All About the Accordion
The accordion came to be in the 1800s in Europe, influenced by older Chinese instruments like the Sheng, the Mouth Organ, and the Bawu.
And because amplification had not been discovered yet, its loud music made this instrument a favourite in dance music.
Over the next 223 years, the accordion evolved and played a significant role in the development of modern music like folk, classical, jazz and tango.
So in this article, you will learn what an accordion is, its types, how to play it, its benefits and even famous musicians that have used this reed organ to create amazing music.
What Is an Accordion?
An accordion is a musical instrument that belongs to the family of free-reed aerophones.
Free-reed aerophones use pressure to produce sound when air flows past vibrating free reeds– small, thin strips of metal or plastic–in a frame.
Squeezing the bellows using pressure enables you to create a wide range of sounds using the accordion. This is why it is commonly used in a variety of musical genres like folk, classical, and jazz.
Some of the famous songs that have used the accordion include:
"We Can Work It Out" by The Beatles (1965)
"God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys (1966)
"4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" by Bruce Springsteen (1973)
"On a Night Like This" by Bob Dylan (1974)
"Like a Virgin" by Madonna (1984)
"You and I" by Lady Gaga (2011)
Types of Accordion
Accordions come in various types.
However, button and piano accordions are the most common and here are their differences shown in the table below:
Benefits of Playing the Accordion
The accordion doesn't only let you create music. You also enjoy several benefits such as:
You improve your brain functions, mostly cognitive activities because playing the accordion is a multitasking activity. You read the music sheet while you squeeze the bellows with your hands. This improves your concentration, focus, problem-solving ability and productivity.
It relieves stress since when you are playing the accordion it provides a calming effect. It also triggers the brain to release endorphins, mood boosters that make you feel happy and relaxed.
Help boost your confidence. As you play the accordion in front of your friends or relatives or a music school like NUVO Music School, it will improve your self-esteem and boost your self-confidence.
You'll grow more patient as you learn to play the accordion, which takes hours and hours of practice that accumulates into years before you can perfect the skill and rock it like Lady Gaga. And in a world where our concentration span is reducing to seconds, so is our patience.
Therefore the next time you are feeling low and do not want to go for a long jog or indulge in guilty pleasures like eating lots of chocolate, grab an accordion, and create some music.
As you create the music, you will also be soothing your soul and triggering endorphins that give you a high rush of calmness and joy.
Learn How to Play the Accordion with NUVO Music School
To learn the parts and functions of the accordion, you can check our blog Accordion: Beginner's Guide to Parts and Functions.
If you are looking to play the accordion like Bruce Springsteen, you need to work hard to perfect the skill.
But before then, you need skilled instructors to show you the way ahead.
NUVO Music School has experienced and qualified accordion instructors.
We also ensure you enjoy diverse styles of accordion playing at your own pace so that you can use the instrument in any genre of music.
Then, as we tutor you, we provide feedback to help you track your progress.
Additionally, you get the opportunity to network with fellow accordion enthusiasts or students learning to play any other type of musical instrument.
This helps lay a strong foundation for you as you find it easier to navigate the music industry when you have a couple of people that can hold your hand when need be.
Visit our music school and let us teach you how to play and perfect the accordion so that you can be able to create entertaining music.