Our accordion lessons are available to musicians of all ages, and of all skill levels. Whether you are ready to take your playing to the next level or if you are just starting out, or if your situation is somewhere in between, Eagle Rock Music Studio has something for you. Accordions are always in style at Eagle Rock here in Los Angeles; we take the lessons we offer for each and every instrument — and each and every student as well, of course — very seriously.
History
The accordion is thought to have originated in early 19th century Germany, although the instrument’s early history is not documented very thoroughly. One reason for this is that multiple instruments emerged in different areas around the same time that shared similar parts (namely the bellows) and had the same basic form, but were not identical. By the 1850s, the accordion had been introduced to both Brits and Americans, and was used mostly in folk music. Because music recordings did not exist until the early 20th century, audio samples of what the accordion sounded like early on are not available.
Appeal
Far from a novelty instrument, the accordionists may not typically be part of a modern pop ensemble, but many popular music acts have incorporated the accordion into their recordings and live performances, such as Arcade Fire, The Band, Barenaked Ladies, Counting Crows, The Decemberists, The E Street Band, Bruce Hornsby, John Mellencamp, Neutral Milk Hotel, Styx, Tom Waits, and Weird Al Yankovic. The accordion is also prominently featured in the song “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” which plays throughout Martin Scorsese’s 2006 film The Departed. And of course, the accordion is integral to much of the world’s ethnic and folk music, and has been known to pop up in classical works as well.
Lessons
Regardless of instrument, our philosophy remains the same with every lesson, namely that it is important for every musician to develop his or her own musical voice. We believe our students need to be in a learning environment that is supportive, friendly, and engaging — and yet also structured. Two course paths are ultimately available for those wishing to further their education of the accordion, one for aspiring professionals, and another for those who play recreationally or for enrichment.
However, both paths include the identification of your goals by your instructor, as well as the creation of a detailed action plan to see those goals become a reality. Practice is enormously important, of course, but having a mentor who can act as your spotter as you do your reps, so to speak, is even more critical. This ensures that you are staying on task and are not forming bad habits.
Every student is different and has different needs when it comes to teaching, so we tailor our lessons specifically for each student — all accordion lessons are private as a result.
Eagle Rock Music Studios is located just north of downtown Los Angeles between Glendale and Pasadena. We look forward to seeing you come by. For more information or to set up a lesson, please call us at 323-309-8467.