On The Keys: Dexterity & Control

[Walker]

I was impressed by this musician's technique, especially on the treble keys. A great use of the surface area of the keys, the hand positioning, the articulation etc. There seems to be an extensive ability to control the variation of tones on the treble keyboard. It almost makes the bass (albeit excellent by most accordionists standards) seem one dimensional by comparison to the sophisticated right hand technique. I guess it must be more difficult to express the tonalities on the small bass buttons to it's fullest. I can't quite put my finger on it (pun intended), and I make no criticism of this magnificent musician (she's on a different planet from me) but maybe at the highest level, the small buttons, restricted movement (due to the bass strap) and position of the bass keyboard work against the accordionist. It's only when you imagine a great pianist, for example, being able to 'work' their left hand with complete equality of movements, relaxed wrist, larger keys etc, that you start to notice the small restrictions on the accordion bass buttons...​

 

[Ffingers]

True about the restrictions imposed by the structure of the accordion, but the brilliance of this performer to work within them is spectacular.
Her bellows control is something which, by my observations only, exceeds normal expectations by a large margin.
Bellows, of course, are not something which a pianist has with which to add greater subtlety to the performance.
Unlike the organ and the accordion, the piano has no 'stops' either.
So, as ever, we work within the tools available to us and within our own capabilities.
In the case of this artist; great tools, huge capabilitiy and immense skill and effort to use them all to the best advantage.
I remain, for ever, completely humbled.

 

[Dingo40]

Amazing!

 

[Walker]

True about the restrictions imposed by the structure of the accordion, but the brilliance of this performer to work within them is spectacular.
Her bellows control is something which, by my observations only, exceeds normal expectations by a large margin.
Bellows, of course, are not something which a pianist has with which to add greater subtlety to the performance.
Unlike the organ and the accordion, the piano has no 'stops' either.
So, as ever, we work within the tools available to us and within our own capabilities.
In the case of this artist; great tools, huge capabilitiy and immense skill and effort to use them all to the best advantage.
I remain, for ever, completely humbled.

You are absolutely right. It's a mighty fine instrument, and heck, can she rattle a tune out of it. I think she is within the top 75 players in the world. Yet again I fall further down the ranking - I think I am around 1,999,997th place now.

 

[Tom]

I didn't know it was a competition. Personally, although I credit all skill, this music does not move me.

 

[Walker]

Hi Tom, sorry buddy, there is no competition, it's not meant in that way - perhaps I have expressed myself poorly. Its just admiration for great accordionists like the lady at the top of the page. As Ffingers says (and I feel the same), every time I go on Youtube I am humbled at the countless wonderful musicians.

This great Canadian accordionist also amazes me:



And as for the piano version...

 

[Tom]

Thanks Stewart. I like that you are posting these incredibly skilled musicians. And my personal preferences are only that, in no way would I disparage the skill, work and dexterity of these dedicated musicians.

The problem we face is defining "best" and how to relate it to individual taste. It's like apples and oranges. Who gets to define what is "better?" Are we looking at the 75 musicians that can play soulfully with the most notes per second, or that have the most "likes" on their videos or ?????

 

[Ffingers]

Admiring each and everyone according to their talents - that’s the way I see things.
Life is much more enjoyable when one ceases to view it in terms of competition.

 

[Walker]

The problem we face is defining "best" and how to relate it to individual taste. It's like apples and oranges. Who gets to define what is "better?" Are we looking at the 75 musicians that can play soulfully with the most notes per second, or that have the most "likes" on their videos or ?????

Hi Tom, I think the first musician is excellent, right up there with the other great classical accordionists. But top 75 was just a number plucked from an old Scottish apple tree. There might be more top class accordionists in the classical sphere at this time. The number wasn't really my main point. I maybe should have just said she is top class... I thought saying top 75 would make an amusing contrast to me being top 2,000,000 (I don't think there are actually that many accordionists in the world). I clearly forgot the first rule of comedy: keep it funny.

Probably most of the top accordion players are button accordionists, maybe 70% button, 30% piano. This lady, Associate Professor Maria Vlasova, has a bit of a hero status to me, because she teaches the accordion (meaning: strictly piano accordion) department at the Gnesin Academy of Music. It's the toughest tradition of all for piano accordionists to learn their art - in the heart of bayan territory (b-griff, no less).

*Please note the 70/30 figure fell out of the sky (don't tell anyone - just my guess).

I think Associate Professor V. deserves an extra video, especially for her misfortune of having someone like me as a fan!



For me, I like to see the way the musician interacts with the instrument - the touch on the keyboard, even the breathing technique can be important, phrasing, the exploration of the tonalities, the bellows control, and ability to express and tell a story with the instrument, accentuations and blending of treble and bass and an overall sensitivity.

 

[Tom]

She is truly inspiring!

 

[EMan]

Truly talented !