I had a lovely chat today with Shetland Island based Marie Hallam, who called to let me know that her concertina pupils are going to be on BBC 1 tomorrow night (Weds 11th July) at 7pm on "The ONE Show", billed as "topical reports from across the UK".
Marie says the BBC came to the primary school on Fetlar to highlight the declining population - and filmed all the local primary school pupils playing "Bobby Shaftoe" on their Jackie trebles and Jack baritone concertinas! Yes, EACH pupil plays concertina!
However, there are now only THREE pupils - the youngest now aged 8, and hence the school is threatened with closure unless more people and young families move there.
So - watch this if you can - it's always good to hear about young people playing concertina.
Marie also added that one of her pupils has recently started to learn the fiddle (fiddle and accordion being the main instruments on Shetland) and his teacher was surprised that he could read music, at which the youngster observed that he played the concertina already!
Bit of an anticlimax. In the end,. the BBC didn't show the kids playing. In fact, the whole show was a bit naff and more like (what I am assured happens on) a daytime chatshow.
Yuong concertina players on bbc1 on Wednesday
Yuong concertina players on bbc1 on Wednesday
Hello Everyone
I had a lovely chat today with Shetland Island based Marie Hallam, who called to let me know that her concertina pupils are going to be on BBC 1 tomorrow night (Weds 11th July) at 7pm on "The ONE Show", billed as "topical reports from across the UK".
Marie says the BBC came to the primary school on Fetlar to highlight the declining population - and filmed all the local primary school pupils playing "Bobby Shaftoe" on their Jackie trebles and Jack baritone concertinas! Yes, EACH pupil plays concertina!
However, there are now only THREE pupils - the youngest now aged 8, and hence the school is threatened with closure unless more people and young families move there.
So - watch this if you can - it's always good to hear about young people playing concertina.
Marie also added that one of her pupils has recently started to learn the fiddle (fiddle and accordion being the main instruments on Shetland) and his teacher was surprised that he could read music, at which the youngster observed that he played the concertina already!
Gill N-S
# Posted on July 11th 2007 by geoffwright
Re: Young concertina players on bbc1 on Wednesday
I am too old to splee properly
# Posted on July 11th 2007 by geoffwright
Re: Yuong concertina players on bbc1 on Wednesday
And there I was thinking it was about a tradition of concertina players somewhere in China.
# Posted on July 11th 2007 by nicholas
Re: Yuong concertina players on bbc1 on Wednesday
Bit of an anticlimax. In the end,. the BBC didn't show the kids playing. In fact, the whole show was a bit naff and more like (what I am assured happens on) a daytime chatshow.
# Posted on July 12th 2007 by geoffwright