Mel Biggs is a folk musician, melodeon player, and expert in online music education. Over the years, she's met some of the finest box players & teachers from across Europe. Join Mel every month as she chats with a different folk celebrity guest, and get to know the person behind the music. Tune in for your monthly dose of inspiration, entertainment & accordion geekery! Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
…
continue reading
This pocast provides free occasional downloads from contemporary Welsh folk music band Never Mind The Bocs.
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Hazel Askew: Artistic Evolution & Empowerment
1:00:48
1:00:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:00:48
Have you ever considered what it's like to grow up as a woman on the English folk scene? How can you evolve as an artist and learn to own your artistic voice? How can we collectively empower other women and young girls to take up leading roles in creative careers? And why are good reels so hard to find for the melodeon?! My guest this month is sing…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Benjamin Macke: Creating Connections Through Music
59:32
59:32
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
59:32
Did you know that silent movies are still a thing? And who knew that diatonic accordion works so well in Baroque music?! And what's this about a Belgian footbass? Benjamin Macke is a French accordionist, composer, teacher and Belgian basse au pied revivalist living in Belgium. His musical style is rather blended, having started out as a classical p…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Toon Van Mierlo: A Pragmatic Approach to Composing
1:00:34
1:00:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:00:34
Ever wondered what the record is for how many tunes someone can compose in a day?! Well, I'm not sure of the official answer to that, but I'm sure Toon could give the winner a run for their money! His iconic melodies have travelled far and wide across the Euro-dance music scene over the last two decades and more. Toon Van Mierlo is a Belgian musici…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Pascale Rubens: Teachers Talk ~ Nerves, Comfort & Joy
59:20
59:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
59:20
Everyone has a comfort zone - even the multi-talented musicians who you might assume are impervious to such things. How can we challenge ourselves to overcome our uncertainties and nervousness to take a risk and break free of the pigeon holes we put ourselves in? Are you motivated by feeling the joy music brings to others? Pascale Rubens is a compo…
…
continue reading
What makes a hard-working, award-winning melodeon legend? How do you turn a terrible idea into a musical triumph without falling out with other people? And what's the strategy for remembering SEVEN current repertoires at once?! Andy Cutting is an internationally renknowned diatonic accordion player from England. He works extensively across genres (…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Anne Niepold: Unboxing Labels - Jazz? Folk? Other?
56:09
56:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
56:09
How do you categorise a musician who works extensively across genres? Are labels a help or a hindrance to artists? What are the benefits of teaching & learning an instrument from a multi-genre perspective? Anne Niepold is a musician, composer, teacher and diatonic accordionist. Born in Germany, living in Belgium, she cultivates multi instrumental p…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Hartwin Dhoore: Creative Problem Solving In Composing, Life & The Music Industry
52:57
52:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:57
How do you adjust to parenting life when you're a busy touring musician? What's up with the way the music industry works these days? And why might daytime festivals be the way forward? #DaytimeBonfireFest Hartwin Dhoore is an award winning composer and diatonic accordionist from Flanders, Belgium. This month, Mel chats with him about his strengths …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Lucas Thébaut: Is Music Theory Important In Traditional Folk Music?
43:11
43:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:11
Do "the rules" apply when it comes to making folk music? How do different brains interpret melody and harmony? And why has TV show Friends got anything to do with this?! Lucas Thébaut is a diatonic accordion player, tutor, and balfolk dancer hailing from the Poitou region of France. This month, he joins Mel to chat about his approach to teaching as…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Introducing Chatterbox with Mel Biggs - Melodeon Teacher
7:39
7:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
7:39
To mark the start of my second decade being a full-time professional folk musician, in January 2024 I'm starting a podcast! Each month, I will be chatting with my guest about where they started out, the breakthroughs on their own learning journey, and sharing our approaches to teaching. I have a stellar list of folk musician guests lined up for Sea…
…
continue reading
A traditional Welsh 'Plygain' carol, recorded for BBC Radio Cymru.
…
continue reading
A radio-friendly version of the album track.
…
continue reading
Recorded in one 'take' for a radio session, Christmas 2006.
…
continue reading