
Date | Tutor | Workshop Title | Ability Level ![]() |
---|---|---|---|
Saturday 25th April | John Kirkpatrick | A1 - Chords and Extra Notes on the Right-Hand Side | I/H |
Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne | B1 - Outside of the Ordinary | B/I | |
Hazel Askew | C1 - Song Accompaniment and Arrangement | I/H | |
Steve Dumpleton | D1 - Bringing the Tune to Life | B/I | |
Sunday 26th April | John Kirkpatrick | A2 - Fire up the Engine Room Note that this workshop is full as of 11 November 2019. | B/I |
Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne | B2 - Making the Most of the 2-Row | I/H | |
Hazel Askew | C2 - Playing for Dancing | B/I | |
Steve Dumpleton | D2 - One-Row Wonders | I/H |
See here for explanation of ability levels.
Saturday 25th April
A1 – John Kirkpatrick*
Chords and extra notes on the Right Hand Side – Intermediate/Higher Level
Explore the fun of adding one or two or three notes to what you’re already playing on the right hand side. You can produce lush swathes of harmony – ideal for song accompaniments or supporting other instrumentalists – or punch notes in under the tune to emphasize the rhythm you’re trying to establish. And you can provide some of the chords that aren’t there on the left hand side. Aimed at players of a normal eight bass G/D two-row, but as we reach outer space it will help if you have the two accidental buttons under your chin.
*Because John is always such a popular tutor, we’re limiting you to just one of his units over the weekend to give as many people as possible an opportunity to work with him.
B1 – Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne
Outside of the Ordinary – Basic/Intermediate Level
An exploration of some areas of music and playing that will be out of the ordinary to most people playing the D/G melodeon in the English style. These will include some unusual time signatures, some alternative keys and modes and some slightly unusual styles while still remaining within the idiom of English music. Along the way we will also explore aspects of playing technique and musical interpretation.
C1 – Hazel Askew
Song Accompaniment and Arrangement – Intermediate/Higher Level
In this workshop we will push the boundaries of how to use the melodeon as an accompanying instrument. In the sessions we will learn a few songs as a group, and then learn the melodies and basic chords on the melodeon before working on arranging them. We will explore a variety of accompaniment techniques including different left and right hand chords, rhythmic ideas, riffs and other techniques to help tell the story of a song. Many of the techniques in this workshop will also be relevant for arranging and accompany tunes
D1 – Steve Dumpleton
Bringing the Tune to Life – Basic/Intermediate Level
The basic tune, whether learned from written notation or by ear, is just the beginning; the bare bones. This workshop will explore how we can develop the tune, bringing those bones to life to make music. Minimum instrument requirement: Two-row melodeon in D/G.
Sunday 26th April
A2 – John Kirkpatrick*
Fire up the Engine Room – Basic/Intermediate Level
The bass buttons make up half the noise you’re producing, but it’s dismaying how little attention some players give to them. We’ll look at how to make the most of the oom pa’s to create dynamic dance music in all the common rhythms, and equally how to establish a smoother musical landscape – if you really have to! Suitable for a basic eight bass two-row in G and D.
*Because John is always such a popular tutor, we’re limiting you to just one of his units over the weekend to give as many people as possible an opportunity to work with him.
Note that this workshop is now full as of 11 November 2019.
B2 – Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne
Making the Most of the 2 Row – Intermediate/Higher Level
This workshop will explore the full capabilities of the humble two-row eight-bass melodeon. Using various English tunes, we will look at ornamentation, variation, right and left-hand harmony, accidentals and making the most of just eight basses. It is recommended that you have an instrument with standard accidentals at the top of the keyboard or on a third row. Having an instrument with third-less bass chords or with the ability to remove them would also be beneficial, but it is not essential.
C2 – Hazel Askew
Playing for Dancing – Basic/Intermediate Level
This workshop will explore English dance tunes and how to bring them to life. We will learn a few different kinds of dance tunes (including ceilidh tunes and morris dance tunes) and explore left hand accompaniment techniques, how to bring the melody to life in your right hand and how to make your playing overall more danceable.
D2 – Steve Dumpleton
One-Row Wonders – Intermediate/Higher Level
Less is more! A one-row melodeon can be extraordinarily satisfying for both players and listeners, with opportunity for a richness of sound and tremendous rhythmic drive. Taught in the key of D, this workshop explores some one-row techniques and styles which can be used in many tunes. This is a chance to air your one-row four-stop melodeon in D or a two-row instrument with a low-octave voice if you have one. But don’t worry if not – a standard two-row D/G melodeon will be fine.
Mini Workshops
On the Saturday afternoon we also run some “mini-workshops” starting at 15:50 and finishing at 17:00. You can opt for one, or can opt out entirely. These are run by Theo, Rees, Vicky and Bob and are as follows:
M1 | Theo Gibb | Melodeon Maintenance | Reeds and Tuning. | |
M2 | Rees Wesson | Gateway to the blues in F#m | An introduction to playing the blues melodeon. Don’t be put off by the key of F#m – all the notes you will need are available on a standard two-row D/G melodeon. | |
M3 | Vicky Cooper | Introduction to G/C | Looking at one simple tune and learning how to use your keyboard and bellows differently from a D/G instrument. Bring your own G/C box or, for those who don’t have one, there may be a limited number of G/C instruments available to borrow for this workshop. Try to find one for yourself, but failing that you can ask the organisers what is available. | Le Revenant (normal speed).wav Le Revenant.pdf |
M4 | Bob Ellis | Yorkshire Dales Tunes | Learn a couple of traditional tunes local to the Yorkshire Dales from Bob’s new book which should – finally! – be in print by the time Melodeons in Wensleydale 2020 takes place. |