Alan Day

I have a lovely session of music from The George it is the whole evening from start to finish with talking,mistakes a mixture of English,French,Breton,Swedish etc.Some lovely tunes many of them new ,some written by the persons playing them including myself.Unlike my tutor tape,which is free of charge,for these two tapes I am charging not money but asking for a copy of your session in return. To also bring you all closer together I would like to suggest that all those players who subscribe to this posting can contact each other to create your own session swap.Just click onto the subscribers name and email them through this site. Since writing on this site my great pleasure has been making friends and exchanging music,for me it has been exciting and I have received some incredible music.It is with this thought in mind I hope you will join in what has become a very enjoyable offshoot to this website. The only rules I would like to propose is that on no account should there be any critisism(unless constructive) of the playing, or any tunes recorded without the consent of the person playing them,unless it is known for definate that the tune is traditional. Regards Alan

You can tell by my enthusiasm that I love sessions of all music. I have found to introduce a new tune to a session it will take about four sessions and it will slowly get picked up.If you have confidence in the tune keep playing it and it will become a favorite. A tape recorder is a must for any session you attend, record the music, practice it and the next session you will be able to join in. If you are trying to play a tune new to you at a session, be sure to play quetly and above all if you go to a new session do not dominate it ,unless requested to do so. Some of the best sessions I have ever been to, it was possible I never played a note,one in County Claire springs to mind, but just being there was good enough for me. Regards Alan

Hallo Dave(from memory I think it was Dave but forgive me if it isn`t) I think you have slightly misread the previous post in that some of the sessions were only performed by players reading and if it was not written then it was not played.Players reading are always welcome at sessions but are restricted within the limitations of what music they bring with them. The joy of a session and you know this from your area ,is you never know who is turning up and what they are going to play.Someone may play a tune which you remember playing at a folk weekend or festival years ago and after about two or three times through away you go playing it with them.You and I must have hundreds of tunes locked away in our heads and it is great to get them unlocked even with read music. It has been of interest in this forum of those not happy with the sessions they go to.Why not start your own?First find a venue ideally attached to a pub,a room upstairs or at the back.One of the best sessions places was a storeroom shed behind the pub.Once you can get a nucleus of musicians,others will join in.If children are made welcome the future of folk tradition in your area will live on. Regards Al

Good for you Sharron, Just give me another 1% and I will light another fire in another part of the world. Take care and enjoy yourself Al

Crikey Sharron, Only .1% left for the whole of the world`s music. You are a hard person to deal with. Al

Hallo Sharron, First time I have spoken to you. Yes I use the RH little finger a lot,but only because it is comfortable for me to do so,if you find it impossible try another route but initially give it a try.I have seen wonderfull anglo players only use the first two fingers but they moved their hands about all over the box at unbelievable speed.It is easy to move the fingers over whilst playing but it would have to be a style you would have to work on. I find that finger exercises ( drumming on a table) can improve your muscle power and many players who have had accidents or strokes can with practice, to the best of their capabilities ,get their fingers working to the original speed. Best of luck Sharron Alan

Mostly here the Irish sessions are separated from the English ones it is not really liked if one type of music starts to dominate,ie Irish in an English session or visa versa.It would probably be politely pointed out where the Irish sessions were or where there was a good English session.I think however if a superb group of musicians turned up they would be appreciated whatever they played. When I played the trumpet years ago I could not play any tunes without music,I realised when playing for Morris Dancing it would be stupid to set up a music stand outside a pub certainly if it was windy,so I decided then to play by ear.It has only been since I have been playing in a duet style on anglo, that I am using music again.I then memorise the lot and play from memory.I also use it as a guide to remember how a tune goes then disregard it. Regards Alan

Hallo David, Your reply is as depressing as my friends.These are not sessions they are music practice nights. The excitement of a session is that you never know who is going to turn up from jazz musicians to one girl at our session turning up with a group singing Outer Mongolian throat warbling songs( I was annoyed she sang the one I was going to sing). Where is the sessions I have always longed to visit in America,brass,woodwind,fiddles banjo`s etc,please do not tell me they don`t exist. Alan

I was talking to a friend on this site about music sessions.We take pub sessions for granted here.Find a nice pub,with a nice landlord,tell a few friends and away you go.Also the music is almost entirely played without any written music,or the odd occasion when it is used for prompting rather than constant reading.My friend was saying that all the music played in his session was read. On average we have about twenty to thirty musicians at the George near London Bridge.We never know who is turning up and we have a great mixture of music.It is a lovely pub and forms part of the London tour of pubs. WE were recently recorded by an American film crew for a programme in the States .Did anyone see it? What are your sessions like? Regards Alan

Thank you Alex for your nice comments and suggestion.I have no problem with you sending out copies.It would save me money and hopefully help some players in your area.I have a small modification to the first session which did not go out on the early copies,I will Email you and let you know what it is. Many thanks again. Regards Alan

Thanks for that John, I am still in a good mood so if any beginner would like a free copy please reply. It has been made for a twenty key CG anglo and contains fairly easy tunes. Regards Alan

In general Anglo`s have six fold bellows,but can be restrictive on some music.I have just had seven fold bellows fitted to my GD and CG Jeffries and they are wonderful. Regards Alan

The cloth is mainly to prevent dirt particals getting into the reeds and jamming them up.I would leave it there. I cleaned my concertina the other day, using stupidly tissue.I should have known better within seconds little white bits of paper had jammed three reeds and the whole instrument had to be taken apart and cleaned out. If of course the cloth begins to deteriorate then remove it,for the same reason as above. Regards Alan

I am sorry I missed this message and all the mathematics that went into it. I do not even know why I was sending messages at that time of night when I was flying out at 4AM the next day. I must give my thanks to Helen for letting me know(I wondered how she knew)and of course to Jim Lucus for getting me there so quickly. I am still waiting for my prize ,but I expect it`s on it`s way. Here`s to the next thousand. Cheers Alan

When I played with a group called Rosbif we were booked to do a Hurdy Girdy weekend.At that weekend was a lovely lady from Scotland who brought with her some little Hurdy Gurdy men made from moulding clay.I purchased one from her and asked her if she could possibly make me a concertina man,which she did. We were making our second record at the time and my suggestion was to approach out Scottish lady and see if she could make the rest of the band,which she did. If you ever purchased that record you will see Hurdy Gurdy man,Concertina man.Violin man,French bagpipe man,Bassoon man and Cello Woman. The record distributor unfortunately got a bit cross with people ringing him up to see where they could buy the figures. Regards Alan Ps if this little man appears at the top LH corner it will be the first time.If he doesn`t then I think I will have a sob in a laybye somewhere. Sob what are you doing down here

I must agree with Roger with regards to the drone button.It is on nearly all old instruments including Jones,Lachenal,Crabb,Wheatstone Linotas and Jeffries.There are of course exceptions but even then some will have the drone button hole without the button. It is the concertinas which are now made(Dipper the exception) that do not have a drone button which is a shame ,as like Roger I use the drone button in a lot of my chords and like Roger have modified the push note as the reed is duplicated. Regards Alan

Hallo Jim, Sorry for my delay in answering. Thank you for that information,it must be the same type of whistle played by your friend .It is nice to know there is at least one other mad person in the world other than me. Take care Alan

I will tell you all about my avater when I can work out how to put it in the top left hand corner. FAILED AGAIN

Just to let you know that all the people who asked for the tutor tape,it is being progressed.I have decided to add another side to the tape so it will be longer.Given time it should be finished this week and I will send them out. Thanks for your interest Alan

I play the Swannee Whistle .It was given to me by my Grandfather when I was about seven and I have played it ever since.It of course would never be taken seriously and the sound when played sounds similar to a wood saw being played with a fiddle bow.I have it in my concertina case whenever I go out and it reminds me of him when I play it.I have yet to meet anybody who actually plays one other than pull the plunger all the way up or down to give sound to someone falling over or as an effect. Regards Alan

Oh I forgot, Thank you Rhomylly for the funniest thing I have read on this site.Every time I look at my wellies I will think of you. Alan

Thanks Dan, That came as a suprise just before I fly to unknown Greek Islands. Now how much was it I owe you? Thanks again Alan

Hallo Helen I cannot find your Email to me .Please send it direct. Ta Al I HAVE IT NOW!!

Hallo David, When I get back from my holiday I will try and add a few more things to click onto,the example was a little bit duet style .I will try and do some of the English style which is of interest here. I am having problems with my previous posting ,this site will only allow one Email sending,I have put my address on the post if anybody wants the tape(including Helen)please contact me direct. I am not taking my concertina with me much to my wife`s relief. Be good Alan

Hallo Alex, I am sorry it has taken me a long time to respond to your notice. I have recently done a tape for a friend in tutor format.It is not a professional tape and not done with proper recording equipement.It covers the English style and the way I learnt it.It is played on a CG box and I have only used a twenty button format.I must admit the drone key is hit a few times so if you have no drone you can ignore it.I have picked out simple tunes and explained how they are played. It is purely for beginners. If you or any other beginner would like a free copy, please send me your address and I will post one on.I am going on holiday on Friday for a week and I will send them on my return. If I get inundated with requests I may ask for a donation towards costs,but I will let you know if that is the case. alan-jenny @ decoverly.fsnet.co.uk Regards Alan