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

My ever-loving made this for my Wolverton....works well. Just soft webbing with velcro fastening. Narrow enough to fit betwixt buttons and air lever. Overlapped folded back tab on the outer end to serve as a lift-off pull. Rob

Yes Richard, me too, I asked Jake to fit his trigger design to my Wolverton when I bought it 3 years ago and it has always worked very well. I would imagine it is not at all a simple thing to retro fit to an existing instrument. Rob

On the Video section section of this Forum 'Daddy Long Les' recently posted on YouTube an interesting review of his Jeffries Anglo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4debeQ-ZG6w&feature=youtu.be About 5.30 minutes in he mentions the same problem as discussed here regarding the difficulty of touching the Air Button with the side of the thumb. His professional approach to the problem was to send the strap bars back to the original restorer David Robertson (of this Parish) in Norwich UK. David duly slimmed down the thickness of the upper ends of both strap bars making it much easier to touch the side of the thumb on the Air Button (on the right) and the Drone Button (on the left). It was clearly very successful but I guess some purists might question a non-reversible alteration to the original construction of a vintage instrument (although it would not have worried me). Not a problem with OP Bill N's 'paddle' idea of course which is simply removable leaving no trace. Interesting that this thumb-reach difficulty arises so often on wrist strap bars constructed in this fashion, especially on Lachenals but seemingly on Jeffries' too. Did players have fatter thumbs in the late 1800's (or maybe younger thumb joints) ? Maybe that is how alternative designs came about. Rob

Yay, I made one to Bill N's design, and it works a treat, thanks Bill. The problem arises (and it seems to be common one on old Lachenals) because the rebated upper end of the strap bar is still too high to allow the side of the thumb to readily reach the tip of the air button. Bill's modification is really good because in involves no dismantling or modifications to the concertina, and is also removable if required without a trace. Guess I was already a bit spoilt as my Wolverton had from the outset an air lever rather than a button, and which is still a delight to use, thanks Jake. Rob

Thanks for that Clive. Really helpful thought if not a very empathetic one. Maybe nurture will prove better than nature here.

Hey I'm glad it is not just me then, as I suffer greatly from this and it is really holding me back on Anglo over nearly three years. I guess though it is not as bad as it once was. It creates a kind of tension which is hopeless, especially with ITM as air difficulties interfere greatly with phrasing, fluidity and rhythm. Sometimes when practising I just stop, put the Anglo down, and carry out some stretching, relaxing and breathing exercises before continuing, and it seems to help. Many many years ago I too recall having this problem with Melodeon and it eventually went away so I am hopeful. In the past I also played Chromatic Harmonica as well which has probably not helped (on English Concertina though, no problems at all). I have tried the remedies usually recommended e.g. singing a continuous note, or taking a steady breath in one direction, while playing a scale. Difficult to do, but without result really. Ah well, press on...

My recent experience also, in exactly the same circumstances - Uk - inland Royal Mail next day - same concertina packing - last week or so. Rob

Very many thanks Dowright. Initially I was a bit mystified by your reference to apparently superfluous serials 21287 and 24786 until I realised they exemplified that crossover period of instruments between 'Louis Lachenal' and 'Lachenal and Co'. Understood, thanks. Rob

Hello Dowright, If of interest would you care to add to your excellent database: Lachenal Anglo 32b C/G . Very nicely restored by Andrew Norman Co, Shrewsbury UK Solid Rosewood ends. Bone buttons. 6 fold 'original' bellows. Steel reeds. Extra buttons are Whistle and Squeak. Weight: 1154g Reedpan Serial 23681 Bellows Serial 23296 Believed to date pre 1878 (Louis Lachenal) but 6 fold bellows may have been substituted for 5 fold in 1882 possibly during a repair. Plays very well. Any comment most welcome. Photo attached. Regards and thanks Rob

Yes, as I expect you know, regulars all had this as an email too this morning, thanks Pianist. Disappointing isn't it, but the only sensible decision. A bit tough financially on tutors and local accommodation people as well as maybe Grinton Lodge itself. Rob