Oom-pa-pa

Tonight I had my first accordion lesson from the talented accordion man, Martin White. Remember when I said this may be difficult because I never played piano, but then thought (read: convinced myself) it would be fine? Well it’s coming back to haunt me a bit now. This whole two things at once concept is crazy.

Fun fact: the bass buttons on the accordion go up in fifths, like the strings on the cello. I felt strangely calm after figuring that out.

Anyway, my accordion books came today, one called ‘Play the Accordion Today’ and another book of French Tangos, which looks clearly impossible at this point. But Martin kindly said it was something to aim for. The ‘Play the Accordion Today’ book had all the usual crap songs you play learning any instrument, including the joys of On Top of Old Smokey and Skip to My Lou, and random made-up favourites like German Song.

But I don’t mind, I’m enjoying having a go at an instrument that doesn’t require quite such a punishing practice schedule just to make a half-decent sound.

In other instruments-that-aren’t-cello news, I spent a good hour and a half playing flute tonight, prepping for orchestra rehearsal on Thursday. The third movement of the Bizet completely baffles me. It’s in ultra-quick 3/4, so you’re just madly shouting ’1! 1! 1!’ in your head to keep up. Bah. Somehow it also being in three is confounding my sense of rhythm. Especially as it comes after the slow movement in 9/8, which always feels three beats too long in every bar. Urgh.

We may not even play the rest of the Bizet, there are rumours of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto afoot. I don’t know that one at all.

Okay okay, I’m going to make myself get through German Song on the accordion and then lie on the couch in a post-learning-hard-things stupor.