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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Web Slide 3 Zoom Slide 4

Web Slide 4 Zoom Slide 5

Web Slide 7 Zoom Slides 10 & 11

Web Slide 8 Zoom Slide 12

Web Slide 9 Zoom Slide 13

Web Slide 10 Zoom Slide 14

Web Slide 11 Zoom Slide 15

Web Slide 12 Zoom Slides 16 - 18

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.

Web Slide 13 Zoom Slides 19 - 21

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.

Web Slide 14 Zoom Slide 22 & 23

Web Slide 15 Zoom Slides 24 - 30

Web Slide 16 Zoom Slide 31

Web Slide 17 Zoom Slide 32

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.

Web Slide 18 Zoom Slide 33

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.

Web Slide 19 Zoom Slide 34

"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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Web Slide 20 Zoom Slide 35

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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Web Slide 21 Zoom Slide 36

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.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Web Slide 22 Zoom Slides 37 - 42

Web Slide 23 Zoom Slide 43

Web Slide 24 Zoom Slide 44 - 49

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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Web Slide 25 Zoom Slide 50

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).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Web Slide 26 Zoom Slide 51

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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Web Slide 27 Zoom Slide 52

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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Web Slide 31 Zoom Slide 56 - 58

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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Web Slide 32 Zoom Slide 59

Return to Top of Page

Return to BA1 - Unit 1 Page