Hello from New Zealand!

[Grayson Masefield]

Hello Everyone,

I'm Grayson Masefield.  I'm a concert accordionist from New Zealand.  I'm a past multiple world champion in classical, virtuoso and digital categories with two masters in accordion, Specialised Solo Performance and Studio Pedagogy.  I am currently the tutor for accordion at the University of Auckland and the Vice-Chairman for the Music Committee of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA), organisers of the Coupe Mondiale competition.

I've joined the forum as I would like to continue research I have been making on accordion pedagogy and methods.

I have been browsing the teaching and learning subforum and I'd like to know more about member's experiences with learning the accordion.

I would like to invite members to have a short skype discussion with me, to discuss their experience with the accordion. Talking about how they've learnt, what resources they've used, what technical difficulties they have (musical or technical) and how they've overcome them.

In exchange for your time, I will offer a free half hour accordion lesson on Skype (I teach both piano and button systems, free bass and standard bass, and any genre).

Looking forward to hearing from and meeting the community!

Grayson

 

[JerryPH]

Hey Grayson, welcome to the forum.

I'm not really looking for lessons, but I am always up for a talk or discussion about the accordion and making new friends all around the world is always a lot of fun.

My background may be of some interest to you... started off at 4 years old, moved to other teachers that went with the standard Palmer Hughes stuff, fell in to the classical music world, moved to Free Bass accordion, spent a few years in the Royal Conservatory of Toronto around people like Glen Sawich and Joseph Macerollo, then just stopped for 35 years. Took it back up 3 years ago, and now for way different reasons and goals.

 

[saundersbp]

Hey Grayson, welcome to the forum.  

I'm not really looking for lessons, but I am always up for a talk or discussion about the accordion and making new friends all around the world is always a lot of fun.  

My background may be of some interest to you... started off at 4 years old, moved to other teachers that went with the standard Palmer Hughes stuff, fell in to the classical music world, moved to Free Bass accordion, spent a few years in the Royal Conservatory of Toronto around people like Glen Sawich and Joseph Macerollo, then just stopped for 35 years.  Took it back up 3 years ago, and now for way different reasons and goals.

I'm very happy chat if you'd like to Skype me as a new learner.

 

[Grayson Masefield]

Hey Grayson, welcome to the forum.  

I'm not really looking for lessons, but I am always up for a talk or discussion about the accordion and making new friends all around the world is always a lot of fun.  

My background may be of some interest to you... started off at 4 years old, moved to other teachers that went with the standard Palmer Hughes stuff, fell in to the classical music world, moved to Free Bass accordion, spent a few years in the Royal Conservatory of Toronto around people like Glen Sawich and Joseph Macerollo, then just stopped for 35 years.  Took it back up 3 years ago, and now for way different reasons and goals.

Thanks a lot!  I've sent your a pm!

 

[Eddy Yates]

Welcome, Grayson.
Thanks for the offer. May take you up on it in the New Year. All the best...

 

[Tom]

Welcome Grayson! I would do it. I am basically self taught, (took a few lessons) using books and internet resources, starting about age 50 or so. I play for and with friends and volunteer for seniors about 3 or 4 times a month.

 

[Deleted member 48]

Hello Grayson,

Welcome to the forum !
It's great to have members from the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes here.
I hope you can bring in some other members from your accordion organisation.
We always want to hear opinions from PA and CBA accordion professionals on accordion pedagogy, didactics, teaching methods, tutorials and methods in English.

kind regards,
Stephen

 

[Grayson Masefield]

Hey Grayson, welcome to the forum.  

I'm not really looking for lessons, but I am always up for a talk or discussion about the accordion and making new friends all around the world is always a lot of fun.  

My background may be of some interest to you... started off at 4 years old, moved to other teachers that went with the standard Palmer Hughes stuff, fell in to the classical music world, moved to Free Bass accordion, spent a few years in the Royal Conservatory of Toronto around people like Glen Sawich and Joseph Macerollo, then just stopped for 35 years.  Took it back up 3 years ago, and now for way different reasons and goals.

I'm very happy chat if you'd like to Skype me as a new learner.

Thanks so much for that discussion!

 

[Alans]

Hi Grayson,I have seen many of your performances on YouTube. You’re a master for sure.

---

Hi Grayson,just started listening to your baroque album,wonderful. You might want to talk with Michael Bridge who is currently doing his PhD in accordion performance at the University of Toronto. His dissertation topic is the teaching methods of Joseph Maccerollo,one of the top teachers in the world and Michaels teacher.
I would gladly speak with you but I don’t require a free lesson as I’m already studying with someone.

Alan

 

[Tom]

Update. I spoke with Grayson and even as a concert champion he is very down to earth and easy to talk to. He is genuinely interested in the learning process and still seeking accordionists to talk to about his method book project. You will not regret contacting him as the opportunity for a half hour lesson from someone of his caliber will be worth its weight in gold. Even for an amateur like me he was able to quickly point out and suggest how to improve my phrasing and bass playing.
Highly recommended!

 

[JerryPH]

I also had the chance to finally speak to him. This Sunday we were in the middle of a power outage. There was no power anywhere within a 50-60 kilometer range due to a big ice storm that tore power lines down and generally was making life miserable for us. Just to tell you all how good he is, the very same second I received a WhatsApp call from him, our power came back... yes, he is just that good... lol

Now, initially I did not want a lesson, but we did end up talking about note bending (for some reason... lol) and it was an interesting experience to have, I found it genuinely enjoyable. Grayson is definitely... I don't want to say down to earth, though he is, but he is genuine, open and very friendly, definitely a nice guy. In the end, I think we talked more about me than what he was looking for, and I will likely formulate some thoughts concerning the things that he was looking for and just send an email this coming weekend.

One thing... you can definitely tell he is from New Zealand, the accent is there in full force... lol.

Grayson, it was a pleasure!

 

[Grayson Masefield]

Thanks for the kinds words Tom & Jerry! It was a lot of fun and very interesting to hear from you!

If anyone else is still interested, please reply to this thread or PM.