String Thing Music announces the alto clef edition of Standard Notation for the Tab-Addicted Mandolinist for mandola, featuring the same fun and focused tunes/exercises in alto clef. Note, author and clinician Debora Chen's approach is different than traditional viola methods, the tack is more pick-friendly than bow dependent, much more pattern-based than individual note. This allows the mandolist to arrive to musical literacy with more personal relevance and more fun.

From Scott Tichenor on the Mandolin Cafe: "It includes targeted, step-by-step examples, ranging from very easy to more advanced (cross-picking and chord melody), based on classic melodies like "Simple Gifts" (traditional), "Ode to Joy" (Beethoven), and "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (Bach). It also includes several original jigs and reels composed specifically to simultaneously encourage good technique in both right and left hands while giving you the necessary skills to break away from tab and into the string quartet/orchestral literature. It's a well thought out book and moves along quickly enough to be rewarding and fun without being overwhelming."

For a better idea of what Debora's methods can do for your mandolinning, read our comprehensive and detailed review of the original mandolin version: Standard Notation for the Tab-Addicted Mandolinist. Maybe it's time you learned to read music, too!

Purchase information: String Thing Music

Posted by Ted at May 24, 2009 5:49 PM