Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK

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: 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 - 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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,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: 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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: 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: 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: Brakn
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 11:12 AM

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

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 - 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 - 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: 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: 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 - 06:32 AM

It is indeed Brakn,

hope you can make it. We will definitely be playing a bit slower this time. Got a bit carried away with the excitement last time.

Cheers

Les

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Brakn
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 02:55 AM

Next Tuesday?

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Myrtle
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 08:35 AM

Very sorry to miss it, but couldn't get over to Manchester this week, and we did have a great Burns night at Louth FC!

Regards,

Myrtle

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Brakn
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 06:45 AM

Thanks Les for organising this. It was a great night; well worthwhile. Can't wait for the next one.

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 06:16 AM

Are, Cell warming up, how could I forget Phil an a range of whistles and excellent work on Noteworthy - ABC conversions

Cheers again

L in C

Anyone thinking of coming next time PM me and I will send you the Noteworthy versions of the Tune Book.

PM Pip Radish and he will explain and help with ABC files

L

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 05:57 AM

I think we will John, when are you back?

Thanks to all who came and made for a brilliant night:

Ken, Ged, Kate, John, Ann, Dave, Rosie, Michael, Ian, Ursula, John and Helen - especially Helen for the Clog Dance. I am sure I have missed a few people and I will thank them when the memory cell warms up.

I thought the music was brilliant - I couldn't seem to slow it down so it was a bit more Improvers than Beginners but I will take all advice about what to do next on Tuesday 24th February,

Thanks again

L in C

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: JohnB
Date: 27 Jan 09 - 12:53 PM

Please keep it going until the next time I make it to the UK.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 27 Jan 09 - 11:48 AM

Exlnt!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: TheSnail
Date: 27 Jan 09 - 11:28 AM

we would all do the Cicassian Circle at 10 O'clock

They renamed it the Large Hadron Collider.

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 27 Jan 09 - 11:23 AM

Well, working towards as they say.

What happened to that national day of Ceilidh when we would all do the Cicassian Circle at 10 O'clock or something?

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: TheSnail
Date: 27 Jan 09 - 08:35 AM

Have fun. I wonder if we could manage to play the same tune at the same time at the Lewes Favourites.

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Gedi
Date: 27 Jan 09 - 08:25 AM

Tonights the Night! Looking forward to seeing all you budding tunists.

And remember - 'Lifes a Beech!'

cheers
Ged

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 27 Jan 09 - 03:37 AM

"Can't you just use a longer tube with a larger bore? "

You probably can Phil, but this is not that kind of website.

I have just realised that I didn't mention which Sunday our ride to the Saracen's is - it is a week on Sunday - the 8th. Leaving Chorlton Water park around 10, visiting the edge of Altrincham, Manchester Airport, Ashley, Bucklow Hill, Healtly getting to the Sarecen's around 12.30 - 1.00pm

L in C

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 26 Jan 09 - 06:28 PM

All 20 tunes are now available in a single (small!) file at http://users.zetnet.co.uk/amroth/Beech20.abc.

I've reordered the tunes for my own eccentric purposes - 1-4 are in G, 5-15 are in D, and 16-20 are in G but need to be played on the D whistle (which probably means they're *really* in D mixolydian but keeping quiet about it).

An ignoramus writes: why are low whistles so expensive? Can't you just use a longer tube with a larger bore?

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: John J
Date: 26 Jan 09 - 03:15 PM

Meeeeeee!

And me and me Ma will be at the Beech tomorrow evening.

JJ

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 26 Jan 09 - 12:37 PM

I wrestled with memorable titles like Chuesday Chunes in Chorlton but then realised that I would get bogged down with spelling problems.

So tomorrow it is. PM me for further details

Look forward to meeting new tunists and having much fun

Les, still in Chortlon

Although today I cycled to the far famed Saracens Head in Warburton checking out the route for Sundays ride to the Saracens. made most welcome by the Landlord. Anybody up for a few tunes and songs between 1 and 2.30 Sunday?

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 26 Jan 09 - 09:19 AM

Si!

The first session will indeed be Tuesday; my whistles and I will be there. ¡Hasta mañana!

Actually this was quite a timely reminder - for some unearthly reason I've been going around thinking it was Wednesday (the day after mañana). I should have remembered the words of the song -

Yes, we have no mañanas,
So get your mañanas today!

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Brakn
Date: 26 Jan 09 - 08:33 AM

mañana

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 03:25 AM

Which should have read:

"The Beech is looking good and the beer tastes excellent"

For those planning next weeks major cultural events, Tuesday could be a bit interesting.

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 18 Jan 09 - 03:29 PM

Well we roll on. To day Ged, Ken and I glued, punched and ringed 20 copies of the Tune Book and they will stand up by themselves on a pub table.

I guess most of us will be playing by ear on the 27th but we hope the books will support the dottist.

all other electronic versions will be available from me or Pip Raddish via e-mail.

The beech is looking good and the beer tastes excellent

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 18 Jan 09 - 05:43 AM

I have also found the abc conversions to be very useful and have had no trouble loading them into Harmony Assistant prior to printing.

The Noteworthy file (.nwc) which have also been kindly provided also loaded directly into Harmony Assistant but they produced rather large chords letters directly on top of the staves. A little fiddling sorted this but the abc format was less hassle.

Many thanks to those from whose efforts I am benefiting.

Ian

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Gedi
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 06:51 AM

Just to keep you informed, all the copying of the tune books is now done, all we have to do now is to make the tent cards so they will stand up on the tables.

Cheers for the ABC conversions Phil, they are really useful.

Ged

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 04:29 AM

No, but you hum it and I'll play along...

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 04:02 AM

Thanks Phil

10 days to go?

Know where's me banjo?

Cheers

Les

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 05:26 PM

Les has been busy. We're now up to 20: http://users.zetnet.co.uk/amroth/BeechSecond10.ABC

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 09:31 AM

We are just printing off an A4 "landscape" version of the Tune Book. It will stand up on each of the tables in the Beech and the dots and guitar chords are big enough for most of us to see.

I guess some people will follow the dots and some will join in by ear. Honest this is Beginners - we will play very slowly in the first third of the evening and only faster by request.

If you all play faster than us lot I will encourage a faster - "Improvers Session" on another night.

If you already play in quick sessions please think about the Chorlton Fiddlers Irish Session on Monday nights in the Lloyds, Wilbraham Road, Cholrton. PM me for more details. They are excellent and a bit quick.

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Brakn
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 03:54 PM

I'll be there - (as Michael Jackson once sang).

Currently printing off the music.

Subject: RE: Beginners Tune Session Manchester UK
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 03:18 PM

Ian, please PM me you e-mail and I will send you the tune book.

Ok this is the plan - advice sort and accepted:

8.30 slow tune session - led by us
915 break
9.30 a bit quicker on tunes requested - led by us
10.00 break 2
10.15 Open floor - tunes and songs led by volunteers - anybody joining in on anything - as volunteers think appropriate.

11.00 stagger off

At the beginning of the first session we will play the tunes a bit quick once or twice through so that people know where we are going.

All are welcome. You don't to play anything but musos will get priority we can only fit about 15 - 30 in the Snug of the Beech


Cheers

Les