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

Return to BA1 - Unit 2 Page
                                                                                                   .
SLIDE SET - INSTRUCTIONAL SESSION TWO - WITH COMMENTARY
Welcome back to our button accordion tutorial project.

This Web and Zoom based project was first designed  for beginners  ( or folks who see themselves as beginners ) learning to play dual-row (A-D, D-G, G-C, or C-F) button accordions.
Our main goal is to help you learn to play your accordion, just for "fun".

​And a reminder that for this mini-course (or future mini-courses), there are no charges, no fees, no examinations, and no guarantees.
All learning involves supported self-teaching, whether  in face-to-face or distant environments.

​This is especially the case for learning a musical instrument, such as the button accordion.

The slide at left lists support for your self-teaching.

Item 5 includes feed back to you, and item 6 is feedback from you.
Units 2 to 5 focus on melodies, played using the right-hand treble buttons.

The final four units focus on tunes, played with both hands.

Unit six is the bridge between the two.

This week ... on to Unit 2, Melodies - Simple ... notation
The first two of today's topics cover development of a simple notation for very familiar song melodies.

Topics 3 to 5 involve instruction and hands-on practice, following this simple notation.

Topic 6 explores online support (time permitting)

Topic 7 (as usual) looks ahead to future sessions.
We begin with the English-speaking world's most familiar song-melody, according to the Guinness book of world records (of some years ago).

The Birthday Song:      Someone starts singing and then others join in. This happens many millions of times every week.
Already, we know the lyrics, and we know the melody (from hearing & singing it many many time, so what do we need to know to play "Happy Birthday" on the button accordion?
If you are experienced in reading music sheets, including the relatively simple ones at left, then you only need to know the correspondence between buttons & the notes on the sheet.

For some music, such as the piano and organ, for example, these sheets are great.
​However, we are not going down that road.  We can save a lot of learning time by developing a simpler, though equally informative, notation that is unique to the button accordion.
For very familiar song melodies . . . 

There are only three things we need to know, as listed at left, . . .

And we need a simple notation to show these three.

​We'll  take them one item at a time
First we number the buttons in each row from the top (nearest chin) down.
                        1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
​11


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

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



​Finally, match the sequence of button numbers with the lyrics, as shown at left for the 1st line of the Birthday song.
Here is our simple accordion notation for the world's most familiar song-melody.

With this simple song, each syllable is matched to a single button note.
AN ASIDE:  
Because this is a very familiar melody, we do not have to specify the rhythm or the pace;  you already know that from your many years of happily singing it, or hearing it sung.

​Some Thoughts Before Practice

​This mini-course is designed for "beginners", and will move forward one step at a time, keeping it as simple as possible, especially in the early stages.

So, the melodies for the first several units meet the requirements stated at left.





​
A moderate and sensible amount of practice is essential to sustained learning.

For some folks, the accordion is a physically demanding instrument.

So, if you are new to the accordion, do not overdo it. This can happen easily during the early stages.
These are the "practice" song melodies for this Unit.

We'll do the first two in detail in this session.

We'll break each into parts,
and (with microphones muted) will play.

It is hoped that you will be motivated to learn at least one of the remaining five melodies.  
NEXT - DEMONSTRATIONS & PRACTICE


​The Birthday Song,
one line at a time.

Then the whole thing.


​Down in the Valley,
​one line at a time.

Then the whole thing.

EXTRA #1

​My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean,

A Scottish folk song, once very popular.
EXTRA #2
There are many versions of this great American folksong, though wikipedia states that most share the chorus given at left.

The melody shown is based on the Folk/Pop Songs music book from Cherry Lane Music.  It matches some of the embedded youTube videos, but not others.
​
However, it is great for beginners because of the repetition of notes.
EXTRA #3
​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.
EXTRA #4
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.
EXTRA #5
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.
Here, time permitting, we'll do a screen share of the tunes2play4fun.com site, and explore the "For Beginners" section.

​
Advance notice of our next Unit 3, and the new song-melodies we'll be covering.

And the For Beginners  password is BA1-U1