An intensive weekend for piano accordion players of intermediate level and above. You’ll work with a crack team of tutors this year including Paul Hutchinson, Murray Grainger and Becky Price.
You will spend time, in small groups, honing technique, repertoire and interpretation of folk tunes and accompaniment. Advanced players will also work on improvisation. There will be time for informal evening sessions and a Saturday night tutors’ concert.
The Reed Lounge will be providing a trade stand with boxes to try as well as a range of spares and accessories.
“I particularly enjoyed the camaraderie of the participants and the emphatic teaching to individual needs by the tutors.” 2018 Participant.
Who’s it For?
This course is for intermediate and advanced players. These are the course levels that we are using. If you are a complete beginner we are running a separate course suitable for you alongside this one see Beginners Accordion Course.
For this intermediate and above level course as a minimum requirement, you’ll need to know your way around the right hand and have an understanding of the left hand layout too. You’ll have a fair idea of rhythm, be able to follow at a reasonable pace, and be starting to think about musical style and how to control your sound. You’ll also need to be able to read music.
The Programme is coming soon.
“I left feeling more confident, with a more open mind on chording and with a renewed enthusiasm to TRY sometimes to play without music! Thanks so much for a helpful and friendly weekend with no responsibilities and loads of fun.” 2017 Participant.
The Team
Paul Hutchinson studied piano and church organ before being persuaded at the age of 17 to take up the accordion and form a ceilidh band. Since then he’s become one of the best-known and in demand players on the folk scene – in the UK and beyond – as one half of duo Belshazzar’s Feast, with trio Hoover the Dog, Pagoda Project (with Karen Wimhurst), and PLF. Paul is a regular tutor and musician at Halsway Manor, and the accordion tutor for EFDSS at Cecil Sharp House.
Murray Grainger is one of Britain’s most influential and innovative accordionists. Whether working with the finest orchestras, pushing the boundaries with his traditional projects or teaching around the UK, Murray is at the forefront of the British accordion scene. Trained in the classical accordion at The Royal Academy of Music, Murray has been a tutor in both classical and folk accordion at Chetham’s School of Music, on Newcastle University’s Folk and Traditional Music course, and as the Director of Education for Young Musicians Stornoway. He is a regular tutor on Halsway Manor’s Accordion Weekend.
Becky Price took up the accordion aged 22. She developed a distinctive style inspired by her love of Blowzabella, French melodeon players & the church organ music she played as a teenager. She played with numerous bands including Finality Jack, Boldwood, Hell Said the Duchess, and Honeymoon Trio. She also appears on albums with her hero’s Jon Swayne & Dave Shepherd. As a pianist she contributed to Sam Sweeney’s Unfinished Violin album and her solo piano album recorded in 2011 is overdue to be released. She has been teaching accordion since 1996 festivals, residential weekends, down the bottom of the garden and has been a guest tutor for the National Youth Folk Ensemble. We welcome her to Halsway Manor.
Tutor Jane Ward will be leading a beginners accordion weekend alongside this course for more advanced players.