Rhomylly Posted December 13, 2007 Posted December 13, 2007 Almost exclusively social, at a session here in town I started myself.
fidjit Posted December 14, 2007 Posted December 14, 2007 (edited) Jag ochså gille Svensk folkemusik! Living as I do in Dalsland. Check out my web http://chasclark.net for more. 9th annual Scandinavian Squeeze-In the weekend of April 25-7, 2008. Oooh there's a picture of me and my guitar on there. Made a note of the date Jim. I might be able to come along this time. How's the "Sheepish lady"? (Jims secret). I know Rickard too. I was with http://biphome.spray.se/ekenmorris/ at their June dance out in Stockholm. I also play for our local, http://www.spelmanochdansarepadal.se/ Swedish Folk dancers. Which is lots of Polska, Sleng polska, Schottis, Engelska etc. Chas Edited December 14, 2007 by fidjit
fidjit Posted December 14, 2007 Posted December 14, 2007 Quote :The local Irish session was clearly dying....most people I knew wouldn't play it because it was just too much of the same old same old, and they were stared down if they tried to play anything there except Irish. End quote. Thre seems to be a tendency for that to happen all over the place (OK you can shoot me down now ) What I mean is music comes and goes in cycles. There was folk. Then the Disco craze. And when River dance took off it all had to be Irish. Now the phase is on the wain (need I say, thank the lord! ) There seems to be a trend here in the answers that most concertina players, play alone. Wonder why? We are sociable aren't we? Chas
tamborileru Posted December 14, 2007 Posted December 14, 2007 Hello, from Spain! I play my concertina at home, because I have "her" only 3 months ago, and my list of tunes is very short yet. I only can play 12 songs, and with little chords. But I'd like to play out of home in the future (perhaps the next year). I play too other instruments, mainly that in Salamanca call "gaita y tamboril", and I always enjoyed more when I played with others "tamborileros" like me, and when the people sings and dances with my music. Playing with other musicians you can learn to play better: you can heard new tunes, you can see new styles, new rhythms,... And you can rest while the other musician plays! I think it is better to play with others, and I do it always I can.
tamborileru Posted December 14, 2007 Posted December 14, 2007 Hello, from Spain! I play my concertina at home, because I have "her" only 3 months ago, and my list of tunes is very short yet. I only can play 12 songs, and with little chords. But I'd like to play out of home in the future (perhaps the next year). I play too other instruments, mainly that in Salamanca call "gaita y tamboril", and I always enjoyed more when I played with others "tamborileros" like me, and when the people sings and dances with my music. Playing with other musicians you can learn to play better: you can heard new tunes, you can see new styles, new rhythms,... And you can rest while the other musician plays! I think it is better to play with others, and I do it always I can.
tamborileru Posted December 14, 2007 Posted December 14, 2007 Well, I have writen the same message twice!
Hooves Posted December 18, 2007 Posted December 18, 2007 (edited) sort of Isolation: I live in a cracker box apartment, so technically I'm never really playing in isolation. My neighbors sometimes chuck things at the wall or my floor (thier roof), but they seem to like my instrumental guitar/mandolin playign better than the tina or vocals. Right now I live in the most god forsaken horrible domicile imaginagble, festering with foul stench from the grotesque non-stop smoke-house run below me, and the thudding drum beats from 2 units over that pulsate through the cardboard walls. I haven't been playing long enough to get up in front of an audience with the box, though I have hit open mic night with my guitar/octave mandolin. I'm working ona set to play, but right now I ahve no mics for my tina and I doubt very much the "sound man" would be able to accomadate a concertina. ------------ edited to be less offensive, my apologies Edited December 20, 2007 by Hooves
m3838 Posted December 18, 2007 Posted December 18, 2007 Right now I live in the most god forsaken horrible domicile imaginagble, Man, you don't have an eye for place to live. You need a russian blood, a drop or two. Move! Look for some large apartment complex, built in the 50es, when metal was abundant, concrete still in favour and Soviet Rockets were aimed at YOU. I mean they still are, but there is no sign of much needed paranoia. Those buildings were built with bomb shelters, thick concrete walls, metal doors and excellent insulation. In San Francisco it's Park Merced Apartments, and many others. I'm sure in Sacramento they hide somewhere, with waiting lists. You also want to build concertina silencer. It probably can be found if you search. I posted some pictures a while ago. It works! The sound comes out as sort of muffled clarinet. But your hands get perspired, so good ventilation is needed. I don't use it, as I have my music room downstairs, with insulated ceiling (not working), and I'm in a family house. You know, rich have their own whims. It's OK though, as it looks like sooner or later I will have to move out and go back to that Park Merced.
Phantom Button Posted December 19, 2007 Posted December 19, 2007 I play at sessions twice a week and for set dances twice a month, but the majority of my playing time is spent in splendid isolation. Playing at sessions and for dances is great fun but I cut my teeth when I'm woodshedding at home. My work at home only serves to make playing in the company of my friends in public that much more rewarding and fun. I live in an apartment building on Russian Hill and can practice any time of the day or night it seems. I gave my neighbors the option of knocking twice if the music ever bothers them. In the last 10 years this option has only been used three times, and one of them was just a test to see if it worked. I'm blessed with very good neighbors it seems. They tell me that my music (concertina & flute) sounds like wind chimes off in the distance. One person told me they miss it when they go away and always feel comforted when they come home and hear it. I do sympathize with you folks who are suffering in apartments though because it hasn't always been this way with me. I too have suffered from bad close proximity living situations where I felt I had to fight for my right to practice. I'm just lucky right now I guess. I wish you the same good fortune with your neighbors in the future.
Hooves Posted December 20, 2007 Posted December 20, 2007 Right now I live in the most god forsaken horrible domicile imaginagble, Man, you don't have an eye for place to live. You need a russian blood, a drop or two. Move! you are correct, I over emphasized my particuliar corner of the world - it is truly horrible, I moved here as I needed a place quick for my new job. I will be moving soon, sorry to burden the concertina.net community with my living situation, it was uncalled for.
Pete Dunk Posted December 20, 2007 Posted December 20, 2007 sorry to burden the concertina.net community with my living situation, it was uncalled for. No worries mate, get it off your chest; 'a trouble shared' and all that, 'tis what friends are for. Playing a duet concertina is a different matter though. Now that calls for an apology.
jaycott Posted December 21, 2007 Posted December 21, 2007 (edited) First time poster... I play in isolation, partly due to the absence of this particular type of music scene where I live, and partly because I'm still learning. Learning from books, online posts and videos is tough, but I'm getting there. I have recently learned however that there is a local basque accordion session that happens here once a year. Once I get a bit better, I might try showing up the next time it comes around. Edited December 21, 2007 by jaycott
CheeseNote Posted December 26, 2007 Posted December 26, 2007 I choose to learn the English concertina because I was a singer in a West Gallery Quire, not terrific at sight-singing, and wanted something I could play to help me learn my part. Also, I felt left out during the interesting symphony parts (West Gallery has instrumental symphonies like the Yorkshire Carols printed in another thread, and arises from the same sources), and I wanted something with which I could join in. Exactly two years ago, a friend came to Christmas dinner and left her treble concertina with me, and I started to learn. I've pretty much accomplished my initial goal, and am able to play well at the monthly meetings of my West Gallery Quire, and the very occasional church services and concerts we give. But being able to play has opened a world -- I now find myself playing many types of music. I attend a couple of beginner-friendly sessions a month: one, an American contra dance music session, and another of Scottish music. I'd like to find a place to be exposed to more Quebecois, English country, and Scandinavian music. I could play with a Renaissance group weekly, if I could improve my reading of unbarred music. I play duets with my companion on fiddle or recorder, and we worked hard on a Telemann Sonata in Canon this summer for a camp talent show. That said, more than two-thirds of my playing time is spent alone, as I need to practice. I'm only adequate at the West Gallery stuff because it accompanies singing, and so is rather slow. I need to work on getting dance music at tempo, and I'm poor at memorization. I'm fortunate to have as many opportunities to play with a group or my companion as I do, and much of what I'm working on now is to improve enough to feel comfortable doing more playing with others. Still, that's not my entire focus: sometimes I'm just happy to have the means to pick up music that's around the house and play it -- for example, I'll just open the hymnal and play and sing. The English has been a great choice. While I don't play with C.net members, I consider keeping up with the forums a social aspect of my taking up the instrument. Thanks.
JimLucas Posted December 26, 2007 Posted December 26, 2007 Exactly two years ago, a friend came to Christmas dinner and left her treble concertina with me,... A very nice friend. Having nice friends is social, I think. But being able to play has opened a world -- I now find myself playing many types of music. I attend a couple of beginner-friendly sessions a month: one, an American contra dance music session, and another of Scottish music. I'd like to find a place to be exposed to more Quebecois, English country, and Scandinavian music. I could play with a Renaissance group weekly, if I could improve my reading of unbarred music. Concertina for Renaissance music? A bit of an anachronism, but appropriate, since the mark of the Renaissance individual was being able to do everything! Enjoy it all! I play duets with my companion on fiddle or recorder, and we worked hard on a Telemann Sonata in Canon this summer for a camp talent show. Those are very nice.
oggie Posted December 28, 2007 Posted December 28, 2007 I'm mainly an isolated player. The last few sessions I've been to I didn't really enjoy that much, too fast and furious (even on "slow" tunes) and my repertoire is way out of line. The exception is a small session that takes place on an irregular basis (the word seeps out) at a Kurdish run cafe fifteen minutes walk from my house. At the last gathering three weeks ago there were at least ten different nationalities on instruments including oud, bayan, clarinet, afghan pipes (don't know the proper name) assorted percussion and a mix of other stringed instruments and whistles. Format is simple, each start a tune in turn and everyone joins in as and when able until the consensus is it's time to move on. Most fun I've had with music for years. Totally informal, changing cast of musicians as folks come and go, teetotal and usually held around teatime as shifts finish. All the best Steve
LDT Posted November 20, 2008 Posted November 20, 2008 For me the less people around the better...then I can start again on songs as many times as I want without anyone moaning or getting bored. People put me off when I try to concentrate.
michael sam wild Posted November 20, 2008 Posted November 20, 2008 For years the music I played on melodeon was in a social context for Morris, pub sessions, in a ceilidh band or at folk clubs. After I retired and the kids left home I promised myself I'd get the Anglo I always wanted. Now I value all the time I can get to practice. I'm lucky in that I've got a loft conversion in my terraced house and my neighbours are out at work and my partner has a part time job in a charity shop. So I can listen to my CDs and tapes and practice the ornamentations I do go to the local concertina group on the outskirts of Sheffield once a month and I learn a lot. But for progress I find I need to play alone. When I get out to sessions or festivals I find the wall of sound OK to 'hide behind' when playing somewhat familiar tunes but I much prefer a quiet group situation where people join in on tunes they know or listen if they don't About 60:40 communal: solo. My ideal has always been '4 in a bar' where a few old pals play for yourselves rather than to an audience. Unfortunately such back street boozers are becoming rarer or are being turned into trendier bars. The kitchen session will probably make a come back, if it ever went away!I sympathise with people who are isolated by distance or culture but I'm happy with my own company as I get older and the nights get darker and colder and the drink driving laws get tougher, even though I gave up the beer quite a while ago it limits the desire of quite a few folk to come out! Still I'm glad I have the opportunity to choose. Sheffield has quite a good trad.scene and gets regular injections of younger players with 2 Universities and a good music tradition.
Ishtar Posted November 20, 2008 Posted November 20, 2008 Well done on bringing this up to the top, LDT! Lots of names there that I haven't seen before, it's interesting. I didn't play anything for years after moving to France, because I couldn't find anyone with a similar fiddle repertoire - I also wasn't very good, so it wasn't really possible for me to start anything up. Interesting too to see comments about sessions being either too fast or too Irish. There is only one session round here, a monthly one, 30 miles away, and it fits both those descriptions! Finding the sea shanty group has saved me, and given me a reason to carry on playing the concertina. Because I'm just an accompaniment to the singing, there's not the pressure of "impressing" people with complicated solos or anything like that, so I feel a sense of freedom in being allowed to play within my limits, which strangely enough is also what is allowing me to progress. The psychology of music.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now