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W C C P March Concertina Weekend


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The West Country Concertina Players present their 30th Anniversay Concertina Weekend with Alistair Anderson, Iris Bishop and John Kirkpatrick at St Audries Bay - March 22nd - 24th 2013.

 

More information at www.wccp.co.uk or contact John and Mal Derricott on 01-258-450927 or derricott1969@sky.com


This 30th anniversary concertina weekend of excellent tuition for all concertina systems is being held at St. Audries Bay holiday park on the Severn Estuary - where the Quantock Hills unfold towards the sea and yes, we can go down the steps and walk on the beach! We are so fortunate in having a 'dream team' of tutors - Alistair, John and Iris will be leading us on this celebratory weekend. With the best tuition, there will be plenty of opportunities to spur you on and help you improve your playing technique, get new tunes and ideas, together with enjoying bar sessions with old and new friends.


One of the WCCP's aims is to motivate and facilitate learning to play the concertina - with enjoyment as key - so you are most cordially invited to come and join us in March.

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  • 2 months later...

The WCCP was set up some 30 years ago by a group of concertina playing enthusiasts, to promote the playing, for enjoyment, of all three systems of the concertina. This led to two annual tuition weekends being established, one in October, for beginner/intermediate standard players of all systems, led by inhouse tutors, and one in March, for intermediate/advanced players of all systems, led by well-known concertina players, such as Alistair Anderson, John Kirkpatrick and Iris Bishop. This year, they celebrated their 30th anniversary with a superb tuition weekend, in late March, held at St Audries Bay Holiday Camp, not far from Minehead, in Somerset, featuring the above three top class concertina players as guest tutors. I attended it with my partner Doreen and we thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it, ending with the obligatory yum, yum, cream tea, on Sunday afternoon, following the showcase, in which the three groups take it in turns to play some pieces that they have been working on under the guidence of their respective tutor, for the benefit of everyone to hear.

 

Bellow, is a delightful review from one of the participants, Sue King. I hope, after reading it, if you live in the UK, it will encourage you to join the WCCP, if you are not already a member, and come to one of their tuition weekends and experience the warm atmosphere and informative teaching, with like-minded people, for yourself.

 

Chris

 

 

WCCP 30th Anniversary Weekend – St Audries

 

It was cheeky of me to even think of joining the ranks of the “Intermediate” let alone “Advanced” concertina players at their March weekend at St Audries Bay but when I saw the line-up of tutors – John Kirkpatrick, Alistair Anderson and Iris Bishop, well, I knew I was coming and that was that. The weather was, well, awful, but that did not make any difference to the quality of the weekend. It's all about concertinas, and playing them, and being with other people who love playing them and who love the sound that they make just as much as you do. So what’s not to enjoy? Socially it was just great – there is a real sense of kinship around this instrument, never mind if it squeezes in and out the same note or not. I love the camaraderie that is shared whether playing in “lesson time” or chatting at meal times (and I thought the food was really good), or in those lovely impromptu moments throughout the day and evening.

 

As to the time with the tutors, it was pure joy for me. John demonstrating the musicality of the tunes with his delightful jigging (some Morris dancer, that man)-

Alastair swaying like a dancer too as he totally tuned in to the essence of his music. This weekend was about more than a string of notes and how to produce them at the right point of time. It was about music, and being musical. We were so lucky to be in the company of these masters, and if you (like me) could not really execute all those notes, you could still learn so much about what it is to be a musical player.

 

There were other great bonuses too. How many times would you get to dance at a ceilidh with such fantastic players as Iris, John and Alistair (not to mention Paul and Colin on his serpent!) making the music and leading the dances for you? I can’t dance (OK, I am a clog dancer, but that doesn’t count) and don’t normally enjoy ceilidhs, but I loved this one, as everyone was able to take part. Then the sessions, and the lovely funny monologues, and I was even treated to a first-rate classical guitar recital from Liz (congratulations on passing your exam Liz!).

 

Thanks, committee, for organising this great weekend. I think it’s a great venue, in a lovely location. Thanks tutors for your inspirational teaching and music and for your warmth and generosity of spirit. Committee – thank you again. I love my badge! It’s on my beret to stay. Now, where’s my concertina? Must do some practising….

 

Sue King 31.3.13

 

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We are so fortunate in having a 'dream team' of tutors - Alistair, John and Iris will be leading us on this celebratory weekend. With the best tuition, there will be plenty of opportunities to spur you on and help you improve your playing technique, get new tunes and ideas, together with enjoying bar sessions with old and new friends.

 

Really wished the Severn region (or the UK in general) were within my reach!

 

They are so very right - what a "dream team": the seminal Mr. Anderson for my own part, alongside Iris Bishop who is as much a fine musician as a kind person, and then John Kirkpatrick, anyway...

 

You will have a very rewarding and inspiring weekend at the seaside, Chris!

 

edit: messed things up, early this morning - out of pure enthusiasm. I guess... :rolleyes:

Must have been great, lucky you - thanks for reporting!

Edited by blue eyed sailor
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