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Author Topic: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018  (Read 13527 times)

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Martin P

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #40 on: May 20, 2018, 08:26:21 PM »

Hi all, I've just booked onto this. It'll be my first workshop so I'm just trying to figure out my level of ability. Does anyone have any pointers? I guess I'm somewhere between beginner and intermediate I can play a few tunes without the music in front of me but I mainly follow ( or try to!) sheet music. Would the intermediate level be too hard? Thanks for any advice!
I did this course last year and it’s excellent. Very much geared to playing by ear however with minimal sheet music. If you are happy to be slightly challenged, then Intermeadiate should suit you. Beginners is very basic. Good feature of the weekend is that all 3 groups spend time with each tutor so you get a really mix of styles. I’m sure you will have a great time.  Tip before you go, endlessly practice your scales and arpeggios. Really get to know how your instrument sounds when not rigorously playing a tune from dots.
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RachelAtHalsway

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #41 on: June 14, 2018, 01:53:32 PM »

Hello to any Melnetters who are coming; you should have got your welcome email and draft programme today! See you shortly :)
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NickF

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #42 on: June 15, 2018, 06:51:14 AM »

Found out last night that I can't now attend this weekend :(

Clashes with my sisters 50th wedding anniversary and have been told, in no uncertain terms, that I'd better be there or my life would become a living hell...

Damn  :(
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Tony Smith

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #43 on: June 16, 2018, 09:13:40 AM »

Received mine - thanks.  Very excited.  First time at Halsway and first time at an event like this.
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doctordoom

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #44 on: June 17, 2018, 10:33:24 PM »

Last minute booking for me, seems I've taken someone's cancellation,  looking forward to meeting other Melneters,  see you this Friday!
Cheers John.
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Tone Dumb Greg

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #45 on: June 17, 2018, 10:55:56 PM »

Sorry about crashing your thread, but I thought I would say that I've just got back from Leveret at Halsway and you missed a superb weekend. Leveret were brilliant hosts. Masters of their craft Totally approachable and a lovely bunch of gents, with a good line in comedy. The organisation was laid back and effective. I've put on a few pounds in weight from good eating and the sessions were the best I've ever been involved with. Especially the first night. The was a certain lady student on the course with us called Anna who was an outstanding player. I didn't catch her second name, but I think it was Pack. There was a pretty even mix of diatonic melodeons (as Andy insists on calling them), fiddles and fretted instruments (mandolins, octave mandolin and guitars), whistles and a hurdy gurdy. For me, the highlight was playing in a band which included a lady called Jill, who plays the cello and a fellow called Alasdair, with the most gorgeous sounding PA. Both absolutely class musicians.

The whole thing was one of the key musical experiences of my life to date. For anyone thinking of going to the next one (I think there will be one), it has my highest recommendation.     
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Greg Smith
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Julian S

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #46 on: June 17, 2018, 11:06:48 PM »

I'm certainly looking forward to the D/G weekend - but I echo Greg's comments about the Leveret weekend we've just come back from. And as for the concert by the tutors - wonderful.

J
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Tone Dumb Greg

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #47 on: June 17, 2018, 11:13:19 PM »

I'm certainly looking forward to the D/G weekend - but I echo Greg's comments about the Leveret weekend we've just come back from. And as for the concert by the tutors - wonderful.

J

Did I meet you? Saw some melodeons but didn't recognise anyone.

Did I mention the quality of the students performances at the end? They were mesmerising.

Was Anna Anna Pack?
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Greg Smith
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ACCORDION, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin. Ambrose Bierce

Julian S

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #48 on: June 18, 2018, 07:36:28 AM »

Greg - have messaged you to avoid thread drift.
It's often a problem recognising fellow melnetters - do we need a special handshake ?  >:E

J
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Thrupenny Bit

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #49 on: June 18, 2018, 07:58:35 AM »

..... there was talk of a Melnet badge for such occasions, thereby alleviating the need for such masonic tendencies.
Not sure if the badge ever materialised?
Q
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Thrupenny Bit

I think I'm starting to get most of the notes in roughly the right order...... sometimes!

Theo

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #50 on: June 18, 2018, 08:18:38 AM »

Playing a melodeon is enough of a badge surely?  Followed by simply saying hello and starting a conversation.
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Thrupenny Bit

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #51 on: June 18, 2018, 08:29:15 AM »

true!
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Thrupenny Bit

I think I'm starting to get most of the notes in roughly the right order...... sometimes!

Helena Handcart

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #52 on: June 18, 2018, 08:41:25 AM »

..... there was talk of a Melnet badge for such occasions, thereby alleviating the need for such masonic tendencies.
Not sure if the badge ever materialised?
Q

I have such a badge but have never needed it for melnetter introductions purposes.  In fact I'd forgotten I had it until I discovered it affixed to an unused rucksack.  To the expert eye fellow melodeon players are easily identified - and if all else fails the melodeon bag usually gives it away  (:)
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Helena Handcart

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #53 on: June 18, 2018, 08:42:37 AM »

Sorry about crashing your thread, but I thought I would say that I've just got back from Leveret at Halsway and you missed a superb weekend. Leveret were brilliant hosts. Masters of their craft Totally approachable and a lovely bunch of gents, with a good line in comedy. The organisation was laid back and effective. I've put on a few pounds in weight from good eating and the sessions were the best I've ever been involved with. Especially the first night. The was a certain lady student on the course with us called Anna who was an outstanding player. I didn't catch her second name, but I think it was Pack. There was a pretty even mix of diatonic melodeons (as Andy insists on calling them), fiddles and fretted instruments (mandolins, octave mandolin and guitars), whistles and a hurdy gurdy. For me, the highlight was playing in a band which included a lady called Jill, who plays the cello and a fellow called Alasdair, with the most gorgeous sounding PA. Both absolutely class musicians.

The whole thing was one of the key musical experiences of my life to date. For anyone thinking of going to the next one (I think there will be one), it has my highest recommendation.   

All utterly normal for Halsway where every event is special.   The Blowzabella festival earlier this year was a delight.
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Tone Dumb Greg

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #54 on: June 18, 2018, 08:48:56 AM »

Playing a melodeon is enough of a badge surely?  Followed by simply saying hello and starting a conversation.

Easy to identify the melodeon players Helena, but, somehow, the topic of haunting internet sites never came up.

There were 42 students. I talked to most at some point, but the conversations centered on the stuff going on. The socialising in the evening was, for me, all about playing. Didn't get to chat much. Meals would have been a good time, but I don't remember sharing a table with any other melodeon players. When we split into smaller groups I was with a (brilliant) PA player, not another melodeon. Actually, that's not quite true. There was a rather good guitar player who was learning to play the box, but  conversation never got round to mel.net. We were very much focused on the music.
 
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Greg Smith
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ACCORDION, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin. Ambrose Bierce

RachelAtHalsway

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #55 on: June 19, 2018, 01:41:04 PM »

Thanks for the lovely Halsway / Leveret / BZB comments (and to Theo for not chucking us out for straying off-topic). Yes, Anna Pack, and Alasdair Paton was your PA player Greg (he'd be flattered, he's a very humble chap), both are regulars here, you'll bump into them and more of their kind at the European Music Weekend, another good weekend for more advanced level players.

Leveret are confirmed for next year - I am so delighted! - thanks in no small part I'm sure to the positive things you've all been saying. The chaps enjoyed it very much, and we booked next year as soon as I got into the office on Monday. It will be the final weekend in June. Bookings will open on Friday I reckon...

I'll make sure I give a 'Melnetters show yourselves' shout out on Friday evening! If I forget then one of you prod me :) Safe journey everyone (give yourselves loads of time, the friday afternoon traffic's ALWAYS heavy on the motorways) and see you in a few days :)
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Tone Dumb Greg

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #56 on: June 19, 2018, 03:16:36 PM »

Thanks for Alasdair's name, Rachel. Sorry about gushing but I stand by every word. Can't wait for the next one.
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Greg Smith
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ACCORDION, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin. Ambrose Bierce

Hugh Taylor

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #57 on: June 19, 2018, 04:50:00 PM »

For me, the highlight was playing in a band which included a lady called Jill, who plays the cello

I assume that would be Jill Redmond on cello, an amazing player.
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Nick Ray

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #58 on: June 19, 2018, 05:11:56 PM »

I'm looking forward to this weekend and hopefully putting some names to faces. Went last year and really enjoyed it.

I'll make sure I give a 'Melnetters show yourselves' shout out on Friday evening!
That would be very useful Rachel, thanks

Nick
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malcolmbebb

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Re: D/G Weekend at Halsway - June 2018
« Reply #59 on: June 19, 2018, 05:31:19 PM »

For me, the highlight was playing in a band which included a lady called Jill, who plays the cello

I assume that would be Jill Redmond on cello, an amazing player.

And lovely person.
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