Job for Accordionist

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 Jul 04 - 05:27 AM

I've only ever seen the "Traditional" ones - I didn't know they came in other designs.

Robin

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: ALEX_
Date: 27 Jul 04 - 03:52 AM

This is à well-known russian souvenir in modern appearance. It is called Matryoshka.It is made of wood and decorated with special oil-paints by hand. On the pictures you can see faces of such famous people as President of Russia Mr.Putin, president of USA Mr.Bush, Michael Jakson, Usama Ben Laden, Lenin, Harry Potter and so on. I guess everyone knows that there are many smaller Matryoskas inside the main one.You can use it for keeping some small things like a jewels, or just for fun, or give it as a present from Russia. Actually nowadays russians don't use it anymore and make mainly for foreigners.
I've took this pictures 2 months ago in Moscow.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Jul 04 - 06:29 PM

Please do tell us something about the 2 pictures of the russian dolls, where, etc.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: ALEX_
Date: 26 Jul 04 - 10:53 AM

How do you think?

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: ALEX_
Date: 26 Jul 04 - 10:52 AM

Krishna's accordionist was no so good. Just I've heard the sound of accordion and interested who is player:)

In fact,in Russia the situation with development of the accordion entertament much better! In every city, even in small town, at every Music School you can find the class of accordion. Not speaking about Music Colleges and Conservatory (the only exception is Moscow State Concervatory). And I must to say, at present a students who play an Piano accordions getting more than button's accordionists (Bayan), especially at the Music Schools.
In my opinion, for the starting to develop Accordion art, for example in Korea, they need professional a teacher, who will SHOW them how to play an accordion and who will TEACH them.
Surely, this condition is not the only.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Jul 04 - 09:57 AM

Really liked KrishnaPlayAnAccordion.JPG - why are they carrying an amplifier for it? Just how much street noise was there? :-)

Another good photo was the Octoberfest.


"at present in South Korea the situation with development of the accordion entertament not so good. At large interest to this instrument there is the pretty low level of professional development."

I think I understand that pretty well. It seems the same everywhere in the Western World. Is it any better in Russia?

Robin

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: ALEX_
Date: 26 Jul 04 - 09:37 AM

Hello everybody!!

I haven't visited this forum for a long time as we were in Russia for 1,5 months and 3 weeks ago came back to Seoul again.
Unfortunately, we have not found any suitable contract, so now we are free from any employer and at present still are looking for something applicable.
Anyway, we are continue carry out our creation here in Korea and recently we had a pretty important and big the event - Master-Class for korean accordionists. It was outside from city, at beautiful place. More then 15 accordionists took part in this celebration of Accordion , and everyone has a performance one or two pieces. After that we practised with everyone for clear up some details of performance. And finally we're presented our concert programm, including most popular accordion pieces and songs, as well as famous korean popular songs. Also we played few pieces with one of korean accordionist - Ms.Lim Eun Kyoung.
It might sound a bit strange, but at present in South Korea the situation with development of the accordion entertament not so good. At large interest to this instrument there is the pretty low level of professional development. In Music Colleges of Seoul ( not speaking about higher education establishments) the class of accordion is not presented.
That's why I think our event was so important for korean accordionists and generally for developing the accordion art in Korea.

By the way, you can see the pisc from this event and from Russia here: http://accordiomania.hotmail.ru

Thank you all and let's keep the touch :))
PS:I'm sorry for my bad English. Hope you will understand my scrawl..:)

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 25 Jul 04 - 07:01 PM

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 02:14 AM

I wonder what has happened to ALEX?

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 10 Apr 04 - 08:01 PM

Any good "Travel Agent" should be able to tell you the names of cruise ships, their routes & the contact details of their owners. From memory, I think P&O used to visit Australia - I live in Brisbane, and we have several large cruise ships that call here, but I can;t reacll any details at moment. Names like "Fairstar" or "Fairsky" seem to be familiar though.

If you do get such work, you should be able to keep us informed via the web on your destinations, so that we can maybe meet you.

Robin

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: ALEX_
Date: 10 Apr 04 - 10:52 AM

Thank you, Amos )

Could anyone please tell me the names of cruiseship companies in your country, so that I would be able to contact them ?

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: Amos
Date: 10 Apr 04 - 12:55 AM

I have heard it is a good lifestyle, Alex -- if you succeed you are usually invited back and it pays well enough. But I haven't done it myself.

A

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: ALEX_
Date: 10 Apr 04 - 12:53 AM

What do you think about cruise ship work?
Does anyone have expirience of that kind?

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 02:22 PM

I hope you find what you need, Alex!

Be sure to give them a link for your website and audio (and maybe a attach a digital photo to your e-mail), it may be that they can use that as a substitute for live audition.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: Peter T.
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 01:55 PM

Hi Alex, No, I have the original sheet music for piano, I was hoping someone had done the grunt work of arranging them for accordion.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: ALEX_
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 11:32 AM

Allan_C, PattyClink - thank you very much for the help. I send our letter and resume in the parks of links of which you gave me. I hope it will bring results. But the living audition required in most cases, but we will not be able to arrive is there fot this... We will hope on best and once more thank you.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: ALEX_
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 11:14 AM

Peter, Now I play a song L Vie En Rose. Music sheet for piano, but doing transcription for an accordion is not nearly difficult. If you need I can send you this song on e-mail. And some other famous french pieces.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: Peter T.
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 08:40 AM

Oh, Sur Les Toits De Paris, Milord, La Vie En Rose, that sort of thing.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 08:38 AM

Give us the titles of the ones you want, please, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: Peter T.
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 08:26 AM

Does anyone know where you can buy accordion sheet music for the classic French accordion pieces (Edith Piaf particularly), that all the buskers do in Paris? Mel Bay has a two volume set of "French Music For Accordion" that has none of these pieces!!! There must be somewhere you can get these.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 12:27 AM

Listened to Crique Soule (Alegera) this weekend at another location.

IF....I.....were aspiring to become a virtuoso accorianist....that is the style I would mimic.

It literally breaths with life and emotion....and it all comes from the bellows.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 08:56 PM

None taken or intended likewise.

:-)

Robin
P.S.
So who want to join the Paltallk "Foolestroupe" room where we can listen to each other play? (see my profile)

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: Allan C.
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 08:39 PM

Well done, Robin! No offense intended.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 08:28 PM

I asked Joe to add the cross reference links at the top so that this thread would be linked to other accordion threads.

By keeping the discussion going, at least we have been able to help Alex by keeping the thread alive in the daily list. It has taken several days for those who have been able to supply helpful hints to start contibuting (not everyone reads the thread list every day) - thanks to them for doing so. I knew that if we didn't keep the thread alive, it would most likely just sink without trace.

:-)

Robin

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: Allan C.
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 05:34 PM

Thanks for the comment about the musical discussion, pattiClink. I can readily see that there is valuable information being exchanged; but it does seem to have hijacked Alex's thread. Perhaps someone who understands the topic could cut and paste some of this into a new thread? I'm sure it would make it easier to search than to leave it buried here.

Yes, it is Paramount's Kings Dominion. This park, like many others, seems to require auditions in person.

Here is a link to Busch Gardens (Florida) They do not appear to be recruiting entertainers at their Virginia site. In fact, of all of the many parks that are run by Busch, this is the only listing shown on their website.

Six Flags parks do not display a national job board. You must select each individual park to see what positions are available.

Information about employment at Disney parks can be found here.

The Michigan member of the Cedar Fair family of amusement parks is Michigan's Adventure. They show a need for entertainers.

pattyClink has listed all of the major amusement park companies I know. I am sure there are more.

The only other idea that comes to mind is the possibility of a steady gig at a restaurant. I remember a lot of them in the Washington D.C. area that had live musicians of all sorts who performed while you ate. (A Hungarian one out near Fairfax Circle comes to mind.) Maybe some of our 'Catters in that part of the world might have some clues to share.

I hope this helps, Alex.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 03:09 PM

Alex, you are getting lots of musical discussion instead of help finding a gig. I don't have much to offer either, but I will name for you a few companies which run theme parks in the U.S.A. (which I hope you already know about.) I don't have their web links but if you do a web search you will find them.

"Busch Gardens" has multiple parks run by Anheuser-Busch corporation.
"Six Flags" has multiple parks.
of course "Disney" has parks in California and in Florida.
in the Midwest is "Cedar Fair" I don't know if they employ musicians or not.

What's that "Kings _____ " company in Virginia that runs a theme park? Does somebody recall? Is it Kings Dominion? Somebody help me.

Other parks, resorts, theme restaurants, festival marketplaces, and festivals which do long-term performer hiring?

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: ALEX_
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 02:30 PM

Let me represent to you a fragment from musical programm that was on South Korea's TV two months ago. Enjoy listening accordion music! Have a nice time!:-)

http://host.isungnam.net/hmg6844/hdmi/ebs/EBS1.wmv

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: Johnny in OKC
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 11:08 AM

For 12-bass players:

A bass + C chord = Am7 (A minor 7th)
D bass + F chord = Dm7
G bass + Bb chord = Gm7

Use your index finger for the bass,
and your ring finger for the chord.

Love, Johnny

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: Peter T.
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 08:01 AM

The article I cited is from somewhere else (lost the reference), but there is a similar -- and even more exhaustive -- article at:


http://www.accordionpage.com/chcomb.html


Hans Palm's accordion page.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 Apr 04 - 09:42 PM

Alex,

I take it you are not singing? The accordion sounds very good.

Robin

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 Apr 04 - 09:37 PM

Peter T

could you share with us the article on substitutions you metioned above?

Robin

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: ALEX_
Date: 05 Apr 04 - 02:36 PM

Somethinng interesting for you, I think. A month and half ago I took part in the record of song of one popular Korean singer. Last week a CD was publish and I would like to presents this song on your attention.
http://www.seoul8.hotmail.ru

Next make a klick an "13-AccordionVersion.mp3" - for download.

It is necessary to say, sufficient time for preparation to the record at me was not present. I've reseived the CD with record of song for 6 hours till arrived in a studio. And I was very surprised that to record a song it is needed in the key to C-minor key, although on my CD it was in to C#-minor key. So was to me to invent the party in motion. Thus a sound producer stages me in scopes and gave limitations in the play. Not to use fast passages, to play in so-called *Korean pop style*. Anyway, after 3 hours of the strained work we made off a record. I think, it will be interesting to you to listen modern Korean pop music with participation of our favourite accordion:))
---------------------------------------------------------------------
By the way, on this site you can look the pictures of the Seoul spring, which I did recently:))

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: GUEST,Bill
Date: 05 Apr 04 - 02:06 PM

Alex -
If you are looking for professional gigs, a good place to contact Reyes Accordions. The easy way to get ther is to click their URL in your guestbook on your web site. It is the only English comment. Their web site contains a forum similar to this, but more exclusively dealing with accordians and Mexican / Mexican-American music. Good luck to you, and let us know where you are going. It would be fun to see you.
-Bill

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 Apr 04 - 11:02 AM

Yes, easy on the guitar, Skipjack K8, but it takes a fair amount of practice to get used to the jumps - of course, once you have learned the RELATIVE jumps in one key, you can do the same relative ones in any key. And you have to make sure you don't run out of fingers... making that little finger work helps sequences like this (use all 4 fingers on the left hand!)

Of course, this piece is one of the ones that works best on the little "Hero" 8 bass - and there are NO minor chords on that instrument! No choice, mate! :-)

But of course, if you play the right notes on the right hand, you get a sound that is not unlike actually playing the minor chord anyway...

Robin

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: GUEST,Lindswidder
Date: 05 Apr 04 - 10:39 AM

Yep, I'm an accordionist too, here in South Wales. I play for the local Welsh Border Morris, the Widders (www.thewidders.co.uk)
I often wondered about playing for a living, but I enjoy it to much to make it my "job"

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 05 Apr 04 - 06:55 AM

Let us pause in life's pleasures (in key of D)
And (A) count its many (Bm) tears
(G) Whilst we (D) all sup (A) sorrow with the (D) poor

(repeat for second eight)

(D) 'Tis the sigh, the song of the (G) we(D)ary,
(D) Hard times, (Bm) hard times, (G) come again no (A) more,
Many (D) days you have lingered out(A)side my (Bm) cabin door,
(G) Oh, (D) hard times (A) come again no (D) more.

That's probably all wrong, but bunging the minors in makes for a nice run

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 Apr 04 - 04:54 AM

'Hard Times Come Again No More'

has no minor chords in MY version, just I IV V...
:-)

Robin

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 09:12 PM

Peter T

You have revealed part of the arcanery of the Stradella Bass System that is not widely available. I have elsewhere skimmed over the fact that early manufacturers used to include the 5th, but after a certain date - and I don't have all the facts as to when this occurred - there was an international agreement that all new accordions Bass Systems would omit the 5th from the chord buttons.

As to the construction of "extra" chords from the combination of existing Stradella Bass System buttons, I haven't stumbled across any writings on this. Most "Learn the Accordion" System Books don't even cover Bellows shake, especially in the early parts (doubtless why there are so many "Omm-Pah-Pah" style players out there!) let alone such advanced Musical Theory Arcanery as this.

If you were "Classical Music Method Trained" - which would be often happening on a seperate path from the "Practical Lessons" by your teacher - which is why it doesn't appear in these books I mentioned! - you would be learning Musical Theory as a seperate set of lessons with written homework, and written Exams. Judging by my personal experience, you probably wouldn't get near this sort of stuff until after 4 or 5 levels of theory exams. Either that, or you would have been expected to UNDERSTAND the theory you had learned enough to just make this sort of stuff up on your own... :-)

Good work guys!

(Music Theory? - We don't wan't no stinkin' THEORY! Be Practical Man!)

Robin

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: Peter T.
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 02:21 PM

The one that really bugs me is trying to get a progression like C-Dm-Em -- easy as pie on the guitar, but you have to fumble around on the acc.

The other bitch is getting bass runs down from let's say, C, where you want to go C-B-Bb-A -- and your mind has grooved down C-B-A. Crumbs.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: Peter T.
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 02:16 PM

It's a C# minor! yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 02:05 PM

Peter, as far as I am concerned with that outer row of buttons, kraakens be there, as it is over the edge of the world. Only reach as far as the major 7ths, and then only on Sundays.

What you say is quite correct about building minor chords out of major chords and basses, and I have had to do it this very day. I had a go at singing 'Hard Times Come Again No More' with the box, and found that the key of E suited my vocal range the best. The problem is that the minor chord, and God in his heaven knows what it is called, does not exist on the top end of my 72 bass range, so I had to construct it with an E major chord and the C# counterbass. I have just taken ages to work out what that bugger is called, as I play by mathematical patterns, so the notes just have spacial coordinates rather than names. I know stuff about keys purely for communicating with other musicians who want to share a tune.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: Peter T.
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 01:48 PM

Well, I think I have figured this out. It turns out (I didn't know) that the diminished on the accordion is actually the 1,3, and 7, dropping the 5th (in C, the Gb). So, a C diminished is C, Eb, A on the accordion. If you add the F note from the next row over, you get a full F7 - F, A, Eb, C. When you would ever need this, I don't know.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: Peter T.
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 12:56 PM

OK accordionists, here is a question. In an article on substitutions I have been reading, the author makes reference to a well known trick, which is to get (for example) an Am7 chord on the bass, by pressing the Cmajor chord button, and reaching over to the A counterbass over the F next door, thus giving you C,E,G,A. Then there is a strange reference to making 7th chords from diminisheds using the counterbass. The basic idea seems to be that the diminished as it exists on the accordion is only three notes -- in C, C, E, Gb. Somehow this can be turned into a 7th of some key by using the counterbass, but I am too stupid to figure it out. Anyone help?

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 07:57 PM

Can't be of any real help with work - there are "entertainment parks" In Australia too Alex - Dream world, Sea world, etc.

System has gone crazy - typing not working correctly... back later..

Robin

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: ALEX_
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 11:42 AM

A bit less then a month - that is all the time we've got until we leave Korea (where we've spent about 2 years) and now we actively carry out the search of a new work, because from Russia it will be much more difficult... I apply with a big request to Mudcats in the assistance in search of work.
As far as I think, we can apply to work of performing plan, in different entertaining companies, restaurants, entertaining parks, appearances with the concert programs, and can be even - teaching work.
We'd appreciate any advice or wishes.
Thank you
Accordiomania

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: ALEX_
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 11:31 AM

Foolestroupe, thank you, I already began to read threads about an accordion on Mudcat, though it turns out at me not so quickly as I want. The idea of meeting in the internet is very interesting, I have a microphone and speakers, but I do not know what is Paltalk. And I see another problem - I afraid, the my colloquial English is much worse of my writing, and scarcely I will be able clear to express the thoughts in the circle of professionals of English. Anyway, I with pleasure would take part in such meeting, even if as a passive listener!

Robomatic, a bayan is Russian name of button accordion. A bayan conducts the history from the ancient relative - Garmoshka, simplest type of bayan, small size and limited range. On a bayan you can play the music of different genres and directions , but I consider best of all sounds on bayan folk music , such as "Zorka alaya" which you heard, and so on. Modern bayans have registres as on an accordion and free-bass system in a left keyboard, which allows to play a polyphonic music, modern and etc. In Russia professional accordionists also have free-bass on the accordions, I played exactly on such accordion during a study in a college and in a conservatory.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 08:36 AM

I use that too, Garg, but using the knee to kick the rythmn so that it gives each beat a bit of thump. I must admit that I never concentrated on the bellows, and my playing style just happened.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 12:55 AM

ALEX_

As posted in several other threads of similar corrilary.....I like to create a vibrato of the bellows and an organ equivilant of "Vox Humana" by resting the instrument upon my thigh (while seated) and doing a "rock-climber's sewing machine knee" for a tremelo effect.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: CarolC
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 11:45 PM

The bellows is definitely the soul of the accordion for me. It's difficult for me to explain the ways I use it, but as for changing bellows directions during a single note, I will sometimes do that to produce a similar effect to that of changing the direction of a bow in the middle of a note in playing a violin.

I like to use the bellows to give my playing nuance, so I pay more attention to my bellows technique than just about any other aspect of my playing. I also use it to convey emotion and feeling, so I really like using the bellows to make the sound swell and recede, to sound soft and reflective, or sweet, or rich and full, or powerful.

Subject: RE: Job for Accordionist
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 09:30 PM

Alex,

we should hear each other play sometime - there is a sound "chat room" for which you will need a mike & speakers on your PC - every thursday night Mudcat time on Paltalk.

Robin