Legato On Bellows Direction Change

[CyberSpiff]

[sounds as though you're doing the right thing, so long as you're hitting the air button to coincide with a note or sequence of notes in the favourable direction, and not just taking a mighty gasp of air with it when you've already run out. Any experienced anglo (or melodeon) player would tell you that the air button is one of the most important buttons on the box. It certainly is worth planning the best point at which to use it, and if necessary making fingering changes as well. A tune like "Soldier's Joy" played in the home keys is almost all on the push in the A part, and you need to get a good gulp of air on the few, precious pull notes if you're going to get through it without the bellows slamming shut half way through.

Brian

 

Are you saying I should hit the air button while playing a note? I never thought of that. So for example, if I've got a long push phrase coming up and I'm on a pull note, I can hit the air button?

 

BTW, this is great. It's like having some of the best concertina players as a teacher. I really have grown to appreciate all the experience everyone is so willing to share

 

-jeff