The Accordionists and Teachers Guild, Int’l. (ATG) issued its new Syllabus of Examinations at the end of 2021. After about 18 months of weekly meetings of the Syllabus Committee composed of Joan Cochran Sommers (Chair), Beverley Fess (Co-Chair), Amy Jo Sawyer, and Joanna Darrow, 9 levels of both Practical and Written requirements related to the study of the accordion were established.
This includes the requirements for solo performance, the building of technique in both hands, aural and sight-reading skills, as well as those for general musical knowledge. There are suggestions for accomplishing these requirements but there is room also for own choices to be made in the many selections of solos, exercises and studies. The works of many composers and arrangers from several different countries are included in these lists.
All instruments, regardless of type, i.e., piano keyboard or button right hand, stradella or free bass left hand, chromatic or quint, whether C (Italian), B (Russian), or Finnish Systems, for example, reed or digital, may be used to pass the various Practical requirements. There is an opportunity to learn either or both stradella and free bass from the very beginning Preparatory Level. However, it is required to show proficiency in both stradella and free bass in the upper four levels, with a definitive emphasis on free bass in the upper two levels. This is a deliberate attempt on the part of the ATG Syllabus Committee to help bring that proficiency up to the level of all other players throughout the accordion world. Without a doubt, the accordion repertoire of today shows the need for our students to play both stradella and free bass.
The ATG Syllabus of 2021 is the newest revised version and will always be available for purchase on the ATG website: www.atgaccordions.com. It is available to all and, along with related materials regarding publishers, and suggested books for other musical studies, will be updated as necessary. Many people have been purchasing it and have sent messages back to the Syllabus Committee giving congratulations and saying how much they appreciate seeing so much important information in the Syllabus. The examinations may be taken during the ATG Festivals as well as online during other times of the year. Those details are printed elsewhere in the Syllabus.
Submitted by Joan Cochran Sommers on behalf of the ATG Syllabus Committee.
