Leaving Paris and reluctantly parting with my rented Hohner Bravo

[cestjeffici]

Leaving Paris tomorrow morning after 7 weeks. I rented a Hohner Bravo III PA and managed to play it an average of 45 minutes.a day. It is the third time I’ve rented this particular accordion. I love the way it sounds so much that I bought one last year but it was new and sounds nothing like the one I rented.

I’ve been following the practice methods from Molly Gebrain’s book “Learn Faster” Using her techniques I have memorized 5 songs in 7 weeks. A miracle for me! I’ve not been able to memorize music AT ALL for 60 years. By taking the difficult passages from the songs of 2 or 4 bars or maybe a phrase from each song and getting them perfect 5 times in a row in random order before trying to put them together into a song a little miracle happened. The easy parts came easy and the hard parts were now also easy parts. I wasn’t even trying to memorize them, it just happened!

Another aspect of my 7 week stay was playing on only one accordion. At home I’ve been rotating through an FR4, an FR8, a Scandalli CBA, and a Hohner 40-FS PA. I’m going to have to rethink that.

 

[Tom]

Leaving Paris tomorrow morning after 7 weeks. I rented a Hohner Bravo III PA and managed to play it an average of 45 minutes.a day. It is the third time I’ve rented this particular accordion. I love the way it sounds so much that I bought one last year but it was new and sounds nothing like the one I rented.

I’ve been following the practice methods from Molly Gebrain’s book “Learn Faster” Using her techniques I have memorized 5 songs in 7 weeks. A miracle for me! I’ve not been able to memorize music AT ALL for 60 years. By taking the difficult passages from the songs of 2 or 4 bars or maybe a phrase from each song and getting them perfect 5 times in a row in random order before trying to put them together into a song a little miracle happened. The easy parts came easy and the hard parts were now also easy parts. I wasn’t even trying to memorize them, it just happened!

Another aspect of my 7 week stay was playing on only one accordion. At home I’ve been rotating through an FR4, an FR8, a Scandalli CBA, and a Hohner 40-FS PA. I’m going to have to rethink that.

This is very interesting, thanks Jeff. Do you think the rented Bravo was of an older manufacturing style with better reeds, setup, etc.? I want to learn more about that book and technique you mention. Sounds like a real revelation for you.

 

[JeffJetton]

Ain't it funny how well deliberate practice works? Actually practicing rather than just "playing"?

One of my first accordions was a Hohner Bravo III, 72-bass. I still use it for strolling gigs now and then. I'm not so sure they're worth the price nowadays (especially if, as you hinted, the quality is different), but at the time I bought mine they were going for half what they are now, and it was a solid buy!

 

[ColoRodney]

Have you asked them if they'll sell the Hohner you've been renting? (Or trade it for your much newer one!)

 

[JerryPH]

Leaving Paris tomorrow morning after 7 weeks. I rented a Hohner Bravo III PA and managed to play it an average of 45 minutes.a day. It is the third time I’ve rented this particular accordion. I love the way it sounds so much that I bought one last year but it was new and sounds nothing like the one I rented.

Did you possibly buy a newer China made one vs an older German made model?

I’ve been following the practice methods from Molly Gebrain’s book “Learn Faster” Using her techniques I have memorized 5 songs in 7 weeks. A miracle for me! I’ve not been able to memorize music AT ALL for 60 years.

Well, I've managed to read through the first 200 pages of that book while on my week in Prague and it is VERY intriguing! I am just now starting the portion of the book related to memorization and there are a couple things that are road-blocking me. I may need to complete the book and then create the process in SHORT FORM to follow what it offers.

By taking the difficult passages from the songs of 2 or 4 bars or maybe a phrase from each song and getting them perfect 5 times in a row in random order before trying to put them together into a song a little miracle happened. The easy parts came easy and the hard parts were now also easy parts. I wasn’t even trying to memorize them, it just happened!

Fascinating, I kind of look forward to starting that process soon... but they also ask to START a NEW piece by selecting the hardest portions of it, working them until you can go 5 times without errors then move to the next section and so on... once all the hard parts are done, then start to assemble the song. Is that what you are doing?

Another aspect of my 7 week stay was playing on only one accordion. At home I’ve been rotating through an FR4, an FR8, a Scandalli CBA, and a Hohner 40-FS PA. I’m going to have to rethink that.

A lot of that will be player dependent. For me, PA keyboard is a PA keyboard with MAYBE a short interval where I get used to size changes so it won't be as big a thing for me... I also have specific songs that I play on selected accordions, I am sure that helps... but for example, I *should* play songs on my larger Free Bass models that I play on the standard sizes accordions.

Again, I do not foresee any challenges there, but I look forward to completing the book and creating my synopsis of the process and following it to see how it works. I am going to need this synopsis as my learning methodology is deeply ingrained in me, and this is different enough to just screw me up... lol

I really look forward to seeing how the memorization aspect works for me, and again, thanks for bringing those books up!

 

[cestjeffici]

This is very interesting, thanks Jeff. Do you think the rented Bravo was of an older manufacturing style with better reeds, setup, etc.? I want to learn more about that book and technique you mention. Sounds like a real revelation for you.

Tom, the difference is stark. The newer Bravo sounds like a toy. The older one I rented in Paris has a nice rich sound. I've been renting that same accordion in Paris for several years and really like it. It even feels heavier and more well made than the new one.

Molly's book was indeed a revelation. It channels the natural way your brain retains things. It is very much like spaced repetition with the difference being that you "chunk" things into small, manageable pieces rather than practicing the entire song. Once you have the "chunks", which you have practiced in random order, the full piece just seems to appear under your fingers. It does require patience and perseverance though.

 

[cestjeffici]

Have you asked them if they'll sell the Hohner you've been renting? (Or trade it for your much newer one!)

Very tempted! But then I would have to carry it back and forth from Baltimore to Paris once or twice a year. I have a nice Hohner 40-FS here which I like.

 

[cestjeffici]

Did you possibly buy a newer China made one vs an older German made model?


Well, I've managed to read through the first 200 pages of that book while on my week in Prague and it is VERY intriguing! I am just now starting the portion of the book related to memorization and there are a couple things that are road-blocking me. I may need to complete the book and then create the process in SHORT FORM to follow what it offers.


Fascinating, I kind of look forward to starting that process soon... but they also ask to START a NEW piece by selecting the hardest portions of it, working them until you can go 5 times without errors then move to the next section and so on... once all the hard parts are done, then start to assemble the song. Is that what you are doing?


A lot of that will be player dependent. For me, PA keyboard is a PA keyboard with MAYBE a short interval where I get used to size changes so it won't be as big a thing for me... I also have specific songs that I play on selected accordions, I am sure that helps... but for example, I *should* play songs on my larger Free Bass models that I play on the standard sizes accordions.

Again, I do not foresee any challenges there, but I look forward to completing the book and creating my synopsis of the process and following it to see how it works. I am going to need this synopsis as my learning methodology is deeply ingrained in me, and this is different enough to just screw me up... lol

I really look forward to seeing how the memorization aspect works for me, and again, thanks for bringing those books up!

I did buy a brand new made in China Hohner- huge mistake. I've made the best of it by keeping it at my daughter's house so that when I visit I don't miss practice.
I am hoping that your comment about a PA being a PA holds. Since I can't see the keys anyway I've started playing with my eyes closed. It helps me to hear the music and I'm not distracted by anything. I can't wait to try this at my monthly accordion club meeting to see if it cures my anxiety around people listening to me.
Molly does complicate things in her book and I've been making little modifications to make it easier. Happy to share notes if you would like.

 

[Glenn]

Did you possibly buy a newer China made one vs an older German made model?


Well, I've managed to read through the first 200 pages of that book while on my week in Prague and it is VERY intriguing! I am just now starting the portion of the book related to memorization and there are a couple things that are road-blocking me. I may need to complete the book and then create the process in SHORT FORM to follow what it offers.


Fascinating, I kind of look forward to starting that process soon... but they also ask to START a NEW piece by selecting the hardest portions of it, working them until you can go 5 times without errors then move to the next section and so on... once all the hard parts are done, then start to assemble the song. Is that what you are doing?


A lot of that will be player dependent. For me, PA keyboard is a PA keyboard with MAYBE a short interval where I get used to size changes so it won't be as big a thing for me... I also have specific songs that I play on selected accordions, I am sure that helps... but for example, I *should* play songs on my larger Free Bass models that I play on the standard sizes accordions.

Again, I do not foresee any challenges there, but I look forward to completing the book and creating my synopsis of the process and following it to see how it works. I am going to need this synopsis as my learning methodology is deeply ingrained in me, and this is different enough to just screw me up... lol

I really look forward to seeing how the memorization aspect works for me, and again, thanks for bringing those books up!

ChatGPT or Claude (AI of some sort) are very good at creating a synopsis of text.

 

[Tom]

Tom, the difference is stark. The newer Bravo sounds like a toy. The older one I rented in Paris has a nice rich sound. I've been renting that same accordion in Paris for several years and really like it. It even feels heavier and more well made than the new one.

Molly's book was indeed a revelation. It channels the natural way your brain retains things. It is very much like spaced repetition with the difference being that you "chunk" things into small, manageable pieces rather than practicing the entire song. Once you have the "chunks", which you have practiced in random order, the full piece just seems to appear under your fingers. It does require patience and perseverance though.

Thanks Jeff, I am definitely going to check out this book when I get the chance. The little you have explained seems like a helpful technique. I wonder if they would let you keep the accordion there if you bought it at a good price?

 

[cestjeffici]

Thanks Jeff, I am definitely going to check out this book when I get the chance. The little you have explained seems like a helpful technique. I wonder if they would let you keep the accordion there if you bought it at a good price?

Tom,
I'm not really sure what it's worth to them. It rents for 58 euros a month so for about a buck fifty a day I get to play a well maintained instrument. It's always been available to me when I want it and so I think I'm better off just renting it.

 

[JeffJetton]

I’ve been following the practice methods from Molly Gebrain’s book “Learn Faster”

You've inspired me to order this book. It should arrive Monday.

I mentioned it to my wife, who is a Suzuki-certified violin teacher, adding, "Yeah, it's written by someone named Molly, um, Gee-Brain? Juh-Brain?"

She perked up and said, "Molly Gebrian? She's awesome!"

Turns out Dr. Gebrian did a Zoom lecture that my wife had attended and really liked. So I might have to wait until she's done reading it before I get to it.

 

[JerryPH]

You've inspired me to order this book. It should arrive Monday.

You'll enjoy it.
It's a little too cerebral (pun intended) at times but what they suggest is certainly nothing immensely challenging... so far.

I mentioned it to my wife, who is a Suzuki-certified violin teacher, adding, "Yeah, it's written by someone named Molly, um, Gee-Brain? Juh-Brain?"
She perked up and said, "Molly Gebrian? She's awesome!"
Turns out Dr. Gebrian did a Zoom lecture that my wife had attended and really liked. So I might have to wait until she's done reading it before I get to it.

Wow, popular! I know that they are also a Suzuki trained musician, so thats the link between the 2.

 

[JerryPH]

Tom,
I'm not really sure what it's worth to them. It rents for 58 euros a month so for about a buck fifty a day I get to play a well maintained instrument. It's always been available to me when I want it and so I think I'm better off just renting it.

Less than the cost of a cup of coffee... and infinitely healthier and more pleasurable.

 

[cestjeffici]

Less than the cost of a cup of coffee... and infinitely healthier and more pleasurable.

Would that all of life's pleasures were as inexpensive and satisfying as playing an accordion!

 

[OuijaBoard]

They might give you a bargain on the one you're renting. It never hurts to ask, and if something worked out . . .

For what it's worth, I purchased not one but two Bravos in 2024 after a ransacking of my home by burglars in February depleted much of the accordion supply I'd accumulated over a period of 25 years. Thankfully two small Italians were at my office, but my pristine late-90s West German Hohner Concerto III is gone, along with a wonderful small Ottavianelli purchased new during the pandemic, and two vintage but super clean and nice Titanos.

I purchased a new MM 26/48 at a LB holiday discount price as a practice and knockaround box, and was pleasantly shocked when it arrived in flawless playing condition. One note is a tad slow to sound on the pull--that was "it" for any issue. I'm using it for Irish and Scottish tunes and it does everything it needs to do at full speed and response. People compliment me at rehearsals and sessions on its tone. A couple of months later I randomly came across a "flash sale" by some audio/sound dealer in New Jersey that apparently stocks Bravos. They had the 34/72 LMM "MyColor" line of Bravos on sale for a several hour window on a Sunday, for slightly less than new 26/48 Bravos are now retailing for. These "MyColor" Bravos normally price at almost $2200, and I would not go there. But I grabbed a sky-blue one at the "flash sale" price.

Once again, I opened a perfect-condition LMM 34/72 accordion. It sounds and responds pretty darn close to my lost German Concerto III. I don't use PAs bigger than 26 or 30 treble very often, and any future Italian acquisitions would not be bigger than 26 or 30. So this very well functioning 34/72 is super nice to have for the few occasions I'd need the size.

I'm hesitant to recommend the Bravos to people since there are so many stories of bad experiences. But based on my own experiences in 2024, I'm wondering if they are at long last realizing it pays to invest in QC. Because these two examples are way better than I expected. I expected and accepted the possibility of a trip to the tech for tweaks right out of the box, but that was not the case.