​  BUTTON-ACCORDION cOURSE 1  (BA1)

      An INTRODUCTION to the Button-Accordion, its Music & Notation

  BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS
  in the BA1 mini-course starting 16 March 2021
​
A MINI-COURSE: For "self-identified" BEGINNERS who have
  • a dual-row Accordion (such as G-C, A-D, D-G, or C-F);
  • access to a computer (or equivalent);
  • adequate Internet and audio & video support for Zoom and the Web;
  • a real interest in learning to play the button accordion just for the pure "fun" of it.

GOALS: To help "self-identified" beginners
  • obtain a better understanding of the dual-row button accordion, its treble and bass sounds, its holding & care, and its musical potential & limitations (Week 1);
  • learn to play several relatively simple MELODIES (Weeks 2 to 5);
  • become familiar with the accordion's bass-end, with its bass notes and chords (Weeks 6 & 7);
  • learn to play a few relatively simple TUNES  (Weeks 8 to 10).
         
     
PROCESS: 
  1. Zoom-facilitated Instruction & Practice Sessions that include Power-Point presentations, accordion demonstrations, and web & youTube screen-sharing.
  2. (Optional) Individual Zoom-facilitated Practice Sessions.
  3. Home-based Practice that includes web-based materials and selected embedded youTube videos on the tunes2play4fun.com site.
  4. Feed back using both Zoom and Email.
  5. Zoom sessions are "VIDEO-ON" and "AUDIO-OFF/ON", at the discretion of the Instructor.


ASSUMPTION:   That you enjoy, and want to learn to play, 
  • folk,
  • country,
  • gospel,  and
  • popular 
     music as found on the  tunes2play4fun.com web site.


TEN WEEKS of Zoom-facilitated Sessions:
  • Each Tuesday, starting 16 March 2021 (Instruction & Practice) 8:00-9:00 PM (NDT). 
  • (Optional) Each Thursday / Friday evening 7:00 - 9:30 PM, starting 18 / 19 March 2021, 30 minute sessions of Zoom-facilitated practice, as individually arranged.   
               (Clock times:   Newfoundland daylight-savings time   NDT = EDT + 1.5 hours)


WEEKLY UNITS: 
  1. Button-Accordion INs and OUTs
  2. Melodies - simple button notation
  3. Melodies - simple rhythmic notation
  4. Melodies - fine tuning the rhythmic notation
  5. Melodies - expanding the rhythmic notation 
  6. An introduction to harmony, chords & button matching
  7. More harmony & chords with drones & beats
  8. An introduction to tunes with two beats per bar
  9. An introduction to tunes with three beats per bar
  10. An introduction to four beats per bar, and a look ahead


​DISCLAIMER: 
  • No charges, No fees, No examinations, No guarantees.  Just Fun!
  • Most of our Zoom instructional materials and processes have been tested using a desktop computer, a notebook, and a new iPad without problems, but have NOT been extensively tested using smaller tablets or smart-phones.
  • Instructor is NOT a professional musician NOR a professional music teacher, but for nearly 35 years was a (science) teacher and an instructional/project developer; now retired in St. John's, NL, and playing the button accordion for the pure fun of it. He considers himself to be a "student" of the button accordion.
  • Remember that this is an INTRODUCTORY mini-course to help beginners get started on the "fun" path to playing many favorite melodies and some simple tunes.  Mastery comes later and with practice.

QUESTIONS?     Explore:     tunes2play4fun.com

                             Email:   tunes2play4fun.2021@gmail.com