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 FIVE (of SIX)
Expanded Melodic Timing & Notation (Somewhat-Familiar Song-Melodies)
(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 FIVE (of SIX)
Expanded Melodic Timing & Notation (Somewhat-Familiar Song-Melodies)
SLIDES & COMMENTS
Slide 1 (Tutorial Project BA1 - Main goal)
Slide 1 (Tutorial Project BA1 - Main goal)
|
Welcome to Unit 4 of BA1 The primary goal of BA1 is to support your efforts in learning to play your button accordion, |
Slide 2 (Activities)
|
A reminder that all learning involves (supported) self-teaching, whether in face-to-face or distance environments. These are the "activities by you" and "support for you" that are included in this BA1 mini-course. |
Slide 3 (Six Mini-course Units)
|
In Unit 3 we played button-notes that were held for a single beat interval or for multiples of a beat interval.
In Unit 4 we will fine-tune our melodic timing to play button-notes that are held for a fraction of a beat interval.. This will open up a much larger number of somewhat familiar melodies on the accordion. |
Slide 4 (Topics)
|
Our first three topics today, cover the development of a Unit 4 notation for these fractional notes.
Topics 4 & 5 involve instruction and hands-on practice for this Unit 4 notation. Topic 6 reviews online support. Topic 7 (as usual) looks ahead to future sessions. |
Slide 5 (Topic 1.1 Notation for a completely familiar melody )
|
If you are completely familiar with "On Top of Old Smokey", then you know the rhythm, and the simple notation at left may be all you need.
However, we'll proceed on the assumption that you are somewhat-familiar with this melody, but not completely familiar. In the next slide we'll add the rhythmic notation developed in Unit 3. |
Slide 6 (Topic 1.2 Notation for a somewhat familiar melody)
|
The two missing "times" in line 4 lead us to the question of fine tuning.
The two button notes in question are usually held for one-half a beat interval each. |
Slide 7 (Topic 1.3 We need symbols for fractions of a beat interval.)
|
In this case we need a notation to indicate that the note is to be held for half a beat interval.
The two notes together will make up a full beat interval. In general, we need to develop a notation for fractions (including 1/2) of a beat interval. |
Slide 8 (Topic 2.1 Three fractions)
|
Although there is an infinite number of possible fractions, there are three that will suffice for a large number of button-accordion melodies.
These are 1/4 2/4 (or 1/2) 3/4 |
Slide 9 (Topic 2.2) How do we provide a notation for melodic rhythm?
|
Single, double and triple quote marks can represent 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 of a beat interval, respectively.
A triple quote can be typed as three single quotes in succession, or as a double quote followed by a single quote. |
Slides 10
|
At first glance this may make the notation look much more complicated and difficult.
However, in the vast majority of cases, these notes are grouped in pairs corresponding in total to a single beat interval. Example "5 "6* or '"4 '3* And, of course, if it is a melody you know really well, you will play these fractional pairs without even thinking about it. |
Slide 11 (Topic 3.1 Fractions in a somewhat familiar song melody)
|
Just one (1/2) pair of button notes in line 4, just to get you started. |
Slide 12 (Topic 3.2 Looking for simple rhythmic patterns)
|
Compare the melodic rhythm (relative timing pattern) in line 1 with that of line 3.
They are identical. |
Slide 13 (Topic 3.3 Small, but important, rhythmic differences.)
|
Next, compare the melodic rhythms in lines 2 and 4.
They are nearly identical. (Compare the first note in line 2, with the pair of (1/2) notes in line 4. |
Slide 14(Topic 4.1)
|
This improved notation may be illustrated by the two featured (and hopefully somewhat familiar) song melodies. Although Zoom does not lend itself to multi-site open-mike playing, it is still possible to do multi-site muted-mike playing along with the Host or another participant. We'll find what works! |
Slide 15 (Topic 4.2)
|
On Top of Old Smokey is our first featured & perhaps somewhat-familiar song-melody for Unit 4.
Review the rhythmic patterns. We'll practice both alone and multi-site (with muted mikes). Note that there is only one pair of half-interval notes here (line 4 in white). |
Slide 16 (Topic 4.3)
|
A second featured song-melody is the somewhat familiar American/Canadian folk song: Red River Valley
This is the first verse. Do you see any rhythmic patterns here? There are 18 pairs of half-interval notes here (in white). We'll repeat the practice steps from the first song-melody. |
Slide 17 (Topic 5)
|
Each of Units 2 to 5 include 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. In some cases, extra verses or choruses may be included on the web site. These are the five extras for Unit 4. |
Slide 18 (Topic 5a)
|
This is the first verse of "Black Velvet Band" a traditional Irish song-melody, with many different lyric versions.
Notice the identical lyrical and rhythmic patterns in lines 2 and 4, and both the similarities and the differences between lines 1 and 3. |
Slide 19 (Topic 5b)
|
This is the first verse of John Denver's "Annie's Song".
To check the rhythmic patters, this is best viewed as an 8-line verse. At left, due to lack of space, the first four lines of the song are printed on two lines of the slide. See the Unit 4 version on tunes2play4fun.com (For Beginners) for a better layout. |
THREE OBSERVATIONS ON THE TILDE ( ~ ) SYMBOL (Annie's Song):
1. The tilde symbol ( ~ ) at the end of each line above means that the button note should be held longer, which, for this song, is two extra beat intervals, except for last line of each verse, which is three extra beat intervals.
2. Singers frequently "rest" their voices for such beat intervals at the end of lines, instead of holding the singing note the whole time; this is quite common for vocal performances.
3. While most accordion players will simply hold such notes longer, as indicated in Observation 1, others may actually also "rest", while still others may substitute embellishments or ornamentations (but more about this later).
1. The tilde symbol ( ~ ) at the end of each line above means that the button note should be held longer, which, for this song, is two extra beat intervals, except for last line of each verse, which is three extra beat intervals.
2. Singers frequently "rest" their voices for such beat intervals at the end of lines, instead of holding the singing note the whole time; this is quite common for vocal performances.
3. While most accordion players will simply hold such notes longer, as indicated in Observation 1, others may actually also "rest", while still others may substitute embellishments or ornamentations (but more about this later).
Slide 20 (Topic 5c)
Slide 20 (Topic 5c)
|
This song-melody, "Rose in Her Hair," has both American and Canadian authorship.
The melody and the first verse lyrics were written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, respectively, for the film "Broadway Gondalier" in 1935. In the 1980s Bud Davidge and Sim Savory (of Simani) added two verses and an ending, along with some rhythmic and tempo changes. |
THREE OBSERVATIONS ON THE TILDE ( ~ ) SYMBOL (Rose in Her Hair):
1. The tilde symbol ( ~ ) at the end of some lines above means that the button note should be held longer, which, for this song, is three extra beat intervals.
2. & 3. See previous observations on the tilde ~
1. The tilde symbol ( ~ ) at the end of some lines above means that the button note should be held longer, which, for this song, is three extra beat intervals.
2. & 3. See previous observations on the tilde ~
Slide 21 (Topic 5d)
|
The lyrics and music for the gospel song "In the Sweet By and By" were written by S. F. Bennet and J. P. Webser, respectively, in 1868.
Identify the rhythmic patterns. Note that there are 11 half-interval pairs of button notes. |
Slide 22 (Topic 5e)
|
Each unit will also include a children's song for those of you who may have young children among your immediate or extended families and friends.
"Frere Jacques" is a very popular song for young children, and a melody that's quite well known to anyone who has young ones. Also popular with some adults in singing "rounds". |
Slide 23 (Topic 6)
|
Between Zoom sessions we'll use both email and the "For Beginners" option on the tunes2play4fun.com site. |
Slide 24 (Topic 6)
|
This site contains - slide set for Unit 4 - one tutorial note - featured melody web pages - extra practice web pages The song-melody web pages include accordion notation and embedded youTube videos in identified keys. |
Slide 25 (Topic 7)
|
We'll make a decision regarding next Friday at the end of the Tuesday Zoom session.
|
Slide 26 (Topic 7.1)
|
In our next unit (#5), we will consider notation for button notes that are held for one and a half beat intervals. We'll also introduce the REST, sometimes called the note of silence.
Our three featured melodies will be: a) This Land is Your Land b) Molly Malone c) Cliffs of Baccalieu |
Slide 27 (Topic 7.2)
|
Looking ahead, this slide high-lights the next five "extra practice" somewhat-familiar song-melodies for Unit 5
Pick one or more that are, at least, somewhat familiar to you for practice. |
Slide 28 (Links & password)
|
The route to the tunes2play4fun.com
Unit 4support materials "for beginners". |