Page updated 9th June 2024
Tuition on the melodeon (D/G or one-row in D or C)
I taught traditional music on the melodeon (both D/G two-row and D or C single-row) for 30 years, and worked for all the major folk development organisations in England and a couple of further-flung commissions to Aberdeen and the Netherlands. I was a regular tutor for Hands On Music in Witney and tutored at Halsway Manor, Melodeons in Wensleydale and many other such events, as well as festival workshops. From 2001-2017 I taught, designed and managed evening classes for the East Anglian Traditional Music Trust. This included training some younger tutors. I also programmed and managed the much-loved and respected Melodeons and More annual workshop event for EATMT in the same period.
I have now more-or-less retired from teaching (never say never!!) apart from occasional festival workshops etc. If you think you would like to persuade me out of retirement to run a workshop at your festival or other event, please get in touch via the Contact page.
Subjects
Previous subjects have included:
If It Ain’t Got that Swing – how to ensure your playing has oomph even if it ain’t got oompah
Fast Hornpipes for Stepdancing – the East Anglian stepdance repertoire
Waltzing over the Waters – waltzes from near and far
Stretching Your Fingers – using the full reach of the keyboard
Crossing Rows for Chords on the D/G box
Making the Most of One Row
An introduction to East Anglian music
An introduction to Sliabh Luachra music for D/G players
Out of the Comfort Zone – playing in second position
A La Mode – investigating the A Dorian mode
Pace and Place: Polkas – investigating different styles of polka playing
Most of these were custom-made workshops. As an example, in 2018, I developed a set of classes looking at different styles of polkas (from Suffolk, Cork and Newfoundland) to fit in with the theme at the Borderbox event.
Click on the images below for the full picture.
