2009-03-06 Music Time

Music Time - US School of Music (USSM) Home Study Course, Lesson 1 for Accordion Accordéon Acordeón Akkordeon Akordeon Harmonika Fisarmonica Acordeão Акордеон Аккордеон

Do not be concerned that I am using slightly different fingering on the bass buttons than what is recommended in the USSM course. There is nothing wrong with the USSM fingering, which specifies using the third (middle) finger to play the bass notes of major chords. You will do fine if you follow the USSM advice. You will discover in later lessons that the USSM then recommends using the fourth finger when playing the bass buttons of 7th chords. So in the USSM course both the third and fourth fingers do get trained. Many teachers recommend this same fingering. Most older method books, like the Sedlon series for example, recommend this same fingering as well. However, the Palmer Hughes course provides a choice of using either the third finger, like the USSM, or the fourth finger when playing the bass notes of major chords. Using the fourth finger is a more modern recommendation that is popular in Europe. So, I decided to follow the Palmer Hughes recommendation. This does not reduce the value of the USSM course for me. All it means is that I play the pieces of the USSM course using slightly different fingering. I still profit greatly by following the USSM course. As you will see, I intend to submit videos of all the practice pieces in both courses for as long as my limited talent allows. I am particularly fond of the extensive text explanations and more mature repertoire of the USSM course.

Note that fingering is a personal matter. Some method books make no recommendation at all, leaving it up to your teacher. But I have no teacher. I am self taught. So I must make the decision myself. In my case, my fourth finger is well trained because of my piano experience. So it is natural that I want to try the more modern fingering based on what I see advanced players using on YouTube. As I progress I may discover that the USSM fingering was better all along. If so, I feel confident that I will be able to switch back.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ACCORDION
• ACCORDÉON
• ACORDEÓN
• AKKORDEON
• AKORDEON
• HARMONIKA
• FISARMONICA
• ACORDEÃO
• АКОРДЕОН
• АККОРДЕОН

[myaccordionhistory]

@gunscratch - Hello and I am happy to hear that you are starting to learn accordion. I hope you find the example performances in this channel helpful in your own progress. Remember that I am not a teacher, but a student just like you. Knowing that you have joined me inspires me to progress further myself. Together we can all learn this wonderful instrument. I wish you success.

Leon

[gunscratch]

I've just started to teach myself PA and it's not easy! I have the USSM course but am also using Gary Dahl's "First Lessons Accordion" which I have found very useful but it does seem like I've been trying to get the first tune right for weeks now before I move on. I don't have your piano experience which seems to show in your first videos. I'm also learning melodeon which I find much more intuitive but I like the PA's versatility more. Thanks for sharing your progress - it gives me hope!