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)
Slide 2 (Activities)
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)
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)
Slide 7 (Topic 1.3 We need symbols for fractions of a beat interval.)
Slide 8 (Topic 2.1 Three fractions)
Slide 9 (Topic 2.2) How do we provide a notation for melodic rhythm?
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)
Slide 12 (Topic 3.2 Looking for simple rhythmic patterns)
Slide 13 (Topic 3.3 Small, but important, rhythmic differences.)
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)
Slide 16 (Topic 4.3)
Slide 17 (Topic 5)
Slide 18 (Topic 5a)
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)
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)
Slide 24 (Topic 6)
Slide 25 (Topic 7)
Slide 26 (Topic 7.1)
Slide 27 (Topic 7.2)
Slide 28 (Links & password)