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Chapin
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61#
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Rank:none
Posts:12
Registered:16/09/2007
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:24/09/2007 03:23:58)
Hello, I am Gary Chapin, father of five in Maine, USA. I teach social studies in High School, and am preparing to join a doctoral program at the University of Maine. I also play the melodeon.
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon?
Originally, Irish music. I was a flute player (had a beautiful Copeland keyless that I've long since traded for box stuff). Then I discovered the web page of Sylvain Piron (www.tradfrance.com) and began learning French music. I was given the loan of a wonderful A/D pokerwork. Having that box on long term loan and this wonderful new repertoire really lit my fire.
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon?
Mostly by myself, with e-mailed tutorial from Sylvain.
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play?
Almost entirely French music from central France and Alsace, and Breton music. This stuff has really become the joy of my life. Sylvain and his family have become good friends. They've visited here twice. I've gone to Alsace once. Each visit was fantastic and filled with melodeon wonderment.
4. How do you learn tunes?
By ear, when a tune really catches me (like "The Cambric Shirt" on the first Dr. Faustus has me currently bedeviled). I will read music to speed up the learning process. Also, sometimes, I'll just go through the Massif Central tune books to look for "something new."
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings?
Maybe twelve times a year. Mostly in the summer. Once the school year starts, I'm just too busy.
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency?
Let me see ... G/C Salterelle Pastorelle ... G/C Giordy ... G/C Hohner Corso. I've gotten interested in getting a D/G (I love brit folk music, I really do), but I feel like the difference in range (the D/G being much more highly pitched) creates a different "standard practice." I just haven't made the step yet. The Button Box (Sunderland, Mass) has a beautiful A/D/G Castagnari Rik for sale, used (www.buttonbox.com). If I had but $2,500 to spare, the commitment would be made.
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"?
Melodeon makes me happy. When I play it, everyone in the room is happy. Melodeon is a counter-argument to those who would have us all become world-weary realists.
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guypjwyatt
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62#
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Rank:none
Posts:1
Registered:25/09/2007
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:25/09/2007 19:33:25)
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
About time I actually contributed something to this forum instead of just reading.
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon?
Morris music essentially. I got involved with morris rather reluctantly, then discovered I liked the tunes.
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon?
I had a borrowed one kicking around the house for a while. In reality my learning started with George Garside's workshops for complete numpties at Whitby. (Thanks George). I had a go with Dave Mallinson's book but didn't find that it worked for me, save that it told me what the buttons did. Essentially I just ground away at the dots with occasional advice from friends. I also now have regular workshops with Brian Peters who regularly treks over to Sheffield.
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play?
Morris tunes, but of course that includes a wide range of stuff, the various morris sides that my wife and I associated with use tunes from many sources besides traditional English tunes; Swedish, French, Manx, Scots. One of the tunes I am working on at present is a sort of Morris pastiche of Beethoven's Ode to Joy. Possibly when played by me it is more an Ode to a mild degree of satisfaction.
4. How do you learn tunes?
Slowly, painfully and exclusively from the dots.
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings?
Well, er.... never. But I am working on it.
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency?
D/G Bernard Loffet Petit. A fabulous box that I bought from Lin Erica of this forum. Thanks Lin. (and Bernard). I borrowed an ancient Erica for a while as well.
Cheers,
Guy
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NorthernMelodeon
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63#
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Rank:none
Posts:346
Registered:27/06/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:25/09/2007 23:47:50)
Reply to : Chapin
Hello, I am Gary Chapin, father of five in Maine, USA.
Hey Gary,
Good to 'see' you here!
-Andy
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clivewilliams
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64#
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Rank:none
Posts:65
Registered:28/06/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:26/09/2007 16:43:20)
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon?
Hearing/seeing John Kirkpatrick, followed by such fine people as Roger Watson, Martin Ellison (hi there!), and Andy Cutting...
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon?
Initially off a 2 page article in Folk Roots by Rod Stradling! Anyone else remember that? As succinct a description on how to play the melodeon in text as I've ever seen. Never really got on with Mally's books, but did give them a look. Folkworks workshops with Andy Cutting/Marc Perrone were *very* influential...
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play?
Gentle slow trad english stuff, and french trad dance music with Vivant, more upbeat French/English/Breton stuff with GIG CB!, and plenty of full on english dance music with various local bands.
4. How do you learn tunes?
By ear only, can't read music at all well. My mobile phone makes a good recorder should I hear a tune at a session that I like.
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings?
Not as frequently as I used to! 7 month old son, don't you know? Occasional ceilidh with GIG CB, local sessions. Very occasional entirely acoustic gigs in the local church with Vivant which are rather special.
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency?
Mostly D/G and C/F. Occasionally A/D. Fairly often, I cheat and use the Streb which is a marvellous thing. Favourite keys? Ooh, maybe E/A, maybe Bb/Eb...
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"?
I've rediscovered my Hohner Pokerwork. It's *fantastic* for English trad music. Not that I don't love the Castagnari's and Streb - they just do a different job.
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berlinbry
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65#
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Registered:04/07/2007
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:28/09/2007 02:42:42)
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon?
Many years ago Morris, The Black Horse Folk Club and excellent sessions in Hasting, East Sussex. At the time I was also part of a three piece folk band called Stinking Billy (a flower called Sweet William by the English.. part of the "civil war" of the UK). We used to play at the Black Horse folk club, which I recently discovered was closed down some years ago? Seems to exist as a festival now. In the band I was more vocals and front man.. getting the audience "up" for the guest bands.. great fun!
I then moved to my current abode in Berlin, Germany and, to cut a longish story short I decided I really should focus on one instrument. I was messing about with guitar, banjo and melodeon. Then I become a father. I was spending more time with kids at e.g. camps, both here in Germany and internationally. The melodeon (a D/G Pokerwork) fit the bill for robustness (anyone with kids will know that they love to get hold and squeeze!) - flexibility - songs, dances and various other "performances". I was musically illiterate and if someone asked me for an A I would tell them in all honesty that I had no idea where it was on my trusty Pokerwork.
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon?
Totally isolated apart from the first couple of months. I then moved to where I now still live, Berlin, Germany. I simply listened to the song, tune or someone humming a tune and messed about until I found it somewhere on the Pokerwork. Fitting the basses and chords in later to sound OK. For years I was the only melodeon player I knew  .
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play?
Mainly English (see Chris Wood's paper on the political, philopsophical angle to this) traditional folk but my experience with children has left me with all sorts of stuff from lullabies (yes on a melodeon!) to traditional Lancashire songs (I'm originally from Blackburn) Irish, Scottish. My criteria - do I like it or do people I know like it and want to sing or dance to the tune.
4. How do you learn tunes?
I've always, until this year, learned by ear. I use a program called Noteworthy Composer which "plays" the tune on the computer. Eventually when I "know" the tune I then just play it until I like the sound. Technical words like dynamics, staccato, phrasing now pepper my vocabulary but I simply trust my ear and what intuitively sounds fine to me.
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings?
I found myself living opposite a small, cosy Irish Pub here in Berlin and it was rather convenient just to pop across and if there was any sort of session going nip back home and get my box. Ad hoc sessions where frequent but exactly that ad hoc.
Being an Irish pub Irish tunes prevailed but I was always made to feel welcome and I continued to bash out Salmon Tails, Jenny Lind, Uncle Bernard's and some other tunes I'd learned but didn't even know the name of! Plus getting in the occasional Lancashire Song like Rossandale (actually Music Hall but still...).
Taking the initiative as I moved flat and the Pub was no longer opposite I instigated a regular monthly session (i.e. not ad hoc.. although that still happens) which has now been going for a couple of years.
Right from the beginning I was determined to encourage the type of session I had experienced many years ago in Hasting i.e. a full mixture of tunes, songs, recitals of monologues and poems etc etc.
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency?
a recently acquired Saltarelle Connemara II D/G and my trusty Pokerwork D/G currently being given its first "once over", by Len Killick (see below), since I bought it in Hastings eons ago .
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"?
Well .. leaping from the Pokerwork to the Connemara II, some 6 months ago, was an epiphanous moment. I had the Connemara II on trial from Len Killick in Worms (that's a town not an affliction . I knew within 5 minutes this was something special.
From stinging like a bee to floating like a butterfly (I'm still some way from the butterfly stage.. but it is developing). Then in August this year I spent a week at the Folk Camp that Len and Hedi Killick organise in Franken (Northern Bavaria). I met so many friendly, helpful and genuinely supportive people (German, Dutch, English, American) who were all into English traditional music. For the first time I started to learn what the buttons are (e.g. I can now give my session playing string players the A that they've be yearning for
I have found this forum extremely helpful and have spent hours following discussions that until recently would have been "Chinese" , as they say here in Germany - cross rowing, minor chords etc etc, .
The search tip - site:aimoo.com "search term" - has proven extremely useful. I hope the planned reorganistion goes well as this forum is really my only chance to tap into advice on the best instrument on the planet
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ButtonUp
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66#
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Rank:none
Posts:12
Registered:14/09/2005
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:28/09/2007 02:52:26)
It is really great to learn about all of you other melodeonees here, and has helped me realise what a great community of talented yet totally insane people we are.
Claire
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Martin_Roberts
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67#
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Rank:none
Posts:1
Registered:13/09/2007
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:02/10/2007 01:03:05)
Reply to : Old Leaky
Hi - here's my input .. at least you can see the forum extends to the very lowest novice!
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon?
I've always had a soft spot for a certain kind of edgy folk sound, that reflected life's reality, so not a great fan of what's commercially termed folk in the music shops - thank goodness I've found real people who play real music but you have to search it out - I've a blues roots really as a guitar player - but I got the bug over the last two years visiting the Broadstairs folk festival .. I'm learning the tin whistle at present but searching for the first D/G melodeon.
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon?
Good question! I've got all that before me! - I've joined the local Morris and they've been really helpful in just letting me tag along , I've sourced the books from "Mally" and just looking to get started - I can just about bash out a simple tune from a Hoffner Concertina (by ear) so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that with application I can get going and at some point in the future get to join the lads performing . .
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play?
At present I'm focused on Morris but I really like the songs Crucible play, Show of Hands, and some Irish ballards .. as a starter
4. How do you learn tunes?
With Guitar I tend to play by ear and pick it up - better if I have some music to guide. With the whistle I'm finding that I really need to read the music so I'm hoping this will support my learning the melodeon.
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings?
Not often! but let's see how the playing with the Morris works - most likely joining the informal singing and drinks at the end of the formal dance performance for starters ..
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency?
Well in my collection includes several Guitars (Acoustic/Electric), Banjo, 20 key Anglo Concertina, Tin Whislte D & C, and a big gap waiting to be filled with the Melodeon starting with D/G.
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"?
Just eager to learn from the bottom up and at least get familiar with the best place to start - I find the variety of keys and extra notes a bit confusing at present, and what make do you go for? - obviously I'm intending to make a hefty investment in a musical instrument - you need it to be playable , be of good quality, be a pleasure to own and have have capacity for it to "grow" with you ... so more to learn on that front.
If you've read this far well done !
Have fun out there you all!
Reply to : NorthernMelodeon1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon? IRISH TRADITIONAL a la Jackie Daly, Joe Burke etc.2. How did you learn to play the melodeon? BY EAR, no tuition apart from a few workshops. Oh, there was also the much maligned (though I don't agree) "The Box - A Beginners Guide to the Irish Traditional Button Accordion" byDavid Hanrahan.3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play? Er, IRISH TRADITIONAL! So many tunes, so liitle time...4. How do you learn tunes? BY EAR as I CAN'T READ, playing along with CDs (assuming the tune's in the same pitch or a key I can half figure outand muddle along with!)5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings? ONCE WE
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piobbear
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68#
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Rank:none
Posts:8
Registered:16/11/2005
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:25/10/2007 05:34:56)
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon?
Some old time cajun, I reckon. Then I found a tiny little 0ne row, 2 bass in an antique store and figured some stuff out.
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon?
I already played diatonic harmonica, so learning by ear was easy.
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play?
Some Celtic, and Scots and Irish folk.
4. How do you learn tunes?
By bloody minded repetition. Mostly by ear, and some by note, transferred to ear.
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings?
Monthly at bars, and in summer at festivals.
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency?
G/C anglo concertina, with the 2 row G/C in the mail.
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"?
I am a dilettante, and love music more than anything. I've gone from guitar to mandolin to fiddle to banjo to whistles. I can't stay off of stages either, and do all I can to perform and entertain.
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Brinwins
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69#
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Registered:18/06/2007
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:25/10/2007 21:59:27)
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon?
I was in fact inspired to play the melodeon by the uniqueness and simplicity of the melodeon itself. I have always loved old things, I love antique shops and all their old prints and nice items of interest, i can remember at the age of about 6 wondering around my grandads huge house looking at all the objects he had colected and asking them about them. I infact first encountered the melodeon when i iwas at my best freinds 17th and his mom liked old things too and somewhere along the lines they had come across this:   as you would expect at a 17 year olds party we were all roaringly drunk and I sudenly noticed it on a shelf sort of being used as a display piece "wow that beutifull I thourght" what on earth could it be!? I had never seen a melodeon in my life but upon messing around with it I realised that it was a small accordeon-like object "what oh you press these and then these at the same time" later when i got home the next day I kept looking into melodeons and what they were and how they worked I had some money saved and after evry time i went to his house inspecting and messing around with the old melodeon I decided I would realy like to learn how to play it. I saw youtube videos and recordings and I bourght a scarlatti cajun box (it was terrible) but I had realy good fun with it. I then moved on to a hohner 2 row and now putting investigation into forther advances. Ive tryed castagnari's and saltarelles in shops.
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon?
When I started I got the dirk powel learn to play cajun accordion dvd and learned from that, I later found out that there was like no music around for 1 row and it was limiting so i got the hohner 2 row and learned from dave malisons "absolute beginners book" - wich is realy good! it also showed me how to read music
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play?
Ive been listening to lots of diferent stuff but I realy just like the music of the British isles: england island and scotland and wales. But then theres Like belgian and sweedish is realy good aswell... I guess you gould say theres a whole world of great music that im only just discovering after the basic things teenagers listen to has worn off: stuff like "children of bodom" "black label society" and metallica
4. How do you learn tunes?
I read sheet music to some degree, I learned from dave malisons beginers book and now im ordering "nick barbers english choice" as it looks like a great option for me very in line with what i like
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings?
hmm, I went busking once! That was fun, but i havent realy been in public much apart from a few sessions but I realy like playing with my freind charlie who plays guitar (he goes to music college so im a bit outchlassed tho)
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency?
I used to play my dads bass guitar that he didnt use... Now the only instrment I play is... well, whats the best instrument on earth?
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"?
I used to play my dads borowed bass in a small band with my freinds, but thats was little mopre than a "yeah lets be in a band!" stage when i was about 14 (im now 17)
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bdr
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70#
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Rank:none
Posts:2
Registered:04/12/2004
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:25/10/2007 22:52:13)
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
Oh go on, then - 2 messages in 3 years isn't really excessive... (nice thread, by the way)
1. The usual, I guess - English/Irish/Scottish stuff that I've been listening to on and off most of my life... Big bias towards learning English stuff at the moment, cos I'm English, and we've got some blurry good music!
2. By picking it up and playing with it! And paying attention when my French mate David (Coussineau) talks about playing the melodeon! (Plus all the info I've gleaned here...thanks!)
3. See 1.
4. Anyway I can...usually by ear, but I can read music if I'm stuck.
5. Never (yet).
6. 1-row pokerwork in G. That's the only one I've got, and it's great fun!
7. Live on my boat in W France - playing the box at sea is the best!!
Brian.
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Brinwins
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71#
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Registered:18/06/2007
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:25/10/2007 23:34:34)
Reply to : Chapin
Melodeon makes me happy. When I play it, everyone in the room is happy.
I couldent agree more, its great like that. I like to play it evry day after college and it of brightens me up. Not to say that I dont enjoy collage ... wait after college? hell I play it all the time! even in small work breaks dureing the day when im working at home
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berlinbry
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72#
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Registered:04/07/2007
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:30/10/2007 21:43:41)
Reply to : Brinwins
Reply to : ChapinMelodeon makes me happy. When I play it, everyone in the room is happy.I couldent agree more, its great like that. I like to play it evry day after college and it of brightens me up. Not to say that I dont enjoy collage ... wait after college? hell I play it all the time! even in small work breaks dureing the day when im working at home
Some years ago I started taking my Pokerwork (D/G) with me - it fits nicely into my rucksack -when invited to a party or "do" of some kind here in ffice:smarttags" / onload='javascript:showImageWidth(this,600,600)' class='AutoImageWidthTopic' style='cursor:poionter'>Berlin.ffice ffice" / onload='javascript:showImageWidth(this,600,600)' class='AutoImageWidthTopic' style='cursor:poionter'>
These have varied from private birthday parties to a Winter Solstice evening in a small Kneipe (bar) or a spot on "The Night of the Museums" in the Hanf Museum to Christmas Parties.. etc
The addition of a bit of live music .. transforms them to something out of the ordinary... we all have that CD syndrome (i.e. readily accessible recorded music) The affect not 100% guaranteed, you'll understand, which adds to the fun. The Berliner Schnauze ist, doch, weltweit bekannt! They call a spade a spade in Berlin. Suits a Northern English bloke like myself well
What I've got to wondering about is: What does "playing in public" mean?
What I'm trying to say is that in my experience a bit of the old live music... whatever the tune.. supplied by a trusty old melodeon.. in whatever "public" ... gets the "public" moving.
Music is a participative sport not a spectator sport... if you know what I mean.
The direct effect is a whole lot of fun for lots of mini-publics.
Just a thought. J
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pushpullefty
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73#
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Rank:none
Posts:15
Registered:25/09/2007
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:02/11/2007 07:46:40)
My contributiion to the survey:
1.What kind of Music initially inspired you to take up the Melodeon?
I have to say it was Irish Traditional Music. That really did the damage, although a bit of Aussie bush band stuff in the seventies would have paved the way. The National Folk Festival in Brisbane 1974 Introduced me to a world of Musics, and I really loved all the squeezebox stuff, Old Time Aussie, Morris, Irish, Concertinas, Melodeons. The lot! I used to go into the big music shop in Brisbane and lust over the Hohners, but that was 1973 and before I was allowed near money!
2.How did you learn to play the Melodeon?
I'd been playing Harmonica from an early age, and still don't perceive a difference between Diatonic Accordions and Harmonica's.The Bellows and the mouth/fingers thing isn't really that important. When I picked up my first box, a Hohner Pokerwork DG, after making it left handed I learned 'The Wise Maid' not a bad first tune. Simon Melior(dec.) and I were sharing a house, I just watched him as much as I could.
3. What kinds of Music do you now play?
Irish Traditional Music. Cajun Music. I'm primarily a tune player. I'm Australian, and in Australia so it's really all Australian Music!!! I accompany songs in what ever style seems appropriate. This leads to some really bazzare styles you normally wouldn't go near on a box. I have played in rock bands. Thunder Road. Now that's a tune to play on a Cajun box! I dare say I would have been playing Rock music then! Reggae is quite interesting, Modern Christian music can lead you down some unexpected paths, but they seem to prefer Piano Accordions. That's OK by me, I'm happy to just leave them to it. Country music can be fun.
4. How do you learn tunes?
By ear. Then from books like the Bulmers series, Brechtnach, O'Neils etc. Then by ear again. Off records, and off guys who had learned off records. Going to folk festivals and taping sessions and concerts. Anybody going to Ireland had a duty to bring back tapes of sessions, the conents of which would be shared out after they came back to Aust. My brother played Irish flute, so I'd get him to teach me tunes. I was living with a Fiddler at one stage. Every night after dinner we'd learn more tunes. You go to the session. You learn more tunes. Thats how it works?
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings?
At the moment it's just a once a week ITM session. Bands have come and gone, covering a range of styles. I've played many many Folk Festivals all around the country, Usually Cajun music, but sessioning always with the Irish mob. We used to have a Cajun dance thing with a woman who taught the dances and our band 'Cajun Roux' would do the music. The dancing woman kind of went out of control though. Unfortunate business! Any gigs going, we'd have a go at. It used to be much better for folk bands, and we also had a Folk/Irish band that played Weddings, Parties, Pub gigs, anything.
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency?
At the moment, because I'm only playing ITM, it's my old grey Hohner Erica C#D with the wooden fingerboard, it has Salpha a mano reeds I got from Frank Romano at FRM Enterprises, Montreal. I have a Baffetti C#D, a Hohner Corona 2 GCF, two Acadians D & C, both needing reeds replaced. All these boxes are lefthanded.
7. Anything else that would help others here understand 'where you're coming from'?
All of you guys are great. What ever you do, what ever styles of music you're in to, NONE of you are allowed to give up on your boxes OK?
Just remember there are a lot of Piano Accordionists out there who's sole purpose seems to be to learn Button Box styles of music, and then claim them as their own, in the same breath denying that we actually exist! We can't let that happen!! Our music and our weird, musically restricted instruments are great. Don't EVER forget it! PLAY ON.
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Martin Milner
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74#
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Rank:none
Posts:205
Registered:17/08/2005
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:04/11/2007 16:12:50)
1. What kind of music initially inspired you to take up the melodeon? English dance tunes
2. How did you learn to play the melodeon? I bought a couple of books to get me started, Watson was one, but I never got to the end of either of them before I started selecting tunes from other sources. I prefer to have the required chords indicated.
3. What kinds of music do you _now_ play? Morris tunes and general English dance tunes.
4. How do you learn tunes? Usually from the printed page, but occasionally if I hear a tune I like I'll work out the fingering by ear
5. How frequently do you play in public, and in what kind of events/settings? Weekly, either at Morris practise or wheh dancing out.
6. Which instruments do you play (in terms of key), in order of frequency? D/G
7. Anything else that would help others here understand "where you are coming from"? I'm a better fiddle player than I am a melodeon player, but I like to have the option of choosing a different instrument. Melodeon skills improving, slowly.
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