Grrrr

As a warm up to the workshops in Hammersmith on Saturday, on Friday evening 24th Feb, Micheal has agreed to play at the Prince Albert Pub in Whitton (near Twickenham) Starts 21.00 hrs ish. Everyone welcome. If you play a concertina in any style, you will appreciate this man's great skill and excitement in style of playing. http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/25/25537/Prince_Albert/Whitton

On 25th February 2012 at The Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith London. Micheal O'Raghallaigh will be holding an Irish Concertina Workshop from 11.00am till 04.00pm to include 1 hour lunch break. All abilities, bring your tape recorder for your tuitional needs, if you haven't a concertina right now, don't let that stop you from taking this rare opportunity to be instructed and inspired by one of the greatest Irish concertina players. £25 / £20 concessions. www.irishculturalcentre.co.uk/?q=content/music-master-workshop-micheal-oraghallaigh-concertina-gig

Please note change of times on website. Apparently you can attend both the morning and afternoon workshops for £20 including free entry to the evening concert.

Hearing this bouncy tune, makes me picture morris dancers, so I'd vote for Snakes and Ladders.

Jack Talty (a nephew of Noel Hill) is taking a one day concertina workshop at the Hammersmith Irish Cultural Centre on 11th December at 1.30pm.My link

At the London Irish Centre in Camden London at the "Return to Camden" Festival in October, Edel Fox will be playing on Friday 22nd October, and she will be giving a concertina workshop on Saturday 23rd October.

Thanks for both your answers. Until now I wouldn't have changed bellows direction during a triplet, but the ones described above do seem easy to do and sound good. don't know about at speed though. Grrrr.

I need some advice. I'm learning ITM, a year ago I was at a workshop at Crotty's where some slips of paper were handed out which I've only just read, it shows how to play triplets and states :- Most triplets are played with a change of bellows direction. My teacher in England ( not a concertina player) tells me not to change direction during a triplet. So should I seek to change direction or avoid? Regards, Grrrr

I am learning to play Irish music on a 38 button Jeffries, I started on an extremely cheap and rubbish 20 key East German toy. I bought the Jeffries cheap, 29 years ago, as far as I know they weren't particulary in demand then. I use all the buttons except 3 keys with the highest pitch, two of which I think are on the 30 key. My one has some non standard notes on the extra keys, I use them all. Useful for not having to change bellows direction, and for playing "stutters" on two different keys of the same note. There are lots of options you won't get on a 30 key for playing fast, I'd guess, but that's just my opinion, and I've never played a 30 key. I've recently bought a 38 key Suttner, the button layout pattern is identical to the Jeffries, but scrunched together so it's easier to reach all the buttons. I haven't got very big hands and the Suttner is very easy to reach all the buttons. I'd be lost if I had only a 30 key. Grrrr.

Thanks Ptarmigan, Very helpful, Grrrr.

Dear Ptarmigan, I'm not able to answer your question as I wear "L" plates on my concertina, but I'd like to ask you a question. I'm learning Irish music, the teacher of my class teaches generally for all the insruments not specially for concertina. He encourages us to use rolls, I can knock them out but it makes the tune hiccup, so I dump them when he's not hitting me with a ruler. Triplets- no problem. Do concertina players of irish music use rolls much? Should I persist? The speed most people of other instruments play at, I don't think anyone would notice and my fingers might catch fire. regards, Grrrr.

I wanted this concertina. I had spoke to the owner before Christmas on the telephone, they relisted to allow people to view after Christmas as they were going away. After Christmas I got no reply to my phone calls or e-mails, and a day later it was taken off e-bay. I was willing to pay the top whack if it was as described. I suspect the seller jumped at what they thought was a good price, I'm pretty sure they would have got a lot more if it had been auctioned. So , next time I know what to do, not obey Ebay rules of course! Grrrr.

S2maur, Thanks for the advice, really helpful. Just got to make the descision now, regards, Grrrr.

Perhaps you're right Tombilly. My Jeffries is in need of renovation and after being tuned (C/G from b flat in 1981) some notes sound "thin". I might be content after restoration....or not. Just out of interest, my Jeffries cost me £220 in 1980. Recommended restorers ? Regards, Grrrr.

I've been meaning to order a new Suttner anglo 38 key for some time. Before I do I need advice on the type of ends to order. My present concertina is a Jeffries with metal ends on which I'm learning Irish music. Whenever I see competent Irish players playing Suttners (on videos and cd covers) they seem to all have ebony ends, why don't they chose metal ends like Irish players have on Jeffries? Regards, Grrrr.