March update: Easter holiday times, deadly accordions, Fat Tuesday, beavers
Hello all!
It’s time for my semi-occasional missive. News, events and other ramblings below…
Closed March 24/25 & Easter holidays
Please note: I won’t be teaching the afternoon of March 24 or all day March 25 as I have a personal appointment.
I will also be away 7 April until 13 April and then 18 April to 21 April on Easter Break, so there won’t be any lessons during either of those periods
Normal teaching resumes Tuesday 22 April 2025.
Death by accordion
A very interesting, albeit grisly discovery. It turns out that the British army literally used the accordion as a means of luring men to their deaths during the Second Boer War.
“The instrument had a particular attraction for the Boers, over whom it appeared to exercise as much charm as … the strains of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Whenever the performer began his seductive strains, the Boers could not resist the temptation to pop their heads out of their cleverly-constructed defences in order to gratify closer their very natural curiosity.”
‘The Concertina's Deadly Work in the Trenches’: Soundscapes of Suffering in the South African War | Nineteenth-Century Music Review | Cambridge Core
‘The Concertina's Deadly Work in the Trenches’: Soundscapes of Suffering in the South African War - Volume 20 Issue 1
Yet another example of music not only being used as a technology of war, but more specifically to lure and seduce men to their own destruction (much like the sirens in the Odyssey).
To what extent we can separate this from more everyday forms of social control, such as blasting opera music in ‘blue chip’ train stations to deter certain kinds of passengers, is an interesting one…
Prints, handouts, invoices
A little note just to say at some point I hope to resume to sending people digital copies of the teaching materials used, but I will need a bit of time to catch up as in the last two months I’ve taken on about a dozen new students and for the time being printouts are quicker for me to do. But these will hopefully resume at some point, once I’ve continued to streamline my workflow.
You’ll also notice that for most students that invoices are now sent out automatically on the day of the lesson, which is why they are sometimes sent slightly ahead of time. Please don’t feel obliged to pay until after the lesson, however.
Fat Tuesday Report
It’s been a dry spell in terms of live music recently, but but I did finally get to enjoy a great crop of artists at Fat Tuesday last month.
Personal highlights included local post-punk band BEAU, who I can’t really recommend enough (unfortunately info online is non-existent), and also the Dumb Boys Fishing Club, who completely tore up the Royal Standard.
I also enjoyed this bass-led banger from Feed the Beast, which becomes an entirely different beast live (excuse the pun).
We’re honestly so exceptionally lucky to have such music programming clout and grassroots infrastructure in Hastings.
A future recital?
I know for many students the idea of performing in front of others fills them with absolute dread, but with the right preparation and a nice, easy choice of material, they can be really life-affirming, as well as a lovely opportunity to meet other students and musicians. Too often we spend our time playing by ourselves and it makes a huge difference to meet others who are experiencing similar challenges and successes in their musical journey.
So, if anyone is interested in doing a very easygoing, informal recital with current students, then please let me know. I’d quite like to put something on at some point in the Summer. It would be just for other students – I won’t be selling tickets to the public or anything like that.
Office ambience
In between teaching, I’m normally doing bits of admin (like writing this newsletter), so some background tuneage becomes absolutely mandatory.
Currently on rotation…
Jessica Pratt: Jessica Pratt
How have I not heard this until recently? It’s like a latter day Pink Moon.
Calexico: Hot Rail
A fictional Tex-Mex modern cowboy movie soundtrack as directed by David Lynch.
Paul Simon: The Rhythm of the Saints
The follow up to Simon’s masterpiece, Graceland. To this day, still chock full of interesting ideas. It reminds me so much of growing up in suburban boroughs of London, at summertime, trying to avoid people at middle class barbecues.
Handel: The Great 8 Suites for Keyboard (performed by Danny Driver)
I’m trying to listen to more Handel as he’s always been a blind spot in my knowledge. This set of dance suites is an excellent introduction.
Nine Inch Nails: Ghosts VI: Locusts
More ambient/industrial hauntological instrumentals from Trent Reznor.
Google Reviews
One final request, dear reader: I have a quick favour to ask of you...
If you haven’t done so already, I'd be very grateful, assuming you're willing and you’ve had a nice time with me, if you could leave a Google Review.
Please be honest, and you don't have to write anything - it can be just a star rating. Equally though, maybe don't leave me scathingly bad one either!
Click here [https://g.page/r/Cc3HF1XvTRPIEBM/review] to get started. Feel free to use emojis or cute animal GIFS. My personal preference is beavers.
Thanks for letting me create a lovely, musical cornerstone in your week.
Best wishes,
Will