Dallas Vietty Teaches “Creativity for Accordionists” Zoom Series
April 1st 2021
Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor Accordion USA News

Accordionist Dallas Vietty is offering a 9 week zoom course on “Creativity for Accordionists”. The Spring Session, which includes 6 lessons, runs from the week of April 5th through June 18th. Dallas shares, “Students will begin before the first class by filling out a questionnaire designed to help them understand their own creative desires, help them describe places which they feel could benefit from more creativity, and begin to describe the current relationship and perspective they have with musical creativity. The answers here will help us stay true to our own creative identity and make sure each student is honoring their own self.
Creativity for adults and specifically music students is more about permitting/helping the process to happen, than it is about needing to give all kinds of tools. As such, the subject we will be talking about will be broader than a music theory or a composition class would cover. And will be designed to motivate and spark creativity with all of us. Each week’s assignment will be making musical things: embellishments, arrangements, compositions. And by doing so we will be forced to ultimately look at our musical selves in the mirror. And in this class we will smile and accept what we have made. Embracing it as a reflection of ourselves and our impulse to express. We will make, listen, evaluate and learn with love, compassion and openness.
The classes will be geared for all levels. It is you the student who must accept that you are ready to be creative. If you’re brand new to music and you feel you’re ready, then hop right on. If you’re a musical veteran and you feel you’re ready, then you’re ready. No prior experience is necessary. No amount of musical theory is necessary. If you want to make more, this is for you.”
Curriculum:
Class 1: Who are you if you only have what you have now?
Class 2: lets find your ‘voice’
Class 3: the purpose of music
Class 4: nature, voice, musical instruments
Class 5: fear and let’s make something really awful
Class 6: how does an accordion sound?
Class 7: palmer & hughes & you
Class 8: for someone: ode, elegy, tribute
Class 9: pizza party
Award-winning accordionist and educator Dallas Vietty is a versatile musician performing jazz and swing in the United States today. Dallas’ unique style comes from his background in the American jazz tradition, as well as study and immersion in the European swing tradition of Django Reinhardt (Gypsy Jazz) and French accordionists. Dallas remains very active on the East Coast concert and festival scene. His groups have performed at some of the top U.S. festivals including: TEDx Philly, Djangoary Festival. As a sideman his performances have taken him to legendary venues like: The Iridium NYC, BB King’s Time Square, Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center, and the Philadelphia Kimmel Center.
For further information on the course: dallasvietty@gmail.com