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Accordion for Beginners

A Course for those looking to start learning this wonderful instrument

The Accordion for Beginners course is for the absolute novice player, who is looking to start out on the accordion learning in the Scottish style.

Time is spent at the beginning learning about posture and the instrument including its bellows.

Next, focus is on the each hand independently before bringing everything together.

Downloadable music or diagrams are available for each stage

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Course Intro

John Somerville

Your Tutor - John Somerville

Accordionist John Somerville is one of the current crop of exciting musicians to emerge form Scotland’s vibrant Folk scene. His current musical itinerary includes playing with supergroup Treacherous Orchestra, Cask Strength Ceilidh Band and along with outstanding fiddler Adam Sutherland. He has also worked with David Byrne, Salsa Celtica, Franz Ferdinand, Session A9, Babelfish and Croft No Five. He has taught at organisations including the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Fèisean Nan Gàidheal, University of the Highlands and Islands, Falkirk Traditional Music Project and Celtic Connections festival.

Lessons in Series

Click on a lesson to be taken to it (you must be a subscriber)

John Somerville Accordion
Accordion

Lesson 1. The Instrument

John begins his course for accordion by introducing us to the instrument, discussing posture and the bellows along the way.   This Post is only available to subscribed members. Login

Accordion player
Accordion

Lesson 2a. Right Hand Technique

John moves on to looking at some basic music, the first 5 notes and simple melodies using the right hand.   This Post is only available to subscribed members. Login

Accordion and concertina
Accordion

Lesson 2b. Right Hand Technique

John continues looking at some basic music, the first 5 notes and simple melodies using the right hand.   This Post is only available to subscribed members. Login

Red Accordion
Accordion

Lesson 3a. Left Hand Technique

John next looks at the Left Hand by covering the bass buttons and chords before combining both hands for the first time whilst teaching Major MacKenzie that was looked at in a

Man playing accordion
Accordion

Lesson 3b. Left Hand Technique

John next looks at the Left Hand by covering the bass buttons and chords before combining both hands for the first time whilst teaching Major MacKenzie and Fairy Lullaby that were looked

Accordion
Accordion

Lesson 4a. Bringing Everything Together

John brings together everything we have covered up till now before learning Lovely Stornoway and culminating in learning the Reel “Oh, I am a Poor Man”.   This Post is only available

Accordion
Accordion

Lesson 4b. Bringing Everything Together

John brings together everything we have covered up till now before learning Lovely Stornoway and culminating in learning the Reel “Oh, I am a Poor Man”.   This Post is only available

Accordion keyboard
Accordion

Lesson 5a. Aitken Drum

John completes his course for beginners by looking at two tunes in 4/4, Aitken Drum and I Bhi Ata.   This Post is only available to subscribed members. Login

John Somerville Accordion
Accordion

Lesson 5b. I Bhi Ada

John completes his course for beginners by looking at two tunes in 4/4, Aitken Drum and I Bhi Ata.   This Post is only available to subscribed members. Login

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