Witney Considered Unfriendly

[gentians]

Jenny

 

A couple of suggestions from experience helping to run Foilkworks summer schools:

 

1, nominate a time and place, eg at the end of morning or afternoon workshops for newcomers to gather, meet, and if they wish organise something between themselves. This is not an event in itself, the meeting place just needs to be an identifiable spot, not necessarily a room or anythine like that. It only needs to be done once, as early as possible in the weekend. Optionally delegate an oldhand with a friendly face to join them.

 

2, A buddy system for those who request it - match up newcomers with volunteer old hands. This does take a bit more organising.

 

I know from experience that the first time at a big event like this can give the impression that everyone else knows each other, and I'm left out. It depends on the personality of the newcomer too.

 

I do appreciate that you can't please everyone, but these ideas are tried and successful!

[gentians]

Hallo again.

 

Theo's suggestion 1) sounds sensible and helpful. his 2) would take much more organising

 

Thanks also to Rainier for his new posting. You are right - different weekends have different focuses, different sizes and priorities.

 

I hope I am not complacent, Chris. Yes, we did consider the "local sandwich company route." But you couldn't say how many people would take this up - many of people like to sample the odd half of Hook Norton, or bring or buy our own sandwiches to eat in the hall at lunchtime.

 

I've known about this site for many years - but had only visited it once before Chris's recent prompt. It's clearly a v.g. resource, well designed. I'm not being snooty - just prefer playing to spending more time than I have to on the computer. Obviously lots of people do use the site - but I bet lots don't.

 

I have been to one classical music weekend (as the only concertina player) where everyone seemed to be in pre-formed groups and not very interested in outsiders, so know what that feels like. Perhaps I'm lucky to be an extovert - I found another person "on her own" and was happy playing with her at odd moments.

 

Just to make it clear - I have not been involved in the organisation of Concertinas at Witney since 1998. I have been to Swaledale, Folkworks and Kilve. I organised 5 WCCP Halsway concertina weekends in the late 1980's. Nowadays I organise and run the annual Concertina Band weekend at Hawkwood College in the Cotswolds (last weekend in January).

 

best wishes all round

 

Jenny

[gentians]

Hallo from Jenny

 

I thought I had posted again yesterday, but it's not appearing today (I am not familiar with forums) so IT has beaten me again

---

**Thanks Theo, your idea 1) looks good......2) takes too much organising.

 

** Thanks Ranier. You are right that each concertina event is different - they reflect the priorities of the people who direct and organise them. Good luck next time. If you "risk" another Witney I'll make sure you are not on your own.!

 

**Chris, my answer may have looked complacent, but I don't believe I am. Obviously if people don't enjoy an event they won't return. Yes, I have been to - and enjoyed Kilve, Swaledale, Folkworks, West Gallery weekends, three times to a classical weekend where I was the only concertina player (using oboe music), training weekends with my Redland Wind band (playing oboe music) and numerous workshops. I've been the organiser for 5 Halsway Manor concertina weekends( WCCP pre-Kilve), 8 Concertinas at Witneys (stopping in 1998 after illness) and 11 Concertina Band Weekends at Hawkwood College (my very own favourite game).

 

Conclusion --- you can't please every one of your clients every single time, but you are open to possible ways of adapting the administation. If it's not possible (outside catering at lunchtime) you don't attempt it.

 

cheers

 

Jenny

[geoffwright]

The only point not covered yet, and I know lots of people do complain about it is the Friday night session. I have spoken to DT on various occasions about this - a few years back there were at least two overspill sessions as well as the Court Inn, but times have changed and he says pubs don't want to host the session. (I don't know whether I believe it considering the number of pubs on the outskirts of Witney).

If the session is that popular a part of the weekend, would people be willing to travel a short distance out of Witney, to a village that would welcome hoards of concertinas?

On the other hand, if you like Elvis (I don't), I have heard some passable Elvis impersonators in the Court Inn on a Saturday evening.

[Valmai Goodyear]

Jenny

 

A couple of suggestions from experience helping to run Foilkworks summer schools:

 

1, nominate a time and place, eg at the end of morning or afternoon workshops for newcomers to gather, meet, and if they wish organise something between themselves. This is not an event in itself, the meeting place just needs to be an identifiable spot, not necessarily a room or anythine like that. It only needs to be done once, as early as possible in the weekend. Optionally delegate an oldhand with a friendly face to join them.

 

2, A buddy system for those who request it - match up newcomers with volunteer old hands. This does take a bit more organising.

 

I know from experience that the first time at a big event like this can give the impression that everyone else knows each other, and I'm left out. It depends on the personality of the newcomer too.

 

I do appreciate that you can't please everyone, but these ideas are tried and successful!

[Valmai Goodyear]

Hello from Lewes, Sussex, UK.

 

First, my apologies for copying an exisiting message straight back to the list due to my ignorance of this sort of forum.

 

I'm more than a little surprised to see the griping here about Concertinas at Witney. Speaking as someone who's been attending for the last six years, I must say that I've always found it a valuable musical and social experience. When I first attended I was extremely nervous about being a poor reader and a relative beginner, but I was made welcome by the tutors and the other participants and I hope I've made a little progress every year.

 

It's true that you need to apply yourself before the workshops and concentrate during them to get the most out of the week-end; the tuition is what we pay our fees for. There are opportunities to socialise during coffee breaks, at lunchtime and in the evenings; I've certainly made some new friends over the years and I've never had any trouble finding people to have lunch with, although this may be the result of a talent for barging in where I'm not wanted. My main regret is the shortage of decent beer in the town.

 

Speaking as someone who helps to run a series of traditional music workshops with associated performances by the tutors (see list below) I regard Witney as a model of excellence and I'm looking forward to attending again this year.

 

All the best,

 

Valmai Goodyear

20, St. John's Terrace, Lewes, BN7 2DL

 

01273 476757

 

Lewes Arms Folk Club

www.members.aol.com/lewesarmsfolk/

Residents: Bryan Creer, Dave Earl, Sandra Goddard, Valmai Goodyear, Steve & Diane Nevill, George Oakley, Robert O'Mahony, Derek Seed

 

LEWES ARMS FOLK CLUB WORKSHOPS 2006

Workshops last a full Saturday and the tutor performs at the club in the evening. Booking forms are available from the club and can be printed from the website.

 

Mick Ryan & Pete Harris - Songwriting & folk drama, 18th. February

Coope Boyes & Simpson - Vocal harmony, 1st. April

Georgina Boyes - Early song collectors in Sussex, 1st. April (p.m.)

Gina Le Faux - Fiddle, 3rd. June

Martin Carthy - Guitar & song, 10th. June

Sandra Kerr - Concertinas & song, 8th. July

John Kirkpatrick - Anglo concertina, 16th. September

Nancy Kerr - Fiddle, 7th. October

James Fagan - Bouzouki & cittern, 7th. October

Alistair Anderson - Concertinas, 28th. October (a.m.)

Dave Townsend & Phil Humphries - West Gallery Carols, Saturday 18th. November

Dave Townsend - Sacred Harp, Sunday 19th. November

Phil Humphries - Early Music for Folk Musicians, Sunday 19th. November

Brian Peters - Melodeon, 2nd. December

Gordon Tyrrall - Whistle & Flute, 2nd. December

Brian Peters - Ballad Forum, Sunday 3rd. December

[JimLucas]

I'm more than a little surprised to see the griping here about Concertinas at Witney. Speaking as someone who's been attending for the last six years, I must say that I've always found it a valuable musical and social experience. When I first attended I was extremely nervous about being a poor reader and a relative beginner, but I was made welcome by the tutors and the other participants and I hope I've made a little progress every year.

 

It's true that you need to apply yourself before the workshops and concentrate during them to get the most out of the week-end; the tuition is what we pay our fees for.

I haven't noticed anyone griping about the quality of the tuition, so there's no need to defend ithat.

 

There are opportunities to socialise during coffee breaks, at lunchtime and in the evenings; I've certainly made some new friends over the years and I've never had any trouble finding people to have lunch with, although this may be the result of a talent for barging in where I'm not wanted.

Perhaps an exaggeration, but very much to the point. Introverts, shy people, or those who have been brought up to wait for others to welcome them can experience difficulties that extroverts can find it difficult to believe in, much less comprehend.

 

As an explanatory aside I'll tell what happened to me at my first job placement when I moved to Denmark. In America, when someone new enters a community, most people expect the members of the community to approach and welcome the newcomer. There's even a tradition called the "welcome wagon": one or more individuals will arrive at the home of the new residents with official greetings, information, and possibly even gifts. I didn't want to be rude to the Danes I was working with by making the first social overtures. Unfortunately, their custom was just the opposite, so they thought I was being unfriendly by not approaching them, but they were not about to rudely inquire as to why. After several months of this I complained to someone outside the job about the unfriendliness of my coworkers and was informed about the cultural difference. I finally made the approach and things changed dramatically. But until then the difference in customs was such that it had prevented our communicating about the difficulty.

 

I don't think anyone has suggested that the Witney event or its organizers or even its participants are actively unfriendly, but I certainly don't think the organization actively promotes friendliness and socializing, either. There seems to be an assumption that people will meet each other in the classes, the common interest will act as a catalyst, and wonderful social things will inevitably result. For some this may be true, but for others it's not.

 

There may be some fine sessions or other socializing in the evenings, but how does one find out what and where if it's not an official Witney event, and if it occurs after a dinner during which the potential participants are dispersed? Note that just naming a pub may not be sufficient for someone who not only doesn't know the town, but may not be familiar with the way streets are named, numbered, and laid out in English towns. And things don't necessarily happen in only one place, or even where they're "supposed to". (I remember that on one of my Witney visits Dave T. had apparently arranged with the owner of a particular pub that we would hold a session there, but the owner departed for the weekend and left his son in charge, and the son took exception to our music and told us to leave, then put a sign out front saying that concertina players weren't welcome. That particular night several of us carpooled to another pub outside of town, and I was later told that some others had gone to a different outlying pub, while yet others never discovered a place where concertina players were making music.)

 

Lunch is quite another matter. It's not arranged by the event organizers, so each individual has to first find a place to eat. I know that my first year I didn't even realize this until I had to do it. Being American rather than English, I didn't even know what sort of place to look for. Luckily, I found a few others in the same fix and we went off together to find a place. Unluckily, it took us several tries before we found a place that was able to accomodate us, a pub which also served lunch. Also, other groups had gotten there before us, and by the time we were served we were rushing to finish and get back to the school in time for the next class. Another year I recall being told by some new friends (who were also old hands) that they wished they could invite me to join them for lunch, but they had reservations and the place was fully booked. Are first timers made aware of the potential for needing an advance reservation at a local restaurant for lunch?

 

If Witney could serve a common meal at a single location there might be some individuals who would prefer to opt out, but I think a great many would find it a considerable relief, and it would leave a much greater portion of the 1½ hour lunch time for actual socializing and playing.

 

I know the organization these days isn't Jenny's responsibility, nor as far as I know that of anyone else who is a member here, so this is really intended more as an informational post for those who might be considering going to Witney. What they provide is great, just don't be surprised at the things they don't provide.

[jonmac]

Witney unfriendly - rubbish! Scarey - Yes! Hard work - Yes! but never unfriendly!!

(Well hardly ever!)

 

Now maybe this is because the first time I turned up at Witney with a poor quality English concertina and an over estimation of my ability to play it - I discovered a Friday evening session in the School where I was welcomed with a warm smile and a cup of coffee ... the deflation of my ego was very gentle as I rapidly discovered I really had no idea what I was doing there!

 

But come on - you've got to start somewhere ... and Witney got me started and I've returned every year since - very much "the beginner"... and every year Dave Townsend looks with some alarm as I stumble into his workshop - and every year I go away a better - and hopefully wiser - player (still not wise enough to give up!).

 

But - unfriendly? No I really don't think so - purposeful? Yes! Concentrated on aspects of playing? Yes!

Now -I must admit I don't go to Witney to make friends - I go to learn how to play the concertina a little better - not that I haven't found and made friends there - it sometimes seems that everyone knows me and wants to chat, go for meals, buy me pints or just ask questions ... as if I know anything. I'm not grumbling - I love it and look forward, each year, to another busy, exhausting and enlightening weekend - making and remaking friendships ... it's simply a brilliant weekend.

 

I guess if I want a relaxing "friendship" weekend then I'd find time to attend Kilve, Swaledale, Mexborough, Lewes (regularly), the East Anglian band day etc. - or the local Folk Club - or Folk Camp or any of the many other weekends that offer relaxation, food and good company ... But when I want to learn concertina - Witney is tip-tip top of my list - and a weekend I wouldn't want to miss.

 

As an aside - I feel sorry for the player who wandered lonely around Witney on the Saturday evening - why didn't they go to the concert in the school - a concert which to be honest is worth the value of the weekend by itself!

 

SO - could Witney as a formula be improved - personally I don't think so ... it could be changed - but then it would lose some of its purpose. Would I suggest that the organisers modified the formula to make it "more friendly" - never - there isn't time enough in the Saturday and Sunday program to fit in "Social sessions" - I recall I ran a "play round the room session" for Dave one year - people seemed to enjoy it - but I nearly choked on my lunch!

 

It might be possible to add to the weekend - and I hesitate to suggest that it might be possible that an organisation like the ICA (International Concertina Association) could run an "information table" at coffee time - to try to answer new attendees questions - if indeed we can supply the answers! A message board might be a useful addition (with a supply of postcards and pens) to allow people to make contact with each other! Even strangers could post messages like "Jon , English system Player from Hertfordshire would like to meet other lost souls to share a meal time, talk concertinas and in general - be friendly" ... well - it might work!

 

My overall comment would be that Witney is there as a workshop/concert weekend - I makes my choice, pays my money - and that's all I expect ... and that is what is served up brilliantly. The friendship aspects - I think that's up to me ... on the other hand - if you go to Witney and see a white haired bloke who answers to the name of "Jon" wandering around looking lost and lonely - take me to the pub and buy me a pint!!

[mickverrier]

Dear All,

 

I, like Jenny Cox, have joined this site specifically to read, consider and reply to this thread. I have been attending Hands On Music weekends as a participant and steward for many years. This includes Voices at Witney, Accordions at Witney, Plucking at Witney, Concertinas at Witney, Strings at Witney, Melodeons at Witney and the Village Music Weekend. Details of the Friday night session at the Court Inn have been included in the information sent out before every one of these weekends, including a map showing the location. I have never known there to be a problem at the Court, except one night when there was a rather loud band in the other bar (we were still able to make a good noise without them disturbing us) and a couple of times when it has been very crowded because of the sheer number of people attending.

 

At every weekend I have found that 99% of the participants are warm and friendly and most are gregarious; I imagine that each weekend must have its share of shy people who find it difficult to ask whether anyone knows a good place to eat, but Dave and the stewards try to make information available about such things. At the Saturday morning registration we ask each arrival whether they are new to the event, and try to offer the newcomers as much information as we can.

 

Some of the postings on this thread have been very negative and, to my mind, create a falsly negative impression of the Hands On way of doing things; it would be very unfortunate if this negative impression were to have a detrimental effect on the organisation itself. Hands On Music provides excellent tuition-based workshops for people who play instruments, and musical styles, that are not generally catered for, and we would not want to lose such a valuable resource.

 

Now, let's just look at some of the suggestions that have been made, and think about the likely consequence:

 

Residential workshops - Firstly, Dave would have to find a new venue and hope that the other surrounding facilities were as good. Since he has a good venue with good surrounding facilities he doesn't want to reinvent the wheel. Secondly, the cost of the weekend would rise by AT LEAST £20 per person per residential night. Thirdly, whatever standard of accommodation was possible would surely not appeal to everyone - I have attended innumerable residential workshops and can assure you that making your own choice as to how much you pay for accommodation, and what type of accommodation you prefer, is infinitely better!

 

Catered Meals - Firstly, the current venue would not be suitable, so again Dave would have to look for a new venue. Secondly, he would have to take on caterers who have the necessary hygiene qualifications, and extend his insurance cover accordingly. This would further increase the cost of the weekend. Moreover, the caterers would have to cater for various different dietary preferences (including allergies and so on); as Jenny Cox has already pointed out, many of us would still want to pop out for a drink - are you suggesting he obtains a liquor licence as well?

 

I could go on, but I think I have made the point. One thing that should be said, however, is that at the end of every Hands On Music weekend we encourage every participant to complete (anonymously) a feedback slip. Surely, if there was any significant evidence of dissatisfaction Dave would take that into account and make changes. I usually have a look through the feedback slips before I plant a spoof one to make Dave laugh later on, and I can honestly say that I have only ever read two or three negative comments.

 

Hands On Music weekends are vibrant, musical experiences, with great tutors who, as has already been said, put on a great concert on the Saturday evening. If you have never been, please don't be put off by a few people who seem to have waited a very long time to express their dissatisfaction with things that are not entirely within the control of the organisers.

 

Mick Verrier

[Clive Thorne]

I went to both my first 'Concertinas At Witney' and 'Melodeons At Witney' last year, and my comments apply pretty equally to both.

 

I will preface my comments by saying that I wouldn't class myself as an introvert, but neither am I the sort of person to boldly stride up to a group or individual and introduce myself.

 

 

My experience was that the tuition at both events was excellent, but that the social side was dissapointing. No one was actually unfriendly, far from it, but the structure of the weekend does not really encourage much social interaction.

 

On both weekends I found myself skipping the Saturday evening concert because, come 5pm, I was faced with the dilema of: 'Do I hang around for 3 hours on my own until the concert, or do I drive home' (I live just over an hours drive away). 3 hours on your own, even in a pub, is not my idea of fun, and although I had spoken to people during the day I did not feel I knew anyone well enough to suggest eating together.

 

 

Certainly if some sort of social gathering was offered for this period, and lunch times it might help people to get chatting. This might be just along the lines of "anyone who hasn't got other plans might like to get together at the XYZ Inn', or even 'The main hall will be available for eating lunch and playing a few tunes'.

 

 

Other people have already suggested some sort of catering van and that seems a good idea to me. I'm sure it cannot be as difficult as some people seem to make out.

 

Finally, why not have a bar for the weekend? This is not actually difficult. Yes some people would still want to go to the pub, a but a few barrels of beer and bottles of wine would certainly be enough to keep many people on site, and the bar would in itself contribute to to profits of the weekend.

 

 

The current structure does seem to actively encourage the group to disperse whenever there isn't tuition or a concert going on.

 

 

 

Just a few rambling thoughts.

 

 

Clive

Edited February 11, 2006 by Clive Thorne

[JimLucas]

Some of the postings on this thread have been very negative...

I'd be inclined to say "somewhat negative". I don't think you've yet seen anything close to very negative, nor would you want to.

 

...it would be very unfortunate if this negative impression were to have a detrimental effect on the organisation itself.

I don't think you need to worry about that.

 

If you have never been, please don't be put off by a few people who seem to have waited a very long time to express their dissatisfaction with things that are not entirely within the control of the organisers.

Now you're being unfair to them. In the one case that I know for sure, said person has been open about his feelings for quite a few years, even if not here on Concertina.net. Even so, he never said Witney was "bad", just that he found events like Kilve more to his liking... and then he said why. Personal taste is personal taste. Each person even has his own idea of what "friendly" means.

[Richard Morse]

Catered Meals - Firstly, the current venue would not be suitable, so again Dave would have to look for a new venue. Secondly, he would have to take on caterers who have the necessary hygiene qualifications, and extend his insurance cover accordingly. This would further increase the cost of the weekend. Moreover, the caterers would have to cater for various different dietary preferences (including allergies and so on); as Jenny Cox has already pointed out, many of us would still want to pop out for a drink - are you suggesting he obtains a liquor license as well?

I've been lurking in this tread until now, mainly because I've never been to Witney (despite really want to go!) and don't know much about it. I've always thought that it was similar to our Northeast Squeeze-In with many similar organizational issues.

 

What causes me to dip my toe in here is the issue of catered meals. Except for the first couple of years when we were using the facilities cook, we haven't had much in the way of catering problems. There seems to be a lot of very capable caterers around. Most will travel a couple of hours to do their thing, all come with hygiene certificates, state licenses, and are fully insured; and most have no problem with all sorts of dietary preferences. We feed about 95 people each event including:

 

7 no red meat

5 vegetarians

2 vegans

2 no wheat

2 no diary

1 no mushrooms

1 diabetic

1 onion allergic

1 gluten free

 

The problems we do have are more coordinational (letting the specials know there their food is, keeping others from eating it, etc.). Certainly many people opt NOT to eat our fare, usually brown-bagging it (as there are no pubs or restaurants within several miles).

 

I would imagine that some checking around your area would turn up some good caterers. I find it hard to imagine a venue for which food is not suitable (maybe they forbid you to have food on the premises?). Besides the food, caterers here can provide just about everything from the service (plates, flatware, etc.) to the kitchen (vehicles/trailers), lighting and power supply, cleanup and trash removal....

 

I think that the availability to have food and drink available (catered or bring-your-own) really helps the camaraderie and social cohesiveness of an event. Maybe folks which have been to both events can chime in here to let both of us know things we can do to make our events better.

[Suzanne Higgins]

I've never used a forum before, and hope this works, or that I can work it.

 

I have been to Whitney twice, and have to endorse the comments about the tuition. Hard work, but very good. On the social side, of course it's bound to be easier for any new participant who knows some of the people there. I was profoundly grateful on my first visit to be aquainted with two!

 

The focus is very strongly on the workshops. That is not contingent on the weekend being non/residential. The same applies at Hawkwood, which I attended for the first time this year. There was very little time during the day for socialising, though of course communal meals and the evening sessons made for some contact. Both Whitney and Hawkwood can be demanding, stretching musical experiences. The social side is something participants sort out for themselves, which brings us back to the issue of how the weekend organisation could support the social side of things, especially for newcomers.

 

It would have been useful for me, as a newcomer, to have known that there was someone to scoop us up in a group for lunch - potential instant mini community. For this reason I like the buddy idea and that of meals on site. Not having attended Whitney often, I'm not so wedded to the status quo that to suggest changing something equals a criticism of the experience. But let's not underestimate the work involved. Of course it can be done. The big question would be, who is to do it? The downside of the local facilities is that they tend to fill up quickly, and a group of any size needs to book in advance. This takes organisation. Could the Whitney website provide a space for participants to liase over this?

[Wade]

I have to say, I feel many of the comments made here are rather harsh, and feel it necessary to respond.

 

I have attended Witney (both the concertina and other courses) for the past 6 years, as well as attending many other events around the country, and i have to say i find Witney both the most enjoyable and the most beneficial course I have been to. I have never found myself without someone to talk to, both in workshops, and in between times. We have often been out for lunch with both old friends, and first timers; and as far as i can remember there are always people sat in the main hall eating and socialising. As for sessions, as long as i have been to Witney there has always been a Friday night session at the 'Court Inn', and this is mentioned in the information sent out prior to the weekend.

 

I feel as Jenny does, that Witney is primarily a tutorial weekend, and personally I believe the weekend offers a range of workshops whose diversity and intensity, for both beginners and advanced players, is unrivalled by any other event I have attended. I always come away feeling i have learnt something.

 

Dave always places an emphasis on the feedback sheets which everyone is prompted to complete at the weekend, have any of these points been brought up there?

 

Personally, I find Witney a hugely rewarding and refreshing experience, and I'm very sorry others do not feel the same.

 

Alex Wade

[Samantha]

I feel as Jenny does, that Witney is primarily a tutorial weekend, and personally I believe the weekend offers a range of workshops whose diversity and intensity, for both beginners and advanced players, is unrivalled by any other event I have attended. I always come away feeling i have learnt something.

 

Dave always places an emphasis on the feedback sheets which everyone is prompted to complete at the weekend, have any of these points been brought up there?

 

Personally, I find Witney a hugely rewarding and refreshing experience, and I'm very sorry others do not feel the same.

 

Alex Wade

 

As one of the "complainants" I would like to stress that I found the classes and sessions very rewarding. Reading this thread, it seems that everyone who has attended Witney is in agreement with this statement.

I was simply commenting on what could justifiably be considered to be a minor detail - that a "catered" meal at Saturday lunchtime would ease the introduction process for newcomers. I am certainly not an introvert and I found somewhere to eat and people to eat with: part of the motivation for my comments was that if I found it hard, which I did, then other less confident souls would find it harder still.

My suggestion for overcoming this, perhaps not clearly expressed, was that caterers, with their own insurance and at their own risk, could be invited to provide a stall selling sandwiches on the premises. There are other ways to ease the introduction process for newcomers, and the simplest seems to be the arrangement of a meeting place for newbies, so that an "instant group" is formed - if that does not appeal to you you can simply not turn up at the appointed time - though that doesn't solve the problem of all the nearest lunch spots being fully occupied by the time newcomers finds them.

I most certainly feel that there is demand for a whole spectrum of different concertina events - clearly there is strong demand for Hands on Music Weekends, and long may that continue to be so. More or less intense, more or less social, more or less flavoured by a particular style of music, longer, shorter ... My preference, with courses of over one day, is for a residential course with greater social interaction built in, but that is just my preference. Possibly the title of this thread has polarised things a little ...

Samantha

[JimLucas]

Possibly the title of this thread has polarised things a little ...

Speaking of polarized, and "speaking" from Denmark... Rich M., I haven't seen any new cartoons from your son, lately.

[bendigo]

Hi-I`ve just joined Concertina.net out of the need to add my comments about Witney. I first went approximately 8 years ago, originally to write a magazine article about the Saturday night concert and was made to feel immediately very welcome by Jenny Cox. The following year there was a last minute steward shortage & Jenny phoned to ask if I would be interested. I took her up on the offer & have been to every Witney Concertina weekend ever since, also String weekend & Fiddle weekends for the past 5 years (owing to my daughter`s need for a driver). Perhaps stewarding is an easier way to make friends quickly, you do lose part of the course & it is in part hard work shifting tables & chairs but I have made many friends over the years doing this, including people who have already offered their comments, such as Jenny Cox, Mick Verrier & Valmai Goodyear, with whose comments I agree entirely. When thrown into any group of strangers you do have to make an initial effort - this applies to any group, but does invariably get results. It is primarily a tuition weekend rather than a socialising one, but there are opportunities for this. Anyone who is feeling a bit lost, try talking to a steward (that`s what we`re there for) or try knocking on the door of the caravan parked by the Edwardian block, where I`ll be happy to offer a cup of tea & a chat (if I`m not humping chairs at the time!!)

[PeterT]

Hi Folks,

 

I think that I'm in a position to be reasonably un-biased in my comments, having attended Sidmouth/Chippenham/Wadebridge Folk Festivals and Halsway/Kilve/Witney Concertina Weekends both as tutor, and punter, during the period 1986 - 1995.

 

What I witnessed at each event, almost year on year, was a tremendous growth in the popularity of the concertina. My first visit to Sidmouth (1985) saw about 25 concertina players attending the daily workshops which were hosted by Jenny Cox and her WCCP Committee. A year later, I took my first Anglo workshop there; seven of us attended, including Brian Peters and John Kirkpatrick who I specifically invited along, and, as always were only too willing to give of their time, despite being booked at the main festival. Incidentally, Brian and John had not met prior to this, so I was delighted to be able to make the introductions.

 

By Sidmouth 1990, I had about 25 Anglo players wanting tuition each day, from complete beginner up to one or two technically more advanced than myself, so "pupils" from previous years were roped in to become "tutors". It was a similar story for English and Duet players.

 

I first tutored at WCCP Halsway Manor in 1986. Jenny Cox had booked Nigel Chippindale, who subsequently found that he had cancer, and, in fact, died just prior to the March event. Knowing Nigel, I readily accepted the invitation to help out. In total, there were 40 residential places, and about 15 day visitors. By 1991, WCCP moved from Halsway to Kilve; numbers doubled, and Halsway was just too small as a venue. By this time, Kilve was being organised by Pauline & Barry Wallace, plus WCCP Committee, and Jenny Cox (as indicated in her previous posting) was working on "Concertinas at Witney" with Dave Townsend. Same story here, ever increasing numbers which meant that the event had outgrown the original venue.

 

The Henry Box School, I believe, is a magnificent venue. However, when I was last there, numbers were c120, and a more recent conversation with Jenny Cox indicated c150 towards the end of the 1990's. I don't know what the comfortable maximum is, or should be, but I believe that it is this continued success, and popularity of our chosen instrument, which has created some of the logistical problems referred to in previous posts on this thread.

 

I'm not saying that bigger is better. In many ways, the larger the event, the more chance there is of people feeling left out. If I'm in a group of (say) 25 people, of whom I know 5 well, 10 a bit (but haven't seen for ages), it's going to take me a while to even say "Hi" to the 10 I don't know at all. I think that this is human nature.

 

To sum up. Residential-type events ARE hard work, both for tutors and pupils. They have to be, if you are parting with relatively large sums of money for the tuition. However, I think that you gain almost as much from old friendships renewed, and new friendships made. This is irrespective of the relative abilities as musicians.

 

Regards,

Peter.