Here are the links to things I talked about in this month’s #AskMelonBox on my Mel Biggs Music Facebook page (give us a like!)
Facebook Live Video
Watch the video back for full content.
Waltz vs. Mazurka vs. 3/8 Bourrée
Bear Dance Mazurka:
Shaping notes for dance YouTube playlist (including me dancing!):
Moirai 3/8 bourrée set: ‘Brexit Biscuits (M.Biggs) / Calarem Calarem Pas (French Trad.)’
Pick Up & Play: FREE TRIAL!
Just like Willy Wonka opened the gates to his chocolate factory, I have decided to open the doors to my online course Pick Up & Play with Mel Biggs: Let’s Get Started!
I’ve created an abridged version of the course as a free trial with a selection of lessons from each section of the full course. Ideal for those of you who have been sat on the fence about taking the course, this will be the perfect opportunity to get in and take a look around!
It’s not quite ready for launch yet (it’s having the once over with my online learning expert Pamela!) but it’ll be available in the next 10 days or so. Keep an eye on my various online haunts for an update on how to access your ‘Golden Ticket’!
EDIT: Subscribe to the FREE TRIAL of Pick Up & Play: Let’s Get Started
12 Tunes of Christmas
I’ve decided that I’m going to produce a series of 12 mini tutorials for Christmas tunes you can learn in time for Christmas! Is there a particular favourite tune that you’d like to see as part of this series?
These tutorials will be comprised of:
- A video of the melody with left hand.
- An annotated sheet of music with deconstructed left hand (i.e. exactly where to place basses, chords and gaps) and button numbers for 3rd and 4th button start boxes.
Just think how nice it will be to be able to entertain the family or even get them to join in with you?!
EDIT: Buy A Fistful of Easy Christmas Tunes for DG Melodeon
Moirai in Concert this November
Friday 9th: The Potteries Folk Club | website
Foxfield Railway Station, Nr. Blythe-by-Bridge, Staffordshire
Saturday 10th: The Eagle & Spur, Cookley | tickets: £12 | contact: ku.oc.oirtiariomnull@ofni
Light supper included
The Eagle & Spur, Cookley, Nr. Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY10 3TB
Friday 30th: Everyman Folk Club | website
The Riverside Centre, Nr. Saxmundham, Suffolk
Upcoming Melodeon Workshops
February 9th: Evesham Melodeon Playgroup | website | melodeon.net thread
A day of informal workshops for absolute beginners, beginners and improvers. Fantastic opportunity to meet fellow players in a relaxed social environment! Best pub in the world. FACT.
The Fleece Inn, Bretforton, Evesham, WR11 7JE
February 23rd: BorderBox | website | melodeon.net thread
A day of workshops with myself, Simon Care, Steve Dumpleton with additional content from Peter Morris and Rees Wesson.
Oswestry School, Upper Brook St, Oswestry, SY11 2TL
Bespoke House Workshops – I come to you!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpXe_0wF9X8/
Fancy a 1 day workshop for you and some friends at your home or local venue? You tell me what you’d like to cover, I come up with a selection of ideas and you get to choose what we do on the day! Suitable for up to 8 people maximum.
Here’s an extract from an email I had recently from someone who attended one of my intimate house workshops which focused mainly on playing together by ear:
“Just to say how much I enjoyed Thursday, and thank you for your patience. I am slightly dyslexic, which I am aware means my brain and fingers do not always co-ordinate well and need a bit longer to make the connections. To be able to step out [of the room] was great.I was determined not to look at the music before Thursday – the only person I’m cheating is myself and the learning experience is so much better for being hard fought! I gave my brain a rest yesterday but spent 30-40 mins with the video this morning and once I’d sorted the A music, the B music came easily. I cannot begin to describe the triumph I feel having conquered it. The other comment I would make is [learning by ear] makes you feel so in tune with the instrument.”
Harlequin Morris
Having mentioned that I had just returned from Harlequin’s recruitment practice weekend, and having played a few Harlequin tunes, I thought you might like to see us in action. SPOILER ALERT we’re rather ridiculous!
That’s my left hand! I’m playing a borrowed Hohner Pokerwork
Next #AskMelonBox
The date for the next live Q&A is December 3rd 7-8pm GMT via Facebook live on my Facebook page.
See you then!
Happy playing
[:]||| Mel |||[:]