Never too old to learn?

[george garside]

could well be time to fly your own kite! There are plenty of (older)box players with arthritic or otherwise dodgy fingers who play well.

Unless you are in the exams and grades lark it is fine to develop a way of fingering that suits the ability of your digits- jsut try experimenting ! Avoid trying to play from the dots exactly as writ, particularly with regard to right hand chords, just add chords as and where the fingers will reach easily or play a simple melody line (thats all fidlers can do and you have the ?advantage of the bass end)


But the same goes for the bass. Forget 'long jumps' or 'as writ' and use your guitar experience to busk in suitable bass using mainly or entirely the 3 chord trick.

Choose relatively slow tunes eg waltzes, tunes for songs , slowish marches, or whatever turns you on but keep well clear of fast tunes that obviously require dexterous fingering.

Most importantly pick up the box every day or several times a day maybe for only ten minutes which if you are enjoing yourself could finish up as half an hour! Always start with running through one or two scales for a few minuted to get the fingers moving then arse about with whatever tune comes to mind.

I am 76 with arthritis in the hand and that few minutes limbering up works very well as a way of maintaing reasonable dexterity . Think of it as a warm up exercise.

A completerly different aproach would be to go ever to a diatonic box , 3 fingers are all thats needed for many tunes and some players never use the little finger. ( the thumb is not normally used_

george

 

[maugein96]

Hi George,

Sounds like the best approach so far. I can usually cobble up substitute left hand chords and leave out the big jumps, although I can manage most of them.

Before the accident I had worked through a fair bit of the French Ferrero method, and had a reasonable right hand technique. I now make a lot more use of the thumb, but still tend to keep to the outside three rows so that I don't get lost when sight reading. I can still use all five right hand fingers, so fast stuff is "possible with care". It's only double fingering involving fingers 3 and 5 that are difficult. The fingers will all work independently but I can't finger with 3 and 5, as I can't raise 4 clear in that position. Where there's a will there's a way, as they say.

I decided on the lessons largely because I eventually found a teacher who was reasonably local! I think I left it too late to make much difference, and you may be right about that kite!

I did consider diatonic earlier this year, but it was yet another passing fad.

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Hi John,

My use of the Bass side is pretty rudimentary, and could be compared to foot tapping. I use the 3 chord trick that George mentioned, which I have found to be adequate for my needs.

The treble side is fine and dandy, which makes up for my crude use of the bass.

When you get in a room with between 30 and 50 elderly people, none of that matters. As Tom rightly pointed out, they are just happy that somebody cares enough to be there for them. Pass out song sheets for "The Wild Rover", "Wooden Heart", "Que Sera, Sera", "World Without Love", "Wild Mountain Thyme", etc, and they will entertain you. They love singing along to the tunes we play.

Roughly a year ago, I was asked to play in a nearby care home. One elderly gentleman was sat at the back of the lounge in his wheelchair, taking absolutely no notice of what was going on. A kindly care assistant wheeled him to the front, about 8 or 10 feet to my right. I struck up with "Wooden Heart", and this chap sang every word of every verse. He was word perfect. I could hardly believe it myself, but I assure you that it is true. I cursed myself for dismissing this man as just feeble and unresponsive, but I have learned that lesson well.

A few months prior to that event, I had been playing for a local dementia group. One 94 year old lady was wheeled in by her 60 odd year old niece. The younger lady took the trouble to explain that her Aunt was unable to communicate, and that she was in a constant state of confusion. I played a few tunes which had no effect on her at all. I then clicked onto my faux-musette setting and played "La Vie en Rose." When I looked up, the elderly lady had tears rolling down her cheeks. At the end of the session, the 94 year old had her niece wheel her over to me. She thanked me for playing "La Vie en Rose", though she had extreme difficulty getting the words out. John, I cannot put into words what that meant to me.

Kind Regards,

Stephen.

 

[george garside]

Stephen, when I used to play occasionaly for 'old folks' ( like what I am now!!) The tune that always went down well and got them singing was lilly Marlene.followed by pack up your troubles and tiparary.. Wooden heart also went down well .Others that worked fine were NOrthern LIghts of old Aberdeen, She'l be coming round the mountains, home on the range, and to get hands clapping or feet tapping Cock of the north, 100 pipers, Blaydon Races, Mmms from armentiers always did the trick.

To me for that sort of work good rhythm using the 3 chord trick is far more important than any amount of arty farty bass that can sometimes be 'clever' for its own sake often muddies the waters.


Where are the 'sessions' you attend as I will be moving to Southport hopefully before Christmas but ??? as a chain involved


george

 

[cat]

There is a nice CBA within driving distance of me - quite rare in my locality - and I've been contemplating it all week long...I've always wanted one box on which I could play everything I have.

Well, I passed it up. Trouble is, over 10 years that I've been waiting for a CBA to come along, I've learned enough repertoire on diatonic box to be able to entertain with it. As well, I've been studying the PA. While I still would love to deploy it all on CBA, of course it would necessitate relearning everything. I've decided that the sensible thing is to let it go - simply due the efficacy of the boxes I already have. A sure sign of "age". I do a lot of "strolling" performing, and it's hard to beat the agility of the small box.

 

[Corsaire]

Cat - I'm humming and haa-ing whether to have a go at the diatonic. Fortunately there's been some useful info on this forum otherwise I would never have guessed there was more than one system ! I wouldn't have any trouble finding a teacher as the diatonic is the accordion round here. The PA is rather sniffed at !!!

 

[Tom]

Great story Stephen! I'm playing at a church supper tonight, 2 hours, many, many, Yankovic polka and waltzes. Plus old time hits that my friend likes to play. It's his night and I'm accompanying him on bass.

 

[cat]

Oh Corsaire, do try to pick up a little G/C 2-row hohner. They're delightful for people everywhere I go. And fun to play!

*of course, it may get sniffed at too. Better get a castagnari. I would if I could afford one.

But what's nice is that old made-in-Germany hohners are all over Ebay. I was able to pick up several, and am better able to share. People can pick up making tunes on them rather quickly.

I latched on to the club style diatonic box - I like playing French tunes on it. If playing with fiddles and stuff I have A/D box.

I always wanted a 3-row with stradella bass - like what George, I believe, plays,

 

[george garside]

The stradella bass 3 row diatonics (British Chromatics) as played by Sir Jimmy Shand range from the very light and useful Hohner trichord ( in 2 or 3 voice form mm or mmm) to 120 bass. Shand Morinos are either 105 or 117 bass!!. The one off hohner Gola was 120 bass.

The I play a 96 bass hohner gaelic 4 voice ,mmml which is nice and easy to handle and has a lovely musette sound. Decent ones can be had for less than a grand . I also have a very early 3 voice trichord ( late 30's early 40's which despite have only 12 stradella is a very useful and ultra lightweight box.

The Trichord ( be careful as some had push/pull melodeon bass ) chromatic on the treble and has bass for keys CFGDA and can be had for under £500 and is a very good way into the system

Gumtree and ebay are likely places to find them


george

 

[Corsaire]

Oh Corsaire, do try to pick up a little G/C 2-row hohner. Theyre delightful for people everywhere I go. And fun to play!
*of course, it may get sniffed at too. Better get a castagnari. I would if I could afford one

Oh Cat, you must be a mind reader ! A friend is waiting for a Castagniari hes ordered and I asked him for first refusal on his little Hohner months ago. I think its a C/G with A minor but it has a sweet tone and would be perfect to learn on. And its as light as a feather !

 

[cat]

:tup:

Ya, such a little box makes such a big sound. I've been able to squeeze a few satie tunes out of it. (Actually, having tried but unsuccessfully to arrange the 3rd gnossienne for diatonic 2-row - that "B" part modulation :hb - was what impelled me to finally learn a chromatic box!)

But much can be done on a 2-row - to say nothing of jigs, jolly tunes, and the lot. I find that people quite like hearing them.

 

[Corsaire]

Two row diatonics are popular with Breton dance tunes which are generally simple - well, they have to be when there isn't a big range of chords ! They tend to be those rather nice wooden ones.
I have actually been asked to play along with diatonics for Breton dancing a few times and it was great fun. Quite honestly, I don't think the average spectator could tell the difference in sound !!!

 

[george garside]

melodeon.net is worth looking/joining as it exclusive to diatonics irrespective of tuning(keys). Also very friendly and has lots of technical info including keyboard charts for all popular tunings

george

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Hi George,

I recall your mention of a move to Sunny Southport in a previous post. We live to the West of Wigan, roughly 16 miles from central Southport. You should drop me a PM nearer to the time of your move.

Our little ensemble plays at care homes in the Pemberton, Orrell and Upholland area. In addition to these regular "gigs", we also accept casual bookings by word of mouth.

Funnily enough, Brenda & I are often older than some of the residents. (or "inmates", as we like to call them.)

Kind Regards,

Stephen.

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Hi Tom,

I'm not quite sure of the correct etiquette attaching to this. Should it be "Good Luck", or "Break a Leg?" Anyway, I can't go too far wrong if I just hope that you have fun.

Kind Regards,

Stephen.

 

[Tom]

Thanks Stephen! You could say either! It was a fun gig, second year we've played Oktoberfest music at this church supper. They enjoyed the music and already asked us to come back next year. I enjoy playing bass for a change as well as accordion.

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Hi Tom,

I'm glad that you enjoyed your gig, and that you are in demand.

As I was stationed in Germany for some time, I did attend a few Oktoberfests. Being brutally honest, I don't remember all that much about them, but I must have had a good time. (I think) :ch

Anyway, it is almost midnight here, so I shall retire for the evening.

Goodnight,

Stephen.

 

[Tom]

Ha ha ha, same thing happens here, Stephen. We are a college town so it's even worse. I pretty much avoid the beer (throwing) tent!

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Hi Tom,

I sometimes cringe when I think of the stunts I pulled as a lusty young man, but all that is now a very long time ago. Now in my seventies, I look back wistfully at a squandered (but happy and eventful) youth, and wonder at the huge appetite for life that I possessed in those halcyon days.

Kind Regards,

Stephen.

 

[Dingo40]

I’m 78, and still learning <EMOJI seq="1f604">?</EMOJI> :lol: