Rhomylly

I'm the offspring of one My dad used to be able to get an entire jazz combo, players and instruments (including an upright bass and drums), into our 1973 Volkswagen Beetle.

I'm feeling very "in crowd" because I thought all of these were funny...

hahahahahah! That's the best laugh I've had in days!

I *never* look at my fingers. If I'm working off "dots" I look at those until I don't need them any more, and then I get the stereotypical blank, drooling concertinist stare...

That's definitely what keeps me busking too, Jim. Especially the part about people wanting to know more about what instrument and/or what style music I am playing. The money is nice, but not my primary reason. As for why I play music, it is very simple: if I don't, then I am not me.

Unfortunately, Billy, there is no easy answer to your question. For some of us, who prefer a more "piano-like" layout (low notes on the left, higher notes on the right), the Anglo is the way to go. However, one must then get used to playing a different note depending on whether you're pressing or pulling the bellows. For others, the "same note no matter what the bellows are doing" English is easier. There are also more accidentals on your average English. But the low notes are closer to the body and the higher notes are further away from the body. Duet...I am not a duet player, but those folks are really dedicated! Wish there was an easy answer, but it really depends on you, what kind of music you plan to play, and how your brain works.

More info on Feverdreams, cut and pasted from their website: This is the home of a rockin Grunge band named Feverdream...... From the city of Clovis New Mexico...... With musical influences ranging from Tool to Bob Dylan..... They sound like Nirvana, the Beatles and A Perfect Circle..... They also have several Christian songs and prophess Christianity as thier faith. They've signed to a indie label called Cash Crop Records, but are still looking to get on a bigger label. They are constantly growing in popularity and thier determination is infinate... I sent an email to the kid who handed me the note (the lead singer, woo! woo!) saying, basically, "oh what the heck, why not" I mean, just because I can spell, I'm a Buddhist and I'm old enough to be their mother...why not? You know, I bet Noel Hill doesn't get offers like this. You know, he's probably grateful.

Mark, I always knew you were strange...

On Saturday night, I got the following note in my concertina case (which doubles as a tip jar)(spelling and random capitalization faithfully copied from the original): Hey, I'm in a band called Feverdream. We're signed to an Independent Record Lable called Cash Crop Records. We have an album Coming out. But I was wondering if you'd like to perform one song on our next one? We don't offer any money, but you'll get recognition in the C.D, cover and it will help get your music out there. Let me know if you want to record. Now a quick visit to MySpace (shudder) reveals that Feverdream calls itself a grunge/rock/metal band with the following musical influences: Nirvana, A Perfect Circle, The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Tool, Bob Dylan, AFI, ZAO. Half of whom, I must admit, I have never even heard of -- namely A Perfect Circle, Tool, AFI and ZAO. Needless to say, I neither understood a word of nor made it all the way through the mp3 they have posted on their site. Please bear in mind that at the time I got the note, my set had included such grunge/rock/metal classics as: Arkansas Traveler, Dancing at Whitsun, Flowers of Edinburgh, and the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance Tune. Grunge concertina. I don't think so. Oh well, at least the note was wrapped in a dollar

You might want to contact Theodore Kloba, a member of this forum. He is quite the expert on this style of concertina

Not really. My marriage was starting to collapse. 'Course it only took another 3 years...

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Geoff!

That's our Helen!!

Way back in the dark ages (approx. 1983) my then-spouse and I were part of a pick-up Welsh folk dance group that performed at this festival. Boy, that sure brings back a lot of memories...

One of my tattoos is of Will Kemp, Shakespeare's most famous comic actor, as well as a famous morris dancer. I had it copied from the woodcut at the beginning of his "nine dayes wonder" journal. I am very proud of it.

Unless I wanted to show it off...

Well, I've already got 3, all nicely covered up with the application of a t-shirt and a pair of socks, so I'm already going to look bad in the nursing home!

I'm down to one crutch. I feel like Tiny Tim. "God bless us, every one." I'm hoping to get some practice done tonight, depending on the size of the spousal unit's "exams to be graded" pile.

Hmmm... Hmm.... I've been wanting an armband tattoo for some time now. Years, in fact. How about a Wheatstone with very very very very long bellows going all the way around the arm, and the ends kind of meeting in the front, rather like an old-fashioned torque? Hmmm..... Dammit......now you got me plotting...and budgeting...

It's more a question of physically getting to the music building. Actually, to practice during lunch on campus, I have to eat lunch on campus. And the student/faculty cafeteria is way over on the other side of campus. Which I *know* I won't be getting to for a couple weeks, at least Maybe my family will let me practice in the evening after the dishes are done... And I haven't canceled my weekly busking at the local bookstore, just in case I *can* drive by Saturday...

A recent suggestion coupled with incentive to go through Frank Edgley's tutorial cover to cover with NO shortcuts has led me to start puzzling out playing in octaves. Is the goal to play the entire tune in octaves? Or just a few key phrases? My first tune to attempt this on is "Britches Full Of Stitches." A nice, simple and rather cute tune. Also, I find myself having to seriously modify bellows work, since more than one key pressed uses a lot more air (duh)! Any helpful hints?

But if the volume and intensity of the crunch as I went down Thursday night is any indication, I came close. And home alone with a toddler for 48 hours 'cause her daddy was at a conference in Phoenix. The good news is, this morning I talked one of the music faculty into getting into my locker at the music building and bringing me my concertina. The bad news is I am unlikely to be able to get back to the music building for a few weeks to practice during lunch which is really my only time to practice during the week. Ah, well, at least I didn't land on my wrist wrong!

Helen, I'm relieved you're still around and now worried about your illness. ((((((helen)))))))

(((((virtual hug))))) for you and the family. Sounds like it was a proper send-off

well, that makes sense.