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Melodeons & More
This event started in March 2000, with 40 people attending a master class by Tony Hall during the day and a ceilidh with Old Hat in the evening.
It has since expanded to include different levels and subjects, and from 2004 has also provided classes for concertina players. The event also provides a unique chance to browse amongst trade stalls and try out new instruments, buy books and accessories etc. In the evening the Squeezebox Special concert has now become a very popular event, featuring tutors from the workshops plus extra guests.
Saturday 27th March 2010
This will be the eleventh annual melodeon workshop day in Suffolk, and we have another fabulously eclectic line-up of guests for you.
Booking opens on Thursday 11th December 2009 for Friends of EATMT, who benefit from a priority booking period until Monday 4th January. Booking opens for everyone else on Monday 11th January.
Please note that you need to indicate your 1st and 2nd choice for both morning & afternoon sessions, and that you may book for only ONE of Andy Cutting's classes, in order to try and be as fair as possible to the many people who will be interested in his classes. The latest availability is posted here, so do check before making your selection. If you wish to take advantage of the priority booking and reduced prices for Friends of EATMT, you can join now. Click here for a membership application form for the Friends of EATMT. You will need to either quote your current membership number, or send in an application form and fee. All bookings need to be made by post, as we are not able to accept credit or debit card payments. If you use internet banking, and wish to pay directly, please ring 01449 771090. (Please note that the office is closed from 19th December to 3rd January inclusive.)
We have changed the structure slightly this year and labelled classes as suitable for either Beginners / Intermediate level or Intermediate / Experienced level.
The vast majority of you label yourselves as Intermediate, so you will have plenty of choice!
If you’re not very experienced, sign up for one of the classes labelled B/I, and you will be able to participate in the class and take away lots of ideas to work on over the ensuing months.
Intermediate/Experienced classes will presume that participants have a good
grasp of the basic techniques, and a repertoire of tunes in
common keys and rhythms. These classes will also provide some challenges for
more advanced players who are interested in exploring the trickier aspects of
the music and instruments.
Absolute beginners have probably never picked up the instrument in question
before and instruments are provided for these classes. Melodeons and concertinas
are provided free-of-charge via the EATMT instrument hire scheme. Mouthorgans
need to be purchased (you can do
so via the booking form) at an additional cost, but then they are yours to keep
forever! If you want to bring your own instrument to join an absolute beginners’
class, please note that it needs to be a C melodeon or mouthorgan or a C/G anglo
concertina.
Workshops vary in style according to the tutor’s strengths and approach, but all include both demonstration and participation, and are taught largely by ear.
Written music may be provided by some tutors, and will definitely feature in workshops (5) and (14), although tutor Dave Townsend says he will make sure to accommodate people who learn by ear, and will definitely include something on ear skills as well.
We will send you a recording and notes approximately three weeks in advance so you can familiarise yourself with the music. (Not workshops 7, 8 or 16).
Most workshops are instrument-specific, but one or two are open to players of melodeons and concertinas. The concertina workshops this year (Dave Townsend) are for players of any system: please fill in the section on the booking form to let us know what type you play.
The day runs from 9.45 to 5.30. Morning workshops start at 10.30 and afternoon workshops start at 2.15, followed by an informal workshop showcase concert at 4.30.
There will be a chance to browse amongst specialist suppliers of instruments, recordings and books at the Music Market, which is open until 4.45. If you’re not attending workshops but would like to look at the stalls, you are welcome from 10.45 onwards.
Stalls confirmed so far include: Hedingham Fair - books, cards, t-shirts;
Veteran - CDs, cassettes, videos and books; Rees Wesson of Wesson
Accordions; Theo Gibb of The Box Place
- vintage melodeons and repairs; Dave Jolly of
Jollybox - instrument sales and repairs. To be confirmed: Thrift Music
- concertinas, melodeons, harmonicas & other instruments and Mike Acott -
concertinas and repairs.
A wonderful chance to hear some of the best squeezebox music in the country! Each year this concert amazes us with the variety of styles and approaches to these instruments, and this year’s stellar line-up promises to be another cracker. Whether you want to relax after a hard day in the workshops or simply want a good evening’s entertainment, you’re sure to enjoy this great concert.
It starts at 8pm (doors open 7.30pm) and features Andy Cutting, Pete Coe, Mark Söhngen and Dave Townsend.
Tickets are available for the concert only at £12.50 (or, for concessions, it’s just £10.00 - for Friends of EATMT / OAPs / students / unemployed).
As always, there’s a real ale bar!
The event is once again held in the village of Mendlesham, five miles from Stowmarket, where there is a rail station and bus links. The event takes place in the Community Centre & St. Joseph’s Centre and in the Old School, about five minutes walk away. The centre's post code is IP14 5TD.
The Community Centre is fully equipped for wheelchair users. St Josephs Centre and The Old School are accessible to wheelchair users but have no other facilities. Mendlesham has many historic buildings including two pubs and is known for its unique armoury, housed in the church. The village has a fish & chip shop and a shop with cash facilities. If you wish to stay in the area, contact Mid Suffolk Tourist Information: ring 01449 676800 or email tic@midsuffolk.gov.uk
Refreshments are provided during the day, and lunch may be booked in advance. A real ale bar will be open at lunchtime and during the evening concert. Early evening meals for workshop attenders who are staying on for the concert are available and details about this will be sent out to you with your confirmation.
If you need somewhere to stay locally, you can take a look at this accommodation list.
MORNING WORKSHOPS
1. (B/I) “Right hand harmony”: Rees Wesson (D/G
melodeon)
2. (B/I) “One will do - exploring tunes for the one-row”: Mark Sohngen
(C melodeon)
3. (I/E) “Tips, tricks & ornaments” Alex Goldsmith (D/G melodeon)
FULL (03.02.10)
Ways to emphasise your music, add embellishments and what to do if it all goes
wrong!
4. (I/E) “Making the most of the left hand”: Andy Cutting (D/G
melodeon ) FULL (19.12.09)
5. (B/I) “You’ll have to learn this one!”: Dave Townsend
(any system concertina) - only 2 places left (04.03.10)
Straightforward, catchy but virtually unknown tunes from English tradition.
6. (B/I/E) “Playing for dancing”: Pete Coe (any
concertina/melodeon in D/G) - only 2 places left (04.03.10)
The right tune for the right dance, rhythm, phrasing & pace; intros, outros &
bits in between.
7. Absolute beginners mouthorgan: Katie Howson (C mouthorgan - see
booking form)
8. Absolute beginners anglo-concertina: Steve Dumpleton - no
experience needed FULL (02.01.10) (unless you have your own
C/G anglo)
AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS
9. (B/I) “Shipdham choice”: Steve Dumpleton
(D/G melodeon) FULL (12.01.10)
Lesser known tunes from legendary Norfolk fiddler Walter Bulwer.
10. (I/E) “Quebecois tunes on the one-row melodeon”: Andy Cutting
(D melodeon) FULL (09.02.10)
11. (B/I) “The Female Tradition”: Jeannie Harris
(D melodeon)
Tunes from around the globe collected from female players, including East
Anglia.
12. (I/E) “Northern tunes for Northern dances”: Pete Coe
(D/G melodeon)
13. (I/E) “Play the blues”: Mark Sohngen
(D/G melodeon - playing in A)
- only 1 place left (04.03.10)
14. (B/I/E) “Village Band Sound”: Dave Townsend (any system concertina) FULL (03.02.10)
Tunes arranged in parts in the style of the old village bands - tune,
counter-melody & bass.
If you have a bass instrument, bring it too. (Melodeonists who read music are
welcome too.)
15. (I/E) “ East Anglian stepdance tunes”: Rees Wesson
(D/G
melodeon)
- only 1 place left (04.03.10)
16. Absolute beginners melodeon: Ron Ross - no experience needed FULL (08.02.10) (unless you have
your own C melodeon)
2010 Tutors and Guests
Workshops are about far more than just learning a new tune or two, and our team of regular and guest tutors are all fine musicians with much to share with you.
Andy
Cutting
(“Making the most of the left hand” & “Quebecois tunes on the one-row”)
Andy is an inspirational player of the melodeon and can be credited with
enthusing many people in the UK to play European and Quebecois styles.
He worked with fiddler Chris Wood for many years, and today tours the world
with Blowzabella, Fernhill and as a guest with many outstanding performers.
We’re very lucky to get him along to Melodeons and More!
Click here for more information about Andy and his music.
Pete Coe
(“Playing for dancing” & “Northern tunes for northern dances”)
Pete has a long career in folk music behind him, and excels
in so many areas that he has been dubbed a “one man folk
industry”!
He’s a multi-instrumentalist, dancer and caller,
and teaches at degree level and at many festivals.
He founded the New Victory Band, who were
influential
in the development of English ceilidh bands, and in the
concert he will no doubt include some of his own compositions,
many of which have become classic songs in themselves.
Click here for Pete's website.
Mark Söhngen
(“One will do”& “Play the blues”)
Mark comes from Nijmegen in the
Netherlands and is one of the organisers of
the annual Trek-er-es-Uut melodeon
workshop festival there.
He plays one and two-row melodeon in Cajun
band "Captain Gumbo" and in the music-for-
children duo "Kruis en Mol".
He is inspired by melodeon music from all
over the world and also writes his own tunes.
Alex Goldsmith
(“Tips, tricks & ornaments”)
Suffolk lad Alex has come to national attention recently as
the fabulous melodeon player in Mawkin:Causley (Nominees
'Best Group' BBC R2 Folk Awards 2009).
Having been playing for 14 years, Alex came to the very first
Melodeons in Mid Suffolk event, and it’s great to welcome
him back as a tutor this time.
Click here
for Mawkin:Causley's website.
Dave Townsend
(“You’ll have to learn this one” & “Village band sound”)
Dave is well known to many as director of Hands on
Music and organiser of Melodeons at Witney and
Concertinas at Witney.
He is a stunning virtuoso musician in his own right,
leader of the Mellstock band and a composer and
arranger working in theatre and television.
He ran two great workshops for us a few years back,
and welcomes concertina players of all persuasions!
Rees Wesson
(“Right hand harmony” & “East Anglian stepdance tunes”)
Rees is one of our most sought-after tutors. Perhaps best known as a
superb Cajun player (EII, Joe le Taxi), he has also spent time delving
into other repertoires, including tunes from Suffolk and Norfolk and
has also started small-scale production of one-row melodeons in
recent years.
Rees has a Myspace page or click here for his website.
Steve Dumpleton
(Absolute Beginners anglo concertina and “Shipdham choice”)
Steve is a talented musician and skilled teacher, and has become
another of our very popular regular tutors.
Although based in Yorkshire, where he plays for dancing,
he has East Anglian roots, and has become thoroughly
absorbed by our local repertoire.
Jeannie Harris
(“The Female Tradition”)
Jeannie has a distinctive style on the one-row melodeon, honed
through early days with the legendary group Magic Lantern in
east Suffolk, where she came under the influence of players such
as Oscar Woods.
She now plays in dance band Polkaworks and in a duo with her sister,
Sue Harris.
Ron Ross
(Absolute Beginners melodeon)
Ron, from Norfolk, has been teaching EATMT’s
Beginners’
melodeon evening classes for the last year.
He will get you off the starting blocks if you’ve never picked
up a melodeon before!
Katie Howson
(Absolute Beginners mouthorgan)
Katie is best known as a melodeon
player with
Old Hat Dance Band and Katie’s Quartet, but
she has been playing mouthorgan for many years
too, and now does so with dance band Polkaworks.
Click here for a printable booking form.
Click here for details of accommodation in the vicinity
To see photos from the 2009 event, you can click on the link below, which is kindly provided by EATMT photographer, John Halliday on Facebook: Photographs of Melodeons and More 2009. John has also posted photographs from the 2007 event: Melodeons and More 2007.
Melodeons and More 10 took place on Saturday 28th March 2009 in Mendlesham in mid Suffolk. The tutors were John Kirkpatrick, Tony Hall, Con O'Drisceoil, Rob Harbron, Roger Digby, Colin Cater, Rees Wesson, Jeannie Harris, Ron Ross and Steve Dumpleton. The evening Squeezebox Special concert featured John Kirkpatrick, Tony Hall, Rob Harbron, Con O'Drisceoil and Katie Howson & Jeannie Harris.
We are proud to lead the way in melodeon skills yet
again, by hosting the first ever workshop day for melodeon players to learn
about maintaining
their instruments. The first such event was held in Mendlesham, on Sunday 29th March 2009.
The day was led by experienced repairers Rees
Wesson and Theo Gibb who have worked with us on the EATMT Melodeon-Makers course
over the last two years. During the day, there was a mixture of
demonstrations and practical work, with the aim of help participants to identify
and evaluate problems and learn some of the recommended methods for maintenance
and repairs, including tuning.
Click here for full details and a
printable booking form.
We intend to run another such day in 2011. You are welcome to contact us and register your interest, although that is no guarantee of a place.
In March 2007, we were proud to be able to offer a unique opportunity in the UK. Eight people joined a course taught by French instrument-maker and musician, Emmanuel Pariselle, to make their own high-quality one row melodeon. This course ran again in October 2008, and this time ten people went away after a week's highly intensive work with a fabulous instrument and the knowledge they'd made it themselves! This course has now gained and international reputation, and places are highly sought after. The next course, in April 2010, is already fully subscribed. However, you are welcome to email us and state your interest, as we aim to continue providing these courses in the future.
Click here for further details.
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