You have really helped this 76 yr old beginner!! From age 4 my dream has been to learn to play the accordion!! Thank you sooo much for your classes. My only music experience has been trombone (bass clef) and classroom music k-12. College was strictly academic...music theory 3 or 4 credits. I have been self teaching on both 1x and 4x Roland. I have greatly appreciated the teachings that you have offered. Thank you!!
You're very welcome! Thanks for sharing and we are so excited you've joined us on your accordion journey! There are more resources (some free!) on our website accordionlifeacademy.com/. I hope you find them helpful!
I too am a beginner at 66 years old. It has been my dream since 8 years old to play the accordian. I have an excellent teacher and benefit greatly from Patricia's tips. My beautiful Giulietti is the perfect fit for me. Now more time to practice.
I am so happy your dream came true, and yet I am so sorry your dream took so long to come true. I hope you have a great time learning this amazing instrument.
Please mention the vulnerability for heat. In a car parked in the sun, temperature may easily get higher than the melting point of the wax, destroying the instrument. Evenly moisture may totally make the accordeon useless. Nice videos you made!
Yes! I believe we cover that in a different video. We do cover it in our online courses, but it wasn't part of this video because we were focusing on bellows technique. Thanks for the comment!
Thanks for the video. My daughter, and her daughter, both took the violin.. I was struck by the similarity between bellows movement and changing directions with bowing on a violin. I have used this description when describing bellows movement to a person learning tha accordion.
@@actionsub Hi Mike: It dawned on me that there is a difference in that the hand that does the dynamics in the cello, bass, etc...the bow hand (right) applies the speed and force to accomplish the dynamics, while the accordion player uses his left. Right brain vs left brain?? The accordion player, as well as a piano or organ player uses the right hand to play the melody while string players use the left. You might think of trying to play again. I learned as a kid and quit after a few years, but I picked it up again, after retirement. It came back quickly and I've advanced faster than as a child.
interesting point Carl! I am a violinist and am feeling really called to learn the accordian, maybe its to help balance my brain!!!!!!!!!! @@carlbuick Thanks for the insight!!! :):)
I thought exactly the same thing at this point in the video! Im a violinist and recently watched a video of a violinist who was playing whole phrases with one bow and was really impressed with the technique, as like the with the bellows, even one bow, or one breath of the bellows can also mave multiple dynamics within it :)
🤗 My experience as a Newcomer To Accordian Is, Push And Play Buttons Randomly And Alot. Alone. By Yourself.. But Mostly. No One Understands The Accordian. I Am Trying To. I Just Have To Learn How To Play It... I am figuring out one thing. But I started with 800 buttons that I dont know what they do.
I played the accordion for 15 years then I put it down now for 20 years. the teaching you present is very refreshing. Now with the internet and youtube and zoom. I perhaps can start again. my main issue was to locate a master accordionist to train me here in Palm Beach county. I learned to read music and my teachers would translated piano music into accordion music. I will continue to watch your teachings and maybe i can find a master accordionist here. When I was in Israel i watched a concert and noticed that the accordion was part of the orchestra and it impressed me greatly that this instrument is used widely in many parts of music. thank you again, if you happen to know a master trainer here in Palm Beach, I would appreciate the contact information. i will continue to refresh myself with your teachings.
That accordion is so versatile! Thanks for sharing your story. :) We don't know of anyone in Palm Beach, but we do offer private lessons via Zoom. You can learn more here: accordionlifeacademy.com/lessons
be careful when you play esp a full size acc do not stand when playing sit on a chair or back problems will happen as it happend to me it ruptured 2lower back disked now i am paying for that and can not even walk normal.
I find that my top mistake with the bellows is to change direction right between measures (coinciding with the bass accompaniment) instead of _before_ any pickup phrase. That hacks off the pickup and disrupts the music in a way similar to reciting a poem with a pause between lines whether or not the sentence continues. A habit that is hard to break if it has become too ingrained.
Patrice........a question to you with regard to the bellows....I found out,that my bellows always let through a slight amount of air while playing.Seems to be a leak,but it MUST be somewhat leaking,given the fact.....once playing some notes in staccato,than in between the bellows should never block instantly, in order to prevent the bellows from over pressure.and the loss of the players moving the bellows. I take it????
It's normal for bellows to allow a slight amount of air through. If you notice too much, then there could be a problem. I wouldn't worry about it unless it's negatively affecting your music.
I'm not asking for medical advice, but I have developed pain in my left shoulder. I've been playing for only 7 months. I play a Roland accordion. I have a theory that perhaps I had the volume too low and was overworking the bellows to get the sound. Problem is, since I only have a digital accordion, I don't know how loud or soft an acoustic accordion is for a given bellows pressure. It only hurts while closing, not while opening. Anyone want to chime in?
It's possible it's a technique issue. That's something that's hard to address just in a comment. We do offer trial lessons via zoom if you want to get some live feedback. You can learn more about those here: accordionlifeacademy.com/lessons
Thanks for the comment and what a wonderful gift to leave you! Feel free to email us at accoridonlifeacademy@gmail.com with any questions you may have and we'll be happy to direct you to any helpful resources. :)
Well Patricia, I just signed on last week after playing the accordion for several years in elementary school and now playing for perhaps the last 9 years very recreationally....now you tell me to operate the bellows before I press a note or after letting a note go .....That is Earth-shattering news to me...thank you very much....I am still looking through your website and considering further commitment. Thanks.
Patricia has worked with many accordion companies in the past, but she's found she prefers Hohner accordions for her own performance and as a company. They don't sponsor the videos. We do have a close relationship with them as we have worked with them to make quality accordion education more accessible.
Thankyou Patricia. These are particularly good for me as I'm just starting to learn to play the Accordion, still yet to buy an Accordion. I fully appreciate knowing about this instrument that I'm feeling in my heart. I love the sounds, it is a mini orchestra to me. You have the best explanations that I've come across, explanations right from the start and with great details.
Hey Anthony, it's only supposed to make sounds if you're pushing a button or key while pulling the bellows. It shouldn't be making sound without a key or button depressed. Sounds like your instrument needs some repair.
My good friend....I can't believe I stumbled on this tutorial, I was going to contact you about this, and I wondered in the last couple of years. I took one year of lessons, which went well, then I net a friend at a farmers market whim my grandfather would drop me off at, and my ear took over. I could learn 89% of two songs in a couple of hours, and at that time, I thought learning songs was more important. I couldn't figure it for years what was up. I remember learning Janet's waltz Jim Howerton wrote for his daughter. I was so meticulous call me when it came to getting I know it's correct, as I became more of an ear player but wanted to make sure I got all the notes right took a lot of time making sure. I know I liked everything about Janet's Walt's and wanted to get everything right that Jim had put into it and how he played it, even eventually upon accordion like him. So I started to think in the last year, I was doing well and music lessons and should have stuck with them. Everything that I learned in music lessons I've always applied even the few speed drills for the left and right hand, I love practicing, but I figured it must be the Bellows because in that one year I was trying to learn so much and wanted to play and had such a good year and my teacher was like you know don't go ahead play the music. I figured out probably I was going to ask you, that I thought I had a problem where's Bello changing, which meant I would have to look at every single song that I know and re-learn each one. Anyways I know this is like a novel, I wanted to contact you so many times, I wanted to congratulate you and all your hard work I brag to my friends about you I said she was awesome when I met her years ago and she's just as awesome now LOL and, I actually took an interest in business as well, and I've so much to ask you and pick your brain about, like I've been easy call me right now, probably my toughest time but it is what it is. I even wrote one time all the things I want to say, apologize all all the ins-and-outs of everything, from Kimberly till today, and I remember I'd written a lot and I just deleted everything by accident, a shark man oh, I'll have to do it again. Watching you and Alicia talk about Kimberly I thought, was cool, then Bellow video. My Reliance on the Lord is very huge right now. Oh, he's been carrying me 100%. All the time playing the accordion, I've never put it down bit for the last 8 years, plus I have. Thanks so much so often everyday, was like breathing, so trying to describe what it is like to put it down as really strange. But today my purpose for writing was about to bellows as much as I tried to keep things smooth remember what I could about my lessons in that area or very little, I always try my best to make things smooth. Alicia talking about posture and pain and things like that oh, I think made sense to me but as soon as I saw Bellow video here I was like that's got to be a sign, so unprepared not well thought-out and I thought I would reach out to you, I'm so proud of you I'm so happy with everything that has come your direction. They couldn't happen to a better human being or so No Doubt and it makes me smile cheek to cheek and see how the almighty has unraveled success in your life. Still makes me smile, I thought you were the coolest, when I was 12, and I think that today as well as the years between. Your work ethic in your passion and love for life, and the accordion have never ceased to slow down, and I'm super happy the almighty has blessed you all the hard work you've put in day in and day out year after year. I'm a dog lover. I love your dog Bella, and I think she is the cutest. Dogs are so awesome, lol. But I have said enough for now, but I'd like to connect with you again. Cheers for friend, over and out. 😉
Hi Chad, thank you for your beautiful message to Patricia! I have passed your message on to her. All the best and thank you for following her on UA-cam!
This is an eye opener. and very helpful thankyou. I was wondering if you have any instructional video's on elderly arm weakness due to lack of practice.. I am about about 2 years out from my last recital. When I picked up the accordion it was heavier than I expected but pulling the bellows out and in was pretty hard. Thanks for your time lu
You're welcome! We don't currently have any videos on that specific topic, but our team was literally just discussing putting together a course, ebook, or videos on the topic of physical fitness/care/safe practices for accordionists. We'd love to have you join our free online community and ask this question as well! We have many members who may have helpful input and we'll be gathering feedback from them as well on what to cover within this topic. You can find the community here: community.accordionlife.com/ Hope to see you there!
thank you so much! Ive been going through so many videos looking for a teacher who delivers this level of clarity, I got so much value from this lesson, feeling really blessed to be starting to play at a time when all this is so accessable, makes such a difference! Hugely appreciated!
Great question! It is if you force it too hard and too long. With the proper technique, you have just the right amount of tension on the bellows to give you the responsiveness of the keys and quality sound.
How many omm pah pahs in general are you supposed to be able to do before a bellow change for a six foot tall person anyway? I think I have leaky bellows. Not overly leaking, but not air tight either. I am new to the accordion and I bought it used, so not sure how often a change is actually supposed to occur.
It depends mostly on your music and the capabilities of your accordion. A general rule of thumb is to change the bellows every four measures, though for small instruments this could be every two measures.
Hi Patricia, I like yr explanation related to accordion playing. Do you teach student with FR Roland 1x accordion with bellow different from others? I have such an accordion. Like to hear from you. I live in Singapore.
Hi Ruth, The tough thing about the Roland is that how you handle the bellows doesn't affect the tension of the keys-this makes certain techniques as you progress into intermediate/advanced stages difficult to impossible. It does work ok as a beginner instrument, just practice pulling evenly and you should be fine for now. :) We do offer private lessons via Zoom if you want more personalized help and our instructors have worked with students who play the Roland accordions.
A very informative video. Thanks! You might be interested that in the Austrian/Bavarian style, the bellows are slowed and stopped under control while the note is played, for effect at certain points in the piece.
You have really helped this 76 yr old beginner!! From age 4 my dream has been to learn to play the accordion!! Thank you sooo much for your classes. My only music experience has been trombone (bass clef) and classroom music k-12. College was strictly academic...music theory 3 or 4 credits. I have been self teaching on both 1x and 4x Roland. I have greatly appreciated the teachings that you have offered. Thank you!!
You're very welcome! Thanks for sharing and we are so excited you've joined us on your accordion journey! There are more resources (some free!) on our website accordionlifeacademy.com/. I hope you find them helpful!
I too am a beginner at 66 years old. It has been my dream since 8 years old to play the accordian. I have an excellent teacher and benefit greatly from Patricia's tips. My beautiful Giulietti is the perfect fit for me. Now more time to practice.
❤
I am so happy your dream came true, and yet I am so sorry your dream took so long to come true. I hope you have a great time learning this amazing instrument.
Your clear instruction and multiple demonstrations make this really effective, thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Please mention the vulnerability for heat. In a car parked in the sun, temperature may easily get higher than the melting point of the wax, destroying the instrument.
Evenly moisture may totally make the accordeon useless.
Nice videos you made!
Yes! I believe we cover that in a different video. We do cover it in our online courses, but it wasn't part of this video because we were focusing on bellows technique. Thanks for the comment!
Good to know!! Thank you.
I would have ruined mine good tip thanks.
Thanks for the video. My daughter, and her daughter, both took the violin.. I was struck by the similarity between bellows movement and changing directions with bowing on a violin. I have used this description when describing bellows movement to a person learning tha accordion.
Thanks! I was wondering if there was a comparison there since I'd played cello and bass in high school.
@@actionsub Hi Mike: It dawned on me that there is a difference in that the hand that does the dynamics in the cello, bass, etc...the bow hand (right) applies the speed and force to accomplish the dynamics, while the accordion player uses his left. Right brain vs left brain?? The accordion player, as well as a piano or organ player uses the right hand to play the melody while string players use the left. You might think of trying to play again. I learned as a kid and quit after a few years, but I picked it up again, after retirement. It came back quickly and I've advanced faster than as a child.
interesting point Carl! I am a violinist and am feeling really called to learn the accordian, maybe its to help balance my brain!!!!!!!!!! @@carlbuick Thanks for the insight!!! :):)
I thought exactly the same thing at this point in the video! Im a violinist and recently watched a video of a violinist who was playing whole phrases with one bow and was really impressed with the technique, as like the with the bellows, even one bow, or one breath of the bellows can also mave multiple dynamics within it :)
Good tips 🪗 👍🏽
🤗
My experience as a Newcomer To Accordian Is,
Push And Play Buttons Randomly And Alot.
Alone.
By Yourself..
But Mostly.
No One Understands The Accordian.
I Am Trying To.
I Just Have To Learn How To Play It...
I am figuring out one thing.
But I started with 800 buttons that
I dont know what they do.
Very helpful. Thank you!! Was clueless about bellows changing!!
Glad it was helpful!
Brilliant, so helpful!
the video I was looking for, thank you!
Thank you for this video! Very helpful
You're so welcome!
Thank you very much for the wonderful advice. Regards kmpant
So nice will appreciate a demo
I played the accordion for 15 years then I put it down now for 20 years. the teaching you present is very refreshing. Now with the internet and youtube and zoom. I perhaps can start again. my main issue was to locate a master accordionist to train me here in Palm Beach county. I learned to read music and my teachers would translated piano music into accordion music. I will continue to watch your teachings and maybe i can find a master accordionist here. When I was in Israel i watched a concert and noticed that the accordion was part of the orchestra and it impressed me greatly that this instrument is used widely in many parts of music. thank you again, if you happen to know a master trainer here in Palm Beach, I would appreciate the contact information. i will continue to refresh myself with your teachings.
That accordion is so versatile! Thanks for sharing your story. :) We don't know of anyone in Palm Beach, but we do offer private lessons via Zoom. You can learn more here: accordionlifeacademy.com/lessons
Thankyou for this, very helpful indeed. Especially the positioning and then the bellows movement
Glad it was helpful!
always great vids
be careful when you play esp a full size acc do not stand when playing sit on a chair or back problems will happen as it happend to me it ruptured 2lower back disked now i am paying for that and can not even walk normal.
I find that my top mistake with the bellows is to change direction right between measures (coinciding with the bass accompaniment) instead of _before_ any pickup phrase. That hacks off the pickup and disrupts the music in a way similar to reciting a poem with a pause between lines whether or not the sentence continues. A habit that is hard to break if it has become too ingrained.
Oh cute!! I want a tiny accordion!!🤗😂
Thank you so much. My phrasing resembles Darth Vader swallowing a harmonica and this video really helps change that.
Glad it helped! And your description is awesome! :D
Patrice........a question to you with regard to the bellows....I found out,that my bellows always let through a slight amount of air while playing.Seems to be a leak,but it MUST be somewhat leaking,given the fact.....once playing some notes in staccato,than in between the bellows should never block instantly, in order to prevent the bellows from over pressure.and the loss of the players moving the bellows. I take it????
It's normal for bellows to allow a slight amount of air through. If you notice too much, then there could be a problem. I wouldn't worry about it unless it's negatively affecting your music.
I'm not asking for medical advice, but I have developed pain in my left shoulder. I've been playing for only 7 months. I play a Roland accordion. I have a theory that perhaps I had the volume too low and was overworking the bellows to get the sound. Problem is, since I only have a digital accordion, I don't know how loud or soft an acoustic accordion is for a given bellows pressure.
It only hurts while closing, not while opening.
Anyone want to chime in?
It's possible it's a technique issue. That's something that's hard to address just in a comment. We do offer trial lessons via zoom if you want to get some live feedback. You can learn more about those here: accordionlifeacademy.com/lessons
I need help with a 12 bass piano key accordian, and I want to learn regional Mexican music like Ramon Ayala. My grandmother left me the accordian
Thanks for the comment and what a wonderful gift to leave you! Feel free to email us at accoridonlifeacademy@gmail.com with any questions you may have and we'll be happy to direct you to any helpful resources. :)
Thank you , Patricia! Good to hear you again!
Appreciations from Stephen.
Well Patricia, I just signed on last week after playing the accordion for several years in elementary school and now playing for perhaps the last 9 years very recreationally....now you tell me to operate the bellows before I press a note or after letting a note go .....That is Earth-shattering news to me...thank you very much....I am still looking through your website and considering further commitment. Thanks.
Thank you for your videos, you do a fantastic job explaining. Can I ask you , does Hohner company sponsor you or do you prefer Hohner accordions.
Patricia has worked with many accordion companies in the past, but she's found she prefers Hohner accordions for her own performance and as a company. They don't sponsor the videos. We do have a close relationship with them as we have worked with them to make quality accordion education more accessible.
@@Accordionlife Thank you for responding to me. She performs a great service educating the public about the versatility of the instrument.
Thankyou Patricia. These are particularly good for me as I'm just starting to learn to play the Accordion, still yet to buy an Accordion. I fully appreciate knowing about this instrument that I'm feeling in my heart. I love the sounds, it is a mini orchestra to me. You have the best explanations that I've come across, explanations right from the start and with great details.
I just bought an accordion so idk much but Is it supposed to make a noise when I open it?
Hey Anthony, it's only supposed to make sounds if you're pushing a button or key while pulling the bellows. It shouldn't be making sound without a key or button depressed. Sounds like your instrument needs some repair.
Very interesting. Makes a lot of since. I love the Accordion. But find it very challenging.
Interesting
Useful.
High production value here! Great job
My good friend....I can't believe I stumbled on this tutorial, I was going to contact you about this, and I wondered in the last couple of years. I took one year of lessons, which went well, then I net a friend at a farmers market whim my grandfather would drop me off at, and my ear took over. I could learn 89% of two songs in a couple of hours, and at that time, I thought learning songs was more important. I couldn't figure it for years what was up. I remember learning Janet's waltz Jim Howerton wrote for his daughter. I was so meticulous call me when it came to getting I know it's correct, as I became more of an ear player but wanted to make sure I got all the notes right took a lot of time making sure. I know I liked everything about Janet's Walt's and wanted to get everything right that Jim had put into it and how he played it, even eventually upon accordion like him. So I started to think in the last year, I was doing well and music lessons and should have stuck with them. Everything that I learned in music lessons I've always applied even the few speed drills for the left and right hand, I love practicing, but I figured it must be the Bellows because in that one year I was trying to learn so much and wanted to play and had such a good year and my teacher was like you know don't go ahead play the music. I figured out probably I was going to ask you, that I thought I had a problem where's Bello changing, which meant I would have to look at every single song that I know and re-learn each one. Anyways I know this is like a novel, I wanted to contact you so many times, I wanted to congratulate you and all your hard work I brag to my friends about you I said she was awesome when I met her years ago and she's just as awesome now LOL and, I actually took an interest in business as well, and I've so much to ask you and pick your brain about, like I've been easy call me right now, probably my toughest time but it is what it is. I even wrote one time all the things I want to say, apologize all all the ins-and-outs of everything, from Kimberly till today, and I remember I'd written a lot and I just deleted everything by accident, a shark man oh, I'll have to do it again. Watching you and Alicia talk about Kimberly I thought, was cool, then Bellow video. My Reliance on the Lord is very huge right now. Oh, he's been carrying me 100%. All the time playing the accordion, I've never put it down bit for the last 8 years, plus I have. Thanks so much so often everyday, was like breathing, so trying to describe what it is like to put it down as really strange. But today my purpose for writing was about to bellows as much as I tried to keep things smooth remember what I could about my lessons in that area or very little, I always try my best to make things smooth. Alicia talking about posture and pain and things like that oh, I think made sense to me but as soon as I saw Bellow video here I was like that's got to be a sign, so unprepared not well thought-out and I thought I would reach out to you, I'm so proud of you I'm so happy with everything that has come your direction. They couldn't happen to a better human being or so No Doubt and it makes me smile cheek to cheek and see how the almighty has unraveled success in your life. Still makes me smile, I thought you were the coolest, when I was 12, and I think that today as well as the years between. Your work ethic in your passion and love for life, and the accordion have never ceased to slow down, and I'm super happy the almighty has blessed you all the hard work you've put in day in and day out year after year. I'm a dog lover. I love your dog Bella, and I think she is the cutest. Dogs are so awesome, lol. But I have said enough for now, but I'd like to connect with you again. Cheers for friend, over and out. 😉
Hi Chad, thank you for your beautiful message to Patricia! I have passed your message on to her. All the best and thank you for following her on UA-cam!
This is an eye opener. and very helpful thankyou. I was wondering if you have any instructional video's on elderly arm weakness due to lack of practice.. I am about about 2 years out from my last recital. When I picked up the accordion it was heavier than I expected but pulling the bellows out and in was pretty hard. Thanks for your time
lu
You're welcome! We don't currently have any videos on that specific topic, but our team was literally just discussing putting together a course, ebook, or videos on the topic of physical fitness/care/safe practices for accordionists. We'd love to have you join our free online community and ask this question as well! We have many members who may have helpful input and we'll be gathering feedback from them as well on what to cover within this topic. You can find the community here: community.accordionlife.com/
Hope to see you there!
2:22 is meme worthy
Enjoying your videos. Plenty of really useful help and advice to help me get my head around this fascinating instrument.
Glad to help!
Omg I’ve been playing informally for years and struggling with changing bellows. Thanks for these really detailed technical tips!
You are so welcome!
thank you so much! Ive been going through so many videos looking for a teacher who delivers this level of clarity, I got so much value from this lesson, feeling really blessed to be starting to play at a time when all this is so accessable, makes such a difference! Hugely appreciated!
You're very welcome!
Is it not bad for the instrument to pull or push the bellows while no key/button is held?
Great question! It is if you force it too hard and too long. With the proper technique, you have just the right amount of tension on the bellows to give you the responsiveness of the keys and quality sound.
@@Accordionlife my bellows don’t really move at all unless I have a key pressed - is that normal?
That means you have very good bellows!
I can't wait to practice I need to learn the notes
Great video
Glad you enjoyed it
How many omm pah pahs in general are you supposed to be able to do before a bellow change for a six foot tall person anyway? I think I have leaky bellows. Not overly leaking, but not air tight either. I am new to the accordion and I bought it used, so not sure how often a change is actually supposed to occur.
It depends mostly on your music and the capabilities of your accordion. A general rule of thumb is to change the bellows every four measures, though for small instruments this could be every two measures.
@@Accordionlife thank you
Thank you!!
Very good explanation
Hi Patricia, I like yr explanation related to accordion playing.
Do you teach student with FR Roland 1x accordion with bellow different from others?
I have such an accordion.
Like to hear from you.
I live in Singapore.
Hi Ruth, The tough thing about the Roland is that how you handle the bellows doesn't affect the tension of the keys-this makes certain techniques as you progress into intermediate/advanced stages difficult to impossible. It does work ok as a beginner instrument, just practice pulling evenly and you should be fine for now. :) We do offer private lessons via Zoom if you want more personalized help and our instructors have worked with students who play the Roland accordions.
A very informative video. Thanks! You might be interested that in the Austrian/Bavarian style, the bellows are slowed and stopped under control while the note is played, for effect at certain points in the piece.
Interesting!
@@Accordionlife Michael Bridge is a master at slowing and completely stopping the bellows while notes are played...the effect is truly inspiring.