bellowbelle

I can relate to this feeling, due to some of my own experience. But, the outcome of it all, for me, is that I decided I kind of prefer my isolation, now. What was difficult was getting over my sense of disillusionment, years ago. (Um....I'm not trying to sound old & wise....and, I have no idea of how old, or talented, you may be!) I had a fairly happy amount of social 'muso' interaction all during my younger years in high school, though we were amateur and just a religious type of thing. I had some great friendships with a few people, male and female, all because we worked creatively together, practiced for hours every week and put on some performances. One guy in particular was always more like a brother to me. I never thought any of that would end, as long as I was doing some music. I later got married to a musician and got to kind of hang around on the fringes of their (the band's) stuff, but, never really had much to do with them....they were under a set recording contract and all that, and I wasn't really part of them. (They eventually dissolved.) I didn't really care that I wasn't in their band....I was kind of put off by their 'professionalism.' I was the kind of semi-nurdy type who would scribble inspired lyrics into a little notebook beside my bed in the middle of the night,and in then work out the chords on a bad guitar and only hear it as good; and this particular group of 'professionals' seemed to just be all cold business, to me. (Guess that's why I'm married to an artist, now!) (What is this...storytime? Anyway.....) When I got divorced somewhere around the two-year marriage mark, it was almost as if I got some ridiculous muso consolation prize....everyone (...okay, so, a few people) wanted to cheer me up and I ended up in this musical that I didn't even really want to be in. I literally got a part in this (amateur/semi-pro) show before I even knew that I had auditioned...but, that's another story. Actually, the 'consolation prizes' started before that....and I could kind of sense it and didn't like it. Maybe for most musicians I met music was just a big ego trip, but, wasn't there anything else to it? Some sincerity...just a little? The point is, I eventually realized that I was getting everything that I 'wanted' and I was really hating it. (And...it showed!) I even eventually told my 'brother' friend to not bother to call me or send me anything ever again, since I don't want any more 'cheering up.' (He got married and his wife said I was a fifth wheel, so contact with me must be under the 'charity work' category, etc....oh well, no loss, really.) I AM VERY HAPPY THAT I CAN PLAY ALONE, AND I HAVE TWO PARAKEETS THAT I CAN GO PLAY FOR. About once a year, at least, I'll venture out and find some other concertina players, to say hello. Still open for nice illusions, maybe....

Hm, that just might become 'The Big BANNED Sound!'

I have two large, quilted 'bags' with long-zippered openings for the 'tina, and gathered-type openings/cuffs for each hand and wrist. I sewed them for the extra warmth, when it's cold, though, not really for the muffled sound. It seemed I was often waiting in a (coldish) car for someone somewhere, and it was a good time to practice...and, no one else had to listen!

Yes, I thought of trying Morning Has Broken. In fact, now that I think of it, that's probably the song that prompted me to keep playing anything, years ago.... My Finnish great-aunt was the organist for her Lutheran church (though, I was not a Lutheran...was forced to be Baptist). I loved going to visit them when I was younger, and I brought my Cat Stevens book to try on her piano, once. SHE COULD PLAY MORNING HAS BROKEN!! I was amazed. I thought she could only play church stuff. Even more amazing was to find out that it IS 'church stuff!' So, that was cool, and my great old great-aunt was suddenly very cool....I even got back to crocheting, which she taught me. Anyway...I thought I read, somewhere at the site about the Button Box NE Squeeze-In, too, that someone played a nice rendition of it....one year. But, I'd have to search to find that, if I even saw it. Moondance...that's a great one. I wore it out on the guitar, though...it'll be a while before I want to try it on the EC!

Oops, didn't mean to post twice...I had button trouble, here...sorry. Anyway, re guitar, I never had any pets even acknowledge my guitar-playing. I think that's why I was so amazed to get such strange reactions to reed instruments.

Robin -- that's what one of our cats does. I think he's jealous of the concertina, wants the attention. I finally got him to go sit on my husband, instead, if he's in the room. Anyway, it's been a fool-proof way to locate that cat if I couldn't find him -- I'd just start playing, and he'd appear! Of the two younger cats, one has the weird habit of running up to me and biting me in the leg when I start playing. She's usually a very loveable cat, so, it's actually kind of funny. The one that whines a lot and is scheduled for the spaying (to save us all...herself included, I think) if actually the one that's pretty indifferent to my playing, otherwise. I keep thinking of that Jim Carey movie, 'Pet Detective.' Gee, wonder what would have happened if he'd played the concertina, too! Jim -- okay, maybe I'll compose a song for the cats. It'll have to have spoons clinking against cat dishes, though, in order for them to APPRECIATE it!

Robin -- that's what one of our cats does. I think he's jealous of the concertina, wants the attention. I finally got him to go sit on my husband, instead, if he's in the room. Anyway, it's been a fool-proof way to locate that cat if I couldn't find him -- I'd just start playing, and he'd appear! Of the two younger cats, one has the weird habit of running up to me and biting me in the leg when I start playing. She's usually a very loveable cat, so, it's actually kind of funny. The one that whines a lot and is scheduled for the spaying (to save us all...herself included, I think) if actually the one that's pretty indifferent to my playing, otherwise. I keep thinking of that Jim Carey movie, 'Pet Detective.' Gee, wonder what would have happened if he'd played the concertina, too! Jim -- okay, maybe I'll compose a song for the cats. It'll have to have spoons clinking against cat dishes, though, in order for them to APPRECIATE

Yeah! It did occur to me that maybe she's been trying to communicate to me how my concertina playing sounds to her. All her yowling and stuff is what she thinks of it, maybe...heheh.

Well, we don't let them outside, except on a leash. (We do have one old cat that does go outside -- he moved here with us from our former location, was an outdoor guy.) We have some coyotes and foxes, etc., around here sometimes, and these little cats are definitely housecats. I wouldn't want them to run into a coyote! Or, whatever else is 'out there.'

Aha! Yes, that would be it! Sorry, folks, the problem was me! Thanks, Michael.

hmmm... It seems that, of a thread that I'm subscribed to, only a few posts come through in my e-mail. It doesn't really matter since I usually check them directly from the forum, anyway. Just mentioning.

Okay, so, I recently registered for the upcoming NE Squeeze-in. I would have stayed in a cabin happily enough, but hubby said why not get a room with all the food and everything. Okay, fine. So, I register for the weekend. Two nights, food, and etc.. MY CAT IS GOING AWAY FOR ONE NIGHT AND IT WILL COST US EVEN MORE THAN THE SQUEEZE-IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Getting our cat spayed is going to cost us more than the entire NE Squeeze-in weekend. Geesh. I don't even think she gets any workshops outta the deal. (Of course, at the Sqeeze-in, I don't expect to get neutered...okay?) ANYWAY....that's one pricey kitty cat. We do have another un-spayed cat, but, she'll just stay that way...she doesn't drive me crazy like this particular one does, with her meowling. Hmmm..

Hey, congratulations, Animaterra! Glad it was you and not me, though...heheh. I'll just keep playing for my parakeets and dogs and cats. Oh, yeah, and the husband.

Finally went ahead and registered for a new site, more economical than what I had in the past. Just the Yahoo! Briefcase, option for public sharing, etc.. So...now, when I post something in the Tune-O-Tron but I can't really include the whole arrangement, or whatever, I can back it up with a file at my site (link added to my sig, below). I lost a LOT of files when my old computer died, but, of course, I had paper copies. I swore I wouldn't bother to do it all over again...'waste of time,' etc....I don't even like to write out all my compositions. BUT...if I DO write it out, I can easily use Noteworthy Composer and then make a midi file and stick it at my new site. So...just letting you know.

Hmm...I know that there was a thread WAY back in the original, old forum, re art. I'll see if I can find it, if those old ones are still there. Otherwise, though, outside of maybe some old post cards, and a trade card that I have, I haven't seen the concertina in much art. In fact, the trade card shows a bandoneon, I think. I'm baaaacckk....I looked, and, I guess they're fragments in cyberspace, now...except for info gleaned out and posted elsewhere! No more old threads in the original old forum. So...concertinas in art?

I can say that I was able to still play, wearing thin, disposable vinyl or plastic gloves (not bulky rubber types, though). I found boxes of large quantities at a flea market, but sometimes I find them in grocery stores near the baking goods (some are meant for bakers). I wore them due to sore, split skin on the fingers, but, I did notice that I was able to play....maybe they would stop slipping, too. Another idea...try the paper tape sold for sensitive skin, near bandaids, at the pharmacy. I bought a roll of it the other day. It's very thin. Maybe that would help(?). Good luck!

Why, thanks. Hmm...the hat idea...that just might be something people would pay to see! I thought about making a collapsable-type one...maybe I could add a motor so it would fold up and down like bellows. I COULD leave off the flowers, if they were a bit much, but, they'd probably be okay.... Anyway, more seriously, maybe someday I will try a hat. These 'tents,' though, with all the decoration, take a while...not really Quick 'n Easy. I do like them, though!

Well...let's see, I've been making some chutneys, lately. If I add in the concertina, that could be a...um, a... BUTTON-Y CHUTNEY!!!! (...yes, I do need to get outside just a bit more...)

Finally, finally...a really nice warm day. So, I'm outside taking a few pics, and so on. Here's a link to some concertina-related: http://www.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=67b0de21b37743d00542 I do use my webshots.com site, but, lately they've been a little slow to show my pics, and I do also use Shutterfly....they're both good. I have my screenhouse/tent up, so I'm all ready to play for the mosquitoes....

I think it's kind of funny how, like children, we'll manage to find ways to justify doing what we really WANT to do. I always make my practice 'plan,' then, I trash it and play what I want...which usually is accompaniment for singing. So, nothing really wrong with that, I guess....it's not like someone has ordered me to play all one type and only that. I try to cover these categories of practice: 1. Tunes for finger dexterity -- Irish/Celtic/Trad...etc. While I am not really steeped in Celtic music, I do try to add to my 'stash' of tunes that I know by heart. For me, this is mostly just for my fingers....don't expect to be much of a real player in that category. 2. Nice instrumental pieces arranged (by other people) for the English concertina --- may or may not have a vocal part. Tends to be Victorian-era, old stuff. 3. MY stuff. What I've written or am working on. Usually has a vocal part. 4. Whatever else really calls my attention...i.e., a modern ballad (lately, it's 'Have I Told You Lately,' by Van Morrison) -- maybe something from the Classical Fake Book or some other book or pile of music that I have.

Yes, something seemed a bit odd, there, to me. But, with all the loops and links and twisty turns in the publishing industries.....well... personally, I'm settling for making my homemade scrapbooks! (Then again, I'm no Nora Jones, either...heheh) Copyright issues should, really, NOT be difficult or unclear, in my opinion. But, because of business, they get that way, I think.

Hm, I'll have to look at the sales receipt from the Button Box to see if it was 2 -- or 3-- years ago that I bought the concertina. I went there to look for a new piano-accordion, since I was really tired of the weight of the big old one that I have, that left bruises on my legs and wrecked my back, usually. I think I'd kind of had it in mind to see about concertinas, too. But, once I'd tried one and really liked the sound -- and the light weight of it -- I ordered one! Later, I did go and get a new piano-accordion, a smaller one, from Accordion Connection in New Hampshire. I have to admit, though, I spend more time with my concertina...shall have to even that up, maybe, and play the PA more.

I remember now, I first heard Tennessee Waltz sung by Emmylou Harris. (Lyrics to her songs: http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/harris-emmylou.html In fact, now several other songs on her albums come to mind, that I'd learned. Blue Kentucky Girl, If I Needed You, etc.. (Hmm...yeah, re the lyrics as done by Nora Jones, I don't quite understand about that 2004 copyright, but, I guess it applies somehow.)

Um, Kurt, don't know how to break this to ya, but there's a NEW little kid out there making recordings, a Nora Jones, and I think maybe she's made Tennessee Waltz a NEW one, again! See: Nora Jones, Tennessee Waltz lyrics etc.

Sounds x-rayted to me. (Note the x-ray glasses.) LOL!!!