The ATG is offering a pre-festival seminar on accordion repair basics at the Harrington ARTS Center in conjunction with A World of Accordions Museum in Superior, WI. from August 9-12, 2009 .
The seminar will be introduced by a tour of the museum and its resources on Aug. 9, 2009, 4:00-7:00 PM. This tour offers invaluable information on accordion-family-instruments history and evolution, the connections and interrelationships of all members of the instrument family, recognition of decade/era/ethnicity of manufacture, assessing value, companies vs. brand names, worldwide dissemination and use, aesthetic considerations, and demos of acoustic types and tuning standards.
Participants will have opportunity for hands-on work with button diatonic-, and piano-accordions. Button chromatic accordions, concertinas and bandonions will be included in demonstrations on:
1. Instrument handling procedures
2. Understanding how they play and should sound according to quality rankings (Beginner, Intermediate, Professional, Fine, World-Class)
3. Assessing condition: determining problems/solutions
4. The worktable/workshop and basic equipment
5. Disassembly/reassembly procedures in basic
6. Maintenance and cleaning procedures
7. Grill cloth replacement and cosmetics
8. Treble keyboard work: pulling the axle, key removal and cleaning, pallets issues
9. Understanding how reeds work, their types and problems
10. Reed-banks and reed-blocks layouts
11. Denoting pitches; understanding shift functions
12. Stradella (Standard) bass machines
13. Basic tuning procedures
14. Rewaxing and releathering
15. Common bellows issues
16. Storage, traveling, shipping, crating
17. Preventing problems: care of your instrument
Maximum number of participants will be ten, minimum number will be four. Sessions will begin at 9:00 AM and continue until 1:00, then resume from 5:00-7:00 PM. Snacks and coffee will be provided.
Studies flow best when our instruments are used. If you wish to work on yours, prior approval is required. Students are encouraged to work with a partner, may use our tools or bring their own, and we will furnish basic supplies.
Participants will need to arrange for their travel and accommodations during the seminar and afterwards, if attending the ATG Festival and Competition in Minneapolis. We often work with a motel in walking distance to HARTS for reduced rates. Many types of food service are nearby.
Participation fee is $300.00. If the seminar attendee is an ATG member, 10% will be contributed to the ATG general fund. Registration and $50 deposit are required by July 27, 2009.
Please indicate your intent by contacting:
Dr. Helmi Harrington, Harrington ARTS Center, 1401 Belknap Street, Superior, WI 54880
Phone: 715-395-2787
Email: accordion@sprynet.com.
The enrollment form, schedule, (optional) tools list, protective items, (suggested) preparatory reading, and other details will follow. A notebook and folder for hand-outs is suggested. Still photography is permitted; video/audio taping is not.
