Jubilee

Many thanks for all your help. We're really looking forward to moving into the area. It will be great fun visiting local clubs. Thanks again

Have just discovered this really interesting discussion. I have been singing unaccompanied for years and recently I have been fumbling around with concertina to accompany some of my songs and I feel like I'm trying to rub my stomach and pat my head at the same time. This may be because I purchased my first concertina 20 years ago for this very reason, but then discovered 'tunes' and went off at a tangent joining in sessions and having a great time and keeping my singing unaccompanied. As I feel the song is the important part and the accompaniment secondary I try to keep the accompaniment very sparse and to a minimum. I do find listening to others who sing and play at the same time is beneficial and do listen to all the players listed previous. I feel, as ever it comes down to practice practice and repetition. Having just retired I'm going to have more time to spend on this as well. And looking forward to it.

Hi I'm shortly moving to Saltburn by the Sea and am very interested to find out what sessions there are in the area. If anyone could help and let me know where they are that would be great. Cheers

I also think that playing around with scales will help you quite a lot. Also, repetition. If you are working up a repertoire of tunes I assume (maybe wrongly) you are learning them so you can play without the music? Once you have them learnt (however slowly) to play without the music then you can really begin to put your own slant on them. As has been said, listening to other players is also a great way of picking up ideas and you will be surprised at what you are able to add to your playing, without realising you are learning. Good luck and most importantly, enjoy. Keep squeezing.

Boy those tunes sounded great. Well done Rachel. Loved that Finnish tune. Keep squeezing

Hi Dick I've just had a listen to this and found the tunes great. Really good idea. Love the sound of the concertina.

I certainly think you will be able to play by ear. As has been said before, practice is the key. Also listening. I sing as well as play and agree with the idea of trying to play easy tunes, nursery rhymes, christmas carols etc. The First Noel is a good one as it runs up and down the scale. Also listening to others and picking up and remembering tunes that way (even if you are not playing). Once they are in your head they will eventually come out through the fingers. I also agree with the idea of playing scales etc so that your fingers know where to go once you have found out the key of the tune. Don't be put off by anyone saying you cannot do this, believe you can, practice, practice, practice and you will. Good luck and keep squeezing.

From what I've seen here, I'm going to go in search of the 'Amazing Slow Downer' sounds like a really good idea. Glad I discovered this thread.

These are only a few of my thoughts. There used to be the old saying 'If you can hear yourself then you're playing too loud'. I think if some session players thought about this a bit then things would calm down. It is difficult, great tunes, really enjoying it, hence the getting louder, getting faster (although the speeding up is often from players with timing problems, i.e. not playing the spaces). Yes, a little more courtesy could be spread around in some sessions, i.e. if someone starts a tune, follow them, don't rush off with it the way you want it. Concertinas certainly aren't good instruments for hearing yourselves. For those of you that can, you could try play all (or some) of the tune an octave down, I'm an English player and find I can sometimes do this and then you can hear what you are doing. Its good practice for playing down the dusty end. Some sessions are all fast and frantic, others are slower and more relaxed, its finding the one that's right for you (or starting one even, the more the merrier). Keep squeezing Angie

Hi Have just been reading through this interesting subject. I do run concertina workshops (Jubilee Concertinas) and I play English concertina (although I have attended a great beginners workshop on Anglo by Brian Peters so I know one end of the instrument from the other). I also have a Crane duet which I am just trying to get to grips with. When we have the workshops we will play a tune and then discuss the various difficulties of each instrument when playing, such as pull/push for Anglos, location of notes, ease of playing etc and it is surprising what we pick up from each other. I do try to cover all aspects but obviously I do know more about the English. However we are very much a self help group and there is normally more than one player of each system so they can help each other. Concertina players I find enjoy their instrument so much that they are more than willing to help each other. At big festivals there are normally enough players around to warrant individual workshops for each system but smaller events need to combine all three. I am hoping to run a 'Concertina Cafe' at Saltburn Festival this year (12 - 14 August) on the Saturday and Sunday mornings where players of all systems can get together and chat about concertinas, play a few tunes, and people who haven't played before can have a bit of 'hands on' as I have a few boxes that can be used for this. I have approached John and the organisers of Saltburn Festival about this and am hoping they can find room for me. The more people I can encourage to take up and enjoy and love this wonderful instrument the better. If anyone else is going to Saltburn, do you think its a good idea? I do go to other workshops and have to admit, I always come away the better for it, I have picked something new up, or 'discovered' the way to do something better. This does happen with workshops for all systems (or I find it does). I find they both have their good points. Keep squeezing Angie

Hi I'm looking forward to Saltburn Festival this year, its always a good one. I have offered to run a 'Concertina Cafe' during the Saturday and Sunday morning of the festival, where players of all systems (or people who would like to play) could just drop in and chat about concertinas, play some tunes, I have a few boxes that people could have a try on if they haven't played before and generally promote this wonderful instrument. Do you think this would be a good idea? are there some players or would be players out there who would like this type of event? I am awaiting a response from John Taylor and co whether they have space for it and I would appreciate your comments. Angie

Mary Macnamara workshop and also Mary in concert. Plus concertina workshop and tune sessions etc. Also ICA AGM Don't miss this weekend of Concertina playing (and talking and singing, and good ale, and great food). Plus a workshop (limited places) and concert with the wonderful Mary Macnamara. Dates 12 - 14 October 2007 Venue The Crown Hotel, Platt Lane, Worthington, Nr Standish, Lancs. Please see attachment for full details of the event. Programme_of_Events.doc