Breaking A Few Bad Accordion Habits: Make Playing and Listening Better for the Player and the

Audience
Presented by Jeffrey William Grosser HABIT Keeping time with bellows POSSIBLE CORRECTION Dont bounce accordion on knees. Lock lower bellows strap, use steady bellows pressure, count with mind and/or metronome, or less desirably with right foot tapping. Then open lower bellows strap and try doing the same Use bellows within normally working range of 8-9 + or - extensions unless dynamics or theatrics require more, but control is lost. Definitive short attack and release of bass buttons and concerted, distinct and clean attack and release of treble keys. Practice laying chords down with accuracy Practice distinct attack and definitive release of keys with hands in proper playing positions and practice with bassoon register only to achieve clarity because of the characteristics of the lower reed response. Practice with bassoon register only and consider single note or individual chords. Bellows action and pressure allow major dynamics to give music artistic renditions. Use reeds within working limits, key completely. Keep going and dont loose timing. The wrong notes might be Jazz! Use various stops, dynamics, variations in styles, tempos, rhythms, keys, etc., and use good playing technique.

Over extending bellows

Dragging bass or treble muddiness

Undesirable Arpeggiations of chords Improper attack and release of keys Single notes and chords

Holding chords with melody notes lost

Lack of Dynamics in playing Distortion of sounds Stopping when making a mistake when performing (not including practicing) Unchanging accordion drone