|
NorthernMelodeon
|
1#
|
Rank:none
Posts:346
Registered:27/06/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:25/08/2007 15:47:58)
Since I initiated this, I'll volunteer to start out.
1. I was actually originally inspired when I was living in Vienna, Austria. A friend brought me to hear a session of mostly fiddlers playing Austrian "drone" music -- early versions of traditional dance tunes. There was a hurdy gurdy player and Christoph Zeiler was playing box (some of you remember Christoph's most excellent discography website). For some reason I got it in my head that I would learn to play the box (not the fiddle); my wife, who had been playing cello, took up the fiddle. I later acquired a C/F box and the Milleret/Pignol books, and started listening to Breton and French trad music, which rapidly converted me to wanting to play that kind of music. The same folks who played at the Austrian "drone" session also had a Breton session on another weeknight -- I became an attentive listener.
2. I began by teaching myself using the Milleret/Pignol books. About one year into it, my wife found the Thirty Below website and I got one of the last copies of the Denis P?in video. At some point I began learning tunes from recordings and books, without the books being accordion-specific. Then we had the opportunity to spend a summer in Quebec city, and I sought out Denis P?in for a summer's worth of weekly lessons on one-row and three-row.
3. Most of what I play are Quebecois fiddle tunes. I also play some French and Breton tunes, Swedish tunes, Irish tunes, and some of the local (New England) contra-dance repertoire. I have dabbled with playing Appalachian tunes on the box as well (but tend to learn them on the banjo now).
4. At this point, I've found that the best way for me to learn a tune is to already know it from frequent listening. I'll then "sound it out" or use software to slow it down and sound it out phrase by phrase if it is complex. I can read music but at this point, prefer to use sheet music only as a way of "cheating" to find the notes faster. (I understand that for some players, sheet music is the better way to learn, for other, by ear only, but for me it is a hybrid approach, the important factor being that I already know the tune well enough to hum it.)
5. Most of my public playing is at school -- assisting the French teacher by accompanying the mardi gras dancing, etc. I don't play for dances but it is a goal of mine to play for contras in the not-to-distant future.
6. D/G, D, G/C/F, Bb/Eb/alt, A.
7. I have found that playing music is the best way to enhance my listening. Also, I might be in the minority here in that I prefer to listen to fiddlers than box players, though I certainly love diatonic accordion music!
-Andy
|
| Support us |
Create free forum and click the links below and your donations will make a difference here. |
 |
www.dinodirect.com
Online Huge Store for Various Cool Gadgets, Nintendo Wii Controller, iPod Charger, iPhone Cases, BlackBerry Cases, Laptop Accessories, Rechargeable Battery, LED Tactical Flashlight, iPod Earphones, iPhone Charger, Wii Controller, iPod Cables, Video Players, Music Players, Car Accessories, Cell Phone Accessories, Video Games Accessories and Hobby Gadgets.
If you use the code "DDLIFE", all orders will get 10% discount plus worldwide free shipping!
|
|
Polkaholic
|
2#
|
Rank:none
Posts:316
Registered:18/07/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:25/08/2007 18:23:26)
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon? Irish. (Sorry) Actually I would say I play a 2-row button accordion, C#/D. Don't know how many of you would even call that a melodeon 
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon? Self-taught in more or less complete isolation. Got some invaluable tips from good players when I first began and after about a year. Group classes at a summer school have provided more inspiration than technique.
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play? Overwhelmingly same as (1) apart from a few tunes from here and there (Brittany, Sweden, Qu?ec, Wales, even England when the fancy takes me... )
4. How do you learn tunes? By ear, occasionally from music. Mostly I know them already and just have to find them on the box (see 7).
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings? Sessions once or twice a week, dance band and other paid gigs now and then.
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency? C#/D all the time (even when I'm playing a B/C  ). Also have a one-row in G that I mess about with sometimes.
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from Been playing box less than 4 years but I've been at traditional music for over 30 and it's my third major instrument. I wouldn't be playing it all were I not a "fiddle amputee". Years of work ahead of me to master the instrument, but having a lot of fun.
Cheers
Steve
|
|
Veloce
|
3#
|
Rank:none
Posts:66
Registered:19/09/2005
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:25/08/2007 19:51:04)
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon? Kathryn Tickell's LP On Kielder Side inspired me to switch from fretted instruments after 40+ years to the English concertina so I could sustain notes. (KT plays Northumbrian smallpipes.) Hearing melodeons and talking with melodeon players at the Northeast Squeeze-In inspired me to switch to the melodeon so I could sustain notes and play chords.
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon? I started with Mally's book which took me quite a way before I got bogged down. Then at just the right point in my progress I read in John Kirkpatrick's English Choice, "I'd say a more satisfying, and less worrying approach would be to just waggle your fingers about, hope of the best, and see what the instrument gives you." I did just that and it has worked out well.
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play? English (mostly Northumbrian) and American folk music, early 20th century American popular music and hymns.
4. How do you learn tunes? When I hear a tune I want to play I either find an abc version of it or find the dots and transcribe them to abc. I then set BarFly to loop and work out a "ideal" chord sequence. The last stage, which takes the longest, is to repeatedly play the tune and find a workable combination of treble keys, bellows direction, row crossing and chords.
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings? I haven't played the melodeon in a formal public setting - I get enough of that singing in the choir every Sunday - but I am under some pressure to play a waltz I wrote to celebrate our granddaughter's birth at the next NE Squeeze-In. I have started playing with a guitar player friend every week and we are talking about where we go from here.
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency? Only D/G at this point.
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"? In 40+ years of messing around with other instruments I got pretty good at playing melodies without accompanying chords, and pretty good at playing chord accompaniments without melodies, and now I can do both. I'm only sorry it took me so long to discover the melodeon.
|
|
C age ing
|
4#
|
Registered:20/08/2005
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:25/08/2007 22:04:15)
1) Cajun
2) Self taught with Warson and later Mally and George's tuition books. Found Watson and George's better than Mally.
3) Bit of Morris, some UK folk and American Old Time on Melodeon.
4) Read it from dots or just experiment until it sounds right.
5) Occasionally with a Morris side.
6) DG Erika, Galotta D and Hohner G single row.
7) From a jazz background, returning to it with Tenor Sax, Flute and Fl?elhorn as find I need a 12 note octave for 'blue' notes and the surprisingly frequent semitone runs on my chosen genre. I also admit to having far less control of tone, timbre, ability to bend notes and articulation on the melodeons, my failing entirely. Squeezy illustrated a boogie bass but I'm far too thick to pick it up.
|
|
Jo Ellis Boyfriend
|
5#
|
Rank:none
Posts:223
Registered:19/07/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:25/08/2007 22:12:05)
1) The Catsfield Steamers www.catsfieldsteamers.co.uk great english dance band, who had more melodeons than you could shake a stick at once!
2) All done by ear. I listened to the catsfield steamers and many, many LP's Cd's and tapes. Mainly of the likes of John Kirkpatrick
3) Now I still play mainly southern English dance tunes and morris dance stuff, but have recently moved to Northumberland so have started playing that repetoire, and also have suddenly found a love for any irish tunes. I also play some swedish, lots of french, some german and belgian tunes.
4) I learn tunes 99.9% by ear. I can read music, but very, very slowly!
5) I used to play in public lots. I was in a ceilidh band and with a morris team. I'm still with a morris team, but only play the festivals in the summer in bands now (I really want to get into a band in the Newcastle area... hint...). And when I'm at University I play every day- I have to, I'm on a folk music degree.
6) Castanari 3 row- C#/D/G, all the time. It's gorgeous. Hohner Erica- D/G, it's knackered. Hohner 1 row- G, only for morris stuff at the moment. Also two anglo concertinas. A C/G and a D/G. I play all sorts on them.
7) Anything else. Hmmmmm...... I'm originally from hastings, sussex, I've played melodeon for 14 years now (since I was 6) and now I live in Newcastle Upon Tyne and I'm studying folk and traditional music at University.
|
|
Folkiekay
|
6#
|
Rank:none
Posts:85
Registered:30/06/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:25/08/2007 22:23:42)
I already sort of answered some of this on the other post, but I'm game again.
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon? Irish - but I didn't actually get a melodeon and start learning until I had changed my mind and decided I wanted to learn more of a French style of playing.
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon? All by myself mostly - with help from internet friends supplying me with CDs and cassette tapes and tablature. I learned my first tune by ear - one of Daniel Thonon's, and from there went to tab and used that for a year or more, and then began to play by ear by listening to a tune hundreds of times over and over, sometimes for weeks. I would actually make cassette tapes that held only one tune over and over and would listen until it was in my head all the way through, and then I would attempt to play it on my box. I still do that today if I am trying to learn someone else's tune. I invited internet accordionist friends to visit me in Texas from all over the world to kind of get a feel for their music and to be able to hear them in person. I made some wonderful friends this way and learned more about their styles of music.
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play? Now I compose most of my own music and play that, and it sort of has a style all its own. Probably a mish mash of everything else I've learned. I call it Euro-Texan, but I see where my friend John from Austin called it French Norwegian. I occasionally play a tune of someone else's - either French or Breton or Norwegian or Dutch or Finnish or Russian or German or Italian or conjunto or American.
4. How do you learn tunes? I compose them and that's a process in itself. Other tunes I learn by ear. Rarely by tab, but I would use it if I had it for a tune that I fell in love with. I don't ever play anything that doesn't move me. If I don't love it the first time I hear it, then I'm never going to love it or play it well.
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings? Mostly on the street on the weekends for 6 hours a night. Also private parties and festivals. I live in a very busy city - that considers itself to be the Music Capitol of the World. We have thousands of people passing by every night when we play on the streets.
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency? Bb/Eb, C/F, G/C, A/D
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"? I already had a background in music when I started playing melodeon. I had taken 14 years of classical piano lessons and 8 years of classical violin in another life. I have over 6000 diatonic accordion tunes on my iPod and that's what I listen to 8 hours a day (lately 12 hours a day) at my day job. I gave up TV and reading newspapers to learn to play and would practice at least 4 hours a night. Now I don't have that same kind of time with the overtime at work, so probably only practice an hour or two a night, and I play when I can't sleep and wake up at 3 a.m. Fortunately I'll be 56 in two years and able to retire from my day job with a pretty good pension, and I'll be able to play lots more. I seem always to be wishing away my life..<smile>
Kay
|
|
maggiemoore
|
7#
|
Rank:none
Posts:26
Registered:27/08/2006
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:25/08/2007 23:42:40)
Reply to : NorthernMelodeon
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon? A. Morris Dance
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon? A. Taught myself - already played piano and piano accordion, hammered dulcimer and guitar
3. What kinds of music do you now play? A. Anything I like, mainly on melodeon, from Classical to Folk.
4. How do you learn tunes? A.From the dots if I've got them, or from a recording, or from another player.
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings? A. Most weeks : Folk Club, Pub, Concert, Residential Homes, Workhop and Evening Classes(as a tutor).
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency? A. D/G Melodeon;Piano Accordion;Piano;D/G/C/F Hammered Dulcimer.
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"? A. I love the idea of using music to give people lots of happiness and fun, whether it's by playing something they like listening to, or that they can sing or play along with. I also passionately feel that each musician should have the greatest respect for another, and whoever starts should be listened to and played or sung along with - not bulldozed into playing like the majority.
Respect and encouragement at all times!! - Cheers Maggie Moore
|
|
Jackaspandy
|
8#
|
Rank:none
Posts:6
Registered:23/06/2007
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:26/08/2007 01:56:47)
Reply to : maggiemoore
OK here goes .........
. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon? English (in the form of Bernard Wrigley (even though he doesn't play the melodeon - I thought he did) and Swedish (in the form of the film Pelle the Conquerer)
How did you learn to play the melodeon? All self taught - in my bedroom with Handbook for Melodeon - by Roger Watson
What kinds of music do you _now_ play? British, French and Swedish
How do you learn tunes? I hear them as much as I can - until the tune is in my blood - and then read the music
How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings? Well I did a wedding in the last two weeks - apart from that I play with a fiddle player who tries to get me to play obscure Shetland jigs
Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency? D/G & C (and also the guitar)
Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"? Originally played for two years playing guitar in a bluegrass band playing alongside a mandolin - now with kids in a cottage by the sea - and find it difficult to play late at night - anyone know that feeling ?
Reply to : NorthernMelodeon1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon? A. Morris Dance2. How did you learn to play the melodeon? A. Taught myself - already played piano and piano accordion, hammered dulcimer and guitar3. What kinds of music do you now play? A. Anything I like, mainly on melodeon, from Classical to Folk.4. How do you learn tunes? A.From the dots if I've got them, or from a recording, or from another player.5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings? A. Most weeks : Folk Club, Pub, Concert, Residential Homes, Workhop and Evening Classes(as a tutor).6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency? A. D/G Melodeon;Piano Accordion;Piano;D/G/C/F Hammered Dulcimer.7. Anything else that would help others he
|
|
NorthernMelodeon
|
9#
|
Rank:none
Posts:346
Registered:27/06/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:26/08/2007 03:15:38)
This is great! I hope that we get more responses.
I notice a common thread in that many of us played other instruments before the melodeon. I forgot to mention that in my #7. I played trumpet, bass, and guitar for many years before "discovering" the melodeon. And _after_ learning to play the melodeon (an ongoing project), I began to play some clawhammer banjo. (So far, the only person subjected to that has been my one-year-old, who actually said "banjo" as one of his first words!)
-Andy
|
|
Lester Bailey
|
10#
|
Rank:none
Posts:344
Registered:27/06/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:26/08/2007 09:41:54)
What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon?English trad tunes but mostly failing knees whilst morris dancing.
How did you learn to play the melodeon?Self taught
What kinds of music do you now play?Mostly English with a sprinkling of French
How do you learn tunes?ABCs and ear (slowly)
How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings?Morris weekly in summer, Ceilidh band monthly or so (dependant on bookings) and sessions once/twice a week
Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency?D/G melodeon, D One Row, Streb (most keys  ), English Concertina
Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"Melodeon was my first instrument and the one that still confuses, the more you think you have mastered it the more you discover there is to l;earn.
|
|
Martin Ellison
|
11#
|
Rank:none
Posts:52
Registered:06/07/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:26/08/2007 13:38:31)
Reply to : NorthernMelodeon - This looked like a bit of fun so here's my two penneth (or however you spell it)
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon? Trad English. First songs (very late 60's/ early 70's), then got interested in some of the accompaniment on melodeons/concertinas, then heard tunes and was blown away - still am.
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon? "Self- taught" doesn't quite cover it - I listened, listened and listened to as many recorded players as I could (not very many at the time) and tried to analyse exactly what they were doing. Then practised until my arms were dropping off. So, big respect to those who taught me without knowing.
3. What kinds of music do you now play? Traditional English has always been at the heart of my repertoire but I'm open minded to tunes from elsewhere if I fancy them.
4. How do you learn tunes? By ear, always.
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings? Not as frequently as I used to but still do the odd dance or folk club - can't beat a good session though.
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency? D/G, C/F
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"? a)I still get excited by the sound of a melodeon from any culture and b) I'm still learning.
There, that was fun.
Martin
|
|
Txbear
|
12#
|
Rank:none
Posts:85
Registered:23/05/2007
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:26/08/2007 19:38:07)
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon? Cajun music at first and it is still my first love.
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon? Self taught also. I got a very quick start due to Dirk Powell's videos on the Cajun accordion. I recommend them highly for anyone. I listened, listened and listened to as many recorded players as I could. It is so important to have the music in your head. Then practised until my arms were dropping off. I find songs coming out of me that I know from somewhere, many times I have no idea what they are called or even if they have a name. Songs from childhood often times, or recordings from long ago. Part of the learning process is just "fiddling", playing scales, combinations of notes, trying things out, getting faster. Taking a tune and changing the timing, a note here and there, making it my own and discovering a "personal style"
3. What kinds of music do you now play? Cajun and traditional american/british/euro folk. Since I got a two row (a Paolo Soprani F/Bb), I have been exploring other music such as French as well. The odd tuning of the Paolo has opened up some interesting worlds completely at odds with Cajun music.
4. How do you learn tunes? By ear, from tablature and some from written music. The last two work best if I already know the tune.
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings? Infrequently, no more than once a month.
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency? one row C "cajun box", F/Bb
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"? a)I still get excited by the sound of a melodeon from any culture and b) I'm still learning. Ditto I am relatively new (less than 6 months) ever stop learning or exploring other forms.
|
|
H H
|
13#
|
Rank:none
Posts:4
Registered:10/02/2007
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:26/08/2007 23:18:58)
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon? Traditional Danish, and especially the great melodeon player Carl Erik Lundgaard Jensen. http://www.langlinken.dk http://www.langlinken.dk
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon? Mainly self taught, abandoning the melodeon for some years trying my luck with a bandoneon... but now I'm back in the melodeon business. Still learning how to play this some times very frustrating, but yet so wonderful instrument.
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play? Trad Danish and Swedish, some English, Shetland... Well, every thing I like really.
4. How do you learn tunes? Ear, dots.
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings? Used to be at least ones a month at a session with mainly fiddlers. This last year it's unfortunately only been one session and one park session/dance.
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency? D/G, used to own a B/C but it got driven down by a buss in Chelmsford...
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"? I started playing whistles, which wasn't especially popular with the girls... so I began playing jazz on the tenor sax, But of course I also kept playing trad music on whistles, sax, fiddle, and then CEL Jensen changed my life with his fantastic melodeon playing.
Hasse
|
|
Gus V
|
14#
|
Registered:24/08/2007
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:27/08/2007 01:27:48)
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon?
My father has been playing melodeon for as long as I've been alive. Also I got into Spiers and Boden.
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon?
Self taught mostly, listening and watching players since childhood helps as well.
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play?
I mainly play english, Morris and beyond.
4. How do you learn tunes?
Dots and Ear
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings?
I don't play Box in public all that much, when do I play in front of people I usually play fiddle.
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency?
G/D almost entirely. I have a C/G, but it doesn't have straps.
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"?
I play Fiddle and Mandolin as well as melodeon.
|
|
Kim Dent-Brown
|
15#
|
Rank:none
Posts:6
Registered:19/07/2007
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:27/08/2007 11:24:10)
What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon? Traditional English tunes: Spiers & Boden, Waterson:Carthy, Bob Roberts (Songs from the Sailing Barges), Playford.
How did you learn to play the melodeon? Still very much at the bottom of the curve! Learning from Mally's book, daily practice, listening to CDs for tunes to poach.
What kinds of music do you _now_ play? Session tunes from Mally's book and Morris to play for The Raving Maes, plus less bouncy accompaniments to songs for me to sing.
How do you learn tunes? By ear, but trying to make sense of dots as well. Getting to grips with abc to build a library of tunes to work on.
How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings? Haven't yet done so - maiden outing this Saturday at music night at friend's home. Will also play for practices for the Maes (not publicly at dance outs yet.)
Which instruments do you play (in terms of key) D/G
Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"? Have sung trad English songs for 30 years, more recently tried low whistle and mandolin but neither really worked as accompanying instruments (particularly the former, being blessed with only one mouth...) Love the non-exclusive championing of English music by Waterson:Carthy and others: celebratory without being triumphalist or nationalist.
|
|
BohemianCoast
|
16#
|
Rank:none
Posts:80
Registered:11/07/2005
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:27/08/2007 14:37:26)
My answers
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon?
Loud English folk music; I very much like electric bands with fiddle & melodeon fronting. I wanted to play an accompanying instrument, have never really got on with guitars (I'm ace at Guitar Hero, but that has *buttons*; it's a game about melodeons really). I also play piano (not very portable) and recorder (not good for accompanying, but I realised this weekend in a highly melodeon-hostile session at Towersey that I really should carry recorders with me to sessions to learn easy slow tunes in keys I can't play on the box). I should also mention my Oysterband obsession, and give credit to Liam Robinson of Mini Morris, who let me have a go on one of his Hohner one-rows at a workshop he ran, and I was absolutely smitten.
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon?
I'm still learning and don't expect to finish any time soon. I started with a couple of shows on Radio Britfolk by Paul Scourfield, especially the first one that goes from 'this is how you hold it' to playing Winster Gallop with its basses. I then moved on to, largely, the John Kirkpatrick videos. I have some books too. But mostly I just play tunes.
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play?
Overwhelmingly English dance tunes, plus a bit of French, and a little bit of singing accompaniment.
4. How do you learn tunes?
My favourite way is to pick them up a bit by ear first, and then go and find half a dozen different sets of dots for them and play it a few different ways. My problem is that I find it very hard to pick up the basses by ear, and when I apply the basses instinctively it leads to rather dull chord choice. But after that I think it's helpful to play the same tune in as many different contexts as possible.
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings?
Sessions, preferably Great Big Sessions in which I have lots of protective cover. The Simon Care sessions at Towersey (which he called 'Too Old for Shooting Roots') were fab, and there were hundreds of people. I also play in the scratch band at the folk club, open to anyone who turns up, which has been incredibly useful in helping me feel less embarrassed about my playing. There's usually about 4-6 of us. We are just, tentatively, thinking about joining a local morris side (actually North West clog, for all that we're in London), in which case I'd hope to play for them. My pipe dream, I think, is to front a nice loud electric band, singing and playing melodeon. I do not expect this to happen any time soon, but if you know a rhythm section in NE London looking for a singer, let me know.
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency?
D/G Serenellini Selli, nearly every day. G/C Castagnari Roma. (all keys) Streb. I sometimes play my husband's incredibly shabby Pokerwork too; I like the sound, but I find it incredibly hard to play, sort of like the difference between a manual and an electric typewriter (there must be people here who remember typewriters?).
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from?"
I sort of wish that I'd taken this instrument up as a child; I'm immensely envious of people with all their lives and time to play whatever they want. But I try not to sulk about this -- I don't actually have much time for Mallinson's attitude of 'I started too late to be a virtuoso' because there are plenty of skills where it's unusual or impossible to begin them as a child and yet people do very well with them. Plus I did have the benefit of early general musical training (including the piano/keyboard finger skill and strength that is so useful for melodeon). Also, the more I learn, the more of a beginner I feel.
|
|
ringsmith
|
17#
|
Rank:none
Posts:54
Registered:26/01/2005
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:27/08/2007 17:07:04)
Reply to : NorthernMelodeon
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon? ffice ffice" / onload='javascript:showImageWidth(this,600,600)' class='AutoImageWidthTopic' style='cursor:poionter'>
It wasn't music as much as inheriting my Grandmothers saxony built C/C#, being challenged by my daughter to play something & being captivated by the sound & the ease with which I could knock out a tune ( funny, it seems to have got harder since ! )
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon?
Persuaded the management to buy me a Pokerwork for my 50th with Mally's book & CD, joined a morris side & started playing & dancing. Also Melnet has helped immensely with the good humoured advice & information from all & sundry - I wouldn't have got as far as I have without it
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play?
Border Morris tunes, the regular stuff that comes up at the sides sessions & anything else that seems to fit on a box (Ode to Joy, Nellie the Elephant & American Patrol & lots of other oddball stuff )
4. How do you learn tunes?
By ear & fumbling around the buttons - Lesters comprehensive collection of tunes has helped a lot, they get played through the earphones when I need to concentrate at work & have crept into the repertoire subliminally. If I start to look at the dots I mostly recognise the tune in the first couple of bars & don't look at the rest ( very lazy, but it works for me )
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings?
Every Monday for practice, occasional sessions, dancing out as often as possible & any party when they want people to go home
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency?
Melodeon in D & G - as to any other keys I play in I don't know, I also fool around on mandolin, tenor banjo, ukulele, whistles & recorder in whatever key fits
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"?
I'm having FUN playing & dancing with the friendliest, most welcoming group of people it's ever been my good fortune to come across - my biggest musical regret is that I didn't find this fascinating instrument & meet the lovely nutters that play it 30 years ago - still I've got the rest of the lifetime to try & learn as much as I can about boxes ( Sorry if I'm gushing, but I'm in melodeon withdrawal just now, my left shoulder got severely crunched while I was surfing on holiday & I wont be able to pick a box up for WEEKS !, Aaarrrgghh !! )
|
|
Dazbo
|
18#
|
Registered:08/08/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:27/08/2007 21:10:29)
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon?
English Trad
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon?
Mally's original book
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play?
English, some French and Italian and the odd scandi or irish tune that's sneaked in
4. How do you learn tunes?
From dots. Parts of tune by ear but there's always bits I don't seem to be able to get.
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings?
Couple of sessions a month and for morris as and when
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency?
D/G, D, C/F
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"?
Fun to play. After trying many instruments over the years (recorder,trumpet, guitar, flute, concertina) fell into melodeons almost by accident (if someone had produced a tutor for playing anglos in an English style I'd never haved tried a melodeon) and fell in love with it almost at first play.
|
|
Pete-of-Ebor
|
19#
|
Rank:none
Posts:65
Registered:16/03/2005
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:27/08/2007 22:10:54)
Reply to : NorthernMelodeon
Hello Melodeonistas,In light of the OT ramblings on another thread, I thought it would be a good idea to have a kind of survey that would allow us to see who is here (even lurkers!) and what their interests are. I propose these questions, feel free to answer any or all. The purpose is to get to know each other (again)! If it sparks interest in a side topic, that would be a good occasion to start a new thread.1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon?2. How did you learn to play the melodeon?3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play?4. How do you learn tunes?5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings?6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency?7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are comin
1) What kind of music ? Virtually exclusively Morris. What I knew of other Folk styles coule be written on the back of a postage stamp with a paintbrush
2) How did I learn ? A friend in the Moris team came into a bit of money and bought a melodeon. He then went off to China for 3 weeks, and I borrowed the box. By the time he came back, I could play 3 or 4 tunes for the team.
3) Now play ? Morris, general folk dance/ceilidh stuff and some what I call "rubbish" like 1960's TV & film themes (especially kids programmes from that era - mainly because I remember them, particularly the Trumpton, Camberwick Green & Chigley trilogy!) - basically anything that "fits" on a D/G
4) How do I learn ? only by ear. Can't read a single dot.. Dots or ABC don't mean a thing to me.
5) Play in public ? Difficult. Every Monday night from June - End August, Ebor Morris "perform" in York City Centre, as well as doing about 6 paid bookings & 4 Weekend perfromances each year. The Bad Bargain Band, which consists of members of the Morris Team also does about 8-10 ceilidhs per year.
|
|
Pete-of-Ebor
|
20#
|
Rank:none
Posts:65
Registered:16/03/2005
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:27/08/2007 22:16:25)
Reply to : Pete-of-Ebor
Reply to : NorthernMelodeonHello Melodeonistas,In light of the OT ramblings on another thread, I thought it would be a good idea to have a kind of survey that would allow us to see who is here (even lurkers!) and what their interests are. I propose these questions, feel free to answer any or all. The purpose is to get to know each other (again)! If it sparks interest in a side topic, that would be a good occasion to start a new thread.1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon?2. How did you learn to play the melodeon?3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play?4. How do you learn tunes?5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings?6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency?7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you
Sorry, I forgot to answer 6 & 7 ..
6) Instruments ? Bog stangard D/G pokerwork and Saltarelle 2 1/2 row. I have been known to play guitar for The bad Bargain Band, but only in the direst of circumstances.
7) Anything else.. Don't think so..
|
|
ian_at_macs
|
21#
|
Rank:none
Posts:22
Registered:08/01/2006
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:28/08/2007 01:49:43)
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon? Morris, then Flowers & Frolics, then Australian bushdancing, then Irish ...
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon? By mucking around with the buttons and bellows
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play? mostly Irish and some old Australian tunes
4. How do you learn tunes? Listening and then using music (if available) to pick up the finer points.
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings? Ceili bands, Bush bands, sessions - about once a month
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency? D/G, C/F
|
|
NorthernMelodeon
|
22#
|
Rank:none
Posts:346
Registered:27/06/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:28/08/2007 03:33:00)
Hey Ian,
What is Bush dancing? And what are Bush bands? I mean, what kind of music are we talking about, and Australian relative of the Celtic family, or what?
Sorry for my ignorance, I'm just curious since I've never heard of this before,
-Andy
|
|
A Nonny Mouse Esq
|
23#
|
Rank:none
Posts:122
Registered:26/09/2005
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:28/08/2007 08:34:20)
Reply to : NorthernMelodeon
Hey Ian,What is Bush dancing? And what are Bush bands? I mean, what kind of music are we talking about, and Australian relative of the Celtic family, or what?Sorry for my ignorance, I'm just curious since I've never heard of this before,-Andy
Never heard of Kate Bush and her Band?
Squeak.
|
|
Polkaholic
|
24#
|
Rank:none
Posts:316
Registered:18/07/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:28/08/2007 15:17:33)
Bush dancing is simply the Ozzie equivalent of country dancing, ceili dancing, contradancing or whatever social folk dancing gets done in your neck of the woods. "Bush" means roughly "country" - as in anywhere outside the cities. The music and the dances have strong Irish roots but have evolved into a distinct Australian tradition. Bush bands are by and large dance bands although most of them will also sing and do pub gigs etc. At least that's what it all looked like when I was there 25 years ago, Ian or Malcolm can doubytless correct me or refine the definitions.
Steve
|
|
Fee
|
25#
|
Registered:28/03/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:28/08/2007 18:19:52)
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon?
Eliza Carthy's Red Rice album (then I thought about it for a few years) and then I saw John and Jon perform and that was it! So that would be English Trad then...
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon?
Initially Mally and I've had some lessons (which I must get organised again, I have been slacking), and workshops, and footling about on my own. I'm still learning. I think I always will be!
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play?
English Trad. And am leaning towards some Blowzabella for a big challenge.
4. How do you learn tunes?
Dots and ear. Or just ear. I need to have heard a tune before I can play it, I can't sight read. ABC is a mystery to me.
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings?
Not often. I suspect I'll be playing a lot more for morris, as I used to with my previous side (I can't dance for a bit) so that'll be once a week (if 'public' means rehearsals) and then in the session after. I don't have a lot of time!
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency?
D/G Saltarelle (I love it), D/G Pokerwork (I love that too, in a different way). Also have a one row in D and one in C.
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"?
I can't play things you have to blow down, it makes me dizzy. I tried guitar for a bit but that didn't agree with me. I play piano very very very badly indeed but it's not what you could call portable. So I think the melodeon was kind of fated for me, it was love at first squeeze. And I must admit I like the fact so many non folk people think it quite an odd instrument to play!
|
|
press on regardless
|
26#
|
Rank:none
Posts:88
Registered:03/01/2006
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:28/08/2007 22:42:29)
There dont seem to be many beginners responding so here is my two pennysworth.
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon?
Listening to and watching all kinds of musicians for all of my adult life and thinking I wish........... But have always liked the sound of sqeezeboxes in general, think this down to hearing them played in pubs in my youth.
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon?
Haven't really got ant further in 2 years than knocking out very basic tunes with even more basic base accompaniment. Have tried Mally, Watson and Maggie's Melodeon, which was the best for me. By far the best learning process though was going to a slow session run by a lovely man who inspires everybody to try,(thankyou John). Also learnt by going to normal sessions using the listen and lurk method.
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play
English folk and morris because that is what I come into contact with but am looking forward to the day when I am competent enough to make all sorts of other stuff work.
4. How do you learn tunes?
When I first started by dots. I learnt to read dots (as opposed to reading music) quite early but soon realised written music was never going to convey timing rythym etc to me. So now its a combination but I am going more and more towards ear which is my holy grail. But for a naturally non musical person this is a very long slow process.
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings?
In sessions once or twice a week.
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency?
DG box only. Can't play anything else
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"?
The melodeon to me is a genuine instrument of the people. It enables non musicians to join in at a very basic level and experience the joy of playing together, something I only discovered at 53 years of age, and up till then thought I never would. By and large the accompished musicians playing boxes are very tolerant and welcoming of others who are not naturally musical and this all adds to the magic. For the record I would like to say to all the natural musicians out there what a thrill it is for us others to be able to participate.
|
|
ian_at_macs
|
27#
|
Rank:none
Posts:22
Registered:08/01/2006
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:29/08/2007 04:26:23)
Polkaholic gave a good description of Australian 'Bush' music, although it's become very marginalised in the local music scene these days. There was a bit of cultural romanticism during the 70's folk revival when the concept of an authentic Aussie 'bush band' playing mostly homemade instruments for dances was popular.
We play local versions of irish and english tunes for bush dances along with some homegrown tunes such as Frog Puddles, which were picked up from old players in the bush.
Recordings of the old boys who played [often solo] for dances in the bush have great rhythm & lift - which I hope will be rediscoverd and appreciated by younger generations of musicians down the track. A good link for info on bush songs in particular is here
here endeth the lesson :-)
Reply to : NorthernMelodeon
Hey Ian,What is Bush dancing? And what are Bush bands? I mean, what kind of music are we talking about, and Australian relative of the Celtic family, or what?Sorry for my ignorance, I'm just curious since I've never heard of this before,-Andy
|
|
simonw
|
28#
|
Rank:none
Posts:114
Registered:28/06/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:29/08/2007 19:49:43)
Reply to : NorthernMelodeon
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon? Like many here I joined a morris team. I was already a whistle player but realised that I couldn't compete in volume with melodeons and P A's so bought a 1-row then graduated to a 2 row. Ironically I now much prefer fiddle accompaniment for morris.
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon? Self taught by ear. At the time the only tutor books were Roger Watson's and one by Tufty Swift on the one row. I probably learnt most by sitting in at a very good local session with some excellent musicians gave me a basic tune repertoire and allowed me to find my way round the box. I was inspired by The English Melodeon Players album (Thanks Martin!) and the great Dave Roberts then attended a Blowzabella workshop with Frederic Paris, Andy Cutting and Michel Pichon (whatever happened to him?)which opened my eyes and ears to the wonderful world of French melodeon music.
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play? Mainly English trad - I particularly like the one row repertoire but the republishing of lots of musicians manuscript books is also inspiring. I also play French & Italian stuff and a little bit of Irish and Swedish. With three small children I have had to narrow my focus somewhat
4. How do you learn tunes? Now I learn by a mixture of using dots or by ear and attending workshops.
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings? Weekly in sessions or for dance teams (mainly a step dance team probably my favourite thing to play for). I play fiddle in a dance band about once a month.
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency? A Dino Baffetti Black pearl D/G , Castagnari Sander D/G, Hohner 1 row in C, Castagnari Max in D. Manning 1 row in C.
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"? I love the physicality of playing the melodeon and the fact that something so apparently simple and limited can be infinitely complex and varied. For me its about making the music as danceable as possible and trying to keep the inner swing and rhythm going. I try to achieve a lightness of touch on both ends of the box.
Simon
|
| Support us |
Just click the links below and your donations will make a difference here. |
|
|
|
NorthernMelodeon
|
29#
|
Rank:none
Posts:346
Registered:27/06/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:30/08/2007 03:38:26)
Reply to : ian_at_macs
Polkaholic gave a good description of Australian 'Bush' music, although it's become very marginalised in the local music scene these days. There was a bit of cultural romanticism during the 70's folk revival when the concept of an authentic Aussie 'bush band' playing mostly homemade instruments for dances was popular.We play local versions of irish and english tunes for bush dances along with some homegrown tunes such as Frog Puddles, which were picked up from old players in the bush.Recordings of the old boys who played [often solo] for dances in the bush have great rhythm & lift - which I hope will be rediscoverd and appreciated by younger generations of musicians down the track.
Thanks, Ian and Steve.
What kinds of boxes are typically played, and in which keys? Do you see more concertinas, button accordions, or piano accordions among bush musicians?
Years ago I saw a pic of a box that Stormy Hyde made, a button accordion with concertina-style leather bellows, which was perhaps for a bush musician?
-Andy
|
|
ian_at_macs
|
30#
|
Rank:none
Posts:22
Registered:08/01/2006
Time spent: 0 hours
|
(Date Posted:30/08/2007 05:44:14)
The single-row melodeon in C with all the stops is considered the 'standard' box for playing traditional Australian tunes, although the Mezon Grand Organ with bronze reeds tuned to A was very sought after by some old players - who would just play the tunes in A major and the related keys. Concertinas and fiddles were popular because they were easy to carry over long distances in the outback.
Malcolm knows a lot more about these instruments than I ever will!
|
|
|
