Two-system Issues

[Rhomylly]

Since I'm damned to hell anyway, I might as well take my Edgley and my Jack with me.

 

Oh wait, I'm going to Palestine, TX which is hilly and pretty and warm and green, not hell!

 

I feel much better!

 

Okay, seriously, here's my question.

 

As you all probably know by now, I'm battling the damned er, working on the old-timey tunes for the SW Squeeze-in at the end of March.

 

And as you all probably know, I am expecting delivery of my Jack English baritone either today or Tuesday.

 

Problem: I have been playing anglo for the last 2 1/2 years.

 

Problem: My anglo does not have all the accidentals I need to play one of the tunes. Magnolia's Waltz, to be specific. I'm missing the low G# below middle C.

 

Ergo, it *might* be easier to try to play the tune on the Jack, even if it will all be an octave lower than for everyone else.

 

I am a better musician than I was 2 1/2 years ago when I started playing concertina. I've gotten more adept at reading, at playing by ear, and I took a basic music theory class fall 2004. But I am, in all honesty, still very much a beginner.

 

On the other hand, this is a totally new instrument with a totally different fingering system that I have not even tried .

 

Is it total folly to try to get a piece of music, tune only, no chords or ornamentation, performance-ready on an instrument I currently do not know how to play -- in 5 weeks?

 

Part of me is standing up and screaming, "DUH! Yes!" and part of me is thinking, "Hmm, would be a good stretch for you musician-wise."

 

Which part should I heed?

[Henk van Aalten]

Rhomylly

 

I am not in the postion to give you an answer to your question, but it's my own experience that I am glad to use my Jackie for the "upgrade program" of the Concertina Connection.

I own my Jackie since September 2003 and I seriously tried...... to come to the conclusion that this is not my instrument .

 

However there are other C.Netters who have no problem at all with changing between EC and Anglo.

I sincerely hope that you are one of them .

[Animaterra]

I no longer have an English (a deficit I fully intend to correct when I can!) but when I did, I found it didn't take much time to crank out a few simple tunes and chords. You have to think of it as a completely different instrument, not the same instrument with different fingering. And give yourself time- pick just one or two tunes. But I'm pretty sure you'll be able to do it.

 

Besides, could you really keep your hands off the Jack that long???

[Rhomylly]

Besides, could you really keep your hands off the Jack that long???

 

Er, that would be a "no".

[JimLucas]

Is it total folly to try to get a piece of music, tune only, no chords or ornamentation, performance-ready on an instrument I currently do not know how to play -- in 5 weeks?

We're not talking about fast Irish reels -- or bluegrass -- here. So the answer is YES. If you find that you're incompatible with the English -- as some do, -- then fair enough. But if it's eventually gonna push your buttons and not just vice versa, then such a 5-week program is a good way to get started.

[Rhomylly]

You have a lot of faith in me, Jim!

[Samantha]

I'm with Jim on this. give it a go ... it's sometimes good to have a specific, time-sensitive goal to aim for.

Samantha