Teaching English concertina

[Chris Timson]

First, I'd better make it clear this is really Anne speaking. I've borrowed Chris's login for the purposes of this post.

 

I am a mature student studying music at Bath Spa University. We have a module that includes students pairing up and teaching each other a new instrument, so I am teaching another student to play the English concertina, and in a few weeks I will be assessed on giving a lesson. I've not had any formal concertina lessons myself and have probably got into all sorts of bad habits over the years. Just showing a young music student where the notes are and how to hold it is all that was needed for her young agile musical brain to seemingly have an immediate command of the instrument.

 

I should be very grateful for any ideas about what I can teach her in front of the lecturer who is assessing me.

 

Anne

Edited April 27, 2011 by Chris Timson

[Ransom]

There's some fun material over at the Concertina Connection website. Take a look at the bellows technique page, and maybe some other stuff in the "Education" menu.

[Chris Timson]

There's some fun material over at the Concertina Connection website. Take a look at the bellows technique page, and maybe some other stuff in the "Education" menu.

 

Thanks very much. I've had a look at it and it's given me a few useful ideas.

 

Anne

[Chris Timson]

Thanks very much. I've had a look and it's given me some ideas about my lesson.

 

Anne

[RAc]

Thanks very much. I've had a look and it's given me some ideas about my lesson.

 

Anne

 

well, it's not bad, but if you use the suggested document, be prepared that your "student" points you to a YouTube recording of Alistair Anderson playing a killer English concertina - standing - and waving his instrument in generous circles in front of him, proving the stability statement not exactly wrong, but a beginner's piece of advice that may be modified by the advanced player...

Edited April 28, 2011 by Ruediger R. Asche

[Chris Timson]

Actually I've already talked to my student about sitting down and playing and Alistair's way of controlling it standing up by tossing it around.

Thanks

Anne