How To Make My Gig Better?

[noelekal]

I got me a gig.

A basic instruction gig. It pays a dab, though I didn't ask to be remunerated. I told them I was a happy volunteer. They treat me like a substitute teacher.

I've been intending to inquire of the Forum since I started last September, occasionally showing up at the local intermediate school at behest of an assistant band director. They are trying to interest the 4th and 5th graders in 6th grade band. The director and his two assistants run the various classes through a class period where they demonstrate the band instruments and talk up the band program. The band director remarked to an assistant that he wish he knew an accordionist and the assistant knows me so volunteered me.

I've been attending every six weeks period to lend an accordion voice to their efforts to introduce and encourage the students to participate in the school band program in future. I'm seeking ideas on how to present the accordion while supporting the local band program.

I get about 15 minutes to play and talk to the students. I've been starting out by playing a simple Irish jig or reel, or else a polka by way of warming up. Then I give a short history on the accordion, a really brief history of my childhood accordion beginnings (in an effort to relate). I move on to provide a very basic description of the reeds and mechanics of the accordion, demonstrate just how high and how low the accordion can get by way of the piccolo and bassoon shifts, offer a very basic description of the "mysteries" of the Stradella system and those base buttons, demonstrate the bass buttons by running through a scale, demonstrate the chord buttons, with perhaps a snatch of 12 bar boogie on the bass side, field questions, then close with a smokin' hot ragtime number, hoping to generate enthusiasm.

What else could y'all suggest to impart to kids of elementary/intermediate age? How would you arrange an accordion demonstration to such a group? It's been a long time since I was in elementary school though I was playing accordion way back then.

I've always been shy about public performance, but I seem to be fairly effective and pretty well received. I want to interest them in music and also "show the flag" for accordion, but don't wish to detract from the band program. After my first appearance last September one of the directors got up and asked if any students were interested in any of the instruments that had been demonstrated. He meant interest in the various brass and woodwind instruments that had been demonstrated, but a large number expressed interest in playing the accordion instead. So, in subsequent sessions I've tried to be a "commercial" for school band: focus on music and band in general terms, telling them that one can't march an accordion and they will love marching season, marching contest and the concert season as well as the music instruction provided by the instructors and the camaraderie that band engenders.

Truth is, I really can't say why I'm there or why they want me, but the directors are friendly and kind and the students are attentive and enthused, about music, band, and even the accordion.

I would be really grateful for any suggestions that the Forum could make on how to package a presentation.


My assistant director friend took this photo of me that first day I participated. They didn't have a decent seat for me so I had to sit on the edge of an office chair with arms that couldn't be removed so had to be tucked out of the way (sort of). I bring my own seat now.

 

[Tom]

That’s great!!!! Same thing I always suggest (based on your photo). Look at them and smile! Rather than fast and intricate, play some thing with an overly solid beat, see if you can get them clapping…. Just my 3 cents, you got it going on, good luck!

 

[Ventura]

sounds good so far

only thing i would suggest are a few hints to the kids
about the perks of being a Musician, particularly an acccordionist

like how it has bass, rhythm, comping and melody available
in one instrument you can take anywhere and works without batteries

like how you can make a buck doing gigs

or how people who like to dance will be so glad to see them

in other words, features AND benefits

 

[noelekal]

Thanks much Tom!

Hah! I probably ought to back off of playing a more complicated piece requiring sheet music and just go with the flow on something I can beat out from memory. It's possible that one hides behind his sheet music too much in a performance. Despite my crumbling memory I can do a more simple jig or polka without relying on sheet music.

I'm on for Tuesday and Wednesday morning this week so I'll practice smiling and faking relaxed while there.

 

[noelekal]

Good idea to put a bug in their ears about the monetary possibilities of being able to play instruments, Ventura. Today's kids likely relate to that.

 

[Mike t.]

I think you should somehow slip in a touch of “Chicken Dance” just see if anyone knows a yesterday tune, the kids that I’ve played around recently were amazed by the air button, I said, “Luke I am your father,” maybe show off its backup ability by accompanying a fiddle/flute player. Backup a simple song like Boil Them Cabbage Down, Wellerman song, all my grandkids knew/sing it. If you are up to it, play some walking twelve chord “In The Mood” to showcase the bass. Explain its a woodwind, you can add or subtract volume with the bellow pressure, different than a piano or guitar, you can sing while playing (I can’t walk and chew gum) last maybe it is one of the few instruments that changes shape as its being played. The kids in the old time fiddle group had a million questions and were all over me. First accordion they’ve seen. They loved it when they finished playing “Boil Them Cabbage Down” rip speed, I had to blow on my fingers to cool them down! The “HokeyPokey” that’s what it’s all about.

 

[Ffingers]

"...telling them that one can't march an accordion..." ???

"There are lies, damned lies and bloody statistics schoolteachers"

Have a look at these:-




and note the variety of 'squeezies', as well as the genders and ages of the players.

No specific requirement to be of Irish extraction, though

 

[Ffingers]

I have been noticing the liking that many pre-teens, as well as some older ones, have for melody and gentler rhythms such as those found in many older folk songs and even in some lullabies.
Used as an occasional break from more lively music it can really re-engage their short attention spans.

 

[Tom]

I have been noticing the liking that many pre-teens, as well as some older ones, have for melody and gentler rhythms such as those found in many older folk songs and even in some lullabies.
Used as an occasional break from more lively music it can really re-engage their short attention spans.

So true. When you play fun, gentle versions of “Smile” and “Eye Contact” you won’t be asked to play “Far, Far Away”. (Are we still on jokes?). Also lets them know you are not a beggar playing the same 4 notes over and over. Sorry, had to be said. It’s sad that people have to resort to such. I understand poverty and desperation but it does not behoove our beloved instrument. And the sheep don’t always know the difference. Sorry, rant over.

 

[JeffJetton]

Any way you can make it interactive should go over well. For example, you could talk about the difference between a jig and a reel, then play a couple of snippets of each without telling them which is which. Have them raise their right hands if they think it's a reel, or their left if they think it's a jig. And/or do the same with songs in major/minor keys and see if they can tell which one is "happy" vs. "sad". Or play a song they probably would know (e.g. a popular movie or TV show theme) and ask them if they recognize it.

And if you happen to have or can acquire an old "beater" accordion (doesn't even have to be playable) to bring along with your real one, here's something I usually do with my students on their first lesson and have also done at a kids' fair I was once hired to play at:

• Have the old accordion already ready to dismantle: Remove the bellows pins, grille screws, back plate screw, etc. Reed blocks can be barely held in and easy to pull out by hand.
• Take it apart in front of them. Bonus points if some of the reeds have fallen out, and you can pass them around for the kids to handle and take a look at.
• Show them how pressing a key opens up a particular "hole" that lets air flow in and out, and that the register switches help with that. (You can use a flashlight behind it to make the open hole easier to spot.)
• Let them see the bass mechanism.
• Take a reed block out and show them how they're like big harmonicas.
• The really fun part: With the reed block out, have some volunteers come down and try blowing air in some of its holes. It's probably not a good idea for them to use their mouths, so I bought one of those cheap manual air pumps you use for pool floats. You can have one kid do the squeezing while another kid puts the end of the hose up against different reed holes. Point out how the small reeds are high-pitched and the big ones low. You can also reverse the pump so that air is drawn out of the holes, and show them how it works that way too.
• Borrow a ruler from the teacher and do that thing where you hold part of it down on one end of the desk and flick the end that's poking out in order to make it go "sproooiiing". That's basically how reeds work! Demonstrate that, as you make the poking out part longer or shorter, it changes the pitch.

 

[noelekal]

I knew y'all would come through. Great suggestions!

Marching accordions!!!

A great clip! I heard several renditions of my high school song as well as "Anchors Aweigh."

Oh, my aching sternum!

After heart bypass surgery in late 2017 my doctor told me that they could not put the sternum back together as perfectly as the Lord had made me.

 

[murathan]

I ve made a presentation like this in a special talented kids school. These are special education facilities, selected kids learn things in better methods from highly educated teachers. That is a municipality service after school hours. Adding a Powerpoint presentation will widen your capabilities. Also doesnt need much effort after you made. I went the same way with you, just added how an accordion works. I talked first, then play. Then get questions.