2013 Workshops

Saturday 23rd March 2013

MORNING WORKSHOPS

1. (B/I) “Stepdance tunes from the eastern counties”: Nick Hart (D/G melodeon or D single-row)
Examine some of the rhythmic and stylistic requirements of playing for stepdancing.
2. (B/I) “Feel and phrasing”: John Spiers (D/G melodeon) (FULL)
How to make a note sound different, incorporate that in to some simple tunes. Plus pointers for a good solid left-hand technique and air-button control.
3. (I/E) “Not Playing the tune”: Saul Rose (D/G melodeon) (FULL)
Using the melodeon to accompany singers or other instruments. Including some chord theory and rhythmical techniques.
4. (I/E) “From farmer’s field to battlefield”: Tony Weatherall (D/G melodeon)
Quicksteps and military marches from farmer Richard Hughes’ manuscript from Whitchurch.
5. (B/I/E) “A trip to Hengrave”: Jeannie Harris (any concertina or melodeon, G and D)
Exploring some simple tunes from the 1812 Bury St Edmunds’ collection of dances and bringing them alive.
6. (B/I/E) “3/2 hornpipes from Northumbria”: Sandra Kerr (any concertina)
Get your fingers working round some of these distinctive tunes from the Northumbrian piping tradition.
7. Absolute beginner’s mouthorgan: Steve Harrison (D mouthorgan provided) (FULL)
8. Absolute beginners melodeon: Rees Wesson (C melodeon provided) (FULL unless you can bring a C melodeon with you.)

AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS

9. (B/I) “Getting to grips with the Cajun accordion”: Tony Weatherall (C melodeon) (FULL)
Rollicking tunes, right hand chords and playing in second position.
10. (B/I) “Learning to cross the rows”: Saul Rose (D/G melodeon) (FULL)
Mostly concentrating on the right hand, but including an improver's guide to better bass selection.
11. (I/E) “A Comet of a Workshop”: Jeannie Harris (D/G melodeon or single-rows)
A selection of trickier tunes from the 1812 Bury St Edmunds collection.
12. (I/E) “How to dissect a tune”: John Spiers (D/G melodeon) (FULL)
Scalpels at the ready! Take a tune apart and experiment with it to optimise it for the melodeon.
13. (I/E) “Tunes from the McCuskers”: Roger Digby (any concertina or melodeon, G and D)
Tunes recorded in the 1950s by some of the nine McCusker brothers from Armagh in Northern Ireland.
14. (B/I/E) “The Northeastern Muse”: Sandra Kerr (any concertina)
Sandra teaches some recently composed tunes from the Northumberland tradition.
15. (B/I/E) “ English dance music on the mouthorgan”: Steve Harrison (G mouthorgan)
Improving rhythm and tone, and taking a look at playing on other keys.
16. Absolute beginners anglo-concertina: Rees Wesson (C/G anglo-concertina provided) (FULL)

FURTHER INFORMATION:

2013 Tutors

John Spiers

(“Feel and phrasing” & “How to dissect a tune”)

Well known for his work with Bellowhead, Spiers & Boden and Eliza Carthy, John's background is in the traditions of southern England. A busy touring schedule has meant putting his teaching on the back-burner in recent years, so we're very pleased to have him back at Melodeons and More.

Saul Rose

(“Not playing the tune” & “Learning to cross the rows”)

Saul has played melodeon for nearly 30 years and is widely considered one of the best players in the country. He's worked with the Kings of Calicutt, Waterson Carthy, Faustus and Whapweasel. 2011 was spent singing, playing and acting in the play Warhorse in London's West End.

Sandra Kerr

(“3/2 Hornpipes from Northumbria &” “The Northeastern Muse”)
 

Sandra was last with us in 2007. She is a singer, musician, writer and educator and is well known as both a solo performer and member of Sisters Unlimited, as a lecturer on the folk & traditional music degree course in Newcastle and as a community and festival choir leader. And then there’s “Bagpuss”...

Jeannie Harris

(“A Trip to Hengrave” & “A Comet of a Workshop”)

Norfolk-based Jeannie was a member of Magic Lantern and the original Old Hat Band and now plays in the festival ceilidh band PolkaWorks. The combination of her outstanding musicianship and a distinctive one-row melodeon style make for thought-provoking workshops.

Nick Hart

(“Stepdance tunes from the eastern counties”)

Nick is a young melodeon player from north Essex. He plays for the Belles of London City and various dancebands as well as playing for stepdancing. Now living in London, his repertoire of songs and tunes features much material from

his native East Anglia.

Rees Wesson

(Absolute beginners melodeon & anglo-concertina)

Rees is a regular tutor here. He is currently keeping busy with his two bands, Parti Gungrog (Welsh Reggae) and Joe Le Taxi (Louisiana Zydeco), and he also likes to relax in his workshop at home, making Wesson Clipper melodeons.

Tony Weatherall

(“From farmer’s field to battlefield” &

“Getting to grips with Cajun accordion”)
Although having played English music for many years, Tony is probably better known for his involvement with the English Cajun scene. He currently plays with the eclectic, anglo/cajun/creole mixture that is The Boat Band and Bartram, Brookes and Weatherall.

Steve Harrison

(Absolute beginners mouthorgan &

“English dance music on the mouthorgan”)
 

Steve has played a wide range of instruments, but loves mouthorgans most of all! He currently leads the Black Box Band, plays mouthorgan with Rod Stradling's Phoenix, and accompanies the singing of Annie Dearman and Vic Gammon on melodeon, mouthorgan and banjo.

Roger Digby

(“Tunes from the McCuskers”)

More usually associated with a ferocious commitment to English Country Music, Roger Digby has also had a deep appreciation of, and involvement with, Irish music for over thirty years - which may be heard currently in his playing with fellow Essex musician Liz Giddings.

Booking & Payment Details

(1) Post us your booking form and a cheque payable to EATMT.

(2) Email your booking form and pay through your internet bank account: give us a ring or email to facilitate this.

(3) Post your booking from and pay by credit or debit card: fill in the card payment form as well as the booking form. A handling fee of £2 per booking is payable on all card transactions.

(4) Email your booking form and pay by credit or debit card: give us a ring or email to make a payment by card. A handling fee of £2 per booking is payable on all card transactions.

Please not that our office is not staffed fulltime, so if you ring us, you may well get through to the answerphone - please leave a message for us.

There is a priority booking period for Friends of EATMT until Monday 9th January.

Confirmations will be emailed to you unless you send an S.A.E. Workshop CDs and concert tickets are posted in late February.
 

Please select one morning and one afternoon workshop and indicate your 1st and 2nd choice for each period. The latest availability is posted on this page in the "Workshop Details" section, so you might like to check here before making your selection.

Click here to go to a printable booking form.
 

Levels

The vast majority of people seem to consider themselves to be Intermediate, so there's plenty of choice! If you’re not very experienced, look for classes labelled Beginners/Intermediate: you will be able to participate in the class and also take away ideas to work on over the ensuing months. Intermediate/Experienced classes assume a good grasp of basic techniques, and the ability to play in common keys and rhythms. These classes will provide some challenges for more advanced players interested in exploring trickier aspects of the music and instrument.

Absolute beginners have probably never tried the instrument in question before and teaching will literally start with “which way is up”. For these classes only, instruments are provided (you can bring your own, but it needs to be a C melodeon / C&G anglo concertina / D harmonica).

If you're inexperienced and would like some further guidance on afternoon choices - please see above - afternoon options for less experienced players.

Teaching styles

Workshops vary in style, but all classes include demonstration and participation, and are largely taught by ear in the class itself. Written music is provided by some tutors, where
appropriate, and we send out recordings and notes about a month in advance. (Not 7, 8 or 16).

Instruments

Most workshops are instrument-specific, but one or two are open to players of melodeons and concertinas. The concertina-only workshops (6 & 14) are for players of any system; for anglo players they will work best on a D/G instrument.

Timetable

The day runs from 9.45 to 5.30. Workshops run 10.30-12.15 and 2.15-4.00, with an informal workshop showcase from 4.30-5.30. Over the lunch break you can take a stroll, have a dance, call or a play at the “scratch” ceilidh, play in a session or browse the stalls. The evening concert runs from 8pm -11pm.

Music Market

There will be a chance to browse specialist stalls at the Music Market, which is open until 4.30. If you’re not attending workshops but would like to look at the stalls, you are welcome from 10.45 onwards. Stalls already confirmed include: Wesson Accordions: melodeon builders; Veteran: CDs, DVDs and books; Hedingham Fair: t-shirts, cards, books, gifts; Black Diamond Accordions: melodeon and piano accordion sales; Jollybox, Pete Grassby and Mike Acott Concertinas: instrument sales, restoration and repairs.

Squeezebox Special Concert

Sit back and enjoy some of the best traditional music from across England. Whether you want to relax after a hard day in the workshops or just join us for a good evening’s entertainment, the line-up of guests offers a truly impressive array of talents - both instrumental and singing.

This year’s Squeezebox Special concert features John Spiers, Saul Rose, Sandra Kerr, Tony Weatherall and Steve Harrison & Annie Dearman.

Doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm kick-off and there’s a real ale bar all evening and a CD stall open before the concert starts and in the interval. Tickets can be bought in combination with a day workshop for the best rates, or tickets for the concert only are available at £13.50 or, for concessions (Friends of EATMT / OAPs / students / unemployed) it’s just £12.00, so why not bring your friends and family? P.S. Ring 01449 771090 to reserve your tickets as there are not many left now! (18.3.13)

Location and facilities

The event is once again held in the village of Mendlesham, five miles from Stowmarket, where there is a rail station and bus links. The event takes place in the Community Centre & St. Joseph’s Centre and in the United Reform Church, both just across the road from the Community Centre. The post code for the Community Centre is IP14 5RT.

The Community Centre is fully equipped for wheelchair users. St Josephs Centre and the United Reform Church are accessible to wheelchair users but have no other facilities. Mendlesham has many historic buildings including two pubs and is known for its unique armoury, housed in the church. The village has a fish & chip shop and a shop with cash facilities.

If you need somewhere to stay locally, you can take a look at this accommodation list or contact Mid Suffolk Tourist Information: ring 01449 676800 or email tic@midsuffolk.gov.uk

Refreshments are provided during the day, and lunch may be booked in advance (see booking form). There will be a real ale bar open over lunchtime and during the evening concert. Details about early evening meals for workshop attenders who are staying on for the concert will be sent to you well before the event.

Click here for a printable booking form

Click here for details of accommodation in the vicinity

Melodeons and More 2012

Photos from the 2012 event are on Facebook (you don't have to be signed up to Facebook to see these, though!)

Melodeon Maintenance Days

We are proud to lead the way in melodeon skills yet again, by hosting the first ever workshop days for melodeon players to learn about maintaining their instruments. The first such event was held in March 2009.

The most recent one was on Sunday 27th March 2011, and was led by experienced repairers Rees Wesson and Theo Gibb who ran the first one together for us, and who have both worked with us on our Melodeon-Makers courses over the last three years.

During the day, there was a mixture of demonstrations and practical work, with the aim of help participants to identify and evaluate problems and learn some of the recommended methods for maintenance and repairs, including tuning.

Click here for full details.

Melodeon makers courses

In March 2007, we were proud to be able to offer a unique opportunity in the UK. Eight people joined a course taught by French instrument-maker and musician, Emmanuel Pariselle, to make their own high-quality one row melodeon. The course ran again in October 2008 and April 2010. This course has now gained an international reputation, and places are highly sought after. In 2011 and 2012 Emmanuel has run courses making two-and-a-half row instruments in other parts of the UK.

We are running another course to build one-row melodeons in late October 2013.

Click here for further details.

Melodeons and More  - photos of past events

EATMT resident photographer John Halliday has posted a set of photos on Facebook, which anyone can access by clicking here. Videos of several of the workshops playing for the afternoon showcase have been posted by one of the course participants on Youtube - follow this link and you will find several examples (not always labelled very accurately!)

To see photos from previous events on Facebook, you can click on the following links: Photos from the 2012 event   Photographs of Melodeons and More 2009   Melodeons and More 2007

Melodeon evening classes

We run regular evening classes in Stowmarket, in the centre of Suffolk - at present they run on Tuesday evenings and we are catering for beginners/improvers and intermediate levels. Click here for details of the current courses.

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