Are accordionists sometimes so focused on the accordion world that we miss opportunities beyond it?
In this solo episode of Everything Accordion Podcast, I reflect on a question that has come up repeatedly in conversations with accordionists, students and listeners: is the accordion really as misunderstood and excluded from the wider musical world as we sometimes believe or have we become too comfortable inside our own ecosystem?
I look at what I see as three partly separate worlds surrounding the instrument: the accordion competition, festival, and association environment; the broader classical and contemporary music world, where the accordion exists alongside other instruments and art forms; and the many folk and traditional music cultures in which the accordion already has a natural home. These worlds intersect, but often much less than they could.
The question becomes particularly interesting when we consider the familiar idea that the accordion is still misunderstood, stereotyped or not taken seriously. Those challenges certainly exist. But could focusing too strongly on them reinforce a mentality that sends us back toward the places where the instrument is already understood: the accordion competitions, accordion festivals and accordion audiences that feel most familiar?
Instead of seeing unfamiliarity with the accordion only as an obstacle, I argue that it can also be an opportunity. There are audiences looking for something they have not heard before, musicians interested in new collaborations and festivals searching for distinctive musical ideas. Chamber music is one possible bridge, but certainly not the only one.
Perhaps our job is not always to convince existing institutions that they need an accordion. Perhaps we should look for places where interesting music is already being made and ask how the accordion can contribute or create those places ourselves. Ultimately, the musical idea has to come first. We are not simply presenting an instrument. We are presenting music.
I would genuinely like this episode to become a conversation. Have you ever felt that the accordion was rejected or misunderstood? And have you experienced the opposite, a situation where stepping outside the traditional accordion environment opened unexpected doors? Share your thoughts in the comments or get in touch with the podcast.
This podcast is supported by listeners and friends who believe in the project. A special thank you to Herbert Scheibenreif, a longtime friend of the podcast, for his continued generosity and support.
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