Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Brakn
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 06:41 AM

I think we got about half way through the songbook - are we going for the rest or will there be new tunes?

I haven't practised much the last couple of weeks because my fingers keep splitting! Looking forward to it.

Michael

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 07:00 AM

I am inclined to ask people what they fancy - then pick the simplest and play it slow and often. Then pick another and do the same and so on for the first part of the evening.

I ma open to advice and suggestions from yourself and others who have run Beginners Sessions.

Cheers

Les

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 04:46 AM

Well folks,

thanks to Ged, Ken, Phil, Ursula, Brakyn, Rob, Micky, Chris, Jen, Helen and Alan for a great night of Beginners Tunes at The Beech.

I will pull together another 10 or so tunes - nothing too tricky - let me know what you think we might play. Please spread the word to your friends. Audience are most welcome as well.

Cheers

Les

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Brakn
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 05:53 AM

Thanks again Les for last night.

As for more tunes, throw anything you like at me! You are the master!

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 05:58 AM

Brakn, not Brakyn,

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm .............. I thought we were a dissorganised neo-anarchist collective. But if I don't get me own way I may be forced to take the banjo home.

Now is that what people want?

L in C

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Brakn
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 11:12 AM

Talk about taking banjoes home........oops

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 01:02 PM

Good luck with this - isn't it a splendid and sociable way to learn tunes?

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 01:39 PM

Thanks Valmai,

it's always odd being the organiser, you can't really know what to make of it. I am amazed at the quality and the great atmosphere that people bring.

Let's hope it rolls on!

cheers

Les

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 06:57 PM

Some thoughts from a relative beginner. The tunes I can play divide into the ones I can nail every time (on my own, at home), the ones I can nail most times but occasionally fumble a bit, & the ones where I have to take it pretty steady even behind closed doors. At the moment I find that when I'm playing in company my competence drops by about half, so even the nail-every-time tunes turn into "take it slow, keep the dots handy and hope nobody notices the bum notes" tunes.

From this fumble-fingered perspective, last night was great - much, much better than the first time. More planxties, that's my suggestion. (And Constant Billy and My Love... in D please Les, and the Hexamshire Lass in G.)

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 02:30 AM

Will do Phil ........ My Love She's but a Lassie Yet? Love the other two but I find Hexamshire Lass a bit tricky.

Any other suggestions?

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Brakn
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 10:31 AM

I enjoyed the first week better, but I put that down to myself; I didn't practise enough. Also sometimes I couldn't hear myself very well and that is the difference of playing at home and playing with others. I can be a bit quiet sometimes and the chord playing banjo didn't help.

As for ones to learn..... is there a top 100 tunes? :-)

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 10:42 AM

I moved from tenor mandola to tenor banjo when I started playing with Ged and his melodeon. Part of it was a key thing and part was i wanted to make a bit more noise and get up with the melodeon. The tenor banjo is a bit brash and unsubtle but we are playing what is basically dance music.

Perhaps we should think about who sits next to whom, so to speak. A mandolin between two melodeons wouldn't have too much of a chance but near concertinas and whistles would be ok.

Anyone else have a view about seating?

L in C

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 07:51 PM

Sitting next to another whistle was definitely the best thing for me. I found I couldn't hear myself playing a lot of the time both nights, but my playing was a lot more audible blended into a two-whistle combo.

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: GUEST,Doxy
Date: 27 Feb 09 - 02:59 AM

Hi Les n Ged
it was great to meet you the other day. When's the next music session?
Did you say there's a singers night over there too????
Cheers
Doxy

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 27 Feb 09 - 05:26 AM

Hi Doxy!

Singaround at the Beech, Beech Road Chorlton, Manchester, first and third Wednesdays.

Tunes last Tuesdays

Look forward to hearing some great music from you both,

Les

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: GUEST,Working Radish
Date: 27 Feb 09 - 06:14 AM

Looking forward to next Wednesday already. Bring back the cherry mild!

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: GUEST,Doxy
Date: 01 Mar 09 - 12:10 PM

Hi Les
see you there (unless something crazy happens at work)Cheers
Doxy

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Highfibre
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 01:29 PM

Hi,

just seen this posted on melodeon.net and would be interested in joining you. I play Anglo Concertina and dabble with melodeon, and would welcome someone to play with.

I'd love to see your tune book, which might give me a couple of weeks to practice

Regards

Peter

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 06:33 PM

Power to your elbow, Les. Don't know if this is any help, (hope I'm not teaching granny to suck eggs) but if you download a free PDF maker, you can do the following:
When you hit print, it will treat the PDF maker as a printer and save the file. You can then e-mail it without having to worry if the recipient has a music publisher programme to read it. We use it all the time to circulate dots produced in various formats.

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 21 Mar 09 - 03:50 PM

Due to a technical hitch ie I put the wrong date on some flyers, we will be playing Beginners Tunes at the Beech on the Last Tuesday ie 31st march AND Tuesday 24th March!

If anybody needs the Tune Book PM me your e-mail address and I will send the books

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Yvonne
Date: 21 Mar 09 - 03:59 PM

Sorry to hi-jack your thread, Les but as you are all musicians I wondered if anyone knows where I could get penny whistle lessons in Cheshire or Manchester?


Thanks

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 21 Mar 09 - 07:12 PM

I do, PM me and I will put you in touch, but you may to come to the Beech sooner or later

L i n C

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 03:45 AM

Due to a technical hitch ie I put the wrong date on some flyers, we will be playing Beginners Tunes at the Beech on the Last Tuesday ie 31st march AND Tuesday 24th March!

If anybody needs the Tune Book PM me your e-mail address and I will send the books

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 03:47 AM

Lewes Favourites tunes practice this evening at the Elephant & Castle, White Hill, Lewes BN7 2DJ!

Just in case any of you are travelling this way for work or pleasure.

Valmai

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Brakn
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 08:13 AM

fresh

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 09:15 AM

Thanks Brakn, how's you mandolin?

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 09:29 AM

Same strings!

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Gedi
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 09:29 AM

Beginners Tunes two weeks in a row.... Les, your spoiling us! ; )

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 09:34 AM

Guest was me................ Michael Bracken (brakn)

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 10:18 AM

This may have been said before but mandolin and banjo strings last much longer if you cease to grate cheese with them,

Cheese

L in C

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Brakn
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 12:17 PM

If I've told her once, I've told her a thousand times!

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 12:30 PM

Does "She" need a mandolin of her own or is "She" trying to tell you something? Just give it a wipe with a J cloth and head for the Beech tonight,

Cheese

Les

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 05:34 PM

Not tonight, Josephine. Might try and make it a double-header next week.

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 08:36 AM

A night of excellent tunes played brilliantly by all! Thanks to Ged, Ken, Helen, John, Chris, Dave, Brakyn and Jan with her dog, the dog always has a great, time it looks like the Beech is becoming a cruising place for dogs, so to speak.

Cheers

Lre

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Brakn
Date: 31 Mar 09 - 07:49 AM

fresh

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Brakn
Date: 27 Jul 09 - 12:08 PM

Tomorrow?

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 27 Jul 09 - 12:40 PM

And lo and behold, we've got the Lewes Favourites session tomorrow as well. I must run off some copies of Wild Paddy, an Australian waltz which has been getting about lately. It's a gentle tune, so Mild Paddy might be a better name.

Valmai (contriving to keep thread up the list).

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 27 Jul 09 - 12:43 PM

Thanks Valmai,

all welcome tomorrow at the Beech - which has had some excellent cask ale at our recent visits.

L in C

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Brakn
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 04:10 AM

Hmmmmmmm Where are those dots?

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 29 Jul 09 - 03:44 PM

Thanks to Ged and Rob, melodeons, Helen, accordian, Kate fiddle & whistle, Mike & Shelley, recorders, Steve, whistle, John smallpipes, Phil, guitar, Brian, Mickey and Mark, percussion, Chris, banjo, Mike mandolin and those two Danes that came with Mark. Oh and beer from D. Massey & T. Taylor

An exlnt evening of tunes
Cheer

Les , banjo
not forgetting Joanne and her newborn granddaughter

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: John Routledge
Date: 29 Jul 09 - 04:06 PM

A goodly night indeed - Inspired me to get my concert G pitch nsp chanter sorted out.

Cheers John

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 29 Jul 09 - 05:20 PM

Sorry I missed it. Must get out more!

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 30 Jul 09 - 05:23 AM

Sounds good John, I will send you all the tunes we have in the tune book so far. Missed you Phil - assumed away on holiday,

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 04:01 AM

Well it has been very quiet at The Beech of late - except when we get in there.

Next Tuesday is the last one of August, that sounds a bit sad but I feel sure we can make the best of it.

So who is up for some Tunes?

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 25 Aug 09 - 06:39 AM

Last call for August

L in C

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Brakn
Date: 25 Aug 09 - 07:21 AM

Have printed out the new tunes but not had time to go through them yet.

I'll be there!

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 26 Aug 09 - 06:22 AM

Thanks to:

Kate, fiddle and whistle, Rob, melodeon, Ged, melodeon Ken, guitar, Mickey, guitar and percussion Mark, various, Chris banjo, Phil, guitar, Shelley, recorders, Brian, bodhran, Steve, whistles, Mike, mandolin and Kate, Russ, and Lea for general enthusiasm.

Thanks also to Mary behind the bar and that couple who stayed behind to chat. It turned out she plays fiddle, sorry violin, with The Liverpool Philharmonic and liked what we did and is keen to take up another instrument.

I was keen to let her audition but the others said we had to consider "standards".

Where was Phil with his whistles?

See you all and more next Wednesday for songs?

Les

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Gedi
Date: 26 Aug 09 - 07:59 AM

Liverpool Phil eh...watch out or we'll be playing Ode to Joy before you know it.

I'll be there for the songs next week, assuming I survive the rigours of Shrewsbury.

Ged

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: sackbut
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 08:43 AM

following a daft remark someone made at the last beginners' session - about whether the dorset four hand reel was actually the dorset forehand reel - i have now gone and written the beech road backhand reel aka the accidental backhand reel, since it has accidentals in it - but all playable on a d whistle, so shouldn't be too challenging. should i bring a couple of copies to the next session ?

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 08:46 AM

Mr sackbut,

I think that is a brilliant idea

L in C