SIMON GABRIELOW

Sometimes if repeated note is required ( on moderately tempo) music you can just use the one finger on them.. and that will do the job. Other times if very quick.. then you can use also bellows movement in itself to staccatto ( make the sound very short).. by slightly quivering the bellows .. it will come eventually with practice.

I made a spring recently with also a very primitive setup consisting of piano wire coiled in similar manner, and the'jig' I used to form it round was simply a wood block,with a thin panel pin knocked in, on which I wound the wire around before clipping it off to required length afterwards.And it worked!!!😊😊

It's always a great thing to be asked to participate in any event.. and should be something to look forward to; people want you to give out your uniques skills and knowledge to them becaus they are interested; and that is a positive thing in itself. Opportunities to do this is not that common place these days, so see it as an exciting thing to be enjoyed..

Sounds a very frustrating carry on! You should have rights under consumer laws as to goods not being received. Have a good read up about the consumer rights as far as this goes, whilst you wait, and hopefully, it will get resolved. Keep copies of any correspondence you make, in case you have to keep up the pressure, and hopefully you will get your stuff (eventually).

I have my [ late] Father's button Hohner accordion in C sharp, which he used to often play, and I inherited it, of which it gets a good session now by my myself every few weeks. This is middle range in tone to my Anglo concertina. The accordion sounds good particularly in the middle to lower range of tone, in music to me, and the concertina has a wider range and is particularly clear in the higher range of notes sounds. Recently, having acquired another 'reed' type instrument [ my wooden Chalumeau in C] it sounds good in lower range and has surprisingly deep tone for its size! So, in a way I have now a sort of 'trio' of complimentary instruments that do actually sound together quite nicely in their different timbres of sound; [ low range - middle - and high].

I haven't put the 'like' vote in my reply near your comment of B flat [tinnitus] because I like the thought of having the noise there; I just believe it could be in fact a microtone if its flatter than B flat to begin with?🙂

Good things are always worth waiting for I believe🌝

I spend hours transcribing and taking music into other key tones ( by hand!).. which takes patience and an eye for detail. I am sure you will either find a publication somewhere that has tunes presented in different ranges, or you may have to do the work by yourself ( possibly not by hand though). Best of luck in the excersise in meantime.🌝🌝 And anyway, once you transpose the music you like.. then it's there for as long as you want to play it.

A very fascinating story behind the enigmatic melody.

I suppose, unfortunately, it is to be expected. Maybe also depends upon company or business's sending items: I was pleasently surprised how quick my own sent for item in February this year arrived, from a European company ( Germany based).. whole process including the shipping border issues done in several days ! ( Not for free reed instrument though) another musical item.

Some very interesting ideas here in response to my topic; but I like to do the transposing thing myself, manually, and by eye and hand, but I can certainly see that other methods have their place also.🌝

I only thought of this topic because it sounds a bit daunting a subject; but it need not be at all. Another reason to put the topic out is because I had to do a lot of this when I got my first concertina, transposing music to fit into suitable key range. And now, more recently, I acquired a wooden Chalumeau ( early form of clarnet) with a simple chromatic octave, and so again my transposing skills are required again. I do not see it as a burden having to do this, indeed it is a good skill to have, all you have to do is keep your eye on taking the tune up, or perhaps, down the number of steps in interval to fit. For example, you have tune in G major, needs to be used as F major.. just count down the one place ( in this example) and ensure you have made all the notes to follow suit. (And add the appropriate key signature). Using what I call transpositional instruments, that require a lot of adjustments, may be seen as making more work than needed. But I think that you often gradually build up a unique set of tunes unique to the need, as required, and often pieces that may not be used normally, or even overlooked in their home key.

Yes, leather bellows (when new) need 'excercising' and using to keep them supple and useable! ( Sounds funny but true!🌝)..

Just an idea, maybe you should have an extra tall button on the air valve? One that is longer and so easier to reach .Perhaps, as there is available generally, a plastic type modelling material (which is set in oven, ).. it may be feasible to make a sort of cap for button top ( carefully glued on top?

New bellows should become easier to use over time .. It is a sort of hide or skin and needs using to become more supple ( like your own skin). As for your air valve reach; maybe try a glove ( thumb part of) .. perhaps that will help? I suppose the instruments are made for average hand sizes, and so sometimes could be not always a perfect fit. My concertina is Anglo, and I hold it very loosely in my hands; in fact I am known for this habit.. (.. and reach air valve ok.) But my way is not standard; so you may have to also find your own solution.