Accordions at Halsway Manor

[hais1273]

I'm pleased to report that the accordion weekend at Halsway Manor in Somerset was thoroughly enjoyable.. I must say it initially felt like the first day at school, or at a new job. A bit daunting, but friday evening settled down with a meal and a fun session in the bar, nothing like the sound of a dozen or so accordions in "perfect" unison... Saturdy saw a day of workshops with Murray Grainger, challenging but not dispiriting. That evening the tutors gave a concert, a real mix-bag of tunes and styles, Contempory music I guess it would be best describded as from Hannah James, a little classical from Mr Grainger and a good selection of accordiony favourites from Jane Ward...

More workshops on Sunday with learning by ear with Hannah James, I don't think she was as well prepared as she could have been. But I learnt stuff so no real reason to gripe out loud. I'm told the " advanced earists" had a bit of hard time when Murray Grainger produced some difficult "proper" accordion music.

I really enjoyed myself, learnt new things, met new people. Next year? Of course I'll go again...

First weekend in June 2018( I think)

 

[Glenn]

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like a great even.
What sort of skill levels were expected?

 

[hais1273]

I believe the beginners had fun with scales, "simple" sight reading, introducing harmonies and accordion fundamentals. As It's for beginner, in depth knowledge is not expected, it sounds as though they enjoyed themselves.

Intermediate,was unhelpfully describided as not a beginner! As far as I could tell, you would need reasonable sight reading for both hands, and a reasonble understanding of fundamental theory and technique. We studied 3 tunes with Murray Grainger, a nice 6/8 tune, a Hanter-Dro ( Dix Marins)in 3/2 with a rhythmic, but not oom-pah in the bass, my large lazy fingers struggled with a couple of the positions, and a 3/4 tune with a bourree feel.

Hannah James taught a couple of her tunes by ear, something I find an annoying chore. One was in E major which seemed to be a new key for some of the group. Well it was for me. i found this class more challenging, I've forgotten how the tunes go but the priciples she taught were helpful.

The advanced goup was, well, advanced. The dottists found the by ear class difficult and traumatic and the earists found playing from the sheet music a challenge! Challenging.

All in all probably about right for the relative levels