BA1U1 - SLIDES - Button-Accordion Tunes 2 Play 4 Fun

Button-Accordion Tutorial Project

(Dual-row G-C, A-D, D-G or C-F with Accidentals)
Based on tunes2play4fun.com & Facilitated by ZOOM

MINI-COURSE BA1: BASIC MELODIES

UNIT ONE (of FOUR)

Playing Very-Familiar Melodies
(on the Dual-row Button Accordion)

Return to BA1 - Unit 1 Page

WEB SLIDE SET

This is a somewhat compacted version of the slides used in the first Zoom session, and is included here primarily for Zoom participants who have already seen the full Unit 1 slide set, and may want to review parts of it.

INSTRUCTIONAL SESSION ONE

Web Slide 1 Zoom Slide 1

Welcome to our basic-level dual-row button-accordion mini-course.

Web Slide 2 Zoom Slides 2 & 3

Disclaimer: This mini-course has been assembled by a (mostly) self-taught player, who is neither a professional musician nor a professional music-teacher, but with a tutoring and instructional development background, and with a new-found love of the button-accordion.
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Zoom Slide 5 Zoom Slides 6 - 8

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Although these individualized 25-minute sessions are optional, it is likely that most folks will make use of one (or both) of them in each three-week interval.

Thus in the first session you are asked to select an individualized slot that may be convenient for you for each of the scheduled Wednesdays

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If this were Sesame Street, Unit 1 would be brought to you by the letter "L".

Mastering the button accordion does involve a lot of looking, listening and learning.

However the two most important words in learning are Practice, and Fun, brought to you by the letters "P" & "F". (Please forgive my "weak" attempt at humour!)
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In Unit 1, we are looking AT the accordion, the outside.

In three weeks (Unit 2), we'll look INTO the treble end of a button accordion (one of my older ones), to see what is going on inside when we press on buttons and push & pull the bellows.

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The bass-end:

The Strap hold the player's wrist somewhat tight against the bass plate, with the left fingers wrapped around to reach the bass-end buttons.

The air lever is controlled by the left thumb.

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The bellows are constructed out of reinforced cardboard.

It is a good idea to keep the bellows from rubbing against clothing.

It is also important not to force the bellows to open too far.

When moving the accordion, close the straps to keep the bellows tightly closed.

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The treble end thumb strap is used by some players, negating the need for the shoulder strap(s).

However most players prefer the shoulder strap, with the thumb pushing against the button bar, holding the accordion in place.

For playing whole standing, many prefer two straps, one over each shoulder.

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Never lift by the thumb strap.

Transport in a cushioned container.

Keep away from direct sunlight.

Store at moderate room temperature and humidity in a low-dust environment.

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Playing & Listening Demonstrations

Melodies are played by the right hand, using the treble buttons.

Tunes involve playing with both hands, where the left hand adds harmony and/or bass rhythm.

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We'll begin this Mini-Course with very familiar melodies, the most universally familiar of which is the birthday song.

So, our challenge is to move from the song in our heads to playing the melody using the treble buttons of our accordions.

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When to PUSH or when to PULL?

Each pressed button can generate two notes, one for the "push" & one for "pull".

A push on the bellows closes them, pushing air out of the bellows cavity.

A pull on bellows opens them, pulling air into the expanding bellows cavity.

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Matching button notes to lyrics:

This is the easy part. We simply print each treble button-note above the sung syllable, as illustrated at left.

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"Happy Birthday To You" is a classic, with a simple rhythm and a melody that is universally familiar. Start with bellows at mid-point (half-way between closed and a safe-max-open), using air-lever only if needed.
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Play on inside row. Place your first finger at button 3 and your little finger at button 6, covering all the needed buttons with your four right fingers. Start with bellows at mid-point (half-way between closed and a safe-max-open), using air-lever only if needed.
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Play on inside row. Place your first finger at button 2 and your little finger at button 5, covering all the needed buttons with your four right fingers. (You will need button 2 for the Web 2nd half.)
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Someone once claimed that mastering most skills is 10% knowledge and 90% practice. While the actual percentages may be different, the mastery of the button accordion certainly depends on some knowledge combined with lots of practice, preferably in small non-tiring periods that are fun.
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Play on outside row. Place your first finger at button 5 and your little finger at button 8, covering all the needed buttons with your four right fingers. Start with bellows at mid-point (half-way between closed and a safe-max-open).
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Play on either row. Place your first finger at button 4 and your little finger at button 7, covering all the needed buttons with your four right fingers.
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Play on either row. Place your first finger at button 5 and your little finger at button 8, covering all the needed buttons with your four right fingers.
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A reminder of the optional 25-Minute individualized session on Wednesday, Sept 21
and
Sept 28.

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Try to sign in to Zoom just before the starting time. You will be admitted to the Zoom session from the waiting room at (or close to) the starting time.

There will be time for discussion & explanation, but mainly for playing. Have your accordion ready. It will be a short session, but also helpful & "fun" once you get use to it.

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Looking ahead to Unit 2 . . . summary outline above.
Note that we'll also start Unit 2 with the very familiar Birthday Song, but this time with a focus on melodic rhythm and rhythmic notation.
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