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Along with October, May is one of the most densely packed months of the year. It's before the summer humidity and the last whole month of the school year. The weather is warming in t...
The solstice on the 20th marks the onset of summer (Northern Hemisphere) or winter (Southern Hemisphere). Many people, particularly in Europe, North America and Asia, will be embarking o...
Spring has sprung in the north, and the first hints of Autumn are on the horizon in the south. April is the month spring (or fall) gets underway, and it is filled with religious celebrations, including the Mu...
National Accordion Awareness Month was established in 1989 by Tom Torriglia to help spread the word about the resurgence in the accordion's popularity. At times referred to as a "squeeze box," the accordion has been around since 1822 and made its way to the New World with German immigrants in the 1880s. Most people are familiar with the accordion in polka, classical Italian, and Texano music. For these genres, it is a staple instrument. However, depending on who is playing it, it can sometimes be confused for a harpsichord, piano, or even a string section. The three videos below will allow you to listen to three very different-sounding accordions played by masters.
Accordion music has three main styles: diatonic, chromatic, and keyboard.
Diatonic accordions have one, two, or three rows of buttons.
Chromatic Accordions have buttons for keys.
Keyboard accordions have a piano keyboard on one side and buttons on the other.
Accordion enthusiasts include:
Lucy Liu—Actress "Elementary," "Ally McBeal," and "Charlie's Angeles"
Ross Perot—Presidential Candidate and Industrialist
James Stewart—Actor in "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"
Tony Lavelli—Basketball player for the Boston Celtics
John Smoltz—Baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves
Deborah Norville—Journalist, NBC Today Show
And since 1990, the piano accordion has been the official musical instrument of San Francisco, California.
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