Page updated 29th December 2024
Tuition on the melodeon (D/G or one-row in D or C)
For 30 years I taught traditional music on the melodeon (both D/G two-row and D or C single-row) 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.
