Learning to play the accordion independently is achievable, however, certain challenges may arise without the guidance of a teacher during the learning process. In order to successfully master accordion playing, it is important to adhere to the following guidelines:
REGULAR PRACTICE
Consistently work through the textbook and practice playing the accordion daily. From the third month of learning onwards, it is recommended to dedicate an average of two hours per day to practising the instrument. Gaps in practice, even for just one or two days, can result in a loss of acquired skills.
SEQUENTIAL APPROACH
Follow the guide sequentially, completing assignments as instructed. If encountering familiar material, it is advisable to review it to prevent any gaps in knowledge and unintentional errors in performance.
SELF-ASSESSMENT
Continuously evaluate your playing, paying attention to the melody and accompaniment (both right and left-hand parts). If unsure about the accuracy of your playing, compare it against the sheet music, playing slowly and counting aloud. Playing with counting helps in maintaining rhythm and precision in execution.
To strengthen the covered material, it is crucial to complete all assigned tasks (both practical and theoretical) and confirm the solutions by playing them on the accordion. Only after this should you refer to the task answers.
Focus on maintaining correct posture, controlling the position of the accordion, hands, and fingers. Be attentive when operating the bellows, ensuring a smooth motion that does not disrupt the melody or hinder its progression with abrupt bellows movements.
LEARNING DISCIPLINE
Learning discipline is essential for progress. Set clear goals for yourself and work towards achieving them consistently. Engage actively with both the textbook and the instrument, going beyond just reading and playing. Delve deeply into theoretical and practical material.
A strong sense of duty and responsibility to oneself is crucial for developing good learning discipline.
REVISITING PREVIOUS MATERIAL
Regularly review and practice previously covered material. During lessons, evaluate your understanding of the material covered. Take on the role of both student and teacher. To improve accordion skills, focus on repeating challenging sections and demanding self-repetition of material.
Repetition should include theoretical questions, exercises, studies, and previously learned musical pieces. Revisiting old pieces regularly helps in building a repertoire.
In order to meet the necessary requirements for independent practice in learning to play the accordion, it is important for the student to possess more than just a desire to learn. They must also demonstrate strong determination, persistence, and patience. It is recommended that students allocate approximately one month to study each assignment.
Each practical task consists of three musical pieces. One of these pieces must be memorised completely, played at the correct tempo, without any errors or interruptions, within the given time frame. The other two pieces are optional for study.
The chosen piece for study should be transcribed into a music notebook. Additionally, a written assignment must be completed. It is important to remember that a proficient accordion player should not only be able to read musical notes but also write them.
