English Concertina - Intermediate/Advanced
Take your playing to the next level with this intermediate to advanced English Concertina course.
Start playingLesson - Stoney Steps Hornpipepreview
About this course
Delve further into the world of the English concertina with one of its most distinctive and thoughtful voices. In this intermediate to advanced course, acclaimed musician and educator Rob Harbro...read more
Delve further into the world of the English concertina with one of its most distinctive and thoughtful voices. In this intermediate to advanced course, acclaimed musician and educator Rob Harbron shares the techniques and musical insights that have shaped his expressive and characterful style. Drawing on years of experience and a deep affinity with the English folk tradition, Rob explores posture, bellows control, fingering, phrasing, articulation and ornamentation—all aimed at helping you bring more nuance, fluency and expression to your playing.
Across the course, you’ll learn a selection of beautiful tunes drawn from the English folk repertoire, each paired with practical techniques to develop your sound. Rob discusses how and when to use harmony, how to shape rhythmic feel and groove, and how to let the melody really sing. You’ll also gain inspiration for finding your own musical voice—drawing not just from concertina players, but also from across the folk landscape, including fiddle, melodeon and other instruments that have influenced his approach.
Whether you're rooted in melody or already weaving in harmony, this course offers fresh ideas and practical tools to refine your technique and deepen your connection to the music. Rob plays a tenor treble English concertina, though the course is fully accessible on a standard treble as well. If you're still finding your feet with the instrument, we'd recommend beginning with Rob’s introductory course. Otherwise, you're warmly invited to jump in and explore new ways to make the concertina truly your own.
Here is a great resource for English Folk Music: https://playforddances.com/
Here is a great resource for English Folk Music: https://playforddances.com/
Delve further into the world of the English concertina with one of its most distinctive and thoughtful voices. In this intermediate to advanced course, acclaimed musician and educator Rob Harbron shares the techniques and musical insights that have shaped his expressive and characterful style. Drawing on years of experience and a deep affinity with the English folk tradition, Rob explores posture, bellows control, fingering, phrasing, articulation and ornamentation—all aimed at helping you bring more nuance, fluency and expression to your playing.
Across the course, you’ll learn a selection of beautiful tunes drawn from the English folk repertoire, each paired with practical techniques to develop your sound. Rob discusses how and when to use harmony, how to shape rhythmic feel and groove, and how to let the melody really sing. You’ll also gain inspiration for finding your own musical voice—drawing not just from concertina players, but also from across the folk landscape, including fiddle, melodeon and other instruments that have influenced his approach.
Whether you're rooted in melody or already weaving in harmony, this course offers fresh ideas and practical tools to refine your technique and deepen your connection to the music. Rob plays a tenor treble English concertina, though the course is fully accessible on a standard treble as well. If you're still finding your feet with the instrument, we'd recommend beginning with Rob’s introductory course. Otherwise, you're warmly invited to jump in and explore new ways to make the concertina truly your own.
Here is a great resource for English Folk Music: https://playforddances.com/
Here is a great resource for English Folk Music: https://playforddances.com/
Teacher: Rob Harbron
Instrument: Concertina
Countries: England
Regions: Northumbria, Northumberland
Musical forms: Hornpipe, Minuette, Reel, Morris Dance, Morris dance tune
Browse the 14 lessons
- Introduction to the course
- Preparing for Advanced Technique
- The Good Thing
- Structural Harmony - The Good Thing
- Morpeth Rant
- Adding Harmony - Morpeth Rant
- Rhythmic Feel
- Getting Upstairs
- Melodic Harmony
- Getting Upstairs - Full Harmony
- Raven's Hornpipepreview
- Raven's Hornpipe - Full Harmonypreview
- Mr. Lane's Minuettepreview
- Stoney Steps Hornpipepreview
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About Rob Harbron
Renowned as a ‘concertina wizard,’ Rob Harbron excels in the English concertina, notably with Leveret. Collaborating widely, he's known for his harmonic style. His solo career explores traditional tunes and compositions, highlighted by his debut album "Meanders" and a recent tunebook.
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About the Concertina
The English concertina is a small, hexagonal-shaped musical instrument that belongs to the family of concertinas. It has a range of about three octaves and is played using both hands, with each hand operating a separate set of buttons. The English concertina has a bright and clear sound, which makes it a popular choice for traditional British folk music. It is often used to play lively dance tunes such as jigs and reels. Despite its small size, the English concertina is a versatile and expressive instrument that can produce a wide range of sounds and emotions.
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