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06 Sunday Sep 2015
Posted New Solo Selections
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06 Sunday Sep 2015
Posted New Solo Selections
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01 Tuesday Sep 2015
Thank you. Dr. Sissions – for sending this great accordion ensemble – this is a really FUN TUNE!
Listen – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5UnEB23YCI
About the Song:
Black Bottom refers to a dance which became popular in the 1920s, the famed Roaring Twenties that also was known as the Jazz Age and the era of the Flapper. The Black Bottom could be danced solo or as a couple.
Originating among African Americans in the rural South, the Black Bottom eventually was appropriated by white society and became a national craze in the 1920s. The dance was most famously performed by Ziegfeld Follies star Ann Pennington, who danced the Black Bottom in a Broadway revue put on by Zeigfeld’s rival George White in 1926.
The dance originated in New Orleans in the first decade of the 20th century. Jelly Roll Morton, jazz player and composer, wrote the tune “Black Bottom Stomp” with its name referring to Detroit’s Black Bottom area.
“The Original Black Bottom Dance” was printed in 1919. It came from an earlier dance called “Jacksonville Rounders’ Dance” printed in 1907. The word “Rounder” was a synonym for “pimp.” Both “dance-songs” were written by black pianist, composer and dancer Perry Bradford and were based on a dance done in Jacksonville, Florida “way back.” One professional dancer stated, “That dance is as old as the hills.”
01 Tuesday Sep 2015
Posted For Beginners, New Solo Selections
inI could not resist adding this – I get so many requests – out at German shows – to play this – though I remember it as being sung by Eddie Fisher – the singer that dumped Debbie Reynolds for Elizabeth Taylor!!!!
“O mein Papa” is a German song, as related by a young woman remembering her beloved, once-famous clown father. Included in a musical in 1950 as Feuerwerk (Fireworks) to a libretto by Erik Charell, Jürg Amstein, and Robert Gilbert. In 1954, that musical was turned into the film Feuerwerk with Lilli Palmer.
Link – Oh My Pa Pa – LEVEL 1.5
About the Song:
Under the original German title, an instrumental version by trumpeter Eddie Calvert topped the UK Singles Chart in 1954, and was also a Top 10 hit in the US.
It was adapted into English by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons under the title “Oh! My Pa-Pa”. A recording by Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter’s orchestra and chorus was made at Webster Hall, New York City.
Fisher’s recording became a No. 1 hit on the U.S. Billboard chart in 1954. Fisher’s version also made the UK Top 10; thus, in the UK, Calvert’s version was number one while Fisher’s made the top 10, but missed the top spot, and in the U.S., the opposite occurred. Calvert’s version was the first UK number one hit recorded at Abbey Road Studios. The song returned to Abbey Road when Brian Fahey conducted an instrumental version in 1960, to be used as a backing track for Connie Francis‘ English-Yiddish recording for her album Connie Francis Sings Jewish Favorites. Francis overdubbed her vocals in Hollywood. In June 1966, Francis overdubbed the same playback once more, this time with the original German lyrics for her German concept album Melodien, die die Welt erobern.
01 Tuesday Sep 2015
Posted New Exercises, New Solo Selections
inI didn’t write this arrangement – but – it is a good example of LEAD LINE MUSIC! AND this will also SPUR me on to get some more of the Star Wars songs up on the blog – because the next installment of the Star Wars Movies is coming out in December this year!!! MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!
LESSON: this song is in the Key of D Minor and has the SHOTGUN CHROMATIC bass style.
Bo7 = B Dim chord
In this chord progression – you see Bb to Bo7 to F/C – (Bb to B to C) – this is a CHROMATIC BASS progression – this is my NICKNAME position called SHOTGUN – you WILL NOT JUMP TO THE B dim bass – so on the accordion you will play:
Listen – Link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGy1BRO1WCs
Link – Cantina Band from Star Wars
About the Song:
Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes (also known as the Cantina Band) is a fictional band from George Lucas’s science fiction saga Star Wars. The group first appeared in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) and were depicted as hairless aliens with dome-shaped heads and round, black eyes, a race called Biths.
In 1977, musician Meco released a disco single of the original cantina tune mixed with John Williams’ main title theme (along with several R2-D2 sound effects), under the title “Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band.” The track reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in August, and was certified platinum; it even outsold the release of the official Star Wars theme by the London Symphony Orchestra.
01 Tuesday Sep 2015
Posted New Exercises, New Solo Selections
inSo – this month I pick the key of D – and will show you how to get “centered” in the key – so you are comfortable. There are several TRICKS that help you when you hit songs with multiple sharps and flats in the key. Here are a FEW – and these can be applied to all keys.
Key of D – F# and C# – many Celtic songs and Cajun songs are in the key of D – because the Violin (Fiddle) likes the key of D and the Tin Flute (Whistle) is in the key of D.
Link – Welcome to Key of D
Grab the D parts from the Exercises below – plus learn a few other keys as well. (Introduction to the A Minor scale!)
Now try your hand at these songs in D:
01 Tuesday Sep 2015
Posted New Solo Selections
inWOW – where did the summer go!!! AND WOW – I see I was really in a SILLY MODE this month. This list is all FUN – extremely easy and when you perform most of these – you WILL NOT HAVE TO INTRODUCE THEM – they are that familiar.
AND don’t forget to check out this month’s lesson – and this month’s exercise!
Ensemble – Black Bottom (Roaring 20’s)
60’s-70’s
80’s-90’s
(I owe you a few here – NEXT on my list!)
01 Tuesday Sep 2015
Posted For Beginners, New Solo Selections
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01 Tuesday Sep 2015
Posted For Beginners, Monthly Assignments
inA year ago – I started this accordion blog LESSON ASSIGNMENTS – with the single purpose – to help you PLAY BETTER! No matter what your level. I sincerely have heard from SOOO many of you WORLD WIDE – that I am managing to accomplish my goal – THANK YOU.
NOW – For More Right Hand Work – Level 2!!! How to ADD little things to the melody line that will make the song sound uniquely YOURS!
Here are “FOUR SIMPLE STEPS” to take an ordinary solo – even an extremely simple one and make it a “GOOSE-PIMPLE” Performance!
This month’s lesson will concentrate on #2 – Embellishments to the melody line. I like to use the term PLUMPING – to show that you are FATTENING UP the solo!
Start with this simple tune
After you have mastered playing the simple tune – Open Plumping link and walk through the examples – one measure at a time –
Now Apply what you just did to this simple tune in two different keys –
Now Try these techniques on these songs! All Level 1-2 Solos