Improvement After Upgrading

[AaronB]

Still very new to playing but I'm curious to those that started on a cheaper concertina (I have a Rochelle) if you noticed an immediate improvement in your playing after you upgraded.  

 

Since I'm new, I don't want to completely blame the instrument but it has been frustrating with some of the higher notes. 

[Tiposx]

Yes!

(Not intending to be rude)

[RAc]

16 hours ago, AaronB said:

...noticed an immediate improvement in your playing after you upgraded.  

 

Since I'm new, I don't want to completely blame the instrument but it has been frustrating with some of the higher notes. 

well, you need to be careful to distinguish your playing ability from what the instrument limits you with.

 

If you really improve your playing with another instrument, then as a corollary, when you switch back to the former instrument, you should also see some kind of progess. If not, you are simply enjoying the benefits of a better instrument.

 

I frequently revert back to my older Crane, and my perception is that on the contrary, playing it presents me some kind of reality check, pointing out where I abuse the quality of the higer grade concertina to cover up playing limitations on my side.

 

How exactly do you define/observe "improvements in your playing?"

[AaronB]

1 hour ago, RAc said:

well, you need to be careful to distinguish your playing ability from what the instrument limits you with.

 

If you really improve your playing with another instrument, then as a corollary, when you switch back to the former instrument, you should also see some kind of progess. If not, you are simply enjoying the benefits of a better instrument.

 

I frequently revert back to my older Crane, and my perception is that on the contrary, playing it presents me some kind of reality check, pointing out where I abuse the quality of the higer grade concertina to cover up playing limitations on my side.

 

How exactly do you define/observe "improvements in your playing?"

 

Good points.  For me it is getting those higher notes not so airy.  I find it take a lot of pressure (or vacuum) to get them to stand out.  If I could hear them better with what I'm playing, I would like to think it would help with rhythm and speed. 

[Tiposx]

Hi AaronB

I agree with you about the improvements that may be found in rhythm and speed in a higher level concertina. Really good players seem to make poor instruments work well. (I am not one of them)

I haven’t played a Rochelle, but I believe that they are decent instruments. I am lucky though, in that I have tried a lot of concertinas. I think that you would have to spend an awful lot more for big improvements. 
Cheers

Tiposx