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Hello
Everybody,
I recently saw some discussion about the popularity and the future of the accordion. Being a college student and part of the "younger crowd" of accordion players I'd like to offer my point of view
I
am a first generation
American, my parents being
from the Czech Republic
where the Accordion
is immensely popular and by
my perception more
widespread. When I
was six years old they asked
me "Tom, would you like
to
learn to play the
accordion?" I hardly
knew what the accordion was
let
alone
how one was played
but I thought "sure
what the heck."
I
took lessons every Monday
and attended band rehearsals
(accordions and drums only)
for about eleven years, with
annual competitions every
summer. I went
through four
different accordions over
the years as I outgrew
them--until I was ready for the 120 bass.
When
my elementary schoolmates
found out that I played the
accordion I was
an
instant
"geek." I
played for the school a few
times but after many scoffs
and
giggles I decided at
an early age that the
accordion was unpopular and
reserved for nerds.
It seems the biggest reason most kids felt this way was because of the Steve Urkel comedy TV show; with the super-dork "Steve Urkel" obnoxiously and violently "playing" the accordion. When I told kids I played the accordion they would say "like Steve Urkel?!" For many years I felt the super-dork image had been branded on me and therefore felt ashamed to play publicly.
I am 20 years old now and took off for college last year. Naturally I brought the accordion with me, hoping to quietly play in the dorm without arousing too many obnoxious comments. Odd thing was, I started getting wide-eyed people at my door requesting me to play! With much prodding of me on their part I mustered the courage to play for several friends.
In short: They were amazed. Not one had seen a live accordion in their lives until now. Somehow they were now open-minded enough to dispel the "Steve Urkel" stereotype and listen (jaws dropped and all).
Watching me feed air to the accordion, play bass and play the keyboard all at the same time was to them like trying to run, write and eat a hamburger simultaneously. Its the classic "rub your tummy and pat your head at the same time" analogy.
Nevertheless, the college kids that heard me play that night now have a profound respect for the accordion and they enjoy it immensely. One described it as the most "soothing" music he's ever heard.
As more and more young people are exposed to the accordion in the United States, the more their "Urkel" stereotypes and preconceptions will fade. I believe that the popularity of the accordion in the US is on the upswing and could eventually rival its popularity in Europe and in other parts of the world as long as those sweet accordion notes keep coming to their ears.
Thanks
for hearing me out...and
never stop squeezing!
-Tom-