Greg Jowaisas

Awhile back I learned the mixed blessing of unspecified prayer. Petitioner: "Lord, make my partner a good fiddle player by Christmas." God: "Hmmm! They didn't say which Christmas or say present or future partner. Reminds me of that fellow, what was his name? Oh yeah, Job." With fiddle, things take time. Sometimes glacial time. Best to you and Anne (and I'm sure you will eventually get your wish, Chris.) Greg

Roy, A little less computor and office time and more time in the park playing slower, beautiful Irish airs on your Carroll. Oh yes, a bit more of a wistful smile. Perhaps you'll get your wish! Good luck, Greg PS. Leave the extended case open while playing and you'll at least have dinner paid for whether or not anyone to share it with.

Ken is correct in reminding me that need and want are two different things. I agree that I have much to be thankful for, no doubt, along with many others in this forum. And given a list of priorities I would put world peace, my family's security, our health, better schools, a USA administration change, national health care, along with more school jobs for me ahead of wanting another concertina for my pleasure. I'm working, in my own inimitable way, to make all the above a reality. Sometimes a lot of it seems beyond my control. (And that would also include the long road to becoming a good concertina player.) But I do know that writing goals down on paper helps. My list could begin with the above and end with the Jeffries. I'd be happy for parts of the list to be filled in any order. I started the topic as lighthearted dreamlist. I don't mind expanding it to include the important stuff we not only dream about but should work towards every day. Greg

If Wally Carroll and the magic elves that make his wonderful reeds could deliver then who am I not to put in a few long holiday nights. Thanks for the advertising plug, Paul and Brian. If anyone wants a case for the holidays please order soon. This elf has does have a few holiday plans. Greg

I thought it might be interesting to indulge our fantasies a bit and make some holiday wishes for the instruments of our dreams. (Who knows that Santa, a significant other or a rich relative might be listening?) I'll start it off by wishing for a chortling, honking Bb/F Jeffries with great reeds. 31 buttons please, but no nice 38 will be turned away! And if the Jeffries does not appear for the holidays I will be happy and content with Dan Worrell's Kimber book! May all your wishes come true! Greg

Hi Frank, Click the "about" on the site's home page menu bar. Scroll down a few topics. There are instructions on changing the type size. Mr. Gaskins is very thorough and tech savvy, as we might expect. Greg

WOW!!! Well done, Bob!! This site will be a terrible distraction and a tremendous resource for all concertina enthusiasts. Thank you very much! Greg

Hi Daniel, There are concurrent postings on this topic and links to another Carr concertina discussion in the Buy and Sell section. http://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=2996 Greg PS added after some head scratching: I am assuming the seller has reversed the left hand button layout and placed the drone opposite from where it should be notated. If so, it looks like a Jeffries anglo variant layout to me. But please do not ask me what to do with the inside fourth row that is teaming with A#s!!!

I have a picture of an 1880 John Crabb concertina (compliments of Geoff Crabb) with metal ends, sides and fret work cut into the sides. I was unable to attach the picture. Perhaps Geoff could help us out with visuals, thoughts and history? And any additional insights into Mr. Carr? Greg

Here is a thread that may help: http://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php...ic=1499&hl=Carr As I remember the previously listed instrument looked like it was fit for armored "Carr" duty. They don't look like light weights. Greg

Thank you for the Folktrax link, Lennart. The Kimber cd and several others are now on my Christmas list. Greg

I think Jim touched on the crux of tuning convention: We compromise so we can play together, and sometimes in keys outside of folk music convention. But perhaps the question should be: If equal temperment compromises thirds and some concertina styles favor thirds why not dedicate a solo concertina to 1/4 comma mean tone or Werkmeister III? I still have vivid audio memories of hearing some of Paul Groff's concertinas. Perhaps it was the room. Perhaps my inexperience. Perhaps the way Paul played. I don't know for sure which, if any of the concertinas, were in alternate temperments. I do know that the thirds and the chords that Paul chose were exceptionally pleasing. Greg PS. I'm an old time banjo player who sometimes uses thirds to tune his banjo to many open and unusual "modal" tunings. I attribute some of my tuning dilemnas to the alure of perfect thirds and the obstacle of equally temperered frets. And yes, fretless banjo helps.

And I asked for an identifying Jeffries marking that would differentiate it from its look alike Lachenal cousins. I'm still waiting for a reply. Good thing I can hold my breath for days or even weeks when it comes to a Jeffries english. Greg PS. Wheeeshoooosh! Ah! Much better!

Very Exciting! The cover seems a lovely invitation to experience a "honeycomb" of wonderful music. I'm looking forward to listening. Well done, Alan and Graham!!! Greg

Some addendum to the preceeding thoughts and comments: Frank Edgleys concertinas have a hook and arm action but he has a neat way of double springing them that makes his concertina action smooth and quiet and light. Goran Rahm says he has experimented for years with pad construction incorporating shock absorbant material and he likes the noise reduction. There seem to be a number of opinions on whether hook and arm levers actually move at the pivot. There also seems to be different contentions as to whether, all things being equal, that hook and arm action must be more heavilly sprung than riveted action. Any comments, opinions or data from the repairers and builders? Greg J

I will vouch for the Concertina Connection's replacement action. I bought the instrument from them with the action already replaced so I can't compare before and after. I do know it is fast, lightly sprung and a dream to play! The action is so quiet that sometimes I have to look down and make sure that I am playing a Lachenal! (Although those taps and normal *gentle* Lachenal chatter can add a certain discreet charm to the music.) If my instrument is typical of their valving and tuning and setting up an instrument to play, then I would give their work the highest of recommendations along with their replacement action. Greg J

Hi Ritchie, I want to add my encouragement. Hang in there. Keep refining your sound and rhythm. Good things will come from your conscientious practice. I share your feelings that playing jigs on the concertina, under control, in good rhythm and being able to accent desired beats is a quite a task. I've noticed that novices at the local Irish music school in Cincinnati , at least on fiddle, are taught a number of polkas before any jigs are attempted. I suspect the instructors share our experience: While jigs are basic to Irish music, they are not necessarilly beginner's tunes. It has taken a over a year for me to get comfortable playing some jigs (and some days are more comfortable than others!). I will never be a quick study but things are getting easier and faster the more I listen to the music and the smarter I practice. Hear are a couple of things that have helped: Listen! Listen! Listen! Some of my favorites are Mary MacNamara, Tim Collins, Noel Hill on concertina; Paddy Canny, Kevin Burke, Matt Cranitch on fiddle. Use a slow downer device to listen and play along at reduced speed. Always spend a bit of time playing dead slow in warming up. Simon Wells talks about this in his tutorial that you can find in these forums. You'll be able to exaggerate and experiment with accents while laying down a memory track in your neural pathways (muscle memory). And a slow warm up may help prevent joint and connective tissue injury. Practice playing staccato. Play with experienced musicians who keep good time (and are gracious enough to play at speed within your control). Let the bellows work for you. This last point is where I feel the anglo concertina can really shine. The players' whose rhythm I most admire don't, as a rule, try and eliminate bellows changes. They "play" from the chest and shoulders and use the bellows changes to fuel the rhythm of a jig or hornpipe. (Fast reels on the anglo is a topic worthy of its own discussion!) I think a concertinist's bellows and button work is a lot like the right and left hand coordination of a mandolin player or a flatpick guitarist. Both actions need to be in synch for the best, crisp sound. If not, things can get muddy and indistinct. I salute your efforts and hope some of the above helps. Greg J

Just to clarify: I meant to say each of the cds is an hour long. The set of six cds costs $49.95 USD. That makes them about $9.00 an hour of cd. I hope this is clearer than the solfege singing the cds are recommending. At any rate it doesn't seem like too much "do". Greg J

Osmosis!! Helen spent 600 miles each way with a folksinger who's schtict is getting people to sing along. Well, perhaps I was the only one in the car singing and rather infrequently at that. But isn't one theraputic method to have the patient talk about everything except the problem until the patient is ready to volunteer the solution? OK! OK! I give up! Helen, you brave woman, you deserve all the credit! Congratulations! And continue your singing adventure. Greg PS. I'm hoping there is nothing in the Book of Revelations that parallels these portentous happenings.

For John and all interested parties: Here is the web site address for Homespun Tapes http://www.homespuntapes.com/welcome/default.asp "Ear Training for instrumentalists" by Matt Glaser Cost fot the six, hour long (each) cds is $49.95 USD + shipping Whether they are a good value or not is probably in the ear/eye of the listener. After listening to one half of the first cd I think I already "know what to listen for" much better than before. Of course I've been noodling around for 35 years, stumbling into playing reasonable approximations of folk songs and banjo tunes. I feel learning Traditional Irish music deserves my best effort and at 55 years old any tool or method that will help the process will be most welcome and invaluable. Be happy to give you a more knowledgable report in the following weeks as i listen and work my way through more of the lessons. Regards, Greg

Here is something that developing ear musicians may find useful and could tie in with these "singing suggestions". After being the "dunce" in my Noel Hill class last year I made an effort over the winter to become more adept at sight reading. As my karmic destiny would have it, this year Noel decided to teach by ear and distribute the dots the last day of class! Once again I was the struggling student in the back of the room. After recovering from another taste of adversity I decided to do something about it and got out a course by Homespun Tapes of "Ear training for Instrumentalists" that I had ordered some months back. I'm now humming away in the basement sharpening my feeling for thirds, fourths and fifths while building concertina cases. While I have only used the first of the six cds in the course I feel this method is going to help sharpen my intuitive ear and give me some additional tools to learn and understand tunes. And it won't hurt my singing either! Regards, Greg J

Way to go, Helen! I would have encouraged you to play by ear on the way back from East Durham but I was afraid your head would have been badly bruised by the PA keyboard! I'm glad you found another way. Best regards, Greg J

David, You've given yourself great advice and a good goal. Your parents sound like smart people and I hope you continue to give their opinions your consideration. Work hard and prosper! (I think you will!) Greg J

David, I agree with you that Mark has a wonderful new instrument. He has always been very accessible and generous with his music and expertise. It was a pleasure to meet you at Noel Hill camp, to hear you play and to share your enthusiasm for the music and concertina. "...thrown away...." ? Perhaps "invested" is a more appropriate word. I have little doubt that your commitment to a Carroll concertina and Irish music will pay you handsome dividends. Best wishes, Greg J

That is wonderful news! Kudos to Alan for persistence and the concertina community for support. Hobgoblin gets a star for paying attention and doing the right thing. Each time the crooks fail, we all win. Regards, Greg