NORTHEAST CONCERTINA WORKSHOP

Saturday April 18th 2009 in Sunderland, Massachusetts USA

Registration Form

Please print out this form (please click here for a PDF version of the form), fill it in, and mail it to us at
The Button Box, P.O. Box 372, Sunderland, MA 01375
or fax it to us at (413) 665-7730.
To register by phone, please call us at (413) 665-7793.


English Anglo Duet
Name:

Address:
_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________
I play:

Proficiency:
(fill in B,I,A)






English Range: __________________
Phone: _________________________________________ Anglo Keys: __________________
E-mail: _________________________________________ Duet System: __________________



Payment:



Payment in full is required. Please enclose a check made payable to The Button Box for the total amount or fill out below with your Visa, MasterCard, or DiscoverCard info:

Classes and concert:

Optional catered lunch $12:

(by Panera - based on their "Sandwich Deluxe" menu)

Total:

#_________- _________ - _________ - _________ Exp:_____ CVV**:_____

              **This is the 3-digit code on the back of your card
The day's events start at 9 a.m. with a general welcome, refreshments, and a chance to meet the staff. The morning workshops run from 10 to noon and will be followed by a break for lunch. The two afternoon sessions will run from 1:30 to 5:00 followed by a wrap-up session until about 5:30, leaving time for networking, jamming and dinner before the 7:30 p.m. concert.

Please indicate your workshop preferences by filling in the boxes below; please write a "1" and "2" for each period to indicate your first and second choices.

Proficiency - Some workshops are geared for specific skill levels. Please consider these guidelines when filling out this form.
  • Beginner Level - People who have a handle on the main notes of the instrument, have some knowledge of note names, and can find their way around a few tunes (at a slow tempo is okay).
  • Intermediate Level - People who can play in a few keys and meters (reels, jigs, etc.), have a fair sense of rhythm, and can play at a moderate pace.
  • Advanced Level - People who can play with fluency in several keys, modes and meters, have a good understanding of the layout of the instrument, and can play at tempo.

Workshop Level
Staff Description
Beginning Song Accompaniment for English Concertina B+ Ian Robb The challenges of playing and singing at the same time. Starting with the melody and adding "extra notes" or developing simple chordal accompaniments. Aimed at those who are already able to play simple melodies on the instrument and can learn by ear. Class members are encouraged to bring songs to try. Please bring an extra copy of the words too. For English concertinas.
Dance Music Repertoire B,I,Adv David Paton Some of Dave's favorite tunes from a wide variety of musical styles, featuring a New England contra tune, Finnish waltz, Quebecois quadrille, Belgian polka, and other tunes from Europe and North America. Sheet music will be provided. All types of concertinas welcome.
English Country Dance Music and Other Classically-Inclined Forms I,Adv Jan Elliott Making the music danceable, from giving an instructive upbeat to devising countermelodies and improvisations that don't get in the dancers' way. We'll explore articulation that enhances and propels the melody, and how to play for walk-throughs. We'll take turns doing simple figures to one another's music. We will not be learning melodies by ear, so music reading is required unless you pick up tunes extremely quickly. Bring Barnes Vol. 1 if you have it. Jan plays English, but the class will work for other systems, too.
Harmonic Anglo B,I Jody Kruskal Learn the basics of harmonic playing, sometimes called "English style," with accompaniment on the left hand and melody on the right. We will learn a popular Quebecois tune, "Glise à Sherbrooke" (Click here for more information including scores in tabulature, midi files of the scores, and MP3 files of Jody playing the tune). For 30-button C/G and G/D anglo concertinas.
Chris' Beginning Irish Anglo B Chris Stevens Fingering techniques and two basic tunes. For all C/G anglo concertinas.
Edel's Intermediate Irish Anglo I Edel Fox This class will concentrate on bellows control and the use of ornamentation. Tunes taught in this class will be jig, reel and/or hornpipe. For 30-button C/G anglo.
"Ragtime" on the Duet

B+,I Bob Webb Playing ragtime on the duet, focusing on Bob's composition "The Schooner." For duet concertinas.

Intermediate Song Accompaniment for English Concertina I Ian Robb Aimed at singers who already do some chordal or non-melodic accompaniment. Making your accompaniment interesting without overpowering the song. Class members are encouraged to bring songs for example and discussion. Please bring an extra copy of the words too. For English concertinas.
Irish & Scottish Music on the English Concertina I,Adv David Paton Playing Celtic dance music with rhythm and ornamentation. The use of the bellows to enhance the music and various approaches to playing rolls. For English concertinas.
Beginning English Concertina Technique B,B+ Jan Elliott We will explore the delightful attributes of this versatile instrument, from fingering choices and bellows work to chording and ornamentation. The class will focus on technique, with some straightforward tunes to learn by ear or from sheet music, plus a bit of music theory if time & interest permit. Bring tunes, questions, and ideas and make this YOUR class.
Old-Time Anglo I,Adv Jody Kruskal Play Jody's arrangement of "Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss" and learn the details for getting that American sound with harmonic richness and rhythmic drive. (Click here for more information including scores in tabulature, midi files of the scores, and MP3 files of Jody playing the tune). For 30-button C/G and G/D anglo concertinas.
Chris' Advanced Irish Anglo I+ Chris Stevens Variation and dynamic phrasing, reel and polka. For 30-button C/G anglo concertinas.
Edel's Beginning Irish Anglo B,B+ Edel Fox An introduction to some basic traditional melodies focusing mainly on the keys of G and D using a simple fingering system. For 30-button C/G anglo.
Popular Music 1900-1950 on the Duet

I Bob Webb Using the Duet concertina for more sophisticated chordal accompaniments, focusing on popular music from the period between 1900 and 1950. For duet concertinas.
Concertina Repair Clinic

B,I,A Bob Snope Simple repairs every concertina player should be able to make on his or her own instrument. How to locate and fix a stuck reed, replace a broken spring, re-glue a loose pad, change a bad valve, and free a sticky key. Discussion of which repairs are best left to trained professionals and some easy ways to keep your instrument in good playing shape.

English-Concertina-Friendly Jigs and Reels B+,I,Adv Ian Robb An informal exchange of dance tunes, stolen from all over, that fall nicely under the fingers and are fun to play. Tunes will be taught phrase by phrase, by ear, in a "slow-jam" fashion. Participants need to have the basic ability to learn and play by ear and are welcome to teach tunes to the group. For English concertinas.
Rhythm & Dance Music on the English Concertina B,B+ David Paton Playing dance music on the English concertina. The basics of rhythm and developing your own style. Playing a simple tune at a slow and controlled tempo, increasing the speed only when timing and bellows control are mastered. Specific techniques for jigs, reels and hornpipes. For English concertinas.
"Who Follows Whom?" Playing for Display Dance I Jan Elliott This will be taught on English concertina, but largely aim to imitate the "punchy" push-pull of Anglo. Understanding the dance is paramount. The musician for display dance -- morris, sword, clog, etc. -- is both god and slave, and negotiating those roles is a challenge and a delight. You think playing at a steady tempo is all you need to do? Think again. Assume the dancers will tell you what they want? Not likely. This class will help you figure it out on your own. All instruments are welcome.
Master Class - Play Something... B,I,Adv Jody Kruskal Jody will give you feedback and help in thinking about how to take your playing to the next level. We will examine the details of timing, phrasing, dynamics (loud/quiet), note length (legato/staccato), chord and accompaniment choices, style, posture, and performance energy. All systems and styles.
Chris' Intermediate Irish Anglo I Chris Stevens Introduction to ornamentation, jig and reel. For all C/G anglo concertinas.
Edel's More Advanced Irish Anglo I,Adv Edel Fox This class is suitable for players who have been learning for 4+ years. It will concentrate on more complex tunes and keys with emphasis placed on fingering systems and variation. For 30-button C/G anglo.
Sea Music on the Duet B Bob Webb The duet concertina as an accompaniment to sea music (do's and don'ts) and other types of vocal music. For Duet concertinas.

The Fine Print:

Registration: The $110 (pre-registration or $120 on-site) fee is for the entire event (plus $12 for those who opt for the catered lunch). You are not required to attend all workshop sessions or the evening concert, but there is no reduced fee for partial participation. Please note that meals and overnight lodging are NOT included.

Cancellations: Cancellations before April 1 will receive a full refund. Cancellations received between April 1 and April 16 will receive a 50% refund. No refunds after April 16.

Oversubscription: Some workshops have a maximum limit. Please give a second choice for all workshops. Also, please let us know if you have any specific learning interests and concerns, and we will forward your comments to the staff.

Confirmation: We will send confirmation after we process your registration. We look forward to seeing you in April!


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