Video: “The Moon”
Composed by Megumi Hada
Bayan performance by Stas Venglevski
Video by Mark and Karen Ward

Megrim’s Book/CD #4 “The Moon” for solo accordion has recently been released. The book contains 16 songs which are easy listening and each has a story to tell.

Megumi (Meg) Hada was born in Japan, studied science and received a Ph.D. in Biology at Kobe University. She worked at several universities in Japan as an assistant professor and research scientist. She moved to the USA in 2001 to work at Brookhaven National Laboratory, NY. In 2004 she moved to Houston TX to work at NASA Johnson Space Center.

Megumi began studying the piano accordion in 2012 after she met Shelia Lee in her Pasadena (near Houston) TX accordion shop. Meg studied with Shelia and Mario Pedone for 3 years. Receiving a scholarship to attend the 2015 Silver Fall Accordion Camp in Oregon opened the door to the accordion world and a turning point for her. After being inspired by many accomplished accordionists and instructors at Silver Falls, she started attending many accordion events such as NAA, AAA, ATG Cotati and Las Vegas International Convention.

Meg specialized in playing tango music and is an accomplished tango dancer as well. Currently she studies under Stas Venglevski and Mary Tokarski. Meg is an organizer of the Houston Accordion Orchestra Retreat. She also promotes accordion concerts and workshops in Houston. Meg began composing for accordion in November, 2021, having been inspired by an online workshop, “Introduction to Composing for Accordion” by Guy Klucevsek. She has released 4 books of her compositions in various style, including waltzes, tangos, marches and more introspective pieces based on classical music models. Each book is accompanied by a CD recording of the pieces by Stas Venglevski.

Meg shares her thoughts, “Playing accordion is a meditation for me. It helped me to go through my difficult time in my life, losing my dance partner and life partner. Now the accordion is my dance partner. I can express my emotions through the accordion.” Meg’s thoughts on composing, “My teacher, Stas Venglevski, tells me that everybody can compose and create their own music., But I thought composing music was only for people with a musical education, which did not apply to me.

In November 2020, I participated in a 30-min Zoom workshop “Introduction to Composing Music on and for the Accordion” by Guy Klucevsek. I never wrote a note before this workshop. I was inspired by this workshop and that very night, I wrote my first composition, “Spring Wind.” I was so elated and amused with composing process that the following week I wrote 10 more songs. Stas taught me how to use music notation software, and with his guidance I wrote more and more. I have created more than 100 compositions,released four books and accompanying CDs (performed by Stas Venglevski) of my original works for solo accordion. My 5th book/CD are in progres. My inspiration for composing music is linked to emotions. I have visual images of scenarios in my life affected by emotions, happiness, sadness, pain, anger, emptiness….. Like writing poetry, I write music. With the image and emotion, some small phrase comes to mind; I start with a small phrase.”

For further information on purchasing her books and CD’s: meghada33@gmail.com