How Western Media Portrays the Accordion

[AccordionJustice]

These two clips are pretty disheartening in my opinion. I'm aware that these big talent shows are scripted, but that's no excuse for sticking to age old stereotypes in their portrayal of the accordion and accordionists. You know what would have really wowed the (totally not fake) audience, instead of the usual dance/flashy costume routine? Maybe going on stage and actually playing a serious piece of music from start to finish, no gimmicks! But that's not the type of person AGT is actively seeking out.

 

[Ffingers]

Do you actually watch this trashy stuff?
Even though some real talent is sometimes presented- or so I haVe been told - my brief encounters when channel surfing have encouraged me to avoid them.

 

[Jim2010]

Stereotyping happens everywhere.

 

[saundersbp]

It's not all bad: the classical accordion made it to BBC Last Night of the Proms as a solo instrument not so long ago and regularly appears on BBC Radio 3 and above all on France Musique Radio. Some great shows well worth a listen.

I'll be controversial and say a fair bit of the blame lies with accordionists themselves playing music that doesn't really resonate with the general public in 2022 but that grandad liked (and of course there is nothing wrong with that!). But it doesn't all need to be like that, and looking at the direction things are going in Europe at least there is a huge amount to be positive about.

 

[Alan Sharkis]

That’s one funny video! Thanks.

 

[losthobos]

If people stopped feeling the need to dress like dorks just because they play accordion then perhaps the public might perhaps stop treating them like dorks .......

 

[AccordionJustice]

Do you actually watch this trashy stuff?
Even though some real talent is sometimes presented- or so I haVe been told - my brief encounters when channel surfing have encouraged me to avoid them.

No. I don't watch this, but certain family members do. I have no idea what they see in it.

 

[AccordionJustice]

If people stopped feeling the need to dress like dorks just because they play accordion then perhaps the public might perhaps stop treating them like dorks .......

Words to live by.

 

[Walker]

The accordion is nearly ready...

Many classical instruments are never accepted into the world of folk or popular music and many popular or folk instruments are never accepted into the world of classical music. The guitar is a champion example that has successfully spanned these worlds and more.

The accordion, well it's still in the waiting room ready to be called forward. It is at home in folk music but it's really a bit uncomfortable with the way popular music has gone, as it's no longer a star - it usually get the novelty role these days. The accordion does not like being a joker, it wants to be a classical instrument, and you know, I think it's next on the list.

 

[Alan Sharkis]

Sometimes I hear that accordions are making a comeback, and I wonder, “Come back from what?” From overexposure in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s; Dick Contino on The Ed Sullivan show, for example? Come back from Lawrence Welk (I’m paraphrasing here) who didn’t cause the demise of accordion popularity in the US but didn’t help, either? Come back from competing against guitars?

There have been attempts to portray accordions as instruments that can fit into any genre of music, but, I believe, these attempts were never sustained long enough to get the US public to accept that concept. Documentaries were made with that concept in mind, but they were watched mainly by accordionists.

At this time, I have only one solution in mind: whatever genre of music you play, get out there and play! Play for money, play for free, but play because you love it!

I haven’t played for some months now. I’m going in for a left hip replacement tomorrow. After my rehab, which may take some time, I’m going to attempt to play again. If I don’t get too discouraged, I’ll continue to play. But if I can’t get back on track, you can be sure that my accordions will go to somebody who will play them!

 

[Ventura]

best of luck with the operation and recovery

 

[losthobos]

I'm a lazy critter these days who loves my garden best but should I pick out a gig to play then I do it properly...
That means dressing as slick as a Harlem pimp and walking like I'm on a red carpet...playing with the confidence of a teenager in love and acting like the next venue couldn't afford to book me....
I can't actually play the accordion and stay away from cheesy singalongs and polkafests and Ompahpah...so I hamfist my way through the unexpected....
And generally come out winning...
Hit em with style over substance and Joe Public thinks they've seen a great accordionist and not Morris the Squeezyboxer....
I'll admit I do pick my venues wisely and if I think I'll enjoy my garden more I stay home....
Don't resort to clowning to cover your arse at a gig....Play the dude instead...
Short and sweet is good too....I don't even know any accordionists who wanna listen to an hour an a half of tooth enamel melting musette...

 

[Tom]

Good points Alan, and best of luck. Seems popular culture (only) wants extremes. I wear regular clothes, act normal. Ok, sometimes I do wear a hat and play polkas. Imagine how much your song choices were because of your instrument. 10 to 1 you wouldn't play any polkas if you picked Flying V. Something to think about.

 

[Walker]

Even though I have always believed myself to be simply a traditional/folk musician with no conservatoire background I can see the way things are moving in Europe and I believe the standard of accordion playing is going through the roof here because the accordion is seen as an instrument worthy of studying at degree level, especially in the classical genre. I notice ever more excellent accordionists and when they play with sensitivity and musicality (as they often do) they show how impressive an instrument the accordion can be. But the accordion is also flourishing in traditional folk music too and there are degree studies available in Scotland and England in the folk genre. To me that opening is what gives students the focus and confidence to strive for excellence. Ultimately when accordionists have the thirst to reach the heights that are considered normal for students of piano or violin, then they will be taken seriously by their fellow musicians in other settings previously out of limits for accordionists. The public (who are open to the possibilities of the accordion) will eventually catch on.​

 

[Alan Sharkis]

best of luck with the operation and recovery

Thanks!

 

[Alan Sharkis]

Good points Alan, and best of luck. Seems popular culture (only) wants extremes. I wear regular clothes, act normal. Ok, sometimes I do wear a hat and play polkas. Imagine how much your song choices were because of your instrument. 10 to 1 you wouldn't play any polkas if you picked Flying V. Something to think about.

Thanks. Actually, I played a loot of klezmer, Israeli stuff, Yiddish folk and theater, and American pop when I was with my little amateur band. There were five of is. Three of the guys are gone, the guitarist has Parkinson’s, and I’m an orthopedic mess, but willing to try again._

 

[Alan Sharkis]

Even though I have always believed myself to be simply a traditional/folk musician with no conservatoire background I can see the way things are moving in Europe and I believe the standard of accordion playing is going through the roof here because the accordion is seen as an instrument worth of studying at degree level, especially in the classical genre. I notice ever more excellent accordionists and when they play with sensitivity and musicality (as they often do) they show how impressive an instrument the accordion can be. But the accordion is also flourishing in traditional folk music too and there are degree studies available in Scotland and England in the folk genre. To me that opening is what gives students the focus and confidence to strive for excellence. Ultimately when accordionists have the thirst to reach the heights that are considered normal for students of piano or violin, then they will be taken seriously by their fellow musicians in other settings previously out of limits for accordionists. The public (who are open to the possibilities of the accordion) will eventually catch on.​

The US is very different. We have a few classical players, and most jazz accordionists have studied the classics before switching to jazz. There are several regional accordion folk traditions and their players use mostly diatonic boxes of one sort or another. We did have one university with a doctoral program in accordion performance, but that’s gone.. If I’m not mistaken, Canada, our neighbor to the north has or had such a program. Young people in the US are impressed when you tell them you play accordion, but few take it up unless they attend or have attended one of the few elementary schools that have accordion bands.

 

[John M]

. . . I’m going in for a left hip replacement tomorrow. After my rehab, which may take some time, I’m going to attempt to play again. If I don’t get too discouraged, I’ll continue to play. . .

Hi Alan,

You will continue to play -- Your hip replacement will be something you wish you had done a long time ago. I had both my hips replaced 5 years ago (4 months apart). Best thing I ever did. I would be totally disabled in a nursing home today if I hadn't had them replaced. It was like a "new lease on life" for me. I am outside every day. I can do everything I did 20 years ago. You will have some mild pain for a week or so. Total recovery was about 6 weeks for me.

John M.

 

[AccordionUprising]

The US is very different. We have a few classical players, and most jazz accordionists have studied the classics before switching to jazz. There are several regional accordion folk traditions and their players use mostly diatonic boxes of one sort or another. We did have one university with a doctoral program in accordion performance, but that’s gone.. If I’m not mistaken, Canada, our neighbor to the north has or had such a program. Young people in the US are impressed when you tell them you play accordion, but few take it up unless they attend or have attended one of the few elementary schools that have accordion bands.

Comparing the comment from @Walker above. One difference between Europe and the States (and similarly in Anglo Canada), is educational possibilities. In the absence of mass popularity, places with great traditions are often supported by state and other funding. The US has pretty minimal arts and public education seems much lower than many places. Without that kind of support it's harder for young musicians to survive and stick with an instrument. If we had thriving public music education programs all over the US, there'd probably be a few with accordion majors.

 

[CC_PDX]

I feel I am on a lonely quest to rehabilitate the instrument one person at a time. Everywhere I play, I always get curious musicians and non-musicians asking so many questions. I’ve thought about printing up a FAQ sheet to have handy. It doesn’t matter if it is a folk/roots/country/classical/indie/rock/Latin audience or musicians—they are all fascinated by the sounds and possibilities and it is SO gratifying when the light bulb goes off in their heads about the limitless possibilities of this “weird” magical box.