2024
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Sun14Jan2024
TUTOR: Beginners Melodeon Workshop Part 2, The Stables, Milton Keynes
10:00-15:00The Stables, Milton Keynes.
A chance for melodeon players at the beginner level (see here) to explore the instrument and basic rhythms in more depth. This workshop will focus on playing traditional English polkas, jigs and waltzes, how to start crossing the rows, and introducing some left hand variation. Suitable for players who have some basic knowledge of the instrument already (i.e. can play a number of simple tunes oom-pah on the left hand), and who have their own instrument. Participants do not need to read music notation, but a basic knowledge of music (scales, chords, time signatures) will help.
This workshop is for instruments tuned in D/G with a minimum of 2-rows and 8-basses.
If you have previously done part 1 and need to borrow an instrument in order to take part in this part 2 workshop – please contact us at gro.selbatsnull@noitacude.
Double check yours is in DG tuning via this handy post put together by Mel:
https://melbiggsmusic.co.uk/2022/05/25/know-what-type-of-melodeon-you-have/
Refreshments:
Tea & coffee is provided.
Participants on a full day workshop or course should bring a packed lunch and other snacks. -
Sat10Feb2024
TUTOR: Absolute Beginners Melodeon Workshop Part 1, The Stables, Milton Keynes
10:00-15:00The Stables, Milton Keynes.
A rare chance for beginners to pick up and play the small but mighty melodeon (aka button accordion/squeezebox), with expert guidance from tutor Mel Biggs. Drawing on traditional English dance tunes, the workshop will introduce learning the instrument left hand first to develop effective rhythmical control and coordination, before learning your first tune with both hands. This workshop is for anyone interested in English folk music, folk dance or trying a squeezebox for the first
time. Participants do not need to read music notation, and no previous melodeon or folk music experience is required, but a basic knowledge of music (scales, chords, time signatures) will help. This workshop is for instruments tuned in D/G with a minimum of 2-rows and 8-basses. Limited numbers are available to borrow – please contact us at gro.selbatsnull@noitacude.
Refreshments:
Tea & coffee is provided.
Participants on a full day workshop or course should bring a packed lunch and other snacks. -
Sat16Mar2024
TUTOR: Session Survival Skills Workshop, The Folk of Gloucester
10:00-15:00The Folk of Gloucester, Gloucester.
A rare chance for folk music players of all levels to learn how to play better together in sessions.
"When new to playing in groups, it can be really daunting even getting the instrument out of the bag let alone starting or joining in with a tune! I’m going to run a ‘deconstructed session’ with a small selection of tunes, which I believe give a fairly good overall representation of the types of tunes we come across in most ‘English’ sessions. It will give us a chance to stop and chat about the gripes we face in sessions and have a safe space to try out some new approaches that you can take away and try out in your local ‘wild’ session."
This workshop is for anyone interested in English folk music, folk dance or trying out playing in groups for the first time.
Beginner/improver friendly but all experience levels welcome (not suitable for absolute beginners).
Participants do not need to read music notation, and no previous folk music experience is required, but a basic knowledge of music (scales, chords, time signatures) will help. This workshop is for all folk melody instruments and melodeons tuned in D/G with a minimum of 2-rows and 8-basses.
Workshop: 10-3pm (with breaks), steady speed session 4-5:30pm, concert 7:30-10:30pm
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Sat16Mar2024
CONCERT: Solo, The Folk of Gloucester
19:30-22:00The Folk of Gloucester, Gloucester.
A rare solo performance. (With guests & support)
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Fri12Apr2024Sun14Apr2024
TUTOR: Melodeons in Wensleydale
The Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes, Yorkshire
2 days of melodeon workshops with Mel Biggs, Marinette Bonnert (Belgium), Archie Churchill-Moss, Andy Cutting, and Paul Scourfield. Mini workshops will be led by Theo Gibb, Vicky Cooper, Bob Ellis, Richard Featherstone and Brian Read.
BOOKINGS: Event Website
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Fri26Apr2024
MORRIS:NATYAM: Stoke Potteries Museum
7:30-9pmStoke Potteries Museum, Stoke-On-Trent
A fusion of English Morris and Indian Bharatanatyam dance, which explores the integration and fusion of two traditional dance styles: the English morris dance and the Bharatanatyam of southern India. Working around the central theme of the changing seasons, the dancers first create dances in their own traditional styles and then let the styles mingle – dancing each other’s steps, using each other’s style of music and creating something new out of the convergence – Morris-Natyam
FREE EVENT | website