Concertina Foundations

Concertina Foundations starts with polkas, slides and jigs and progresses to reels in the second part of the course.

The course is essentially a ‘bag of tools’ to have in one’s belt to help create variety and personality when playing the concertina. These ‘tools’ include the use of long notes, staccato notes, ornaments, upbeats, double octaves, chords, stops and emphasis. Ornaments and triplets are clearly broken down and demonstrated effectively.

A lot of time and attention is given to the integrity of a tune, with good rhythm, momentum and emphasis important above all else. Ornamentation is taught after the tune and its rhythm have already been firmly established. Tunes are frequently related back to the dancing tradition from which they emerged which is helpful in understanding their context and how to approach them.

The tutor accentuates using the whole concertina, not being stuck in rows but moving from either side of the concertina for optimal flow and personality.

In lesson 9, using The Edenderry Reel, students are taught how to double octave a tune.

In lesson 11 ‘ The Good Natured Man’, the notes at the very top of the instrument’s register are explored. In the last lesson ‘The Castle Jig’, attention turns to the notes at the very bottom of the range of the concertina.

The tutor plays a Jeffries C/G 38 button Anglo concertina.

The traditional Irish tunes taught in this course are: