Ralph Stricker's Jazz Theory and Improvisation Studies for the Accordion has been one of the best selling items from the JANPress catalog for the last several years. And for good reasons. Ralph has a way of taking  pedagogy of a complicated art form like jazz and putting it in a language that any dedicated student can understand and apply immediately. Subsequently he has taken a look at the large void of good accordion teaching methods practical for adults. Many customers have written us asking if there is an alternative to the juvenile Palmer-Hughes method for beginners to intermediate students. Until now, whether you were a young child or an adult, the Palmer Hughes book was one of the very few methods available, all of which were very focused on juvenile teaching methods.

However, with Ralph Stricker's Study of the Accordion: Beginner and Intermediate any beginning adult can be playing polkas, "Sharpshooters March", and a Bach Minuet by the end of the book! I can't remember exactly, but the Palmer Hughes method doesn't get you to that level until somewhere around books 5 through 9. So any way you look at it, this method is a bargain. Because it saves you time and money and helps to get you where you need to go much faster than the traditional methods.

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"I decided to write this Beginner-Intermediate Book for the Accordion, as a favor.  A very dear friend asked if I had any method books for the instrument, I replied "Unfortunately, I did not have any."  I had not taught the accordion for a number of years due to the lack of interest for this most beautiful sounding instrument.

I can remember when the accordion was one of the most popular instruments in the world.  Unfortunately, with the advent of that I call 'Garbage Music' it met its demise in many parts of the world.  I remember listening to Art Van Damme, Joe Mooney, Pietro Deiro, Pietro Frosini, Charles Magnante and many other great artists.

Today there are only a handful of such great players.  Frank Marocco, Peter Soave, Tommy Gumina, Gordie Fleming, and Eddie Monteiro to name a few. (Art Van Damme is retired).

This book starts with the study of the 12 Bass and after approximately ten lessons, it continues with the 120 Bass.  A student should be on the 120 Bass Accordion as soon as possible.  The 12 Bass should only be used to determine of the student has the musical ability and coordination needed to learn the 120 Bass.

The book guides the student lesson by lesson, each lesson prepares the student for the next lesson. The extent of exercises that prepares the students technique is left to the discretion of the individual teacher.  Each person is different as far as the development of technique is concerned.

I advise the use of piano music in studying of the accordion.  This was one of the mistakes that the old time accordion teachers made.  They kept on using an archaic method for teaching this instrument.  Why is it called the PIANO ACCORDION?  Certainly the budding accordionist should learn the great works written for the accordion, but they should also learn the classics as written for the piano.  Any good teacher can transcribe those works for the accordion.  I particularly recommend the 'BACH TWO PART INVENTIONS' as an important study for developing independence of hands."