The fine "accordion as a career" thread leads naturally to a discussion of goals of playing accordion, and of the people on this board, specifically.
Ok, I'll start with some background. My story is probably similar to a lot of yours. I worked hard all my life at jobs I did not particularly like, or was particularly suited for. I ended up with a solid middle class retirement, with the ability to afford a decent accordion and the exorbitant US health care costs. I don't need to or care about making money with my music.
I wanted to play instruments always, played in several amateur bands and spent the past few years playing guitar, accordion and singing at senior, Alzheimer's and other community events, which I enjoyed greatly, and saw as a way to contribute back to my community. I'm not particularly talented, but learned to listen to the audience and entertain them.
Which brings me, finally, to my goals.
1. To improve my technique on the accordion, by perfecting my accuracy, chording, fills, improvisation and overall musicality.
2. To build a repertoire, by memory and/or reading that allows me to play a two hour set at different venues, without playing the same songs each time.
3. To get back to playing somewhere regularly (after covid), say 4 or 5 times a month.
4. To broaden the types of venues and styles that I play, for example, being able to do a background, improvising jazz set at a restaurant, art opening or coffee house.
5. Start another accordion club in my new location, to meet and play with other accordionists.
So, there you have it. What about you? What are your goals for our beloved instrument? You know you have them, confessing will make them real, like the man says, "visualize, and you will achieve."
Ok, I'll start with some background. My story is probably similar to a lot of yours. I worked hard all my life at jobs I did not particularly like, or was particularly suited for. I ended up with a solid middle class retirement, with the ability to afford a decent accordion and the exorbitant US health care costs. I don't need to or care about making money with my music.
I wanted to play instruments always, played in several amateur bands and spent the past few years playing guitar, accordion and singing at senior, Alzheimer's and other community events, which I enjoyed greatly, and saw as a way to contribute back to my community. I'm not particularly talented, but learned to listen to the audience and entertain them.
Which brings me, finally, to my goals.
1. To improve my technique on the accordion, by perfecting my accuracy, chording, fills, improvisation and overall musicality.
2. To build a repertoire, by memory and/or reading that allows me to play a two hour set at different venues, without playing the same songs each time.
3. To get back to playing somewhere regularly (after covid), say 4 or 5 times a month.
4. To broaden the types of venues and styles that I play, for example, being able to do a background, improvising jazz set at a restaurant, art opening or coffee house.
5. Start another accordion club in my new location, to meet and play with other accordionists.
So, there you have it. What about you? What are your goals for our beloved instrument? You know you have them, confessing will make them real, like the man says, "visualize, and you will achieve."
