken out part by part, and then advancing into more intricate tunes as well as some of his own compositions, Mickey provides a good instructional guide for anybody contemplating learning the Octave Mandolin. The rich, smoky, baritone of his Weber Yellowstone Octave Mandolin is a treat to hear as he leads you step by step into the relatively uncharted world of the Octave Mandolin. Mickey demonstrates breakdowns of early American fiddle tunes, Celtic tunes, as well as some bold journeys into his well demonstrated fingerpicking skills on the medieval-like original "Battle of Rivendell"...a must for Lord of the Ring fans! This was the missing instrument from that soundtrack! Mickey's DVD demonstrates the husky voice of this musical chameleon of the mandolin family.

It truly is a "world" instrument that is able to adapt to any musical stylings you prefer. Let Mickey show you how. As a player who strives for greater proficiency, I wish I'd had access to such an informative resource when I was starting out. I'd be light years ahead of where I am now. Highly recommended!

Submitted and Written by Master Octave Mandolinist: Russell Godfrey
Russ Godfrey Mandolirium – Walter-Bodega Band
http://www.mandolirium.com/