Welcome

I love Accordion Art and I will feature more art work throughout the site!  This piece is called “Accordion Man" and was painted by Lori Quarton.  See more of Lori's work at America Fine Arts

Learning Accordion can be great fun! Experience the Craic for yourself! Classes for Adults & Children.  all levels from Beginners & Improvers. 

The Accordion is a highly versatile musical instrument.  It is a complete instrument capable not only of producing rich melody  but also rich accompaniment thanks to an effective bass and chord section on the left hand side of the instrument.   The Piano accordion and its respective three and five row button models is ideal for the solo musician who can explore and perform a rich repertoire of music from around the world.

The accordion has inveigled itself into the traditional  music of a diverse range of cultures across the globe, often replacing traditional instruments. It's quite an amazing story about how an instrument, first patented in Vienna in 1829, has become accepted as “traditional" by so many cultures across the globe.  But it was wasn't a smooth ride! It is therefore  a instrument of huge cultural significance whose story is indelibly linked to major historical events, the migration of people,  the preservation of traditions and a reflection of cultural change that have taken place over the last 250 years.  People escaping poverty, famine and deprivation in their own lands, literally carried their musical culture with them “on their backs" to new lands and new opportunities.

Today, the accordion has matured from its humble “Folk Music " origin to become a instrument of serious musical study across the world stage.  Accordion Orchestras are hugely popular with accordions appearing in chamber music and symphony orchestras with many rock and popular music groups now including accordion in their lineup. 

Yet the accordion has in many respects suffered from an “identity" crisis.  It is not old enough to be classified as “classical" and has had a bumpy ride and in some cases complete opposition in many “folk" and “tradItional" circles. 

 Having enjoyed a golden era from the 1930's to the 1960's, the accordion decreased in popularity but is now gaining in popularity again in the music world.  Throughout all the changes however, the “fun element" and versatility of the accordion has remained constant.