An entry · Work · Life
Accordionist
A whole band folded into a box, breathing in and out under a pair of hands.
Why the human is the point
The accordion is a small orchestra you wear, melody under the right hand, chords and bass under the left, and its breath supplied by the bellows the player squeezes. It has soundtracked street corners and dance halls from Paris to Buenos Aires to the villages of every continent, always where people gather. The accordionist coordinates two keyboards and the push and pull of air, shaping the volume and swell with the whole body. It is an instrument of celebration and of longing, and a good player can turn a quiet square into a party in a single tune. Drop a coin, stay a minute, and you are part of a scene that has repeated happily for a hundred years. There is a person in there making a room feel less alone.
Work it
Do the work.
Jobs, apprenticeships, and training that put a person in the room.
On now
- Association
Membership in the American Accordionists' Association
American Accordionists' Association · United States
Become a member of the American Accordionists' Association and join a national network of performers, teachers, and accordion lovers.
- Association
Confederation Internationale des Accordeonistes
Confederation Internationale des Accordeonistes (CIA) · International
The international accordion federation, a member of the International Music Council and a UNESCO partner, that unites national accordion bodies and runs the annual Coupe Mondiale world championships.
Ways in
- Course
Formal accordion study
Music schools in many countries teach classical and folk accordion, technique, and repertoire to a high level.
- Route in
Folk and trad sessions
Many accordionists learn within a living folk tradition, playing at sessions and dances and picking up tunes by ear.
- Route in
Busking and function work
Street playing and function gigs at weddings and festivals are a common way to build a repertoire and earn from the instrument.
Ways in, gathered by hand.
Add yours to the atlasLive it
Live the hour.
Experiences, classes, and places where the presence is the whole point.
On now
- Community
Monthly meeting of the San Francisco Accordion Club
San Francisco Accordion Club · Millbrae, California · Third Sunday of most months
Bring your accordion to the San Francisco Accordion Club's monthly gathering and play, listen, and swap tunes with fellow squeezebox fans.
- Festival
Cotati Accordion Festival
Cotati Accordion Festival · Cotati, California · August
Spend a summer weekend in wine country surrounded by squeezebox music, polka and zydeco dancing, and a jam tent open to every player.
- Community
Saturday morning Cajun jam at Savoy Music Center
Savoy Music Center · Eunice, Louisiana · Saturdays 9am to noon
Pull up a chair or bring your accordion to master builder Marc Savoy's free Saturday house party jam of traditional Cajun music.
Ways in
- Class
Beginner accordion lessons
A teacher can start you on a small button or piano accordion, with a simple tune within the first few sessions.
- Gathering
Folk session or dance
Trad music sessions and folk dances are warm, welcoming places to hear the accordion doing what it loves.
Ways in, gathered by hand.
Add yours to the atlasKept nearby
