Anglo Concertina Lessons, West Yorkshire

Subject: Anglo Concertina Lessons, West Yorkshire
From: GUEST,Mack
Date: 04 Jan 22 - 03:35 PM

Hi folks

I've just bought an anglo-concertina and am keen to get lessons. I'm based in West Yorkshire - does anyone know of any tutors?

Many Thanks

Mack

Subject: RE: Anglo Concertina Lessons, West Yorkshire
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 04 Jan 22 - 03:46 PM

A little more detail would help us to recommend. Do you read music? What style/genre would you prefer? What model have you got? Most anglo players pretty much teach themselves to a fairly good standard before resorting to tutoring. On a basic level the instrument is very simple and ideal for an ear player. Same system as harmonica/melodeon of which you are probably already aware.

Brian Peters is not far from West Yorkshire when you are ready and he might even pop up here.

Subject: RE: Anglo Concertina Lessons, West Yorkshire
From: Brian Peters
Date: 04 Jan 22 - 04:02 PM

Hi Mack. Steve's question about the style you want to play is bang on. Generally in these islands people are interested in either English or Irish style, and they require completely different approaches - so it's not easy to switch, once you've chosen either path.

Do you have a favourite player?

Subject: RE: Anglo Concertina Lessons, West Yorkshire
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jan 22 - 04:47 PM

Many thanks to Steve & Brian for replying so swiftly.

To answer some of the questions you've asked:

.I'm interested in playing English, Welsh & American folk and contemporary songs/tunes.

.I don't read music.

.The model I have is a beginner's Carreg Las C/G thirty button anglo

.I'm not a "natural" musician and while I can accompany myself to sing songs in a session on a mandolin & uke, I gained a lot of confidence having a few months of lessons on each before striking out on my own.

.My favourite players are mostly from English country dance/ morris communities. Three Pressed Men, for example.

Thanks, once again, both!

Subject: RE: Anglo Concertina Lessons, West Yorkshire
From: DaveRo
Date: 04 Jan 22 - 05:12 PM

I recommend you ask on the Teaching and Learning board of the Concertina.net forums

Subject: RE: Anglo Concertina Lessons, West Yorkshire
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jan 22 - 05:19 PM

Thanks Dave. I'll do just that!

Subject: RE: Anglo Concertina Lessons, West Yorkshire
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Jan 22 - 03:46 AM

I suggest you contact Harry Scurfield, he lives in west yorkshire, in Otley.

Subject: RE: Anglo Concertina Lessons, West Yorkshire
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jan 22 - 05:19 AM

Thanks for the info - I'll try and look him up.

Subject: RE: Anglo Concertina Lessons, West Yorkshire
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Jan 22 - 05:23 AM

his postal adress is twenty five hamilton terrace otley

Subject: RE: Anglo Concertina Lessons, West Yorkshire
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Jan 22 - 05:24 AM

just for the record there are at least 3 different irish styles

Subject: RE: Anglo Concertina Lessons, West Yorkshire
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 05 Jan 22 - 10:46 AM

Again from that info I strongly recommend you get yourself familiar with the layout and get to the point where you can play a few simple tunes, then contact Brian. Try a few morris tunes, Queen's Delight, Bean Setting, Young Collins.

Subject: RE: Anglo Concertina Lessons, West Yorkshire
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 05 Jan 22 - 11:48 AM

....and Steve's brother-in-law, Chris Sherburn,is from Goole, and not a bad anglo player. Here is a link to a site offering Chris' book, and some information about Chris. https://thereedlounge.com/products/the-anglo-concertina-absolute-beginners-chris-sherburn-and-dave-mallinson

Subject: RE: Anglo Concertina Lessons, West Yorkshire
From: Brian Peters
Date: 05 Jan 22 - 01:52 PM

'.I'm interested in playing English, Welsh & American folk and contemporary songs/tunes.'

The key issue here, Mack, is whether you like your music with or without chords. If you want to play some songs and/or morris dance tunes, the chances are you will want to add chords, in which case you'll need to find the melodies mostly on the right hand of the instrument, so that you can leave your left hand free to add the accompaniment. Chris Sherburn is a fine player, but chording is not really part of his style. The first anglo player I ever heard (the late Mel Dean) created a one-man-band sound, and that was immediately what I wanted to do.

The other thing to bear in mind is that, if your instrument is in C/G, its home key (i.e. C - the G row is quite high-pitched) is not that in which a lot of folk tunes and songs are usually played and notated. This sometimes confuses beginners, who read the sheet music, tie themselves in knots trying to play in D, and end up playing the melody across both hands (as Irish players generally do) so they can't then fit any chords in. I've had to take a couple of pupils right back to basics because of this very problem.

I think Steve's suggestion that you have a go at a few basic morris dance tunes by ear is a very good one. That's exactly what I did 40 years ago, once I'd graduated from playing nursery rhymes the Sankey & Moody hymn tunes that my grandmother used to sing. Although I can read music myself, the anglo concertina to my mind is very much a 'play by ear' instrument, and good old trial and error will get you a long way. Of course there are benefits to getting some teaching, particularly where chording is concerned, but if you've got a decent ear I bet you can work out a few tunes for yourself. Things like 'The Grand Old Duke of York' or 'Donkey Riding' are good starter tunes.

Look up some English-style anglo players on YouTube: John Kirkpatrick, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne, Keith Kendrick, and er.... me. But check out Chris Sherburn, Noel Hill, Mary MacNamara as well, in case you decide that you prefer Irish styles after all (Sandman will know other names). Jody Kruskal might be of interest if you want to hear American tunes played on Anglo (though he plays a lot on a G/D).

If you get stuck, I have been known to give lessons via Zoom.

Subject: RE: Anglo Concertina Lessons, West Yorkshire
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 05 Jan 22 - 02:09 PM

There are also lots of concertina videos on Youtube, from absolute beginners to virtuosos.

Subject: RE: Anglo Concertina Lessons, West Yorkshire
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 05 Jan 22 - 06:42 PM

You might find these links useful
HOW TO PLAY THE ANGLO - PART 1 BY JOHN KIRKPATRICK https://www.johnkirkpatrick.co.uk/wr_Anglo1.asp
HOW TO PLAY THE ANGLO - PART 2 BY JOHN KIRKPATRICKhttps://www.johnkirkpatrick.co.uk/wr_Anglo2.asp
HOW TO PLAY THE ANGLO - PART 3 BY JOHN KIRKPATRICK https://www.johnkirkpatrick.co.uk/wr_Anglo3.asp

Subject: RE: Anglo Concertina Lessons, West Yorkshire
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 Jan 22 - 05:33 AM

Geoff , what a very helpful post for the OP. WELL DONE

Subject: RE: Anglo Concertina Lessons, West Yorkshire
From: GUEST,Mack
Date: 06 Jan 22 - 05:43 AM

Many thanks, everyone. I really appreciate all your advice!