Button-Accordion Project

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

MINI-COURSE BA1
The Button Accordion, its Music & Notation

UNIT TWO (of SIX)
​Simple Notation for Very-Familiar Song-Melodies
 First DRAFT of                                                                                                       .
SLIDE SET - INSTRUCTIONAL SESSION TWO - WITH COMMENTARY
This Web and Zoom tutorial project is for beginners learning to play dual-row A-D or G-C button accordions.

Its first goal is to help you learn to play your accordion, just for "fun".

The second goal is to check out Zoom's potential as a learning medium for button accordions.

​And a reminder that for this mini-course, there are no fees and no guarantees.
This slide is a reminder of future sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Unit 1 was completed last week, and the slides were posted on the tunes2play4fun web site.

This week ... on to Unit 2.

A simple notation for very-familiar song-melodies.
Beginning with the English-speaking world's most familiar song-melody:
The Birthday Song

You know how it goes.
Someone starts singing and everyone joins in with enthusiasm.

The  “dear birthday-person’s name” often replaces  the second “happy-birthday” in line 3.
Here's all you need to know to play very-familiar song-melodies.

Of course, there is more, but if the tune is really familiar, then you probably know how long to hold each button note, and how loud or fast you should try to play it.
The next question:

What is the simplest accurate & flexible way of putting these three pieces of information on a sheet ofpaper or a computer screen?





​First we number the buttons in each row from the top (nearest chin) down.


​Then, if a bellows push is needed, just just the button number.

If a bellow's pull is required, then attach a "star" (sometimes called an asterisk) to the number as shown at left.



​Finally, match the sequence of button numbers with the lyrics, as shown at left.



Here is our simple accordion notation for the world's most familiar song-melody.
Next comes demonstrations and practice.
​ 
In the pre-pandemic ideal world, we would be in the same physical space and could play together as a practice strategy.

However, with Zoom there are variable time delays which presents problems for synchronous playing.

With your microphone muted, you can still play along with me.  Although I can't hear you, what is important is that YOU can hear both you and me.  ​
Demo of our song-melody
the whole at regular pace.

Demo & practice
    Line 1 slowest, slower, slow
    Line 2
    Line 3
&  Line 4 

​Then, the whole song at a slow pace.

Finally, demo of whole song at regular pace. 
We'll end this section with a a zoom screen sharing of the tunes2play4fun.com site,
and a brief look at how embedded youTube videos can facilitate practice, as you get up to speed.

There are a number of youTube videos for each of our song-melodies.  I've listened to each of these videos and determined each one's musical Key (which can be matched to the accordion and row).

And, one of the advantages of youTube videos for practice is that the playback speed can be reduced to 75% or 50% of regular speed.  I don't recommend the terrible 25% option.
Each of Units 2 to 5 will have a number of melodies for additional practice, from which participants can individually select the one or more that they would like to practice and learn.

These are the five extras for Unit 2.
This is the first verse of "Annie's song" that was popular a few decades ago.  As sung by John Denver, the second verse and the repeat of the first verse have a few note changes from that shown at left.
This is Part I of "For he's a jolly good fellow".  This may be the second most well-known song-melody in the English-speaking world.

​
This is the first verse of a popular NL folk song and dance tune.  When performed as a dance tune, it is usually played as a quick jig, so fast it is hard to sing to.

As a folk song, especially when sung by choral groups, it is usually played a little slower, perhaps even with a waltz rhythm or feel.
Each Unit of our mini-course will contain a popular gospel song or hymn.  This is the first half of "Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee". 

And who says you can't play classical music on the button accordion.   This is from Bethoven's "Ode to Joy", part of his 9th symphony.​
Each unit will also include a children's song for those of you who may have young children, grandchildren, or perhaps even great-grandchildren to be entertained, or at least amused, by your playing.

"Twinkle, twinkle little star" is a very popular song for young children, and a great melody for the accordion.
Between Zoom sessions we'll use both email and the "For Beginners" option on the tunes2play4fun.com site.

This site will also contain the slide-set from each instruction session,
and tutorial notes and a web page for each of our song-melodies.

​We may or may not use every Friday.
It will depend on how quickly or how slowly we move through the six units, with its many song-melodies and tunes.
Advance notice of our next Unit 3, and the new song-melodies we'll be covering..
Notes
We will use the Friday session this week.

And the For Beginners  password is BA1-U1

​See you on Friday.