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Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?

Yes
- 121 (89%)
No
- 15 (11%)

Total Members Voted: 130


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Author Topic: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?  (Read 33489 times)

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Pete Dunk

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #40 on: March 27, 2010, 11:13:02 PM »

but the others I still play regularly to varying degrees of incompetence.

Now that sounds strangely familiar!  >:E
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Owen Woods

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #41 on: March 28, 2010, 03:57:01 PM »

Yes, Piano to Diploma level, Clarinet to Grade 8, although when I started playing box I was not to that leve in either of them. Since taking up the box I've also learned ukulele (and others), Harmonica (very badly), Flageolet and a few others.
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LJC

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #42 on: March 28, 2010, 04:20:35 PM »

I got a degree in Jazz and Popular Guitar before getting really bored with all the egos the guitar entails! Moved to Bouzouki, then Mandolin, Fiddle, Piano, then Melodeon. I've since started playing the Ukulele and always have dabbled with piano.
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Andy Simpson

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #43 on: March 28, 2010, 05:38:20 PM »

getting really bored with all the egos the guitar entails!

Now that sounds familiar!.  ;D
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LJC

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #44 on: March 28, 2010, 05:48:08 PM »

I don't know why, it's just an instrument that attracts egos like a magnet! Something to do with the electricity perhaps?

Once you have a firm understanding of music, learning a new instrument just becomes a matter of adjusting to that particular set of technicalities, the 'music' doesn't change. If you put enough hours into playing an instrument, you don't tend to slide to far if you pick up another one, but I've beginner pupils who have tried to do this and its really detrimental to their progress. Perhaps in the long run it would even its self out... we shall see!
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juker

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #45 on: March 28, 2010, 06:21:30 PM »

Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
(and what were they?)

What about you LDT?
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Theo

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #46 on: March 28, 2010, 11:32:19 PM »

Hah! Just as I suspected, I am surrounded by proper musicians!
Guy

No you aren't the only improper musician.

I had terrible piano lessons when I was primary school age.   They only lasted a few months but put me off learning an instrument till I was 45!  Then saw a melodeon for the first time and decided that I might just manage a keyboard with no black notes.

I've since started fiddle in an attempt to do some of the things that don't work on a box.  Learning fiddle is so hard compared with melodeon.
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Theo Gibb - Gateshead UK

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GuyWyatt

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #47 on: March 29, 2010, 08:03:52 AM »

Similarly I have recently started on the trombone and I am finding it far harder than the melodeon. There are so many variables that go into the production of the note and its quality on a trombone that just don't apply on the box; press the button - get the note.
Guy
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Anahata

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #48 on: March 29, 2010, 08:11:15 AM »

Then saw a melodeon for the first time and decided that I might just manage a keyboard with no black notes.

This could be the starting point for a thread about incongruous reasons for choice of melodeon as an instrument to play...
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jb

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #49 on: March 29, 2010, 08:26:28 AM »

Similarly I have recently started on the trombone and I am finding it far harder than the melodeon. There are so many variables that go into the production of the note and its quality on a trombone that just don't apply on the box; press the button - get the note.
Guy

I've often thought that there are two basic dimensions on which you can locate and compare instruments:
[1] how easy it is to produce a good sound/intonation
[2] how obvious/intuitive is the positional/physical relationship, on the instrument, between different notes
I'd place something like trombone or violin as low on [1] and high on [2] and, as such, diametrically opposite to melodeon.
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Theo

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #50 on: March 29, 2010, 08:44:41 AM »

I've often thought that there are two basic dimensions on which you can locate and compare instruments:
[1] how easy it is to produce a good sound/intonation
[2] how obvious/intuitive is the positional/physical relationship, on the instrument, between different notes
I'd place something like trombone or violin as low on [1] and high on [2] and, as such, diametrically opposite to melodeon.

I'd add:

[3] how much expressive control is there over a note

Which is what makes the fiddle so hard to learn, but gives it so much potential.
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ladydetemps

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #51 on: March 29, 2010, 10:09:23 AM »

Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
(and what were they?)

What about you LDT?
I could play one tune on recorder (infants school - if you asked me to play now I wouldn't have a clue where to start), and I wouldn't say I ever played keyboard (senior school) I just made sure I sat next to the boy who could play it and occasionally mashed a few keys. I've attempted several instruments but they've never lasted more than a week maximum.

zubz

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #52 on: March 29, 2010, 10:14:54 AM »

I've attempted several instruments but they've never lasted more than a week maximum.
Looks like you've found your "home" then, seeing as you're now into your 2nd year!  :|||:

(Hope you're feeling better, btw)

It looks (& sounds) like everyone had a great weekend.
Now looking forward to Witney again ....
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Howard Jones

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #53 on: March 29, 2010, 01:20:57 PM »

School recorder
Guitar
Anglo concertina
Hammered dulcimer

Also dabbled with mandolin (briefly) and Appalachian dulcimer for rather longer.  I sometimes play bones, and even shaky egg when required (:).  I can play bodhran but don't.

zubz

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #54 on: March 29, 2010, 01:26:43 PM »

Heard on the radio recently:
Definitinition of a gentleman - someone who knows how to play the bagpipes* ... but doesn't.  ;)

(*I guess you could replace with any instrument-to-be-insulted.  >:E )
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BCC#er

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #55 on: March 29, 2010, 02:16:02 PM »

Oh aye! Ancient joke ;D
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Johnjo

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #56 on: March 29, 2010, 03:33:01 PM »

Started with harmonica as a spotty youth (30+ years ago), and have dabbled since but only occasionally. Also tried tin whistle, and came to the melodeon a couple of years ago via anglo concertinas.
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Martin Duffy

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #57 on: March 30, 2010, 09:00:23 PM »

I've since started fiddle in an attempt to do some of the things that don't work on a box.  Learning fiddle is so hard compared with melodeon.

Agreed - I've been playing the fiddle for about 13 years & am convinced that it was invented by someone as a joke, as trying to master it seems suspiciously like trying to find the mythical pot at the end of the rainbow!!
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jonm

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #58 on: March 30, 2010, 09:46:43 PM »

In chronological order:
Piano, piano accordion, classical, electric and acoustic guitar, mandolin, tenor and octave mandola, English concertina, cittern, then melodeon.
Dabbled in (either never owned or never gigged): ukulele, fiddle, acoustic bass, harmonium.

Oh, yes - the harmonium has just moved into the garage to make space for the PhD - does anyone want one? PM me...
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Andy Next Tune

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Re: Before you took up the melodeon did you play another instrument(s)?
« Reply #59 on: March 30, 2010, 11:05:28 PM »

I'll ignore the school recorder lessons which were more an exercise in breathing together than making music, and I had no part of the decision making process.

The first instrument I chose to play was the Anglo Concertina, starting with a bright red cheap 20 key beast from East Germany in some unhelpful key. Decent Anglos were/are expensive for a graduate so saved my pennies, sold the concertina and bought a Pokerwork. And a 4 stop in G 12 months later.

And I've spent more time in the past three years learning to play the melodeon, than the previous 25+!

Andy
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