Melodeon Beginners Part 1

Melodeon Beginners Part 1 runs at The Stables on Saturday 31 October, starting at 10:00am. It's a workshop for adults and anyone aged 15 and over, led by tutor Mel Biggs, and it's the first session in a series for people who've never picked up a melodeon before. If you've always been curious about the instrument but haven't known where to start, this is exactly that: a proper introduction from someone who knows their way around it.

The melodeon is a diatonic button accordion, and for a complete beginner, the first hurdle is usually just getting a handle on how it works. That's what Part 1 is for. You'll spend the morning getting to grips with the basics — how to hold it, how the bellows work, and how to find your first few notes and chords. It's not about rushing into a full repertoire; it's about building a solid foundation so you can actually play something you're happy with. Because it's a group session, you'll be learning alongside other beginners, which takes the pressure off and makes the whole thing a bit more sociable.

It's part of the wider programme The Stables runs year-round, which includes public music-based workshops and courses designed to get people playing. The whole thing is built around the idea of becoming a musician, whether you're returning to playing after a long break, taking your first chance to play in a band, creating your own music, or picking up technical and performance skills to grow more confident. If you've spent years listening to folk or traditional music and have always wanted to be the one making it, this is a very direct way in.

Places can be booked online or by calling the box office on 01908 280800. The session starts at 10:00am on Saturday 31 October at The Stables in Milton Keynes.