Alex Wade was brought up in a musical family. She gained a deep appreciation of traditional music visiting folk festivals and music sessions from childhood. She fell in love with the English Concertina when was given one at the age of ten. An early start, dedication, practice and performance have given her an expertise that many much older players, can still only aspire to. Dave Mallinson didn’t discover traditional music until the late age of twenty-two and is completely self taught. Hard work, sheer dogged determination and lengthy practice have had to be his way of life. His constant struggle to maintain his skill gives him a unique insight into the problems and difficulties facing beginners and novices. Alex’s enormous skill and knowledge combined with Dave’s affinity with beginners make an ideal combination to present this introduction to the English concertina and traditional music. Foreword by David Ledsam I became aware of Alex Wade’s concertina playing when judging a Rapper Sword Dance competition in Derby. Right from the first note I knew I was listening to a very special musician and player of the English Concertina. She played with touch, great speed and what was most important, driving rhythm. I awarded her full marks, which is generally unheard of in this competition. Since then I heard her many times playing for dance or at sessions, and I have remained as impressed as when I heard her first. She has a great musical ear and I am very pleased that Mally asked me to contribute to this excellent beginners English Concertina tutor.  Many learners of the English will be inspired by the playing of Alex, and this book will give them an invaluable start in their journey to becoming a player of this most beautiful and portable instrument, the English Concertina.

Contents Foreword by David Ledsam Music Basics for Squeezers Fingering Chart The English Concertina The Scale of C Major The Musical Ladder The Key of G Major 4/4 Time Play Some Sea Songs Traditional Music Play Some English Tunes The Key of D Major Play Country Dance Tunes 6/8 Time Play Cotswold Morris Tunes 3/4 Time Play Some Welsh Tunes 2/4 Time Play Some American Reels Slip Jigs and Slides Play Sliabh Luachra Tunes The Key of E Minor Play Some Playford Tunes The Key of A Minor Play Some Irish Tunes The Hornpipe Rhythm Play Northumbrian Tunes The Key of A Major Play Some Scottish Tunes Rants and Double Reels Play Some Easy Melodies Double Jigs Tunes

Little Brown Jug Go Tell Aunt Rhody Skip to My Lou Lightly Row Shepherds’ Hey Bobby Shaftoe

This Old Man The Muffin Man Donkey Riding New York Girls South Australia Johnny Come Down to Hilo Winster Gallop Jimmy Allen Rattlin’ Bog British Grenadiers Uncle Bernard’s Winster Processional Buttered Peas The Tip Top Polka Banbury Bill Harper’s Frolic Nelly Bly My Love She’s but a Lassie Yet I Have a Bonnet Trimmed with Blue The Huntsman’s Chorus The Rose Tree Cock o’ the North MacNamara’s Band Hey Away Shave the Donkey Laudanum Bunches Swaggering Boney Michael Turner’s Waltz The South Wind Shoe the Donkey Sweet Jenny Jones All Through the Night Men of Harlech Camptown Races Egan’s Polka Chinese Breakdown Buffalo Girls The Road to Boston Uncle Reuben Angelina Baker Drops of Brandy The Star Above the Garter

Dennis Enright’s Slide Scotland The Brosna Slide Maggie in the Wood Scattery Island Tom Sullivan’s Polka God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen The Rigged Ship Newcastle Jack’s Maggot Hunt the Squirrel Grimstock Tralee Gaol Spancil Hill The Enniskillen Dragoon Sonny’s Mazurka Rakes of Mallow The Derry Boat The Keel Row Katie Bairdie Green Grow the Rushes Some Say the Devil’s Dead Salmon Tails up the Water Hexham Races The Redesdale Hornpipe A Hundred Pipers Roxburgh Castle Peat Fire Flame The Duke of Perth Kate Dalrymple Durham Rangers Drowsy Maggie Jack Broke da Prison Door Timmy O’Connor’s The Ash Grove Goodbye Girls I’m Going to Boston The Rambler The Bush on the Hill The Blackthorn Stick