Who was it that said you should play the melodeon with your whole body?
As a relative beginner, (I bought my first melodeon on the 1st May), I have been concentrating on my fingers, hitting the right buttons, the bellows, making them go in and out at the right time, the air button, reading the music and trying to keep time. I feel I have managed to play a few tunes reasonably well and decided, some weeks ago, to try something faster and more rhythmical. I chose Princess Royal.
Playing it through slowly at first, I got the fingering ok and the basses seem to work well but when I tried to speed it up, I got in a bit of a mess. I could never manage to play it all the way through without making stupid mistakes all over the place. Like, concentrating so hard I would leave out a note or two simply because I forgot to reverse the bellows. So annoying! But, I have been practicing it every day for several weeks and then today....eureka!
I finally let myself go and I could feel the rhythm right through my body, I didn't have to think about my fingers or the bellows, I just felt it. And what's more, I was able to listen to myself playing. Fantastic...and a great lesson learnt. I only hope I can still do it tomorrow!
I know from the past, while learning other instruments, teachers have stressed the importance of listening to yourself play, which means knowing a tune and your intrument so well that you don't have to think about what you are doing. Just listen.
I'm so happy with my practice today!