Daniel Bradbury
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Posts
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Posts posted by Daniel Bradbury
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I find I hold my concertina in the same manner as Alan. The original straps on my C/G Jefferies were very hard and held their shape. I have since replaced them with lighter weight leather that is quite flexible. This allows me more flexibility in reaching the lower left hand notes.
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Or perhaps 218 volts, instead of the 220V?
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Hello Perry,
There are programs that decode mp3 files to wav files. These can then be burned to a CD that will be playable on your CD player. There are some very acceptable mp3 to wav decoders available on-line, some is shareware and others are quite inexpensive.
regards,
Dan
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Hello Alan,
I have just been on your site, downloading the music and listening to it. You are to be congratulated, not only for you wonderful musicianship, but for your generosity it sharing it with all of us. You have set an example for us all and demonstrated a wonderful way for us to share the many types of music that can be played on this crazy instrument.
WELL DONE!
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Hi Helen,
I also have a Savoy accordion in D. As for recorded music, I think one of the most remarkable recordings I have ever heard is an album by Octa Clark and Hector Duhon. Some of the bluesiest Cajun music on record!
Anything by the Balfa Brothers, for a general sense of the music, and Arhooley Records series of Cajun music are tremendous resources!
Have fun!
Dan
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Hello Rhomylly,
I would guess that the "weakness" you perceive is actually that related to "finger strength". While untrained in medicine, I believe the fingers are controlled by muscles in the forearms through attached tendons/ligaments. So yes, anything to strengthen the muscles could enhance speed. Typing is a wonderful exercise for concertina playing, but there is much less resistance to the keyboard than the concertina.
My other comment would be not to sweat surviving Noel's class. You will play more that you imagine, but will be so inspired that it will not matter! His classes are remarkable, and the man himself is one of the most gracious people I have ever met!
Dan
BTW, if you are going to the Midwest NHICS, then perhaps I will see you there!
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One other thought here,
Many beginners may try to play too softly, not putting much pressure in the bellows. (this may be especially ture with an inherently bright instrument like your Dipper.) You need to develop and maintain a fair amount of bellows pressure to be able to use the air button and sustain the note you are playing.
Best of Luck!
Dan
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Hello Bob,
I'm sure you will hear several comments about "Red not Dead".
It is a wonderful thing you have done, to share your work with so many, and to be willing to post the unedited comments. I applaud you workmanship and dedication to ever improving the quality of affordable instruments!!!
Regards,
Daniel
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You know, I like this idea.
One comment I would like to add is that teaching is an entirely different art from playing. Many people can play and perhaps teach some of the beginning scales. That in itself is really important when it come to this torturous instrument. But to have an organized aproach to sharing knowledge is a rare art indeed. One who offers himself/herself up as a teacher and expects renumeration for their talent at imparting real knowledge should have a real ability to do so.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO EDIT THEIR REGISTRATION PAGE TO INCLUDE A BASIC ADDRESS (CITY/STATE/PROVINCE/COUNTRY). tHAT WAY WE CAN CONTACT OTHER PLAYERS IN OUR AREAS!!!!! MOST OFTEN, EXPOSURE WILL EQUATE OR AT LEAST RELATE TO LEARNING.
P.S. I can show anyone in the Tampa area how to play some of the scales, free of course!
regards,
Daniel
Tampa, Florida
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Hello Jay,
I concur with all that's said above. I think that the most important thing is the FUN. I don't think it takes 10 or more to have a session. We often have sessions of only 5 or so. The trick is that people SHARE. Search for tunes that you all know and then tunes that each other know. You will find music to share, make no mistake about that!
Etiquett = respect for one another.
Once you find a core of folks who enjoy sharing and playing together, you've got a session! The next hurdle will be to find enough excuses that your significant other will accept for your being away playing music.
Dan
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Another HUGE online resource can be found at http://www.homestead.com/hetzler/music_2.html
It has hundreds of old time tunes arranged by key. They download midi files. Most have complex arrangements but by closing the extra tracks, you can get good melody lines.
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Well Jim,
I guess we have to balance out the time scrolling with the time clicking on the submitter's name to, hopefully, find their name and location. I would lean towards just Name and Location as a signature. I am pleased to see that you have included biographical info in your user set-up. I hope most others will take the time to enter pertinent information.
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Randy Millar's and Jack Perron's New England Fiddler's Repetoire is also a good source of old time tunes, although it focus more on the New England/French Canadian repetoire that is common in Contra Dance Music. I bought it at House of Musical Traditions many years back, but it was a great resource.
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Try The Session www.thesession.org/index.php
or ABC Tune Finder http.//ecf-guest.mit.edu/~jc/cgi/abc/findtune?
Plenty of music on these pages.
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Great Idea, mine is now included. How do we get the word out to everyone. Would we be wrong to post a request on each forum?
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Just watched the Hallmark Hall of Fame Film presentation of Thomas Hardy's "Return of the Native" on video. Filmed about 1994. There is an English contra dance band playing which includes a concertina player. I believe it is really playing on the soundtrack. Anyone know who the band may have been, or if the concertina is an anglo or english? My screen is too small to read the credits.
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Under the old forum system, one had to register at Concertina.net to participate. The registration required one provide name and location. Now with this new forum, one does not need to be registered on the Concertina.net site, nor does one have to provide personal data.
I have often found it extremely helpful to be able to check a location of a person making a post, particularly one about buying/selling instruments, looking for instruction or sessions, etc. I have used the search capability to locate players in various cities or states. Say, for instance, if I were to try to organize a local concertina function, I could search the state I lived in and contact those individuals by e-mail.
I fear that many new participants on the forum, have not entered any of this information, nor have they registered on the concertina.net website. I therefore suggest, plead, beg that we at least amend our forum registrations to include city/state/province/country. I think it still will allow a decent amount of anonymity. Secondly, I would urge anyone not registered on Concertina.net to do so now. Its a wonderful resource and deserves our active support.
Dan
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You know, when I was in my elementary school band, I would read music only until I learned it by ear (as opposed to memorizing it by finger movements). I find to this day that it is valuable to be able to read music as a tool to learning by ear. Now in my 50's, I realize that my involvement with music has alway been an ear oriented affair.
I wonder if any one else has had a similar experience.
Dan
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Hello Alan,
As I have been fortunate enough to have received this tape from you, I can tell everyone here that it it an outstanding recording of a wide variety of wonderful music. No the least of which are the waltzes you have composed! This does bring up another thought. That would be for this site to include a session listing. It would aide someone who is traveling to another city, town, country, etc., to find going sessions and contact info. I have used listingings on other sites, but I belive that "concertina.net" is the most active and up-to-date web page for us students of this "tortuous instrument". P.S. I will be sending some more unusual music soon.
Dan
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Hey Roland,
I belive that this tune is most commonly played in G, although I have seen an ABC transcription in C. If you are getting it from a recorded source, such as Noel Hill's albums or a number of other recordings on concertina, be advised that they sometimes play instruments in other tunings. Among those tunings are the Bb/F and Ab/Eb.
regards,
Dan
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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
Hello Alex and others,
As I am the friend who received Alan's tape, I can tell you that it is very well organized and presented, with a number of interesting tunes, starting with the very basics and progressing from there. I have enjoyed it very much.
A public thanks, Alan, for this nice tutor. And thank you Concertina.net for linking the world of concertina players together in such a way as Alan and I have become friends who are able to share our concertina explorations with each other.
regards,
Dan
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An early Crabb C/G, an interesting instrument stamped J. Pollitts, Peerless Anglo, Oldham, England.
A C. Jefferies Bb/F.
My first was a 20 Button Rigolletto C/G. Sticky Buttons and all....
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Goran???......
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Rumor has it that Bertram is now fully involved in playing Bandonion (sp?)
Tedrow Concertina Tour Log Book Posted
in General Concertina Discussion
Posted
Bob,
I am so impressed with your dedication to producing a quality instrument in the mid=priced range. Speaking from the vantage point of a small, service oriented business owner, you have set a wonderful example of how to make the customer count in your product development and marketing. You are doing a great job, and I can only say WELL DONE! After this kind of feedback, I am extremely excited about seeing the next generation of the Tedrow Concertina.