Ceilidh Jock

Even if there's a wait for the Rochelle, it's worth it. I tinkered a bit with a Hohner at a shop and it wasn't any better than my Rochelle, and the Rochelle was cheaper (read less expensive -- the quality was easily as good) and had 30 buttons instead of 20. I recently bought a Rochelle from Wim Wakker in The Netherlands Yvonne. He had it to me in 3 days via the post. I do live in Holland though, but he ships everywhere and you can give him a call. He speaks excellent English and will speak to you on the phone. With the Rochelle he will give you his own method of learning and before you know it, you will be playing a few tunes. I also for health reasons needed to play a lighter instrument than Melodeon, allthough I decided to keep my A/D Italian made Melodeon after all and play it now and then. The Rochelle sopunds very sweet and being only 1 voiced, it will not disturb your guests in the house when you practise. Another good way of learning a few tunes when you just start is the website of Henk van Aalten who is a mamber of this group. Look for his profile via search. Henk has a wonderful method with buttons numbered and where to push and where to pull. Keep us in the loop and let us know what you decide. Peace, Jock

I already know the existing software table edit. But the suggestion of asking the developer to make one for Anglo-Concertina was a good suggestion. I will try that. If it doesnt work, may I please then contact you again? Regards, Jock

Thank you very much for the response. I have used the one for melodeon before in the Dutch melodeon mailing group specially for this purpose. But I didnt think of asking the developer to make one for the Anglo-Concertina. I think I shall just do that. Jock

Either I am very bad at explaining what my question is, or nobody knows. Does anybody have an inkling about what I am talking about? Jock

I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a table edit version for the Anglo concertina? For melodeon there is. It transposes dots into a system where buttons are numbered and it tells you which to push and which to pull. As I said, I do know it exists for melodeon. There is a Dutch internet group that shares tunes with each other this way for the C/F melodeon. But have never heard mention of this being done on concertina. Henk van Aalten gets close to it. He writes it all out himself and his system is real easy to follow. But would like to be able to use software where I can convert tunes in such an easy fashion myself. Anyone know what I am talking about? Jock

Thanks. I looked through the history of posts here and saw that the Rochelle wa sin reasonable favour. So I now have one of them. I hope the prices stabilise in the concertina market so I can upgrade later on. Thanks with the reply and good luck with the arthritis. Jock

I finally bought a Rochelle from Wim Wakker who lives not too far away from me. I got it today and now the discipline begins. I am at work until 11PM but this morning in my empty house, I had the chance to play around with it for 1 hour before leaving for work. I say "play around" because I play melodeon and not concertina. But I managed to get Planxty Irwin out of it. I think I understand it a bit Wim Wakker included a self tuition book. I will wrestle with that until Henk van Aalten gets back from Australia and give me some lessons proper. I understand that I now can only get a full refund if I buy one of Wim's top class instuments and if I buy from another dealer I will have to pay full price. But I will cross that bridge when I get to it. First I need to get some decent tunes out of this baby. Jock

Any idea if I would have to pay import tax on that if I had it sent to The Netherlands? If so, is ther a way around this without me having to come over and pick it up myself and bring it back? Jock

Now I dont want to open a can of worms here. I know how much people can disagree on a topic. But I need more than just one advisor. After a nice visit with Henk van Aalten who happens to live very close to me, and enjoying his hospitality and being allowed to play with all of his concertina's I need advice. As I already said in my post bye bye melodeon, I want to switch to anglo concertina for health reasons. Now! I have a few choices. If I sell my melodeon I could afford a Morse C/G from the buttonbox or maybe a Marcus C/G. But even though I did say bye bye melodeon, it pains my heart to give up my beloved melodeon which I can still play, albeit with difficulty. So the question is which starters/ student anglo is best out of these two. I have whittled it down to two. 1. a Stagi W-15 LN 30 key anglo or.. 2. the Rochele 30 key? I probably wil upgrade later. But for now funds dont allow me to buy a better instrument without first selling the melodeon. It will probably eventually come to that, but I hope to delay selling my melodeon for a wee while yet. Jock

Thank you very very much for this post. It made a lot of sense to me. It may be easier than I thought. I play chords on melodeon using both rows at the same time. So now I am going ( with Henk van Aalten's help) going to give this a go on 30 key concertina. I have saved this post to a word document. Thanks again. Jock

I am just new to this group. I have been playig melodeon for quite a few years and can get a decent tune out of it. I play in a ceilidh band where I live in The Netherlands and nowadays I call dances and play a bit of rythm on bodhran. But do enjoy playing along on slow airs with the fiddles and whistle. Since a couple of years my arthritis has been progressing and this year alone I have had to have 4 cortison shots in my shoulders and my rheumatologist told me it would be unrealistic to expect it to get any better. Now the reason for my post is not to complain Playing melodeon is just too sore on me and I have had a "go" on an Anglo concertina and I found it didnt have the same effect on me as the melodeon does. So my lovely Serenellini Selli in A/D is up for sale and I intend buying an Anglo Concertina. I already had some lessons on English Concertina and for some reason I found it hard on the joints as well. The Anglo just feels more comfortable and my knowledge of diatonic music probably makes that it has a better edge for me. Anyway now that I have explained what my problem and decision is, I have a question.The dealer that sold me the melodeon ( its still in excellent shape) is prepared to trade it in for a Stagi W-15-LN. That Stagi is going for €495 here in The Netherlands. But I think I could get more money for my Serenellini if I sold it seperate and I could probably be able to spend about €1000 on an Anglo after all is done. I noticed that the Wakker Geuns Anglos were extremely expensive ( €1900). So the question is; is the Stagi I mentioned which has steel reeds and mahogany ends OK to start off with? Or could I get something a lot better for my €1000?

We really like to play "The Newly Weds Waltz" frrom Scotland. Also " Ye Banks and Braes" "Mist Covered Mountain" and "Ae Fond Kiss" and "Loch Lomond". The last two being songs of which there is nothing wrong if you sing them while peple waltz. Here is a great source of tunes for us: http://www.purr.demon.co.uk/jack/ If you need dots for anything I have mentioned and cant find them, let me know and I can easily send them to you. Peace, Jock