The very unusual and highly regarded annual mid-summer New York event, Accordion Master Class and Concert Series, or simply “the seminars,” as participants call it, enjoyed its twenty-eighth anniversary this year at the usual time (last weekend of July) under, as always, its creator, moderator, and active performing participant, New York accordion celebrity, composer, and unique musical thinker, Dr. William Schimmel. The event was a creative project by the Accordion Global Association and Studio Muse – William Schimmel/Micki Goodman – Benjamin Niemczyk, Production

As always, the seminars ran for three days and were evenly divided each day into a seminar/workshop segment and a subsequent concert. What is unusual, however, is that it has been presented virtually since 2020, instead of live at the Tenri Center, as in the past, due to the advent of Covid. Nevertheless, the quality of the programming and the esprit de corps of all involved has remained as high as ever, and has even spawned some new, exciting trends.

As in all past seminars, there was a large roster of performers and composers in this summer’s installment, offering a very diverse program of music of all ilks (popular, jazz, classical, contemporary, etc.) and discussion topics. Many of the participants, including myself, have given talks, performed, and composed works for the seminars every year since its beginning in 1995, but there is an increasing number of younger, energetic contributors with fresh ideas and creations, particularly in the area of electronic media, who have come aboard in recent years.

Here is a sampling of this year’s participants and their contributions:

PERFORMANCES: (see also list of videos below):

Rita Davidson Barnea: four works by Eugene Ettore
Benjamin Ickies: “We All Fall Down”
Denise Koncelik: “1-11” (by Denise Koncelik)
Robert McMahan: “Three Tidbits,” for accordion, by McMahan; “Introduction & Dance”, by David Diamond; “Prelude of the Sea”, by Carlos Surinach; (all are parts of seminars by McMahan)
William Schimmel and wife, dancer Micki Goodman, performing “Kinesis”, by Bill Schimmel;
Bill Schimmel performing “TMI”, by Gene Pritzker; arrangement by Dan Cooper of Schubert’s “Gute Nacht;” “The Old Lady that Swallowed a Fly”, by Milica Paranosic; “Revolution Tropes”, by David First; with Godfrey Nelson and Lorraine Nelson, “Break the Rules”; improvisations on songs of Jerome Kern, Rodgers and Hart, and Cole Porter

PRESENTATIONS:

Will Holshouser: Discussion on Percussion Technique
Robert McMahan: Discussion of American Accordionists’ Association Commissioned Works at Intermediate Level; Discussion of McMahan’s own recent intermediate level composition, Three Tidbits
William Schimmel: brief intermittent discussions on the accordion as “homing pigeon;” clever choices in the naming of an ensemble for promotional purposes; the drone as a useful compositional device; proper facial expressions while playing different types of music; unusual gigs.
Paul Stein: Advice on Playing at Weddings (Including One’s Own!)

HIGHLY CREATIVE VIDEO COMPOSITIONS. In many cases, the visual element vied wonderfully in importance with the accordion composition soundtrack. Some are deep and serious while others are highly humorous. All are extremely inventive and entertaining.

Robert Goldberg: “Some Regular Trees”, for 5 accordions.
Mary Spencer Knapp: “Yoga Positions While Wearing Accordion; and Nervous Flyer”
Main Squeeze Accordion Orchestra, video produced by Denise Koncelik: “Royal Twilight Crystals”, by William Schimmel.
Doug Makofka: “Introduction and Song”
Dean Olsher: “Waiting to Be Born”
Jeanne Velonis: “Three Songs of Bellows, Buttons, and Keys”, by Melana Watras
Discussion on arranging early music for the accordion, using John Dowland’s popular “Lachrimae” (1604), as an example. Includes Velonis arrangement for 2 accordions, both parts played by her via split screen. (Some typical “Velonian” humor involved here as well.)
Duet with Denise Koncelik of Kemp’s “Jig” in humorous kitchen scene

Brief Consultations with Developing Accordionists Sari Kalin and Jack Benedetto

I hope that more people will consider joining the 2023 session next July especially since necessity has now made the seminars easily available to the entire world online. The program addresses all facets of the accordion and warmly welcomes all who are interested in one way or the other in the accordion whether they are amateurs, professionals, or just simply engaged listeners.

For more information: accordionbill@gmail.com