concertina lessons program?

Subject: concertina lessons program?
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 24 May 99 - 02:30 AM

We (the Born Once Gospel Singers/Poodle Players) did a gig at a graduation party for a friend's son. After our first set (which we finished with "Columbus Stockade Blues" with me playing bluesy breaks on my Lee Oskar Melody Maker G harp, the graduate's sister (oh to be 25 again!) came to me and asked how I had learned to play the instrument, and explained that she was trying to learn concertina--I said I had learned straight harmonica just by picking up the instrument and finding melodies in it, but I used book/tape programs [Jon Gindick and David Harp] to start learning to play cross-harp. I didn't personally know of a similar program for concertina--does anyone know of a lesson program for the mini-squeeze box (she showed it to us--she holds it away from her body so seems in no danger of the painful accidents posters suggested in the Nose Hair thread). I also suggested that she look for it in 'Cajun and Irish music, and also recordings of sea chanteys. --seedKratz

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 24 May 99 - 03:13 AM

G'day BSeed,

What kind of concertina? (Anglo-)German - 20 key, in two rows on each side, tuned inthe same scale as button accordion and a pair of mouthorgans (usally G and C), different notes in and out, Handstraps. Anglo-chromatic - 30 (or as few as 26) UP TO ~40 keys in 3 rows plus some strays, different notes in and out, Handstraps, English - 48 to 60 keys in 4 side by side rows, same notes each way, Leather thumb-stall and metal rest for the pinky, Duet Most common species like English but 5 or 6 rows side by side, same notes each way, Handstraps. A really rare one (Jeffries Duet) looks like a 4 row Anglo-chromatic but has same note each way ... someone said there are only 10 odd (really) players in the world.

All these concertinas have totally unrelated systems except the Anglo-chromatic, which is an enhanced (Anglo-) German. Most of them don't even relate to any other musical instrument - even other concertinas ... let's face it - they were designed by Poms!

There are good current books, tapes and programs for the most common types; Anglo-(chromatic) and English. There are some excellent old books on the duets and friends here in Australia have some of these - and I do have reference copies.

BTW: Holding the concertina away from the body (especially playing while standing) is an excellent way to play - no wear on the instrument, no snags on the cloth of your garments - and the phych. boys say that your are 15% more alert standing.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: Margo
Date: 24 May 99 - 12:16 PM

I think I know what you're talking about. The mini concertina has 20 buttons, I think. To find out if there is a book available, I would suggest you get in touch with the Button Box in Amherst, MA. I can't find the web address, so here's the phone #: [phone].

I imagine the mini concertina is an English, with one note per button on either the push or pull. I am learning the English concertina myself. I bought a book, but have done mostly on my own. The first thing I did was master some scales.

Hopefully this helped a little.

Margarita

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: Fadac
Date: 24 May 99 - 01:21 PM

Hi, Also check out "lark in the morning" They have books on concertinas. We hade one guy in the SF bay area that taught concertina, but he moved to Boston. (I don't think I chased him away...Hmmm) So I'm taking lessons on the accordion, at least I can find teachers here for that. No similatry in playing. However the accordion is helping me understand music. And the accordion is a bit easer to transpose. Doing B flat major on a C/G conctertina, even with all the accedentals, is a real bear. Much eiser on the accordion. There is a small accordion that plays much like a concertina, some call it a maloidon (sp?) You get a differnt note if you push or pull. Then you get the same in key or out of key that you get with the concertina. Adavantag of the diatonic instrument? Much smaller. I can easily pack my concertina in a sea bag, or the back of my motorcycle and go to a signalong. The accordion, well, it's big, and I have to take my car. However the big accordion (that I have) has a Tuba bass. Sounds wonderfull, but it is real heavy. I'm saving up for a Lilly accordion, it is very small, will fit in saddle bag, but has beautifull sound. All hand finished reeds, gosh, wonderfull. But oh, boy, $$$.

"Free the Reeds!"

Fadac

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 24 May 99 - 03:30 PM

Bob--the Anglo/German sounds like it (she bought it in Germany). It has two rows of buttons on each side, different note for each direction (is it melody notes on one side and chords on the other?).

Margie, thanks. I'll pass on the phone number to her (and try to find it on line, as well).

And Fadac (who spells better when he's not writing about guns), you're right about www.larkinam.com, and I was about to check that site after looking for answers to my question. Thanks. You, too, are in the Bay Area? Do you know about the East Bay Pickin' and Fiddlin' potlucks? I just posted this in a welcome note to a new Mudcatter, Dave Swan:

Dave, welcome. I was just conversing with Joe Offer (the HTML wizard) who lives up in Sacramento and is some kind of a snoop or something. I'm a bit closer to you--El Cerrito, and Mike Billo is in San Francisco. We've never managed to get together yet, but the Berkeley Pickin' and Fiddlin' potluck (second Sunday of each month, except June's is the first Sunday) is where we're trying to meet. Here's the schedule for this summer:

Summer '99 Schedule

June 6 N.B. 1st Sunday. Marian Gade 136 Highland Blvd, Kensington, 524-9815. Taking the Arlington north. Go rt. on Westminister, rt. on Kenyon, lt. on Willamette, and lt. on Highland. Park rt. side of street. Coordinators: Jean & Jeff Crossley, 530/795-2906. Note: NOT the 2nd Sunday as to not conflict with the Free SF Folk Festival which runs on Sat & Sun, June 12 & 13.

July 11 Alice Green, 2220 Sacramento St. Berkeley [phone] South of University Ave., near Allston Way. Coordinators: Jean & Jeff Crossley, [phone] Special thanks to Ed Hilton & Jean Rosen for switching with Jean & Jeff and coordinating in June!

August 8 Alice Sharp, 1535 Grant, Berkeley [phone] between Cedar & Vine. Coordinators: Mark Berkley, [phone]: Lynn Wilde, [phone].

Sept.12 Marv Sternberg, 1713 Cedar St., Berkeley [phone], between Edith & McGee. Coordinators: Laura Stallone, [phone]; Shelby Sampson, [phone].

Hope to see you soon at one of them. By the way, I don't recall seeing your name before the gun thread--are you a newby too? Welcome to our home (check guns at door). --seed

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: Fadac
Date: 24 May 99 - 03:45 PM

BSeed, No I didn't know about the East Bay Pickin' and Fiddlin' potluck. How about a contace. You can email me at [e-mail]. However, I'm not a fiddler or a picker, I is a squeezer. Do you get many squeezers at these things? Mostly I've done Sea Chanties and such. Me and my concertina have been around Cape Horn about 20 times. I used to work on an icebreaker that went from Punta Arenias, Chili, to the Palmer Penn. (sort of the elephants trunk of antartica.) The little anglo just fit in my sea bag. As I was working about 16-18 hours a day fixing the electronics and computers aboard ship, I was very happy to have my little box with me. I made it a point to play for about an hour a day. Just to keep my sanity.

BTW on Thursdays, at Quinns Lighthouse (Oakland) They have the "Sons of the Buckineers" They do all sorts of sea chanties. Lots of fun, old fashoned pub built into the old Oakland lighthouse. Free peanuts, and you just toss the shells onto the floor. I'll try and get up there this thursday. (I work in the south bay, so the drive is a real bear.)

Let me know if your can make it.

(Yes sometimes my spelling is much better. This feedb ack deal dosn't have a spell checker. And my brain does 300 baud, while my fingers do about 60. )

(BTW, I have been on before the gun thread. I asked about a song called "three toes" About a bear. The lyrics go soemthing like, "He's big around the middle and broad across the rump, doing 40 miles per hour doing 60 feet a jump..." Anyway I want to add that song to my play list, as I do resemble that critter.)

-Fadac "Free the Reeds!"

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 24 May 99 - 09:57 PM

Fadac, I'd like to check that out. Where in Oakland *is* the lighthouse (and do you resemble the bear in speed and jumping ability--or in dimensions? I don't know the song--did you try the database)? I think a squeeze box accompanying some good chanteys would be great at the potluck. I know I'd love to hear some from an actual seaman. I don't know about Dave Swan and his bagpipe, though :). As far as a contact (?) goes--there are the phone numbers in the list above, and of course I'm here and I check the threads at least once daily. And my email address is [e-mail]

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 25 May 99 - 12:43 AM

Hi BSeed & Fadac, though we in Boston did get one of your best squeeze teachers (are you refering to Paul G?) we allowed you to hang on to some other great teachers (Peter P) & if you end up at a lighthouse you could ask one of the son's of Bs (Ricky R) about other local squeezers & shanty singers, he's a nice one himself, on both accounts (he was my teacher 20 yrs ago, not his fault I didn't get the hang of it though) & you might say to him that I told you so, on both accounts. Barry

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 25 May 99 - 01:49 AM

Great, Barry. Good to hear from you--wish you were here. Dave Swan--who also just became a Mudcatter--is also going to be there. I can't believe it: we may actually get a local chapter going. --seed

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 25 May 99 - 03:07 AM

G'day again BSeed,

If your friend has a basic German concertina, it will have 20 keys, probably parallel to on straight side (Anglo style is to have the row across the "gable" of 2 sides. The bellows may have metal reinforcing, because they are of simple, accordion pattern - with a somewhat limited lifetime. The most common today are Stagri (formerly Bastari), made in Italy and their instruments badge -engineered Hohner International, by Hohner Germany.

English-made instruments (or English-made style handmades) have finer, more complex bellows with leather and linen doing the flexing ... and they last for ever if treated well, maintained, dressed and occasionally repaired.

The same story applies to the reeds - simpler, less robust and less repairable in European cheapies, but they are damn good instruments to get started on without mortgaging the house!

Surprisingly, one of the best and most available books for the 20-key instrument is the Mel Bay Concertina Tutor. It's been in their catalogue for decades (if you see one, just check the threads on the author in his photograph!) but it is all valid, it is fairly easy for beginners, it develops well towards a 2-hand style of separate bass and treble lines ... and OK, it doesn't teach much about traditional left hand chord styles ... but then, these are very culture specific (whose tradition?) - if you really want to get this right ... find a real traditional player and sit at their feet ... after you have mastered everything in the book!

I have found this book works well ... I even used it to teach concertina to my wife! (Too well ... I had to find another 22 key ([slightly chromatic Anglo] and good old concertinas are getting rarer and rarer.)

Hmmmmm..... There's a thought - I might ADD LYRIC/TUNE for my setting of Henry Lawson's poem The Good Old Concertina ... quite a nice tribute to the most popular portable instrument of its day.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: Fadac
Date: 25 May 99 - 10:12 AM

Bseed, Directions to the Lighthouse...Ah I'll cop out and give you the phone number. 510-536-2050. It's off of 23rd st and 880 in Oakland. Head for the water. Don't go on Coast Guard Island. Go sort of North along the water. Look for a lighthouse. (short squatty one) It's about two blocks from the West Marine, or Ham Radio Outlet. About the only other landmark, is a big curved brick wall on one side of 880, and an obvious marine electronic store on the west sdie. The marine store has an old RADAR antenna up on the roof. Looks like something from WWII.

Yeah, I look like the bear. The bear has big muscles, I got a motorcycle. Just look for the big guy with the big blond beard. I won't be playing in the band, but everyone is expected to sing along, stomp feet, etc.

Sometimes in the Sons of the Buck* Skip Henderson will show up. He is a very old time folksy guy, He goes clear back to the days of the Hungry I in SF.

See you there.

-Ralph

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: Fadac
Date: 25 May 99 - 10:25 AM

Barry, Yes it is Paul Groff. I also did a wee bit of writing for Concertina and Squeeze box. Basicly a report and some personolities from the Hyde Street Pier in SF. They had a big shingding, so I took photos and wrote words. But I guess the mag is out of biz now. :(

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: Margo
Date: 25 May 99 - 11:29 AM

Fadac, every time I hear someone tell of having worked on a ship I am very interested. I am in love with the old sailing ships. I like sailing, but have never been on anything bigger than my Dad's little one man boat. I used to sail it by myself. It had a mainsail and a gib.

I'm in love with sea shantys also, and like to sing the more ballad types. The working shantys aren't really suited for my voice. (Not too many women working on the ships in those days)

My concertina is an English. I tried both before buying and found that the English was more suited for the accompaniment to my singing than the anglo. But I did find the Anglo easier to play initially.

BTW, it is true that playing concertina can help keep your sanity, I know. You see, if I am steamed at my kids, I play the concertina and I feel better, more relaxed. Better than drugs!

Margarita

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: Fadac
Date: 25 May 99 - 12:27 PM

Margarita, It is all true. Playing a concertina keeps your sanity, gets rid of wrinkles, losses weight, enlarges the brain, and puts salt in your blood. Argh Matey! This ship I worked on was the Research Vessel Polar Duke. This was a sort-of wanna-be ice breaker. But we couldn't break ice much over about 18" thick. We just didn't have the horsepower. We had about 8,000 HP and a real icebreaker has more like 150,000. So sometimes we got uh, stuck. I was ice bound two years in a row. Each time for over a week.

I servred as an ET, or Electronic Technician. That means I serviced all the computers, TV sets, test equipment, networks, etc, anything to do with electronics. Including writing programs. You had to be are jack-of-all electroinc trades to do the job. Anyway, most of the time I was on board, we played the role of transport, more than research. So every two weeks we left Punta Arenia Chili, crossed the Drake Passage, and showed up at Anvers Island in the antartic penn. Then went back. We never really rounded the horn, however we did pass it on our way south. The horn was about 100 miles north of us when we passed. To put it mildly, the weather just sucks down there. However I would like to take my 34' ketch down there one year.

I put in so many hours working on the ship, that my hour after dinner was my "sanity hour" Everybody knew that to bother me then, there had better be water in the hold, and the ship sinking. I was avaible for the other 23 hours a day, but from 6pm to 7pm was MY time.

How good am I? Well I can clear a room in less than 5 min. (my personel record) The biggest problem in not playing with anyone. So I developed all sorts of real bad habits, and I only play single note. So now I am taking some accordion lessons, and in a couple of years should be all the way up to lousy. The best part of the accordion is it has really opened up my eyes to differant kinds of music. I really felt that I was looking at the world of music through a knothole, now the door is open, and I'm trying to step in. Like, I never thought too much about Itilian music, Oh Solo Meo, so what? Well I have heard some really good stuff, then there is some French stuff, and Hungirian Rapsidy, and the Jewish Kinl(what ever it's called) and some centeral Europeian stuff. I really feel like a kid that only had M&Ms and then found a Mrs. See's candy store.

Sorry for the long post. However I'm working on a video of my last trip on the Polar Duke. I hope to have it done in about six months.

-Fadac

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From:
Date: 25 May 99 - 08:07 PM

Hi everyone. I'm the graduate's sister (my name is Sonja) on whose behalf Charles was so nice to ask about concertina lessons.

Thank you so much for all the exciting suggestions (Button Box, Lark in the morning and about Quinns Lighthouse). Just like Charles said, I have an Anglo-German Concertina with 20 buttons and metal reinforcements. ( I do hope it will last a little long while thought ?)

I just started to learn with a book and a CD that came with it. In short I have no clue yet and would love to take some lessons or at least listen to "professionals" --> So when do people meet at that Lighthouse in Oakland and do they meet every Thursday? Can I just show up to listen and watch? :)

-Sonja

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 25 May 99 - 10:51 PM

G'day Sonja,

I can't lay my hands on the Mel Bay Book (I just had a massive cleanup ... at my wife's behest ... and now I can't find anything! However I looked up the review I did for Concertina Magazine (Australia) #24, 1988 and I see that the correct title is Mel Bay's Deluxe Concertina Book, by Frank J Converse: Melbay Publications MB93758 and I paid Au$14.95 for it in 1988.

I have seen it about in music shop stock recently and it is not a bad way to start the basic 20-key German system. The most of the tunes given as examples are popular old American ones, so this makes it easy for new players - at least they know roughly what they should be playing.

Your idea of going to listen to some "professionals" is a great idea, but I urge you to get take along your concertina. I am constantly frustrated by people coming to my very informal music workshops without the instrument they want to learn ... saying; "But I wanted to get a bit better before I played it in public."

It doesn't work - you can't stay out of the water until you lear to swim! Folkies are mostly wonderful, gentle people and they will help you if you are prepared to help yourself. No one will laugh at your early efforts ... they can all remember that they had to start out too.

I will (eventually) post my setting of Henry Lawson's The Good Old Concertina. As well as the basic tune, I have a two line (either 2 treble clef lines or the great stave (played octave above) transcriptions of roughly what I play in a traditional 2-hand style ... possibly of interest to other Angloists. I could email a GIF image of the written music, if anyone wishes.

Anyway, it turned out as a pretty little polka tune, very comfortably placed on the basic, 20-key Anglo - and won me a prize in the Bush Music Club Tune competition!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 26 May 99 - 12:34 AM

Ah, the wonders of the Mudcat: Thanks, Bob and Fadac and Barry and Marguerita. And welcome, Sonja--and stick around and read the other threads (you can take time off to come to Quinn's, I hope--although I don't know about turning you loose with a bunch of randy sailors). In addition to my harmonicas I'm going to bring my camera to record for posterity the first chapter meeting of Bay Area Mudcat. --seed

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: Fadac
Date: 26 May 99 - 10:14 AM

Sbeggert and all intrested in the Quinns lighthouse in Oakland. The show starts at 8 pm. Try and get there early, the place is very small, only holds about20-25 people. Sometimes I have seen it with standing room only. Usualy I get off work at 4 pm, then tear up there as soon as I get off. (I work in Sunnyvale) Folks that live here know about our lovly traffic. Tommrow I'm taking my motorcycle, so I can save a bit of time. I'll get there about six to six thirty. I'll try and save a few seats, but when the show starts, seats must have a seat in them. I can't hold empty seats then. (That's the bottom line. )

I'll bring my concertina, it is in a brown leather box, with travel stickers on it. If you need directions to quinns, well there phone number is: [phone]

One thing, if you id yourself as a Mudcatter, and don't SING ALONG, then shame on you. The music there is most defintly a singalong, play along if you can.

Argh Maty!

Fadac

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: Sonja
Date: 27 May 99 - 02:27 AM

Thanks, I'll be there :)

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 27 May 99 - 02:35 AM

Thanks, again, everybody: and sorry, Margarita, for misspelling your name--I guess you're not salty around the rim, huh? And her I was the one knocking people for their spelling on the gun thread (present company included). I tend to be a smart ass but I guess I'd better watch myself around the big bear Fadac. --seed

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 27 May 99 - 03:08 AM

'...and her I was the one..."? Egad, kratz. Check before you post. --seed

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: Fadac
Date: 27 May 99 - 10:21 AM

Yeah, Watch it Seed. I have cleard a room in less than 90 seconds. All I have to do is get out my concertina and sing. La la la (Ahchem) La la la etc. Of course if you sing on key in a sea chanty group, you will be tossed out. Putting on airs like that. Or given a glass of cheep whisky to roughen up the old voice. Hey! It's thursday! Well, the squeeze box is here, the bike is outside work, I'll be there.

Argh Mate.

Subject: Lyr Add: OLE SLEW-FOOT
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 27 May 99 - 10:50 AM

FADAC,

You didn't say if you got those lyrics, so just in case, here they are:

OLE SLEW-FOOT
Recorded by Johnny Horton
Words and music by Jay Webb

[A] High on the mountain, tell me what you see
Bear tracks, bear tracks [D] lookin' back at [A] me
Better get your rifle boys, 'fore it's too late
'Cause a bear's got a little pig and [D] headed thru the [A] gate.

CHORUS
He's [E] big around the middle and he's [A] broad across the rump
Runnin' [E] ninety miles an hour takin' [A] thirty feet a jump
Ain't never been caught, he ain't never been tree'd
Some folks say he looks a [D] lot like [A] me.

I saved up my mon' and I bought me some bees
And they started makin' honey way up in the trees
Cut down the tree but my honey's all gone
Ole Slew-Foot's done made himself at home.

CHORUS

Winter's comin' on and it's twenty below
And the river's froze over so where can he go
We'll chase him up the gulley then we'll run him in the well
We'll shoot him in the bottom just to listen to him yell.

CHORUS

I knew it was done by a country artist so I searched at http:\\roughstock.com.

Enjoy! And say, "Hi" to all those California 'Catters for me, ya hear?

Big RiB

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: Fadac
Date: 27 May 99 - 10:59 AM

Big RiB, Gosh, thanks. Never thought that it might have been done by JH. Now to work on it, and make it play on an accordion.

It looks like we might have a nice little group here tonight. I'll try and get a couple of photos. Perhaps we can publish them someplace.

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 28 May 99 - 02:16 AM

Hey, Roger: I just got back from Quinn's Lighthouse--Dave Swan, Ralph (Fadac), Sonja, and I shared a table and we listened to the Sons of the Buccaneers--one of whose members is also a Mudcateer! Name's Lloyd (I heard his last name but don't remember it). He playes concertina and may start teaching Sonja. I got a picture of Dave, Sonja, and Ralph, a seperate one of Sonja, and a bunch of the band, and Ralph took one of me (but I'll post a picture of me taken by one of the students at Independent Studies (not one of my students, but he used my camera). Quinn's is a great place--I had a pale ale and a buffalo burger: very tasty once I slathered it with Grey Poupon (Dave--who's a Piedmont fireman [lives in Oakland]--had a veggie burger; Ralph had filled up on peanuts and mini-hot dogs before any of the rest of us arrived).

(I keep stacking up the parenthetical remarks [dig the three-deep one above--brackets inside dashes inside parentheses {I just wanted to see if I could go four deep}--].)(I did.)(I'll try for five or six later--I've still got commas and quotation marks, single and double [so enough, already].) Someone stop me before I kill again. --seed

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 29 May 99 - 05:51 PM

Allright!!

Northern California is gettin' it together. I hope FADAC and BSeed's budding friendship can survive their divergent views. If you stick to the music, you'll do fine. When a bunch of us got together for Rick Fielding's concert in DC, we didn't talk as much as we sang.

We would have stayed longer, but many were pooped from traveling and the place had to be locked up.

Big RiB

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 01 Jun 99 - 06:40 PM

G'day again,

About a week ago I promised to post a song from Henry Lawson's 1891 poem The Good Old Concertina. I set a tune to it and a lot of people here in Sydney liked it (and it won the "New Tune to Existing Words" category at the Bush Music Festival competition, 1986).

Anyway, I am about to post this as "LYR ADD: Good Old Concertina" and I can provide a GIF image of the one or two stave versions to anyone interested.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 02 Jun 99 - 12:54 AM

Bob, I'm definitely interested--I can transcribe it in Songworks, get a midi, and pass it on to Sonja and Fadac:

[e-mail].

--seed

Subject: RE: concertina lessons program?
From: Fadac
Date: 02 Jun 99 - 10:22 AM

BSeed,

Now your talking. I'd love to see the tune. Will I see you at Quinns tommrow? I'll bring you a red pen.

Fadac