Is the accordion a marginalized instrument?

The accordion is such a unique instrument—plenty of people play it—but because of all the weird stereotypes out there, it somehow gets branded as just some "country" or rural thing. It’s like people see someone playing one and immediately picture a farmer in the middle of nowhere.
Anyway... I guess I'm curious what you all think about that?😕

It’s become one of my absolute favorite instruments lately... I play guitar and piano, but I just developed this irresistible urge to pick up the accordion... I’m obsessed with the sound...
I’ve always been a fan of traditional folk music—and I mean the real stuff, not that overproduced pop-country nonsense you hear on the radio today—so the accordion is my top choice. It’s a genuine, traditional instrument...
The unfortunate truth is that nowadays, it’s almost become synonymous with cheap commercial pop...

Kenneth Vaughn73 said:I'm actually a fan of folk music—not that modern pop junk, but the real stuff—and the accordion is my favorite... It’s a truly traditional instrument.
It’s true that it’s basically become a symbol for that cheap commercial pop nowadays...

It didn't just "almost" become that, it already is—because if you ask people what kind of music involves an accordion, most will just say some mindless party track while everyone dances around. People tend to forget you can play classical pieces on it too; the accordion isn't just some rural thing, it's a "cultural" instrument, much like the violin.
Since the violin is used in folk music just like the accordion, if you ask someone what's played on a violin, they'll probably mention Bach or Mozart.

As for folk music itself, I think it should represent the music of the people—meaning it shouldn't just be those Eastern-influenced sounds from the old USA, but rather the sounds of every different cultural group. For instance, folks in the South have their music, people in New England have theirs, and so on—though when people say "folk music," they usually expect someone to start playing some specific regional dance tunes (not that I have anything against them).
Why wouldn't we play something more localized, like a classic Appalachian ballad or something similar?😕

What do you mean "folk instrument"?! Look at the new pop tracks—you barely hear an accordion anymore. It’s all just some synth wailing on a Korg or maybe a Roland... In those old-school classics, sure, the accordion was king. Total staple. But calling it outdated because people linked it strictly to cheesy country music in the 90s? That's pure bullshit.

As for serious accordion music—I’ve actually been lucky enough to compete in some pretty heavy international competitions myself. Though, that was mostly in ensembles...

The accordion tends to play in those lower registers... I suppose some people might dismiss it as just a simple folk instrument, though, in my opinion, that’s actually where it truly shines when creating those beautiful, sweeping melodies. But we shouldn't forget that even folks over in the Midwest play the accordion quite a bit, especially during those lively mountain-style festivals they have out there.

Which group and where, exactly?

mewithoutYou have an accordion and man, it just sounds...

check this out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVbuI...elated&search=

Walter Garcia53 said:What kind of "country" instrument? Just look at modern pop hits—you hardly even hear an accordion anymore; it’s mostly just some synth wailing on Korgs or the occasional Roland. Sure, back in the old classic country days, the accordion was an absolute institution. It was universal for society. But during the 90s, it got pushed to the sidelines because people associated it exclusively with low-brow kitsch, which is total bullshit.

Regarding serious music for the accordion—I’ve actually had the honor of competing in some very high-level international accordion competitions myself. Though, strictly in an ensemble setting...

You're right... In today's mainstream pop-country, it's all synths and electronic mixes. You barely hear an accordion, or if you do, they're just mimicking the sound with a keyboard, so it sounds like whatever it sounds like...
But there's hardly a beautiful folk song out there without an accordion...🙏

There isn't a single instrument or sound out there that can't be used for something good. It’s the same deal with the accordion. I don't get many chances to hear it in most music these days, but honestly, it’s just as perfect an instrument as any other.

I mean, it really just comes down to how someone plays it; if you’re playing polka, then yeah, it’s gonna sound like polka,
but generally speaking, the accordion is kind of a goofy little instrument...
you just picture those heavy-set guys from the Midwest in their short shorts and thick mustaches, knocking back some Budweiser at a backyard BBQ 🙂

now, say They Might Be Giants decided to throw an accordion into one of their tracks, and suddenly it actually sounds pretty decent.
but they aren't some local garage band, you know?
it all depends on your technique.
if you're aiming for that high-pitched wailing style, then damn, it’s gonna sound like polka, but if you play it differently, it doesn't have to...

Morgan Bishop4 said:They're just laughing at him—those beefy guys in gym shorts and thick mustaches, sipping beers... 🙂

A little irony for you... the best accordion player I’ve ever seen in my life was—believe it or not—a Chinese person. And yeah, I'm talking about pure artistry, technique, and soul. Following them, there were these two Belgian people who absolutely crushed it in a duet, like they were born playing...

Walter Garcia53 said:There's a bit of irony here—believe it or not, the best accordion player I’ve ever seen was actually a Chinese person. And I'm talking strictly about musical value, technique, and performance. Then you’ve got these two Belgian people who play in a duo and absolutely tear it up, like they were just born with it built in.

Is it true that the accordion is one of the hardest instruments to master in general?

No, and I don't think of the accordion as some "Eastern" style of music; it's global. It comes from a region that some people are desperately trying to claim as their own, specifically Central Europe. In reality, it's always been present in our culture too; it just wasn't given much airtime in the media because of those specific prejudices.

Learning how to play the accordion isn't the hard part—it's actually "knowing" how to play it that gets tricky.😁

It’s all about the eyes, the fingers, and the ears, I guess.

It is a mistake to pigeonhole the accordion as nothing more than a folk instrument. At its core, it is a classical instrument. I experienced this firsthand a few years ago in Milwaukee. By chance, I attended a performance by Aidar Gainullin, one of the premier young virtuosos representing the Russian school of playing—which stands in stark contrast to, say, the Latin styles found in France or Argentina.

This is a performer who has practiced every single day from the age of seven, working from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. He is constantly accompanied by mentors and handlers who oversee everything from his repertoire to his daily schedule...

The concert took place at a prestigious music conservatory, and the acquaintance I attended with had actually studied accordion there. I met people from all over the globe. It is quite interesting to note, for instance, the massive presence of Chinese people within the global accordion community.

What truly struck me was Aidar’s repertoire: it transitioned seamlessly from jazz standards to traditional Russian melodies. However, the emphasis remained firmly on classical works. As the program progressed, I became increasingly stunned by the sheer capability of the instrument. For example, the program listed a "violin concerto," yet what I heard on stage was a violin and an orchestra! It was unbelievable. You know that sensation where the hair on your neck stands up? Well, I spent about two-thirds of the concert feeling exactly that. It was wild...🙏

Wait, isn't the violin actually one of the hardest things to master? Like, there aren't these rigid little rules you follow, you just have to intuitively listen to every single note you're pulling out of it...
I've been wondering lately which instrument is the absolute toughest to learn, and which one is basically a walk in the park.

Actually, now that I think about it, maybe the tuba is the real nightmare (that's how you say it, right?!), since you basically need lungs like an elephant just to get through a set. And a synthesizer is probably the easiest of the bunch... *sniff*... well, that's what I play anyway.

Morgan Bishop4 said:Isn't the violin actually the hardest one to play? There aren't really strict rules—you just have to listen to what you're playing, I guess.
I'm genuinely curious which instrument is considered the toughest and which is the easiest.

I suppose I think the tuba might be the hardest—if that's even how you say it—since you basically need lungs like an elephant. And a synthesizer is probably the easiest (sniff... that's what I play)

Personally, I don't think there's such a thing as an easy or hard instrument—it's more about just sticking with yours and you'll be fine.
Even if people assume certain things about players—like a violinist needing to be thin and wiry, or a bass trumpet player being big and powerful—
if you actually have the drive, those "flaws" don't matter much compared to practice. If you grind like that guy from the previous post who works 7 to 7, you might actually get somewhere.

As for the synthesizer... well, you have to realize that too... 😬

Argentine Astor Piazzolla 🙂
like a theme from the movie 12 Monkeys🙂

Sure, Frank Sinatra represents the American School,
but I guess nobody’s ever heard of some local legend from our neck of the woods—you know, someone actually from here.