Levels

Where a level is not specified, workshops are classified as intermediate or above, for the player who has a good grasp of the basic techniques, and a repertoire of tunes in common keys and rhythms. Tutors in these classes will also have some challenges for more advanced players who are interested in exploring the trickier aspects of the music and instruments.

As large numbers of melodeon players attend this event, we are able to provide a specific workshop for the less experienced “melodeonist”, and this is a full-day workshop run in two halves (Inexperienced Melodeon). This is suitable for someone who can play the major scales and simple tunes, but prefers a slower pace for playing and a steadier pace in the workshops.

Absolute beginners have probably never picked up the instrument in question before and hire instruments are provided in these classes. If you want to bring your own instrument to join an absolute beginners’ class, please note that it needs to be a C melodeon or a C/G anglo concertina. If you’re unsure about the suitability of a particular workshop, please ring or email your query before booking.

Teaching styles

Workshops vary in style, but all include a mixture of demonstration and participation, and are taught largely by ear. Written music may be provided by some tutors. We will send you a recording and notes in advance so you can familiarise yourself with the music (this does not apply to Absolute Beginners).

Please be aware that where workshops are open to melodeon & concertina players, they will focus on style rather than techniques.

Instruments

Some workshops are instrument-specific, and others are open to players of melodeons or concertinas. Please read the descriptions and booking forms carefully.

Timetable

The day runs from 9.45 to 5.30. Morning workshops start at 10.30 and afternoon workshops start at 2.15, followed by an informal workshop showcase concert at 4.30.

Music Market

There will be a chance to browse amongst specialist suppliers of instruments, recordings and books at the Music Market, which is open until 4.45. If you’re not attending workshops but would like to look at the stalls, you are welcome from 10.45 onwards.

Stalls confirmed so far include: Hedingham Fair - books, cards, t-shirts; Veteran - CDs, cassettes, videos and books; Thrift Music - concertinas, melodeons, harmonicas & other instruments; Theo Gibb of The Box Place - vintage melodeons and repairs and Mike Acott - concertinas and repairs, Jollybox - instrument sales and repairs.

Squeezebox Special Concert

A wonderful chance to hear some of the best squeezebox music in the country! Each year we are amazed at the variety of music on show, and this year’s line-up promises to be both inspirational and entertaining. Whether you want to relax after a hard day in the workshops or simply want to enjoy a good musical evening, we’re sure you’ll enjoy this concert. It starts at 8pm (doors open 7.30pm) and features Tony Hall, John Kirkpatrick, Con O’Drisceoil, Rob Harbron and Jeannie Harris & Katie Howson. There’s a real ale bar and tickets are available for the concert only at £12.00 (or, for concessions, it’s just £9.00 - the same price as last year - for Friends of EATMT / OAPs / students / unemployed).

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 Old School, about five minutes walk away. The Community Centre is fully equipped for wheelchair users. St Josephs Centre and The Old School 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 wish to stay in the area, 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. A real ale bar will be open at lunchtime and during the evening concert. Early evening meals for workshop attenders who are staying on for the concert are available and details about this will be sent out to you with your confirmation.

2009 Workshop Details

ALL DAY WORKSHOP

1a & 1b. Inexperienced Melodeon: Jeannie Harris starts you off with a look at the melody end, and Steve Dumpleton takes over to consider the bass end. FULL (20.01.09)

MORNING WORKSHOPS

2. Putting the dance into the dance tune: John Kirkpatrick (D/G melodeon) FULL (19.12.08)
3. Cajun one row style: Rees Wesson (C one row melodeon) 5 PLACES LEFT
4. Norfolk dulcimer tunes for the melodeon: Steve Dumpleton (D/G melodeon ) FULL(02.03.09)
Expressing the qualities of the dulcimer on the melodeon with some complex tunes.
5. Slides & polkas from Sliabh Luachra: Con O’Drisceoil (any concertina/melodeon) FULL (20.01.09)
Lively dance music from south west Ireland.
6. Australian dance tunes: Roger Digby (any concertina/melodeon) FULL (02.03.09)
Investigating the similarities between the rural music of Australia and England.
7. English concertina - chords & harmonies: Rob Harbron (English concertina)  5 PLACES LEFT
8. Absolute beginners melodeon: Ron Ross - no experience needed FULL (21.01.09)

AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS

9. Song accompaniment: Colin Cater (any concertina/melodeon) 4 PLACES LEFT
You need to play in the keys of D and G, but please bring instruments in other keys.
10. Play something simple (and make it complicated!): Tony Hall (D/G melodeon) FULL (17.12.08)
11. The Irish push/draw style: Con O’Drisceoil (any melodeon with a D row)  FULL (16.01.09)
Exploring the Irish one row tradition.
12. Anglo concertina - three chord trick: John Kirkpatrick (anglo concertina) 3 PLACES LEFT
13. Playing with others: Rob Harbron (any concertina/melodeon) FULL (02.03.09)
Accompaniment, arrangements, etiquette and more.
14. Lifting tunes from the page: Jeannie Harris (any concertina/melodeon)  2 PLACES LEFT
A variety of techniques & tips for putting “zing” into tunes from books & manuscripts.
15. Absolute beginners anglo concertina: Roger Digby - no experience needed FULL (14.01.09)

2009 Tutors and Guests

Workshops are about far more than just learning a new tune or two, and our team of regular and guest tutors are all fine musicians with much to share with you.

                    John Kirkpatrick (right) 

                    (“Putting the dance into the dance tune” & Anglo concertina)

                        John needs little introduction to most squeezebox players, as he

                        has been at the forefront of English folk music for four decades.

                        He is a virtuoso musician with a quintessentially English style,

                        a great enthusiast for dance music and an inspiring teacher.

                        Click here for John's own website.

         Tony Hall (left)

            (“Play something simple and make it complicated!”)

            Hailing from Norfolk, Tony is another melodeon maestro, with a unique

            and totally gorgeous style of playing. His idiosyncratic take on life will

            no doubt be in evidence in both his workshop and concert appearance!

             Con O’Drisceoil (right)

                 (“Slides and polkas from Sliabh Luachra” and

                 “The Irish push/draw style”)
 

                 Con is a consummate player in great demand for playing and

                 teaching in Ireland, and he makes occasional visits to the UK,

                 usually with his band the Four Star Trio. He will be teaching

                 dance music from south-west Ireland, and “drawing” inspiration

                 from the Irish one-row style for his two workshops. He is also

                 revered as a comedic songwriter with a fantastic way with words,

                 as you’ll hear in the concert.

             Rob Harbron  (left)

                (English concertina & “Playing with others”)

                Rob is widely considered to be the best concertina player

                of his generation. He’s a member of the English Acoustic

                Collective and also performs with Nancy Kerr and James

                Fagan as well appearing with many other top names in the

                English folk scene. He is a gifted teacher, composer and

                producer as well as a wonderful musician.

                Click here for Rob's website.

          Roger Digby (right)

            (“Australian dance tunes” and Absolute beginners anglo concertina)

            Roger was a founder member of the legendary English dance band Flowers and Frolics.

            Now based in Essex, he is a fine anglo player, and will be sharing one of his enthusiasms

            with you this year - investigating a tradition with a strangely familiar feel, and teaching

            you some bonzer tunes that aren’t well known -yet!.

            Jeannie Harris (left)

                (Inexperienced melodeon & “Lifting tunes from the page”)

                It’s a couple of years since Norfolk-based Jeannie has been with us, and,

                as ever, she will offer some wise insights and apply her deep knowledge

                of music to some interesting material. She’s also making a rare concert

                appearance with Katie Howson, a fellow member of the new ceilidh band

                Polkaworks.

         Colin Cater (right)

            (“Song accompaniment”)

            Colin is also based in Essex, and has a lifetime’s experience

            in traditional  music for dancing and singing, as well as having

            penned some fine songs himself. He will be leading this

            workshop on melodeon, and looking at techniques and different

            keys for accompanying singing.

             Steve Dumpleton (left)

                (”Norfolk dulcimer tunes for the melodeon” & Inexperienced melodeon)

                Steve has joined the team of regular tutors over the last few years.

                Whilst working on the transcriptions for EATMT’s book of East Anglian

                music (”Before the Night Was Out”) he became deeply absorbed by

                some of the wonderful tunes played by the fine dulcimer players
                from Norfolk, and has been working on how to adapt these to the

                two-row melodeon.

Rees Wesson (right)

("Cajun One Row Style")

                        Rees’s inventive and thoughtful approach to music

                        has won him many fans amongst listeners and students.

                        He is one of the best Cajun players in the UK and his

                        band Joe le Taxi are a regular fixture at festivals across Europe.

                        Rees has a Myspace page or click here for his website.

    Ron Ross

    (Absolute beginners melodeon)

    Ron, another Norfolk inhabitant, has recently taken on some teaching

    for EATMT after many years playing melodeon for dancing, and has

    hosted the lunchtime sessions at Melodeons and More in past years.

      Katie Howson

        Katie is director of Melodeons and More, and this year takes a sabbatical

        from  teaching at the event, but makes a concert appearance with Jeannie Harris.

        Katie led the Old Hat Dance Band for many years, and continues to lead Katie's

        Quartet as well as being a member of the new ceilidh band Polkaworks. She is

        co-director of the East Anglian Traditional Music Trust and teaches melodeon

        across the country.

Click here for a printable booking form.

Melodeon Maintenance Day 2009

We are proud to lead the way in melodeon skills yet again, by hosting the first ever workshop day for melodeon players to learn about maintaining
their instruments. The event is held in Mendlesham, on the day following Melodeons and More - Sunday 29th March 2009.

The day will be led by experienced repairers Rees Wesson and Theo Gibb who have worked with us on the EATMT Melodeon-Makers course over the last two years. During the day, there will be 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 and a printable booking form.

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. This course ran again in October 2008, and this time ten people went away after a week's highly intensive work with a fabulous instrument and the knowledge they'd made it themselves! This course has now gained and international reputation, and places are highly sought after. However, you are welcome to email us and state your interest, as we aim to continue providing these courses in the future.

Click here for further details.