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Lady Madelina Sinclair. . Scottish Strathspey composed by William Marshall & first published by Neil Gow in 1792. Played on Hammered Dulcimer, English Concertina, Fiddle & Bodhran. Lockdown Video #534 Cheers, Dick

Roslin Castle. . Robert Burns composed his song - 'Farewell to the Banks of Ayr' ( The gloomy night is gath'ring fast )' in 1786 to this old Air. Played on English Concertina. Lockdown Video #533 Cheers, Dick

a few weeks ago I was approached by an EC player to assist with music they were given by their church choir director for an April performance. She wanted to add some double stops and simple chording in areas and asked me to help her with 16 measures where she had a solo. Practicing a piece of music for a performance is different from practicing to learn a tune for a session or working on techniques to improve fingering and bellow control. Once you know the proper notation of your music, one needs to practice the phrasing and dynamics that a musical performance require. If playing with others, you also have to be aware when and how to blend and when to stand out, as in a solo. Depending on the music and one's level of experience, practicing for a performance offers a chance to work and rework a specific piece of music with a directed subtlety. You need to work and rework specific notation, fingering, and phrasing so you are confident of your playing when the day of your performance comes. Practice so that when you perform the audience hears what you hear. Your EC voice.

'Susan MacLeod'. . To celebrate International Bagpipe Day, here's a Scottish 4 part Bagpipe Strathspey, composed by Pipe Major Donald MacLeod. Played on English Concertina, Fiddle, Mt. Dulcimer, Tenor Banjo & Bodhran. Lockdown Video #531 Cheers, Dick

To celebrate - International Women's Day, March 8th, here's a wee Irish Barndance entitled: 'If there weren't any Women in the World'. . Played on Hammered Dulcimer, English Concertina, Fiddle, Trump, Tenor Banjo & Bodhran. Lockdown Video #530

Nighean donn nan gobhar ( Maid that tends the Goats ) . Ancient Scottish Air. First published in 1784. Played on Hammered Dulcimer, Whistle, Fiddle, English Concertina & Bodhran. Lockdown Video #529 Cheers, Dick

The Haughs of Cromdale Scottish Strathspey. First published in 1780. When first married, we lived about 5 miles from the Haughs of Cromdale. Played on English Concertina, Fiddle, Hammered Dulcimer, Whistle, Tenor Banjo & Bodhran. Lockdown Video #527 Cheers, Dick

South of the Grampians. . Scottish Strathspey composed by James Porteous, of Ecclefechan in Dumfries and Galloway. First published in 1870. Often played as a Highland in Donegal. Played on English Concertina, Fiddle, Hammered Dulcimer, Tenor Banjo & Bodhran. Lockdown Video #526

Campbeltown Kiltie Ball. . Scottish Strathspey composed by John McLellan, of Dunoon. Played on English Concertina, Trump, Fiddle, Hammered Dulcimer, Whistle, Tenor Banjo & Bodhran. Lockdown Video #525 Cheers, Dick

Recently a new student related to me their difficulty with practicing. In their case it had primarily to do with time management and focus. This person said more than once of "trying to get through practicing." After some discussion we agreed to focus on learning and practicing arpeggios for fingering and working on only one or two pieces of music at a time. The very first chapter of the book Best Practice by my friend Judy Minot is her discussion of "Practicing" is a practice." Playing and practicing any musical instrument, in spite of frustrations, should always be a joyful experience. To quote Judy in her book, "Practicing is not something you need to " get through" to get to the good part. Instead, begin thinking of practicing as a practice, an activity you engage for it's own sake."

Siud Mar Chaidh An Càl A Dholaidh ( 'That’s How The Cabbage Was Ruined' ) . Scottish Strathspey often sung as a Puirt à beul ( Mouth Music ). Photo is of Skunk Cabbage. Played on Hammered Dulcimer, English Concertina, Fiddle, Tenor Banjo & Bodhran. Lockdown Video #524 Cheers, Dick

Cadgers of the Canongate . Scottish Reel, first published in 1757. Played on Hammered Dulcimer, English Concertina, Fiddle, Whistle, Tenor Banjo & Bodhran. Lockdown Video #522 Cheers, Dick

Ghoid iad Mo Bhean Uam an Reir ( They stole my wife last night ) . Scottish Highland Fling, first published in 1784. Played on Hammered Dulcimer, Fiddle, English Concertina, Whistle, & Bodhran. Lockdown Video #523 Cheers, Dick

The Lass O' Corrie's Mill. . A Scottish Strathspey, first published in 1875. Played on Hammered Dulcimer, English Concertina, Fiddle, Tenor Banjo & Bodhran. Lockdown Video #521 Anyone interested in learning this tune might like to follow this link for the Music & ABCs on the TTA site The Lass O' Corrie's Mill or Find more details on it at Session.org The Lass O' Corrie's Mill Cheers, Dick

Lady Louisa Gordon. A Scottish Strathspey, aka Miss Farquharson of Invercauld, composed by William Marshall & first published in 1796. Played on Hammered Dulcimer, Fiddle, English Concertina, Tenor Banjo & Bodhran. Lockdown Video #520 Cheers, Dick

Invercald's Rant - A Scottish Strathspey, first published in 1761 and later used by Robert Burns for his song - O Tibbie, I Hae Seen the Day. Played on Hammered Dulcimer, Fiddle, English Concertina, Whistle & Bodhran. Lockdown Video #519 Cheers, Dick

I was watching a video last night of the Scottish band The Whistlebinkies playing a concert in Haddo House, Aberdeenshire, with Stuart Eydmann on Concertinas & one of the tunes they played was this cracking wee 4 part March ... which I just had to learn & record today, as you do. The Queen’s Welcome to Invercauld. A Scottish March, composed by J. Scott Skinner & published in 1884. Played on English Concertina, Fiddle, Tenor Banjo & Bodhran. Lockdown Video #518 Cheers, Dick

Here's a link to our medley of Josefin's Waltz and When I'm 64. This piece features me on EC, my wife Margie on clawhammer banjo, Jeff Peach on bouzouki, and Gale Peach on fiddle. This is a lot of fun to play, and it's always a fun challenge to convey the essence of something so different on our instruments. I hope you enjoy it! https://youtu.be/itTxe_DItqI

Christmas Hornpipe . An American contra tune, first published in 1867. Originally in B flat, but played here in G. ( Thanks Anahata 🙂 ) Played on English Concertina, Trump & Bodhran. Lockdown Video #483 Cheers, Dick

Hi. I play English concertina; no formal concertina lessons but I’ve learned a lot from the playing of Alistair Anderson. (I’ve also listened to Simon Thoumire and I just shake my head.) Before taking up concertina I played mandolin for many years. My group is called Three Times Through (get it?), based here in Northern California, in Nevada County. We started interspersing popular melodies with traditional tunes and noticed that it broadened our audience, and enhanced our tip jar. Sometimes there’s a musical justification, sometimes lyrical, sometimes just too much wine at rehearsal. Here’s a link to a recent live video- The White Petticoat/ Paint it Black/ O’Connel’s Welcome to Dublin (I think that’s its name) I hope you enjoy it. https://youtu.be/cHTPsnjMLuo

"Coquette" is a 1928 fox trot jazz standard. It was composed by Johnny Green and Carmen Lombardo, with lyrics by Gus Kahn. My bandmate and guitarist par excellence, Buco (pronounced Bootso), lives here in the DC Metro area. Willie is in Germany and Bill resides in Portugal. They originally recorded this classic standard as a Bossa Nova with vocals and then Buco asked me to give it some color with the EC. I used Soundtrap software to do my track. I believe Buco used GarageBand to do the mixing. Ain't technology swell. https://youtu.be/89X7ijHMKlg

Boris Matueswitch arranged about a dozen or so Christmas carols. I have one of his handwritten manuscripts which have notated using Musescore to make it a little more readable. Students find it easier to learn when playing a piece of music they are familiar with. Being able to sing a piece helps learn. For example, almost everyone knows Silent Night. In the Key of C, the chording isn't too difficult to learn. Attached are two versions of the carol. One simpler version is the melody line with some double stops and a simple C chord. The other is the Matueswitch arrangement. Other of his carol arrangements offer lessons in use of drones and playing in octaves. Enjoy! And Happy Holidays. SILENT NIGHT 2 versions.pdf

I sat and arranged this tune that was requested for an upcoming gig. Fun time working on this one.

Edith Piaf made this famous. Music written by Dino Olivieri in 1937.