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Correct techique for playing a heavy accordion

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Johnathan

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I am learning to play a C system CBA and up to now have played nothing heavier than about 11kg. However recently I have acquired a beautiful convertor accordion that weighs about 16kg. The weight is very manageable on the whole as the accordion seems well balanced. However handling the bass side is proving interesting.

The extra weight of the bass side, compared to my other accordions, means I need to review my bellows technique. Up till now I have moved the bass side to close the bellows purely with the strength of my left arm. Trying to do this with my heavier accordion results in shoulder fatigue and poor finger action on the bass buttons due to the tension in my left arm. I have started leaning a little as I move the bellows, to the left on opening and to the right on closing, to engage gravity to assist me and reduce the work my left arm has to do. It is early days yet but It feels like it might be the right thing to do. It seems that I am having to learn to work with my accordion rather than trying to dominate it. I think that this can only lead to an improvement in my technique.

I am slightly built so brute power is not going to be the solution for me. Any ideas on how best to work with a heavy accordion would be welcome. I should add that i always play sitting down with most of the weight of the accordion resting on my left leg.
 
You might try to find videos if accordionists of small stature and observe their technique in performing with a full size accordion --
 
I don't know a 'technique' but I'll suggest it'll get better over time - some of the discomfort is it not being what you're used to. Stop & rest when you feel a bit sore. Don't try to continue and get injuries or you'll be laid off it. You''ll grow stronger, this way too.
Other than that good wide straps with a back strap.. as you can see in Jim's links. And then the rest is working out what's best for you. Sitting? Adjust straps to allow it to rest on your thigh may help, too. Good luck, I wouldn't fancy 16kgs either.
 
Hi Johnathan.
I had and still have these type of issues with my largest accordion (Accordiola Piano V). It is a bit over 14kg and is a 5 voice instrument with cassotto hence also a bit bulky. It took me a while to get used to the best sitting position which sounds very much like yours. Resting on the left leg is important with this size instrument I believe. I also decided that fairly tight straps gave a more accurate feel. The Idea of the Instrument flapping about made my bass technique very sloppy so I made sure the body of the instrument was firm against my chest. It does mean sitting up with a straight back but that's no bad thing in the long run.
 
There are two different techniques on the youtube vids suggested by Jim. On the first one the lady playing the beltuna is more or less keeping the bottom near closed and playing the bellows in a 'fan' shape hinged at the bottom whilst in the 2nd video the bellows are lifted on the 'in' presumably to use gravity to help the closure

I find the 'fan' easiest with a big box particularly if played with the bellows relatively tight. On a piano box there is absolutely no need to open the bellows wide although some like to do this for ''show''. A friend of mine , a top class player with a large excelsior box changed to keeping the bellwos within 12 inches of closed and fan shaped following a shoulder injury and it made absolutely no difference to the quality of his playing when compared to his previous more flamboyant bellowing! It did make it less painful

george
 
I have found many accordionists with improper or no training , fail to operate the bellows properly. Improper bellows habits will always require more effort and result in muscle fatigue. When operating the bellows of any model of accordion you should take advantage of the natural force of gravity to assist you. As George has mentioned opening the top of the bellows like a fan takes less effort as gravity will assist by pulling the bellows downward. When closing the bellows raise the bottom of the bass machine to reverse the fan and the force of gravity will also give assistance in closing. See here a Lady of small stature using the bellows properly --
 
Definitely agree about keeping the bellows in a 'V' shape. I feel like I have much more control over the accordion, and it gives my left forearm some support. At first, it might be easier to close the bottom strap (alhough, there's no shame in leavin it closed if it works for you).

Besides, I'm a bit obsessive with tidy bellows control. Each to their own, but I am silently judging ;)
 
when teaching the British Chromatic system I often advise practicing with the bottom bellows strap closede to help develop the essential discipline of not waving the bellows about in the wind!. It can help with a piano box but just playing fan shaped will be fine

george
 
JIM D. said:
You might try to find videos if accordionists of small stature and observe their technique in performing with a full size accordion --
Click to expand...



That has to be the best accordion playing I have ever seen/heard.. Absolutely awesome. .Thanks so much for posting this.. I just happened to come across this post.. Spectacular.. Amazing what a little girl can do ,, huh !!!

3 post back is same lady.. I see she pretty much plays 2 beats out with the bellows and 2 beats in.. Not always but mostly sticks to that. I have been learning the same. Have tried other ways but that seems to work best Give it a go..

Johnnie
 
Well I have now had my ZeroSette Bayan for about 3 and half months. Its something of a monster and I love it!
I thought that anyone else facing the challenge of playing a heavy instrument might find the learning experience I have gone through informative, perhaps helpful.

The weight of the accordion has lead me to do a lot of research and a fair bit of trial and error in order to establish an efficient playing position in which I can play the instrument for periods of an hour or more whilst remaining comfortable. It has also lead me to challenge some of the advice given in some of the responses to my original post. That is not to say that I think that any of the advice given was in any way in error. There just seems to be more than one way to tackle the challenges that are posed by a heavy accordion.

One pointer for me was a passage I discovered in Complete method theoretical-practical progressive for Accordion by L O Anzaghi in which he states

It is essential, moreover, to see to it that the Accordion is not supported by the shoulders by means of the straps, a harmful system which brings greater fatigue and which renders the necessary freedom of movement impossible. To eliminate such a mistake, it would be as well to extend the straps so as to permit the weight of the instrument to be supported by the legs, on which it should rest. In other words, the straps should simply serve to prevent the instrument from falling.

This reminded me of an interview I had read a few years ago in the Stoke on Trent Accordion Club Magazine in which Oleg Sharov had, if I recall correctly, commented on keeping the straps loose. So I went looking through YouTube to see what I could find.

I found the following youtube videos informative.

Cathie Travers video (thanks to Shelia Lees wonderful blog for pointing me to this video)
- she is playing standing up, which may be less useful for a heavy accordion but the details about left arm positioning I found very helpful

Oleg Sharov video
and
John Leslie video
both showing loose straps, weight carried on the leg and a slight backward leaning of the accordion.

So now I play sitting down, with loose straps and the weight of the accordion on my left leg. I find that turning the left foot out slightly, rather than pointing if forwards also helps to prevent the accordion weight deaden my leg. I find that playing with the accordion leaning back slightly into my chest helps to reduce movement of the accordion, makes it easier to select a coupler and makes the chin switches more accessible. It also encourages the bellows, as they extend, to describe an arc that matches the arc my wrist follows as the left forearm pivots out from the elbow. Limiting how far I extend the bellows before changing direction also helps to reduce the load on my left arm as the left elbow can stay against my left side thus reducing the length of the lever.

I had always thought that playing a large heavy accordion would be to much for me. I loved the sounds they can produce, but thought I would have to limit myself to a smaller instrument. I have been lucky to have this chance to experiment and now can look forward to growing my playing ability motivated by such a beautiful instrument.
 
I agree whole heartedly that a large accordion must be supported on the left leg the straps help stop it falling forward and moving too easily side to side. I have my straps such that if I really strain and sit bolt upright the weight is slightly taken off my leg.
 
I play a lot on my Hohner Morino Artiste XS. This instrument weighs in at a whopping 18kg. I initially had problems managing the weight but it really is a matter of technique: the straps need to be rather "firm" so you can really sit upright, instrument almost perfectly vertical (weight rests flat on my left leg, not with a corner). A lot of accordion players use there instrument at an angle because otherwise they cannot see the keyboard. This is bad. Looking at the keyboard is something that should never be needed. Once you get to know your instruments you know where which key is and trust me, the keys do not move, they always stay in the same place so there should never be a need to look at the keyboard to find the keys. When you keep the instrument firmly in your grip and upright that solves at least half of the problem. Then there is the proper bellows technique (as demonstrated in some of the posted videos) and you need to resist the urge to ever play a heavy instrument while standing. A good friend of mine could not play for three months after playing on a Hohner Gola while standing, for well over an hour (probably more like two hours if I recall correctly).
I did end up getting a smaller and lighter instrument (Bugari 505 ARS) which does not have a converter and is only just over 12kg. I can play that all day long but I am preferring the sound of the Hohner more and more.
 
A good video about correct bellows technique for heavy accordion

Look how Toos let cravity naturally pull the bellows she even tilt whole accordion when pushing bellows inward. My Accordiola Jazzmaster is very heavy instrument with 5 voice and double cassotto but with this technique that Toos uses it is actually very easy to play and instrument feels quite light. Her straps I think isnt very tight also her instrument can move quite freely. Look also that one how loose Cees instrument is when he sits. Actually strap settings for CBA and PA are maybe entirely different I havent played PA very long time but I remember tight straps.
 
thank you....what a wonderful player.... i never knew of Toos before.....beautiful..
 
I've been playing heavy accordions since the 70's. I am a very small woman. I keep my accordions strapped tightly to my body - I am now using a back strap, for the first time since I was a small child, since it came with my FR-8X. If the accordion is not strapped tightly to me I seem to lose a lot of the emotion that is transmitted from my body and through the accordion. I cannot see my keyboard unless I crane my neck awkwardly to the right, very rarely do I need to look at my keyboard though. If I sit with my back straight the accordion is slightly above my left leg, when I'm tired I will sometimes let it rest on my leg. I play sitting only - I can stroll for a few songs, but that requires memorization which I don't prefer.

I only watched a portion of the video of Toos - she has the accordion sitting upright on her leg - I would not be able to play most of my songs with my accordion in this position. I play a lot of fast songs, boogies, etc. I would have no control over the accordion in this position.

Brandy
 
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