Sooner or later nearly all instrumentalists discover that their technique is slipping.  The constant and varied demands of life can easily drain away time with your instrument and thus form a serious threat to your hard-earned technique.  The old phrase, "use it or lose it" still says it all.

Many of us come to feel that just practicing once in a while, or merely playing for students during lessons will keep the fingers in trim.  This would be fine if it worked, but over the long pull, this approach only leads to frustration and you may begin to notice that you can't even do a passable job on your students' easier pieces.

The only reliable solution to the problem of retaining your technique is to first realize the importance of keeping what you've worked so hard to get - and that your present technical equipment will inevitably deteriorate if neglected.  Like all applied skills, technique thrives only with use.

1. DO IT NOW

Don't "try" to find time to practice.  Take it!!  Decide now what the best time is for you to sit down with your accordion on a regular basis, and then do it.

2. USE YOUR PRACTICE TIME EFFECTIVELY

Enjoyment is the key to sticking to any regular activity, whether it's a physical fitness program or instrumental practice.  So spice your playing sessions with the things you want to play and enjoy, but remember to make time also for a few of the basic technical drills as well.  If you do a few scales each time you practice, you can cover them all in a week.  If you just keep these in trim (and up to tempo), you will have done much to keep your technique in shape.

3. PICK A FEW "OLDIES" TO PERK YOU UP

Select one or two of your old exercises and polish them up.  Better yet, why not re-memorize them so that you can use them as your standard warm up.

4. THE OLD AND THE NEW

Decide which numbers in your repertoire are important for you to know, and go over them now and then to keep them available.  On the other hand, pick up a few of the pieces you've always wanted to learn, and read through them during your sessions.  If you keep this up, before long you will be gratified by having mastered them.  It's important to keep your learning muscles in shape too.

That's all there is.  There isn't any more.  Plan your work, and work your plan.  Of course you know these things without being told, but what have you done about it up to now?

Let this article be your starter.  You've got to get started playing your instrument on a regular basis again, or eventually you may not be able to play a 'C' scale in whole notes!

Technique is like money..... If you don't use it, it depreciates.  But if you invest regularly in short, intelligent, practice periods, your dividends will be rewarding.  Especially when you feel that 'old -glow' returning to your hands and fingers and in your heart too - as you realize that you can, after all, still play.