Tutors
MEL BIGGS
Mel Biggs is a musician, performer and melodeon teacher based in Derbyshire, England.
Renowned the world over for her perceptive, patient and mindful manner in teaching groups and individuals, Mel is a leading light in the world of melodeon teaching; both on and off-line.
Having been teaching since 2009, Mel has an ever expanding toolkit of techniques at her disposal which she adapts to every new teaching scenario. You can expect a bespoke blend of learning-by-ear, call and response playing, analogies, visualisations and pattern recognition, tune deconstruction and notation in moderation.
Mel is a consummate performer, vocalist and accompanist and can be seen on stage as one third of Anglo-European trio Moirai and playing for the vibrant Harlequin Morris.
SIMON CARE
Simon Care has played melodeon professionally since the age of 21 with bands including The Albion Band, Edward II, The Morris On Band, Tickled Pink, Whapweasel and most recently Banter. His passion for English dance music has been apparent in most of those bands. His biggest passion however is English Morris dance music and he hopes to share this during his workshops.
CARLY ROSE
Carly has been playing melodeon for almost four decades now, and has worked across a wide range
of social and ritual dance forms. Probably best known as a founding member of Euro Divas Token
Women, she has a distinctive rhythmic style coupled with a liberal use of the less obvious chords
available on a standard two-row box. After much nagging encouragement from Rees Wesson she
began teaching the instrument in 2013 and, making use of her previous experience as a university
lecturer, she welcomes all learners whether their preferences are for ‘by ear’, ‘by dots’ or anything
else. Expect the unexpected with Carly – you may well find yourselves exploring examples from
other musical genres alongside a more orthodox folk repertoire!
Carly also composes music, as well as singing, dancing and playing a mean percussion kit (though not
simultaneously). She is currently ‘Musick Mistress’ for the Gracechurch Historical Dance Group and is
one half of Holland and Rose, alongside clarinet virtuoso Wendy Holland.
of social and ritual dance forms. Probably best known as a founding member of Euro Divas Token
Women, she has a distinctive rhythmic style coupled with a liberal use of the less obvious chords
available on a standard two-row box. After much nagging encouragement from Rees Wesson she
began teaching the instrument in 2013 and, making use of her previous experience as a university
lecturer, she welcomes all learners whether their preferences are for ‘by ear’, ‘by dots’ or anything
else. Expect the unexpected with Carly – you may well find yourselves exploring examples from
other musical genres alongside a more orthodox folk repertoire!
Carly also composes music, as well as singing, dancing and playing a mean percussion kit (though not
simultaneously). She is currently ‘Musick Mistress’ for the Gracechurch Historical Dance Group and is
one half of Holland and Rose, alongside clarinet virtuoso Wendy Holland.
STEVE DUMPLETON
Steve lives in Sheffield and has been playing the melodeon and anglo concertina for over 30 years. An experienced teacher of both instruments, he is a familiar face at workshops including Witney, Mendlesham and Whitby. He specialises in playing for dancing, performing with the Sheffield women’s dance team 'Lizzie Dripping', local ceilidh bands, and more recently with Fenland-based ‘Ouse Washes Molly Dancers’.
In the 1980s, Steve learned to play the melodeon during the miners’ strike in the glorious acoustics of the compressor house at Cynheidre Colliery near Llanelli. He became interested in Welsh traditional music, learned from local west Wales musicians, and was a founder member of the Carmarthen ceilidh band 'Rattlin' Bog'.
These days, Steve's style of playing is firmly rooted in the English dance tradition, particularly from the south and east of England. He strives to bring rhythmic vitality coupled with melodic phrasing into his playing and into his teaching.
PETER MORRIS
Peter started folk dancing in 1969. He has danced morris, sword, country and tango, he does calling and guides a playford team.
Peter started folk dancing in 1969. He has danced morris, sword, country and tango, he does calling and guides a playford team.
He has been playing folk music since about 1973, first the fiddle and then the melodeon for about 25 years.
Largely self taught Peter has developed a method for teaching beginners the basics of the DG box so they can build on that to explore the melodeon.