When Valarie Morris told me she had a new method book for the mini-button accordion, I was amazed. I thought, "Is there no end to this person's energy?"  I didn't even know what the mini button accordion was and she already had a method written for the instrument. Well, in her usual methodical manner (no pun intended), Valarie has come up with another winner. These little inexpensive mini button accordions are becoming quite popular, and who better to write a method for it than the always inquisitive and prolific Valarie Morris.  We hope you have a lot of fun with  this very attractive and enjoyable study manual. Time is wasting. Get one today!. 

 [Table of Contents]
[2 Musical Examples]

How to Play the Mini Button Accordion introduces the new notation system I've developed to help you play tunes very soon with your new mini button accordion! Pages 2 and 4 of this book give some general information about music and your mini button accordion. Look carefully at the hand and fingering positions on page 3. Place your right hand thumb in the small plastic loop (behind the keys) for all positions and place your left fingers (no thumb) under the large strap so that those fingers can comfortably reach the buttons. Play the exercises on pages 5 to 9 to develop skills in coordinating your fingers and bellows. Try to sing or hum the tunes as you play. Play by ear too!
 
 

Wait until you can play a tune slowly and evenly before you play it a little faster. When you practice new tunes slowly to get the correct patterns in your fingers, your fingers soon easily move faster to the correct notes. Gradually build up your speed until you can play the tune at the tempo you want.

For Sur Le Pont D’Avignon and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, practice the top line first. You play this line with your right hand. When you can play that part easily, practice the bottom line using your left hand. When you can play the left hand easily, slowly play the music with both hands together.

To add a harmony part to Sur Le Pont D’Avignon, play the melody in C position. Another person can play this part or, if you're brave, you can play it by pressing two keys at once as you go through the tune. When the Saints Go Marching In and We Wish You a Merry Xmas are written in two parts (acc 1 and acc 2 for accordions 1 and 2) so that you can play the tune with one or more players. Notice that when playing these tunes you need to change your right hand position. Practice those parts carefully. In any of the tunes, you can designate a special person as the bass note player.

After learning the notes in a tune, focus on your personal interpretation by varying the dynamics (volume), articulations (ways you attack each note, such as staccato, legato, accented), phrasing (similar to the phrasing used when you speak), and expression. This is what gives musicality to music. Most important in expressing the character of different music is your interpretation and the feeling and emotion within you that you put into the music. Music comes from your heart and soul.

I hope you have fun playing these exercises and tunes on your new mini button accordion!