Helen Posted May 20, 2005 Author Share Posted May 20, 2005 Ah thanks, Kimberly, that means a lot to me. The funny thing was someone suggested that I play for this church, he didn't want to because it was on Christmas Eve. He wanted me to play the mandolin, but I for some reason felt more comfortable and confident with the concertina. I shall never understand this as I don't play in front of people and certainly not as a solo. Got to kick start myself and do more of this. Helen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animaterra Posted May 21, 2005 Share Posted May 21, 2005 I have since come to the realization that I should learn to play the music to the dances I don't like to dance. This way I can dance what I like and play when I'm not dancing (at least someday when I can play good enough) That's exactly what I decided to do as a novice player when I started helping with the music for morris last year! Also, I refused to learn the tunes for the dances I love to dance. Unfortunately, now I'm getting proficient enough that I can pick up most of our tunes pretty easily. Also, I'm one of the more experienced dancers on a team with lots of newbies, so I end up dancing more than playing at most stands. Good thing I like to do both! (This sounds a lot like bragging but it's not meant to be!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted May 21, 2005 Author Share Posted May 21, 2005 Good for you, Allison. Sounds like fun. When I was first learning to play the hammer dulcimer, I was trying to learn tunes that I had never heard. Didn't work. I like the idea of playing for dances. I was in a pick up band with the dulcimer. Been thinking of going back with the accordion (BIG BAND), I wouldn't stand out. But maybe I should give the concertina a whirl, so to speak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted May 21, 2005 Share Posted May 21, 2005 ...maybe I should give the concertina a whirl, so to speak.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Gonna learn "The Bells", eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted May 21, 2005 Author Share Posted May 21, 2005 Hm, maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Humphrey Posted May 22, 2005 Share Posted May 22, 2005 I would have learned my first concertina tune in 1978. Its identity is lost in the mists of time -- or is it only a mental fog? It could have been something off a Michael Cooney album (his baritone EC was the first concertina I ever got to try); or from the Richard Carlin book; or maybe it was something that I knew already on guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted May 22, 2005 Share Posted May 22, 2005 May as well add my voice here. The first time I ever played a concertina was, as I've mentioned before, at a friend's party, where I experimented with the English concertina he'd just bought. I figured out a Macedonian song, in 2-part harmony, in the key of Eb (as I realized some years later). Some months later I was loaned another English. Memory is vague, but I think the first tune I worked up on that was the hornpipe Harvest Home. Between returning the borrowed English and getting one of my own, I had a cheap anglo, on which I played a few tunes for a local Morris team, though I don't remember specifically which tunes. That was all a long time ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d.elliott Posted May 22, 2005 Share Posted May 22, 2005 Ba Ba Blacksheep, to annoy my daughter who had started fiddle (sorry violin) lessons at school. followed by winster gallop, and rakes of mallow. Simple tunes with repeating finger patterns. I then went to an early 'concertina for beginners' workshop at whitby folk festival given by Dave Townsend. Came away so depressed and dismayed by all the so-called 'beginners' that I put the instrument in its box, locked in the spare room, and would not let it out until it had at least learned its scales! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted May 22, 2005 Author Share Posted May 22, 2005 (edited) Oh great idea, Dave. I'm going to lock mine right up. Did it work? Helen Edited to change*my* to *mine* although leaving *my* would have made for an interesting idea. Edited May 22, 2005 by Helen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d.elliott Posted May 23, 2005 Share Posted May 23, 2005 Helen, no it did not work, but the family thought it a great idea! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_mchale Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 My first tune on the concertina was I believe the Balleydesmond Polka #3. I chose it because it was easy to play on the C row. Within a month or so I had picked out the Kesh, the Lilting Banshee and Jimmy Wards Favorite (all can be played mostly on the C row). I really didn't start doing reels until I started learning to cross row a bit (except for the last phrase the Kesh can be played just with two fingers ). -- Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nezu Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 I got my English (Jack) yesterday. After tinkering around a bit, I figured out several notes of The Imperial March. You know, to pay homage to my total Star Wars nerdiness. You may all point and laugh, now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david ayres Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 Monks March was my first tune, played on a Stagi bought from the Music Room. Morris Tunes are infectious and some quite repetitive so good to learn. Mind you im bias as I play for my local side. Ive now graduated to a Lachenal Anglo and a Duet. This Concertina thing is also infectious once you start you soon get addicted. my 3 boxes stare down at me from the wardrobe by my bed and are the last and first things I see when go to bed or wake up - Sad ! David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RELCOLLECT Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 You may all point and laugh, now. I, for one, won't laugh...I named my Jackie "Vader"!! For more Star Wars related lunacy, see the "Almost went over to the dark side" thread in this same menu! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nezu Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 Well, Jackies are pitch black. That's a good name for one. Wish I had thought of it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RELCOLLECT Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 If you Hit the air button and slowly work the bellows in and out, you can do a fair impression of Darth Vader's breathing, too! Slap a dust mask over your face to muffle your voice, and use my red plastic slide whistle as a lightsaber, and you'll be a hero to all the 6 year olds in your neighborhood! (Darth Smiley) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 If you Hit the air button and slowly work the bellows in and out, you can do a fair impression of Darth Vader's breathing, too!<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Huh? I thought that was for those "special" telephone calls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brightfield Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 Monks March was my first tune, played on a Stagi bought from the Music Room. David <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I think at the time I bought my cheapo 48 English from Hobgoblin (Stagi?) I was totally bowled over by Alastair Anderson's book and LP Concertina Workshop. What a great introduction that was and what a shame there is nothing comparable available today. The first tune I learnt was The Blarney Pilgrim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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