Alan Day

Sean you have mentioned your sticking buttons before,if it just friction between the buttons and the wood carefully apply some silicone oil onto the wood where the friction is occuring.Most car accessorie shops will sell it as anti squeek or as silicone lubricant.You need very little as you will not want it on the button ends or your fingers will slip off.If in aerosol form spray a little into the lid and use that.It is Ok for mechanisms but I would not recommend it on a vintage concertina as it will collect dust but it would solve your problem. Al

Hallo Tom or is it Fang? I always would suggest that you buy a cheap but playable instrument to start.There is a lot to learn on a twenty button concertina.If you enjoy the instrument then save and buy something which you will be happy with for years to come.If you hate the cheap instrument it has not cost you a lot of money to get rid of it. Good luck and welcome to a great site and some lovely people. Al

There appears, in a picture, to be a traditional hold when circling or are they swinging, where each person holds the others wrist making a little square in the middle.In England a right and left Star is with hands held farely high and swinging with one foot in the centre to pivot on and hands around backs.I have seen some dancers swing thier partners feet off the floor doing this, all good fun, but I have seen a woman knocked out cold by dancers being too stupid,(had to be a rugby players dance). Do you have a caller, or is the dance announced and off you go(as in France)? When you say swing dancers Jim ,are you refering to 30s 40s swing, a big revival here, or something else? Thanks all for the info so far. Al

There has been a number of references to Contra dancing and Contra dance tunes on this site and I must confess I know nothing about it.Lisa has kindly sent me details of a Contra Dance site which gives me clues but without watching people dancing it is awkward to imagine what it is like.From the site description it sounds very much like some English Country dances,Square set or Circle dances, particularly progressive ones ,but looking at some of the pictures some of the dancers look as though they are dancing French style,Waltzes,Schottishes and Polkas.The description of looking ones partner in the eyes from the site reminds me of French Bourree dancing.The French dancing style is small delicate steps and their feet rarely lift of the ground except for Mazurkas but the site pictures show clearly English high lift of the feet. What are the differences?

With speeches and band up front talking,I have no problem.I must admit after dinner speeches were a major problem for me but this was because I pre wrote what I was going to say,missed out sentences,fumbled over words,missed out on things I should have said etc.Later I had to step into a position owing to a friend dying which thrust me foreward to do at least one or two (sometimes more) after dinner speeches a month.As there was so much to do before the meal,my speech preperation was about half an hour.In this time I write down the major points I want to say on a small piece of paper but big enough for me to read it easily.I can then speak for about half an hour on these points in the manner in which I want to express them(from the heart).It is important to work on your strengths,if you can tell a good story or joke ,have one ready,If you have no strengths just put over the things you want to say and keep it brief. I used this principal when I used to talk for the band, but people are there to hear your music not someone rattling on for hours talking about it`s origins where it was collected etc. A short introduction is more appreciated. It is strange how different situations are easy for some and very hard for others,still if we were all the same life would be boring. Al

Peter I do have this record called "Clare Concertinas" as usual Roger is right it is a Free Reed Topic record. Al

Do you know Peter I think I have got this record. I will fish it out and come back to you,you are welcome to a copy. Al

As part off the Session swap introduced some time ago it continues with another from Jim Besser.How I enjoy listening to people enjoying their music and listening to musicians trying out new things as the tune progresses.I know that some of you would not enjoy a wall of sound a piano slightly out of tune but brilliantly played and deviations from the tune they started with,but I think it`s great.As an extra bonus some wonderful tunes ,I have not heard before,I am already playing one of them. I am working my way through the Cd ,but it is a shame many of you have not joined us in a smashing bit of fun. Al

There are three factors to take into consideration with this discussion. The first is when playing for dancing it is advisable to watch the dancers,this I have no trouble with I enjoy people dancing to our music and rarely get put off even if the person(s) I am watching shoot off in the wrong direction etc. In sessions no problems I am completely relaxed ,trying out new things and It`s not the end of the world if I make a mistake.The third is much more difficult playing in concert,people sitting in rows watching and listening closely to everything you do.That`s where my problem is concentrating fully on what I am doing.The worse thing is to look at the audience,focus on a point over their head at the end of the hall.I know the theory but I find it difficult and my mind wanders to other things and I have to talk myself back to concentrating again.At this point I usually make a mistake.It is lucky that I have enough experiance to get over it, until the next one, but many players who have the same problems fall apart at this point. Al

Playing by ear for the first time is a similar thrill to finding that you can split your mind in half and play a tune with the right hand and chords on the left.I cannot sing and play at the same time which would be in three, but I must confess that I have great difficulty in concentrating on stage without my mind wandering to other things while I am playing.I do it also when reciting,I even have a conversation with myself,"Now come on Alan concentrate" etc anyone else have this problem? I think it is another element which cannot be taken into concideration whilst practicing.Someone coughing ,talking etc. Al

Not add the HEY at the end?

Anyone that can write words and be able to sing it to a Cosack dancing tune without just HEY on the end deserves a round of applause. Sour grapes? Possibly. Al

Hallo Mark, I have seen the Melodion player,if it the same one you have seen he plays a C C# box mainly Irish music.The most amazing busker I have stood for about an hour watching, outside Hammersmith Underground was a bongo player his style was unusual in that he played the bongo with the base facing him and the treble away from him.He beat out the base with his thumbs and the rythm with his fingers on the treble.It is hard to explain in writing but I hope you can understand the principal.A very exciting sound.I agree no concertinas. Al

This case was a love at first sight,a must have case at auction.I left a fairly large bid but got it for an amazing twenty five pounds plus commission.I understand that the only other person who left a bid was furious not to get it ,I am hoping it was not a concertina player.It is tan leather covered ,with a carrying handle and is perfect for two concertinas and my swanee whistle.It is wonderful and I love it.The only thing is it stinks of perfume ,so no playing for me at dockyard pubs for a while.It has a nice mirror so I can watch myself playing.The lipstick is not my shade but you can`t win em all. Photo to follow. It is a shame Red barrel is no longer made a pint of it would have been perfect to pour in to take the smell away. Al

Lisa I have to be careful here,will it match my newly purchased light tan vanity case ( must send you all a picture).With my concertinas in it there is no room for the powder puff any suggestions? Al

The most interesting thing about this programme is that although the viewing figures suggest millions watch it,the programme is so bad that nobody will actually admit to watching it.I can honestly say that leaving out politics and sport, some of the most embarrasing representation of our country has taken place in this competition.Perhaps next year will be better but it is always worse.Still last year we came last with no points and this fourteenth so thats slightly better. Have you got your outfit yet Lisa? Al (cringing in the corner)

Hallo Sean, I have gone down a similar path to you, started on a cheap twenty button Anglo Concertina.I found out I loved the instrument and then moved on to a more expensive instrument which met my requirements.My advice to you is that if you love the instrument carry on learning with the box you have,there is some wonderful stuff you can do with twenty buttons and then invest in something much better.I think you are wasting your money thinking about buying another cheap instrument, put it into the kitty and buy something which will be really exciting,I am sure you will not regret it,I never did. Al

Well another exciting and nailbiting contest is over for another year The Eurovision Song Contest won by Ukraine with a song I shall be singing on my way to work on Monday morning.Sadly I slept through three quarters of the programme but woke in time to see the highlite of the evening when the presenter went to hand the winner the trophy and got her high heals stuck in a grill on the stage. What a night to remember and we shall all be eagerly waiting for next years contest. Al

One of the most interesting things that came out of the first recording that I heard myself playing with the group, was that I was playing too loud.I was dominating the other instruments with my playing.The perfect situation was when I could not hear myself at all.Very off putting at first but with a small group you soon know when you have made a mistake. As far as your instrument is concerned there is no better instrument than the Linota you are playng at the moment.You may find that playing an octave higher or possibly dropping the chords on a few times through may help. Al

Hallo Frank, I am interested in your comments re tuning for chords against let us say single note playing.With tuning for an Irish tune player or perhaps Classical,would you tend to be more accurate with tuning for this style than for chord playing.Your comments would appear to be similar to that expressed by another tuner.Do the chords sound discordant with accurate tuning and what notes would you not tune accurately not knowing what chord the player will play?I must admit I have never tuned to the accuracy expressed in this discussion but I have always been pleased with the final result but not being a proffessional tuner I would bow to your knowledge on this subject. Al

To Paul and A.D Homan(sorry I do not know your Christian name) I am interested to know with the accuracy of the tuners you have, can you detect differences in tuning temperature movement eg cold day one reading hot day another? I have always suspected that there is a difference but never been able to prove it. Sorry for going off at a tangent. Al

I have been very pleased with my Korg Tuner made by KEIO Electronics Lab,Corp Tokio Japan Model Wt- 10A, battery operated, or power, with chromatic dial. It can be set to any Frequency and has two sound settings and a meter setting to check the sound against the meter.I have had this many years now but it is a superb tool for tuning. I do not know if it is still made but I would recommend one. Al

Please do not think that this posting is mischevous because it is not and I do not wish to know the details of the posting which prompted this decision to exclude the person in question.What I am interested to know that if somebody did not have a concertina but was visiting this site with a possible view of buying a concertina,their details would come up in the same way as this person with no reference to concertinas and could get banned. If this person concerned was trying to promote a discusion on an unrelated matter I can see why this decision has been made. Al

I had you down as an angel Morgana,I will change my records accordingly. How about the usual request"Excuse me ,Do you know "Amazing Grace"? Al

Morgana has prompted me to get one hate in writing,it is to provide background music.Music which is totally ignored and talked over ,no clapping no acknowledgement nothing.They sit there munching sandwiches ,cakes etc drinking champagne while we are in a corner playing our heart out.These corporate gigs are usually very well paid,but they can stuff their money because I refuse to do them.I play to enjoy myself and these are not enjoyable. There I feel a lot better now. Mr Grumpy