Concertina
Daniel Hersh, Jack Gilder and Carol Denney

First hour: Introduction to Anglo, English and Chemnitzer concertina. Demonstration and Q&A covering concertina playing in a variety of styles, including both melody playing (Irish, etc.), melody & accompaniment (English-style Anglo, etc.) and vocal accompaniment. Anyone interested in the concertina is welcome to attend, regardless of whether or not you have an instrument or know how to play one.

Second hour: More advanced tips and tune/idea sharing, aimed at those who already know how to play.

Daniel Hersh has played Anglo concertina for over 20 years, playing for Irish, contra and English country dances, in concert performances for adults and children and in recording studios. He has recently taken up the Chemnitzer concertina as well. Daniel has previously led concertina workshops at the Summer Solstice Festival in Los Angeles and at past Free Festivals.

Jack Gilder has been playing concertina since the early 80s. His interest is Irish traditional music on the Anglo system C/G concertina. He received instruction from master players, Noel Hill and John Williams. He has also studied the styles of many other contemporary Irish concertina luminaries on his frequent forays to Ireland. Jack has been a stalwart in the Irish traditional music scene in the Bay Area for two decades and has played with many local Irish trad bands. He released two recordings with "Jody's Heaven" and is best known for the local band, "Tipsy House" that he formed in 1988. You can find out more at http://www.TipsyHouse.com

Carol Denney, a guitarist, fell in love with the English concertina's ability to sustain notes and has used it to create exotic harmonies for original compositions and to illustrate the traditional harmonies of shape note and primitive Baptist singing. For her foray into concertina humor, see http://www.caroldenney.com/concerti.htm