Arpeggio Practice

[Tom]

SO... in the couple months that you have been trying, Tom, what are YOUR personal experiences? How have exercises in general and arpeggios in particular, helping you so far?

Hmmm, let's see if I can explain it.... For one thing my wife says my playing is a lot better, so what more do I need to say?

1. I think that playing the scales and arpeggios/chords WITH THE METRONOME has been huge. I never used the metronome before and have developed a whole new appreciation for time. I think my playing of actual songs has become more smooth and consequently more enjoyable. I now practice all my tunes with the metronome and definetly recommend it.

2. I have a better feel for the keyboard and where the notes are. One excercise that Jerry recommended was to take my hand off and return it to a given inversion. This combined with the repeated 2 octave scales has definetly strengthened my holistic relationship to the keyboard, which makes hand position changes and chord harmonies more smooth.

3. Playing the scales and chords repeatedly makes fills and improvisations easier and more natural. Since it's possible to use them for many fills, these scale / arpeggio fragments become very natural "under the hand." This is also true for chord based harmonies.

4. Being "forced" to play and improve something every day for an hour teaches you a new way to approach learning a new phrase, or even a new song. Things like "only work on what you don't know" and "slow it down until you can do it."

5. Playing scales in the left hand repeatedly makes bass runs occur naturally, which is kind of cool.

6. Ok, what should maybe have been first, more dexterity and speed in both hands. Of course this is true, but is not the goal (which is musicality).

Basically, this all has been a huge boost to my playing, and I can only imagine how years of this practice could (will) be great. And I really appreciate Jerry teaching me this stuff. He's the man!!!!

So, now that it's summer, I'm so busy outside (plus Jerry could use a well deserved break ), that I am now trying 1 hour/day of exercises plus song practice. I only made it to C,G,F,Bb so far so I have a long way to go. Also, I haven't been recording and haven't found a good venue yet, but some leads are promising.....

 

[Zevy]

"the" excercise book is Hanon (originally for piano)
here are 2 versions, the first is arranged by Diero

Virtuoso Accordionist, The

The Virtuoso Accordionist by Deiro<p> The exercises in this book have been adapted for the piano accordion from the renowned L.C. Hanon exercises. Faithful practice of these exercises will aid in the development of agility, strength, evenness of touch

ernestdeffner.com

Hanon Book 2 - The Best of Hanon for the Accordion

Arranged By Aretta - Rodionoff<p> Grade 2 +<p> This 80 page book is full of technical exercises that can be repeated daily to maintain and improve the accordionists skills.<p> <h6>Hannon</h6>

ernestdeffner.com

I would suggest the Nunzio adaptation of the Hanon exercises.

 

[Tom H]

I have just bought a chromatic button accordion, C griff. I have been playing piano accordion for years, as well as English concertina and a recent stint on MacCann duet concertina. I'm intermediate at best ('way less on the duet). I'm looking for suggestions or instructions on fingering patterns for the chromatic. I can locate the notes all right, but want to get efficient in playing. It seems some players (and instructors) use the thumb and others not. I've found some videos in French and Spanish; although I can converse in both languages, I find it a bit hard to make out what they are saying.
Any suggestions?

Hi Old squeezer,
I'm in the same place have had a piano accordion since I was 10. it died about a decade or so and I finally bought a CBA C back in February. So far I've found Anzaghi's and Galliano's books both Titled " Complete Method for Accordion" I'm still trying to find an online tutor since a local one is non-existent. Fingering is tough, you need to do way more finger crossing with 2nd and 3rd fingers which requires exercise. but one does get use to it after a while.

 

[Mike K]

try the Hanon Exercise Books for piano. My teacher had me do both hands on the Bassetti but there are lots of arpeggio exercises you can do with one hand. I have found it on line in pdf format, although I still have my original book. unfortunately I do not practice them often enough on either accordion or keys.