The "Smoothly backwards and forwards" is exactly the habit that many English, Duet and also Anglo players playing across row, or with heavy use of the accidentals, can fall into.Lovely for smooth French style waltz playing, but completely lacking in lift for Traditional Dance Music,with one note slurring into the next without a clear definition in many cases .The one row playing of the melodion is a classic example of bounce style that bellows change of direction can produce.
It is possible to emulate a bellows direction change by exerting more bellows pressure for certain notes and Mary McNammara cleverly uses this technique with her style of playing Irish Traditional music.This is an alternative to that suggested By Dick and He is well aware of it.
Al