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Accordions |
Accordion
An accordion is a portable musical wind instrument that looks like a cross between a piano and a concertina. The right hand is used to play a keyboard while the left hand presses buttons to produce chords. Technically, the accordion is classified as a member of the free reed aerophone family which consists of instruments that produce sound by forcing air past a vibrating reed within a frame. The air flow can be created by human breath, such as with the operation of a harmonica, or by bellows, as is the case with the accordion.
Perhaps the most famous, or at least widely exposed, accordion player of all time is Lawrence Welk. His television show ran in some from 1951-1982 and has been repeated in syndication and on PBS ever since. Due to the perceived "hokey" nature of the show, accordions and their players acquired that persona in the public eye. Interestingly, in a sharp contrast to that image, modern rock starts often play electric accordions on stage during concerts.
Accordion Features
The main body of an accordion is comprised of two rectangular parts separated by bellows. When depressed, the buttons move perpendicularly to the movement of the bellows, therefore towards the musician. A shortcut enjoyed by current accordion players is the fact that many newer accordions also have single buttons which can produce entire chords.
Types of Accordions
Accordions can be classified under four general types: Diatonic, Concertinas, Chromatic, and Piano. While all are similar and recognizable to the average person, each has distinctive attributes which make it appropriate for certain musical performance situations.
- Diatonic accordions are popular worldwide because they are relatively inexpensive and lightweight which makes them ideal for local folk and dance groups that perform in small scale public venues.
- Concertina accordions are the smallest of the four types. They have straps which connect to each hand. The bellows are in between keyboards located at each end. (Remember that "keyboards" here refers to buttons not, piano style rectangular keys.)
- Chromatic accordions are most popular in the USSR where they are used by professional musicians to play contemporary and classical pieces because of their range which extends to 11 octaves.
- Piano accordions are the most popular type available. Their popularity came from the standardization which was applied to the design process. Their universal note systems allow any knowledgeable player to use the instrument effortlessly as opposed to other accordion types which have various design differences including different button and key placement as well as differing numbers of both buttons and keys.
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Accordion Music Memories
It's every kid's dream to play the accordion in a local talent show, right? OK, well, maybe not so much a dream as something that seems like fun at the time, but a memory that will make you cringe in horror years later when you look back at the pictures.
This story is a memory and tip / warning for accordion players everywhere. Actually, it is a valuable tip for anyone playing a musical instrument on stage where a spotlight will be in use during the show.
We started having meetings and rehearsals for the local talent show about a month and a half before the scheduled date of the show. The organization putting on the talent show had to rent the spotlight so they planned to only get it in time for the dress rehearsal, which was the day before the actual show. Therefore, during all the other rehearsals, we only had the regular fluorscent lighting in the room and the general stage lighting.
On the night of the final dress rehearsal, the person in charge of operating the spotlight could not get it to work so we went through the rehearsal without it. I had been practicing my accordion faithfully and played a medley of several songs flawlessly during the rehearsal.
The next day, on the night of the actual talent show, the spotlight was working properly. When it was my turn to perform, the audience applauded as I walked out on to the stage with my accordion strapped to my chest carrying my accordion sheet music. I sat down and placed the sheet music on the stand. The general house lights dimmed and the spotlight came on.
That's when I realized it was time to panic. Stage fright, you think? Not at all, I loved being on the stage with an audience of hundreds. The reason for panic was because the spotlight was so strong that it shone right through the sheet music! I couldn't see any of the notes on the pages.
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