I'm looking for good clips of box players to watch and pick up on techniques. So far, it seems like for every good clip I've found, there are 10 more where the filming is blurry, only the fiddlers and guitarists are shown and the accordion is heard but not seen, or there are great close-ups from the neck up! I'm trying to spend more time practicing and less time internet-fishing for good video.

Thanks,
Jenny

Hi Jenny,

Don't quite see how this is going to help you spend more time practising but

There have been a couple of very enjoyable programs recently on TG4, the Irish-language TV channel. Go to http://tg4.ie/Bearla/Webt/webt.htm and click on the big WebTV button if the console doesn't appear immediately. In the menu, choose Ceol - Cartlann. Look for two Sé mo Laoch programs - one on Joe Derrane, and one on Tony MacMahon. Subtitles in English. Lots of stuff apart from closeups of keyboards and bellows, of course, but good for your general education...

This page lists a few clips (shown in blue) http://irishbox.blogspot.com/

You could also try the Comhaltas video clips at http://comhaltas.ie/music/tag/Button+Accordion

Enjoy,
Steve

Oh, I guess I didn't state my request clearly. I've been spending time looking for helpful videos to watch in hopes of learning and improving. I requested good links in hopes of spending MORE time watching really good videos that I could learn from, and less time just searching around for them. In theory, that should allow more time for playing. Anyhow, thanks for the links.

I'm off to the videos and then the box.
Jenny

hi....

rte did a wonderful video series called "the full set" this summer, and the half-dozen or so videos are still posted. each is a short, lovely concert of about a half-hour. two involve incredible box players: installment #5 features josephine marsh of clare with her husband, the harmonica virtuoso mick kinsella. installment #6 features box player dermot byrne with his wife, the singer and fiddler Ní Mhaonaigh (both, obviously, from Altan). lovely stuff...

http://www.rte.ie/tv/thefullset/ep5.html

http://www.rte.ie/tv/thefullset/ep6.html