Michael Eskin Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 (edited) While not strictly concertina specific, I've gone sort of nuts the last month developing various Melodeon and Button Accordion apps for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. I just wanted to pass along the links in case, like me, you're interested in leveraging your Anglo Concertina skills into playing tunes on the button accordion, have an iPad or iPhone/iPod Touch, and don't have a button accordion. Fingerings on the apps are exactly like the real instrument. The iPad versions provide 21-buttons (10/11) and are pretty much life-size, the iPhone/iPod Touch app plays the same way, but of course is much smaller and has 17 (8/9) buttons . Melodeon B/C, C#/D, D/G, C/F, and G/C for the iPad: http://www.tradlessons.com/Melodeon_11.html (reflects the upcoming 1.1 update) BeeSeeBox - B/C Button Accordion for the iPhone: http://www.tradlessons.com/BeeSeeBox.html MIDI Melodeon - Wireless WiFi-based MIDI Button Accordion controller for the iPad: http://www.tradlessons.com/MIDIMelodeon.html (For controlling external software and hardware MIDI synths, makes no noise on its own) Last week I was out sick for a few days and had a lot of time to practice with the Melodeon B/C iPad app in bed. I've pretty much gotten to the point where I can play most of my session tune melodies on the app nearly up to speed. I really want to get my hands on a real B/C instrument to see how well the skills transfer. All the apps are currently in review with Apple and should be available by Dec 1. The 1.0 versions of Melodeon B/C, C#/D, and D/G (which use tilting of the iPad to control the bellows, 1.1 just uses a touch to control the bellows and is much easier to play) are currently on the App Store. However, I suggest waiting until version 1.1 is available, it will be a free update if you want to grab a cheap copy of 1.0. When version 1.1 comes out, there will also be C/F and G/C versions with the same features. Cheers and many thanks, Michael Edited November 16, 2010 by eskin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael sam wild Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 That should be a great system for finding out what capabilities before plumping for a particualr box. It can be very confusing for a beginner. More so than for Anglos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken_Coles Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 When I visited California last month I watched Michael pull out his I pad and start "playing" Irish flute on it. The app kept up with the rest of the session fine. Michael had arranged the two joints of the flute in opposite orientations so he didn't have to bend one hand around and reported that it caused no issues with the fingering as he uses it on an analog real flute. Can newly invented "instruments" be far off? For that matter, now everyone can have a Wheatstone! Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Eskin Posted November 16, 2010 Author Share Posted November 16, 2010 When I visited California last month I watched Michael pull out his I pad and start "playing" Irish flute on it. The app kept up with the rest of the session fine. Michael had arranged the two joints of the flute in opposite orientations so he didn't have to bend one hand around and reported that it caused no issues with the fingering as he uses it on an analog real flute. Can newly invented "instruments" be far off? For that matter, now everyone can have a Wheatstone! Ken You mean this one? http://www.tradlessons.com/IrishFlute.html Of course there are the iPad concertinas: Anglo: http://www.tradlessons.com/ConcertinaXL.html (You should see what Noel Hill was able to do with this app, but I can only share that video in person) English: http://www.tradlessons.com/EnglitinaXL.html OK, I better stop before I get ejected for blatant commercial tomfoolery... :-) As I've said, if anyone wants free copies of any of the apps, just let me know. Apple gives me codes to give away that can be used on the USA iTunes App Store. Cheers and thanks, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Eskin Posted November 18, 2010 Author Share Posted November 18, 2010 (edited) A couple of new demo videos today playing "Merrily Kissed the Quaker's Wife" as best I can after a week or so getting familiar with the B/C button layout: BeeSeeBox (iPhone/iPod Touch): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4--lNu66a9A Melodeon B/C (iPad): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSuneisqHFc By the way, any recommendations for books or online courses for B/C button accordion? I really need some basic instruction or a good tutorial book so I don't develop bad habits early on. I'm really only familiar with what's available for learning Anglo Concertina, but don't anything about what's around for B/C button accordion. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Michael Edited November 18, 2010 by eskin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twizzle Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 But I play an A/D. (Picked up in Oxford in '78 while Morris dancing across the pond.) And I have an Android phone. Boy, I feel left out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Eskin Posted December 7, 2010 Author Share Posted December 7, 2010 But I play an A/D. (Picked up in Oxford in '78 while Morris dancing across the pond.) And I have an Android phone. Boy, I feel left out. A/D, huh... Hmmm... No, I promised I'd take a break from app development until after New Year's Day... Well, if you ever get an iPad, drop me a note and I'll send you a free copy of any app you want. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Munro Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 (edited) "By the way, any recommendations for books or online courses for B/C button accordion?" The best beginner Irish accordion book: The Irish Accordion Tutor Volume 1 Damien Connolly Great player and readily answers questions, very clearly layed out. www.damienconnolly.com/tutor.html JM Edited December 7, 2010 by Jim Munro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael sam wild Posted December 7, 2010 Share Posted December 7, 2010 Book The Box by D Hanrahan and videos by John Williams and Peter Browne dave mallinson in UK Mally has the best tutor books for beginners. All on ine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asher Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 sadly I have android too... I mean, I like my android, but would love to try some of these Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Eskin Posted December 16, 2010 Author Share Posted December 16, 2010 sadly I have android too... I mean, I like my android, but would love to try some of these I do intend to look at Android over our Christmas break, makes sense to port several of the apps over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Eskin Posted December 17, 2010 Author Share Posted December 17, 2010 (edited) Just got word that my "DeeGeeBox" D/G Button Accordion app for the iPhone/iPod Touch was approved by Apple and is now available on the iTunes App Store. More information at: http://www.tradlessons.com/DeeGeeBox.html Cheers and many thanks, Michael Edited December 17, 2010 by eskin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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