Robin Tims

Interesting that John, and to get a take on how Concertina Connection (and you) see it. Rob

We have been using ASD on iPads and Macs for several years and regard it highly. For practise/playalong purposes have to confess we often use simple acoustic recordings, maybe from CD player etc changing pitch, volume, and speed as required, also looping. Not exactly hi-fi no, but good enough for getting familiar with a tune. Rob

Good point Chris.

Interesting about the bounce back Wunks, thanks.

I have found that with newish or recently restored slightly stiff Anglo bellows that there can be more of a tendency to miss notes very easily. Viz. bellows which very slowly open maybe 25mm or so by themselves when you put the closed instrument down. On the other hand with really light thin flexible bellows, which play very responsively, there is somehow a sensation of instability which can impact on rhythm and expression. Feels like you need 'something to push against' ! Clearly this is with instruments otherwise having similar set-up and reed response. I would not particularly regard myself as a good player, so that too is relevant, but has anyone any thoughts or experience to relate about this ? Rob

Faced with a similar choice a while back now, I chose the Caitlin course because it seemed more clearly set up, and I never regretted it. It's true that OAIM offer quite a lot of extra facility in the form of session tracks etc but I found Caitlin's Facebook page, the one limited to her students, incredibly encouraging and helpful too with some really nice students (and sometimes Caitlin herself) contributing (from just about everywhere in the world). When eventually I stopped subscribing I think I missed that more than anything (and I did get a 'free ride' on there for a few months which was kind) Good luck Jim whichever you choose. Rob

I use a system on more recently acquired anglo very similar that I have used for 2 decades with melodeon. That is with highlighter pens, green for push and pink for pull, marked on the dots themselves. That makes the choice of row for 'reversible' notes eg lower D pretty obvious at a glance. The ones that employ the accidental row eg reversed A and G on the left, get a 'special' orange mark with 'acc' scribbled underneath. Going back to a half forgotten tune it is simple to see the decisions made originally without starting all over again and also gives a quick view of 'smoothed out' versus 'lumpy' particularly with Irish tunes (plus likely air problems) Only rarely do I add a scribbled note about fingers using F1 for index and F4 for pinkie. This can all be on paper copies and if necessary scanned into 'forScore' on an iPad for use away from home where it is rapidly accessible. It is also simple to send a pdf copy to a music friend for some criticism or help, or sometimes maybe to help them. Yes I do get teased about my 'technicolour music', but it works for me.

Thanks for the helpful responses Wunks and Eskin. As a result I have made a small easing adjustment to the left hand strap plus trying some experimentation with a leather (or similar) patch over my left thigh. We shall see. Best Regards, ...Rob

Forgive me if this is an old topic. A search revealed nothing. Over a few years I have acquired the habit of holding my Anglo over both knees/thighs set slightly apart. I play mainly ITM. Recently a colleague related her experience at an Irish workshop where she was heavily encouraged to play using the support of only one thigh and not both. Since then, after persevering, she is convinced that this led to an improvement in her playing. I am trying this and whilst it does still feel a little awkward I can see that it might indeed help to free up bellows movement, and thus improve my playing. It also seems to help with my deadly tendency to sometimes breathe with the bellows as I seem more relaxed and conscious of rhythm. Anyone care to comment please ? Rob

Try 'Marcus Music' in your part of the world. His cases are excellent (we have two, both used with Lachenal Anglos !) http://www.marcusmusic.co.uk/concertinas.html Rob

Terrific ! Could not have happened to a nicer chap. I have been fortunate to experience hugely instructive and entertaining workshops from John at Durham, Witney etc, as well as solo annual concert events in our local church in Grimston where I think John liked the acoustics so much he was always interested in returning with another show which was always a sell out and not just to Folkies. Rob

Thanks Dissonance, very interesting. I have had my Widex HA's for nearly three years and for most of that time found them pretty frustrating. Poor at helping with conversation, very 'toppy' sounding (even well past the 'acclimatisation' months), musical instruments (concertinas /melodeon) sounded horrid, plus far too much whistling feedback from the slightest interfering movement, and a total pain with necessary multiple spectacle changes or for that matter with hats and caps. However a month or two back I could no longer avoid the 'micro-suction de-wax' visit which also meant yet another hearing test and somewhat critical discussion with the audiologist plus a major re-set. At last this bore fruit. The feedback problem has pretty much disappeared. The 'toppiness' is much reduced and the switchable 'Music' setting (as opposed to 'Universal') is now acceptable. I have even found a 'system' of making spectacle arms and HA's more space compatible behind my ears ! Now, thanks to your comments, I am going again to the audiologist to try and persuade her to adjust the 'Music' setting in the manner you describe. At least I am now using the damn things to my wife's relief. Best' Rob

Well worth a look and a listen Paul, thanks for the link. Rob

Good idea, could also give your playing a lift and nicely separate the notes.......... (sorry) Rob

Absolutely John. However having a squash strap doesn't mean the box sits all the time out in the breeze (only sometimes). It does also make it easy to pop it into it's case without the ends constantly dragging across the soft lining and roughing it up. My case is quite properly a pretty snug fit over the ends. Best' Rob