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Mary B

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Posts posted by Mary B

    Kato Toru

    in Concertina Videos & Music

    Posted

    Thanks for posting the "Puff the Magic Dragon" video. It has inspired me to try playing a tune and chords in different keys on my Crane. I will need to find an easy tune that fits in the right hand. I have tried it on my EC with melodies, but never in so many keys. I usually just play the tunes in C, D, F, and G.

    Duet Concertina

    in Teaching and Learning

    Posted

    I have a Lachenal Crane duet which I play with my thumbs inside the loop as you show in photo number 2. I like the control it gives me. I have been playing for about 18 months now. When I first started playing it, I did not put my thumbs in the small loops. I found that my wrist ached after playing for more than a few minutes. I hope you enjoy learning to play your duet. Is it also a Crane duet?

    Wheatstone Crane In Nova Scotia

    in Buy & Sell

    Posted

    I can't imagine how that low F must sound. I like playing tunes in F, so it could be useful.

     

    I have never tried scales on my Crane. I play a couple song melodies with 3 flats or 3 sharps. I found the fingering system very easy to learn. However, after a year and a half, I am not good at playing tunes and harmonies with both hands at the same time.

     

    Best of luck with your Crane adventure.

    Wheatstone Crane In Nova Scotia

    in Buy & Sell

    Posted

    Congratulations!

    Will this be your first Crane duet? If so, welcome to the world of Crane players.

     

    I thought about buying it to replace my Lachenal Crane, but I like the tone of the Lachenal even if it has a few sticky buttons.

    I enjoy playing it so much I am reluctant to send it away to get it repaired.

    San Diego Concertina Club

    in Public News & Announcements

    Posted · Edited by Mary B

    The San Diego concertina group will meet on Sunday, February 24, 2013, from 1 to 4 pm.

    Players of all styles of music are welcome.

     

    The location is the home of Mary B near the Del Mar Heights exit off the I-5 freeway.

    Please contact her by personal message or email for the address.

    New starter

    in General Concertina Discussion

    Posted

    When I was learning to play the Jackie two years ago, I used beginning guitar books to practice more tunes than the ones in the tutor. They did not include sea shanties, but had folk songs I already knew in the keys of C, G, and D. I also practiced Christmas carols because I found it easier to learn on tunes that I knew already. I always played with the music in front of me, but I am now forcing myself to try more tunes by ear. If you can do that, it is a great skill to have.

     

    If you have access to a library, perhaps you can find a book of sea shanties, and play the easier ones. Unfortunately the ones I know are American sea songs: "Blow the Man Down" is very easy, and "The Drunken Sailor" is quite easy. I looked in a book called "The Folk Song Fake Book" and found a few English shanties that did not seem too difficult: "Donkey Riding", "Eddystone Light", and "Rolling Home". A friend plays "The Rambling Sailor", but that seems a bit more difficult to me.

     

    Best of luck with your Jack.

    Found: Concertina

    in Buy & Sell

    Posted

    The best person to contact in San Diego regarding an anglo concertina is Michael Eskin. He is a member of the forum. If you go to the "Teaching/Learning" forum where he has posted recently, you can click on the name "eskin". That will send you to a page where you can find his contact information. He is an expert anglo player; he could inspect and play your instrument to give you an idea of its condition.

     

    I play the English concertina. I would not be able to judge the condition of your instrument very well.

    San Diego Concertina Club

    in Public News & Announcements

    Posted

    The San Diego concertina group will meet on Sunday, October 28, from 1 to 4 pm.

     

    The location is the home of Mary B near the Del Mar Heights exit off the I-5 freeway.

     

    Players of all styles of music are welcome to attend.

     

    Please contact Mary B by personal message or e-mail for the address.

    Calling all EC players - help!

    in General Concertina Discussion

    Posted

    How horrible to try to play the EC with a tobacco smell.

     

    There is a set of videos on Youtube by "nytram" which show how to begin with the EC.

     

    There is a long post by Jim Lucas called "Concertina Orienteering" which I found useful. You can find it by typing "orienteering" into the search line. I'm sorry but I do not know how to link to an old post.

     

    I do not know your budget for buying an EC, but Greg Jowaisas mentioned recently that he had two brass reeded Lachenals for sale. I recently bought an EC from him, and it plays very well. If you are interested in learning on a Jackie, I have a two year old one that I no longer play.

    Concertina tutors

    in General Concertina Discussion

    Posted

    When I was learning to play the English concertina, I used both the tutor that came with the Jackie and the Frank Butler tutor.

     

    However, my favorite tutor is "Conquering the Concertina" by Les Branchett from Sherborne House Publications, 23 Spa Road, Gloucester, GL1 1UY. It has a great selection of folk tunes and arpeggio exercises in several keys. When you are just beginning, the Frank Butler tutor gives a good foundation for learning the notes, but I like the tunes better in Branchett's.

     

    I also own the two Dick Miles tutors, but found them difficult as a beginner. You can download the Alistair Anderson tutor from a concertina site (I cannot remember where). It includes hornpipes, jigs, and reels; I have not used it much since I cannot play fast tunes well.

     

    There is a series of youtube videos by "nytram" on learning to play the English concertina. I enjoyed those at the same time I used the tutors.

    Learning By Ear - The next step -Beyond Sheet Music

    in Teaching and Learning

    Posted

    Stephen,

    I have been playing the English concertina for a year and a half now. At first I just used sheet music to play (mostly folk songs). Recently I have tried to play by ear or memory. I have been more successful with songs that I know well like Christmas carols. I made a list of carols with their key and starting note to help me. It also helps if they have a melody that moves in small steps (like a scale or by thirds). I find it more difficult if the tune has big jumps, although I managed to learn "Believe me if all those endearing young charms" by ear since it is one of my favorites. I have tried to play some Irish slow airs for memory that I learned from sheet music, but I haven't done that very well yet. Acquiring this skill seems to be one my biggest challenges.

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