Ruth Rozelaar

Bandoneon learning

¡Bandoneón!

Immersive Bandoneon practice weekends in Totnes, Devon

For Beginners, Improvers and Intermediate Level players

*** Friendly, low-key, low-cost & inclusive ***

The next weekend is soon!!!

May 30th - June 1st, for Recent Beginners

To book, Contact Ruth
May 30th-June 1st

Schedule:

9 hours input, optional private lessons & the Sunday meal

Details:

*This is a small-group immersion weekend (2- 5 participants):

LEVEL: 

  • The weekend aims to create an inclusive atmosphere, welcoming anybody who has recently started on their Bandoneon journey or who would like to consolidate the fundamentals. It is NOT necessary to be able to read sheet music for this weekend.

  • Are you a recent Beginner? Don't feel shy, get in touch - this weekend will be suitable! 

SESSION TOPICS:

  • Sessions with Ruth (based in Devon):  

  • Establishing a fun and solid practice of fundamentals useful for A la Parrilla playing (Ruth’s sessions)

  • Sessions with Toma Neill and Christof Bartels (from Germany):

  • Friday: „Air and Sound“ - Exploring the world of sounds, posture, mindful listening, discovering the possibilities of the Bandoneon.

  • Saturday: “Breath and Rhythm” - Exploring the World of rhythm. Body and Instrument, discover and play with individual and connecting rhythms.

  • Sunday: “Co-Creation” - Exploring the world of creativity. The many possibilities, from a single motif to a shared sound story.

COSTS:

  • £160, including all group classes and Sunday lunch

OPTIONAL EXTRAS:

  • Optional private lessons with Ruth £35 per hour

BANDONEON FOR HIRE!

  • If you’d like to take part in the weekend but don’t have an instrument yet, we have one you can hire!

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  • For the meals: Friday dinner is 'bring and share. Saturday, there's the option to go out for a meal together, and Sunday, Frank will cook lunch for us.

  • Find your own accommodation - there are many B&B options in Totnes!

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Online

Zoom Bandoneon Meetup

Almost every Sunday at 14.00-15.00 Paris time, come and hang out with our Bandoneon Family online. It's FREE, all levels are welcome. We share our Bandoneon joys and sorrows and play some music together. Check dates in the calendar.
Bando Company
Click here to join the Zoom Meeting,
OR, if you have the Zoom app:
Meeting ID: 822 7196 6338
Passcode: Piazzolla

➜ We will use Mark Wyman's Big Tango Fake Book as our starting point. You can obtain this  here. It is useful to get this before the session if you'd like to play along with us! 

Since the first lockdown in March 2020, Ruth has held a Zoom meeting every Sunday, where Bandoneonists from all over the world meet to share their progress and be inspired.
I really look forward to these Sundays - we usually are between 5 - 20 Bandoneonists. We share a tune or two that we are currently working on, or we try out performing something we have practised, to a supportive group of listeners. We share our Bandoneon joys and sorrows and pick up useful tips and tricks for practise along the way. Sometimes we play a tune or two together. The atmosphere is relaxed and supportive. All levels are welcome!
By now it feels like a 'Bandoneon family' - despite the fact that we span several continents and time zones. Do come and join us! You can also just drop in to listen and look.
We have a Facebook group connected with these Sunday meetings, where we share further inspiration and connect with each other across continents and time zones. If you play Bandoneon, please feel free to join the group.

Tempted to learn the Bandoneon?

Why not contact Ruth to find out what is involved. She has started to teach, with focus on A La Parrilla. She also has contacts for a number of other teachers, depending on what you might be looking for as a student.

Or come and visit the Bandoneon Family on a Sunday Zoom meeting - check the calendar for dates.
A Unique

Archive of videos, for study purposes

We're in the process of creating an extensive collection of videos to help with the study of A La Parrilla playing. 

The first block of videos contains a collection of A la Parrilla tunes, played by the great Maestro Orlando Dibelo, using Mark Wyman's Big Tango Fakebook as a starting point. Every video can be slowed down for learning purposes, and sections can be looped for repeated practice.
check it out here

The Practichord App
Buy the App Free Trial version
How to use the App
 (playful ideas)
Your essential practice buddy -
An app that helps you master chords, chord progressions and voicings
An essential element to feeling comfortable playing Tangos A la Parrilla Style is to really know your way around the chords on your instrument. This app will help you along the way to achieving this.
    "It's fun and slightly addictive"
Born out of Ruth Rozelaar's creative study exercises and developed into an app by Jamie Gifford, with this app you will have hours of playful practice games at your fingertips. Once you become familiar with how the app works, you will also be able to devise your own games with it. 

Unique feature: All sounds on the app are real Bandoneon sounds, not digitally created ones. 

Practichord will accompany you in your practice for 

  • Scales and Arpeggios

  • Chords and their inversions

  • Chord progressions within a key

  • Nice voicings and smooth transitions from one chord to the next.

  • Tango Marcato and Basic Milonga Rhythm

  • Staccato and Legato chords

  • Recognising Chords by ear

  • ...and much more
Last, but not least, you can buy Mark Wyman's

Big Tango Fake Book

at our online shop! A great collection of over 400 Tangos, Valses and Milongas, it is an indispensable resource, especially if you are  taking part in the Sunday Bandoneon Meetups or practising with the Archive.
Buy the Big Tango Fakebook