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Randy Stein

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Everything posted by Randy Stein

  1. Have you tried acupuncture
  2. DC Ambiance performs Django Reinhardt's Douce Ambiance in Concert Feb 14, 2024 Buco and Bill Parmentier - Guitar Jason Gekker - Bass Randy Stein - English Concertina
  3. Pennies From Heaven, 1936, Music by Arthur Johnson and Lyrics by Johnny Burke Performed on Feb 14th, 2024 for a swing dance at Lost Boy Cider Taproom DC Ambiance Buco and Bill Parmentier - Guitar Jason Gekker - Bass Randy Stein - English Concertina Special Guest Chanteur - Pablo Zyberglait
  4. Sometime ago I decided I wanted to build a personal/professional website. Thank you Jim Besser and Judy Minot for your help and suggestions. https://randysteinec.com
  5. I was contacted by a parent of a 10 year old who attends a local contra dance and is interested in learning to play the Concertina. She currently is learning to play violin in school. We had a couple of great discussions via zoom . The 10 year old is very funny and serious about learning. I sent info about Anglo, English, and Duet systems as well as YouTube views of some of the great players in the UK. She wants to play the EC. Are there any ECs for a child to start learning?
  6. Who knew 38 years after my career in the circus I would get the chance to perform again. Minus the handstands and flips.
  7. When teaching the EC, I have students that play all makes and levels of instruments. From Wheatstone to Wren, From 30 button to 64 buttons, and Baritone, Tenor/Treble, and Treble ranges. I often use Violin Etudes for students to help with fingering and phrasing and notation. However, not all English Concertinas have the same keyboards. Jackie keyboards have 30 buttons and 48 button treble EC keyboard adds an additional octave above the Jackie. Most Etude studies have notation above the range of Jackie. Fingering of the Jackie adds an additional variable. Using the software Musescore, I transcribe the Etude two different ways. I will usually lower the out of range note of the Jackie down by a third but keeping the same notation. Here is a line from Etude #29 from Franz Wohlfahrt's Violin Studies Book II. First one is for a 48 button EC and second is how modified for the Jackie. The Etude is in the Key of C. The High D in the third measure is changed to a B to accommodate the range of the Jackie. For a 48 Button Treble EC: For the Jackie EC: This particular etude is wonderful for learning techniques for fingering, phrasing, and playing detached and legato. Tenor/Treble ECs may add some additional changes to an etude, but that's for another time.
  8. https://www.lostboycider.com/event/acoustic-jam-session/
  9. Just curious: As an American fan of Premier League Football, are any players players of the Concertina.
  10. When I performed in the circus, I used to do a flip off my partners shoulders while playing. Does that count?
  11. Attached are two pieces of music. One is a lead sheet given to me by my friend and amazing accordion player, Craig. The other a simple polyphonic arrangement based on how I might play the tune and so some of my students can learn from playing it. The rest is commentary. Go and learn CINECITTA (1).pdf Cinecitta .pdf
  12. We had the delight to spend the day watching my 3 year old granddaughter. Preschool was off and my son and his wife had to work. So we did pajama day and she came over for all day snacks and games. She came in my music room during my practice and asked to play. Too cute not to show you.
  13. Giving advice to a new player to the concertina is like asking for directions: Everyone knows the best way to get there but most everyone's directions are different. Look at the buttons. Don't look at the buttons. Place it on your right knee. Place it on your left knee. Hold it up. Elbows in. Thumb straps tight. Thumb straps loose. Learn by ear. Learn to read ABC or music notation. Yeah, it is a lot to take in. So I say if you are new to the concertina and want to play, start playing. Pick a tune out and see how your body places itself as you play. Always seek out help from different players for ideas and suggestions to see what works for you. Attend sessions. Watch. Listen. Learn. And take some organized lessons either in a group or privately. I teach the English system using musical notation. I know Anglo teachers who use ABC notation as well. For the most basic beginner I will often use a fingering placed below each note to assist. Below are fingering notation I made for the EC and ABC charts for an Anglo (from thesession.org) for the reel Harlequin Aire. Both assist the player with bellow direction and fingering. Practice and learning the tune will eventually displace the need to constantly refer to these charts. HARLIQUIN AIRE.pdf
  14. Yesterday my hot club jazz group, DC Ambiance, performed for a private event. It was a celebration of a gentleman who survived major heart surgery and his 61st birthday. The vibe and happiness was incredible and infective and the band had a great time. In addition to our swing repertoire, we were requested to play some bossa nova tunes as well. About halfway into our first set, a gentleman walked up and said he'd like to sing with us. Originally from Argentina he also spoke and sang, in addition to Spanish and English, Portuguese, French , Hebrew, and a smattering of Greek. He sang with us a few bossa tunes and a couple French ballads. All in all a great impromptu experience. Since he is local, we will ask him to join us now and then as a special guest. Fun stuff...
  15. My experience with playing more traditional genres of music is primarily in sessions at pubs or in the homes of musical mates. I really never played for contra or ceilidh and the such though I thoroughly enjoy them and the music. When my swing group, DC Ambiance, performs at a festival, restaurant or pub it's not unusual to have a couple here and there get up and swing dance to our music. But performing or jamming is very different than actually playing for a swing dance. Styles of dance (Lindy hop, jitterbug, west or east coast swing, Balboa etc.) require specific styles of music and tempos. For the dancers there are some set dance moves and styles but their choreography is just as creative and individual as the musician playing a solo. Our group has recently been booked to play more of these dances. It is a fun challenge to come up with ever increasing ways to to keep pace with the dancers. Just saying...
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