Yesterday I purchased a portable musical instrument. It’s an instrument some like to ridicule. An eye roller to some. It’s the instrument our mother played. I don’t recall how she came to play it. Perhaps it was her Polish heritage or the just the era and community where she was raised. It’s the instrument our parents bought us and we shared it and all took lessons. I was never much more than a beginner but have always thought I should give it another go. Somewhere along the way the instrument became a bit of a joke in some arenas but it’s always had a place in my heart and hey, Leonard Cohen’s songs often feature it.
Yes, it is the accordion. Since it is possible there may be a comment or tease or two in response to this blog, thought I’d just get things going:
- What’s the difference between an accordion and a macaw? One is loud, obnoxious and noisy; the other is a bird.
- Why did the chicken cross the road? To get away from the accordion recital.
- What’s the difference between an accordion and an onion? People cry when you chop up an onion.
No matter, I now own a cute grey/green 40 bass vintage Weltmeister accordion yesterday and am very tickled with the purchase!
I have a talented enthusiastic teacher and once I remember where the C key is located we can start. I haven’t taken lessons for decades. Many decades. But no matter, here we go. It’s important to have goals and I’ve set one and will work towards it, enthusiastically. By the end of this year I want to play the Beatles song “When I’m Sixty Four”. Because I own an accordion and that’s what I am. Sixty four, not an accordion.
When leaving the house to buy the accordion yesterday I asked my husband if he wanted to come with me. He said no thanks, he wanted to stay home and enjoy his last hours of peace and quiet.
Barb's True Stories 
The accordion is a serious musical instrument in this part of the world and is taught at Conservatories across Ukraine and Russia at least. Most likely Poland and Germany too but I don’t know that. Portability was I expect a key advantage. Actually I grew up in Russian German country, as I think you did and quite like polkas etc with the accordion as part of the band.
There was a Farside cartoon “Welcome to Heaven; here’s your harp”…Welcome to Hell; here’s your accordion”.
Ah, I can always count on you! If it was possible to measure how many puns, one liners and jokes are stored in our brains I am sure you would be in the elite of the most elite category. Love the Farside reference. Thanks for the comment and glad to hear you like the accordion!
I KNEW you were talking about an accordion as soon as I saw your title. I remember seeing one at your parent’s house one time. My husband recently attended a concert where an accordion was the main instrument playing classical music.
I have taken fiddle lessons for the last 4 years and this year have switched to mandolin.
EVERYONE at every age should be learning to play an instrument..the world would be a much better place.
I look forward to watching a video of your efforts one day posted on You Tube.
I really like old time fiddle music. Good for you! Why did you switch to the mandolin? Are you on You Tube? An accordion playing classical music, how interesting.
I switched manly because the mandolin is easier to just ‘pick up’…rather than ‘fiddling with rosin and bow’..plus a mandolin has frets..which helps a person with a poor musical ear to know where to place her fingers….and also because the mandolin and fiddle fingering/strings/musical notes are all the same.
But the fiddle is still my favourite. The difference between a fiddle and a violin.?..a $200 tuxedo.
Glad to see there are fiddle jokes. The accordion isn’t singled out.
This is hilarious!! You have such a wonderful gift of humour!!
Congrats re the accordion purchase. I will await the first concert! But most important – have fun! Good on you!!
Sally
There are no plans for a concert but there are plans for fun. Thank you for the comment-nice to know you are there.
Good for you, I look forward to hearing you play, seeing it brings back many memories. Have fun!
Thank you! For the support and the comment. At this point there are no plans for any public recitals.
Hi Barb,
Good for you. Hopefully we can do an accordian/guitar duet sometime.
Garth
Oooooh, that seems like a pretty big step when I don’t even recall keys or base or how to read music. Who knows though, what the future holds.
I think a Skype Christmas concert should be planned.
Is Three Blind Mice is considered a Christmas favourite?
Anything is acceptable ..as long as there is a Christmas Tree in the background.
That’s fantastic Barb! My retirement instrument project is to learn how to play my Dad’s banjo – we could make quite a pair. In the meantime my aim is to get back to the guitar and learn the ukulele…if there were only more hours in a day!
Good for you! Yes, more hours would help, wouldn’t it. We would make quite a pair. Let’s not rule it out. Thanks for the note.
Dad must be smiling!!!
I hope so. I’ll think of that when I’m trying desperately to have something that sounds like music come from the whole effort. Nice to hear from you.
Awesome – you go girl!! Hours of fun with the added brain health benefits attributed to playing a musical instrument 🙂 I so admire your humour and zest Barb.
Good to hear from you and thank you!