2019 News Archive
Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society Update
February 9, 2019
Two was the charm in January. After snow forced us to cancel the originally scheduled meeting, on the 13th, the weather cooperated on the 27th, and we were able to get together to elect officers for 2019 (the same as for 2018) and kick off the year with a play-along. Thanks go to Silvia Eberly for greeting us with her upbeat selections, to JoAnn Pankow for managing the refreshments, to Robert Ford for presiding over the play-along, and to all who brought music to share or just plain participated.
Please organize any music you received in a three-ring binder, so that you will have it for the next play-along. If you brought music, please bring any extra copies to the next play-along for those who missed this one.
As a reminder, here are the guidelines for good play-along music:
Next Meeting
Sunday, February 24, 4 pm
Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church
3435 Sleepy Hollow Road
Falls Church, Virginia
Check out our website at www.washingtonaccordions.org
More ...
At the January meeting, Karen Malan-Uribe mentioned a new Italian restaurant she and Luis had tried; see http://ciao-osteria.com/?utm_source=tripadvisor&utm_medium=referral
She also passed on this great story in the current AAA newsletter:
And All Because of a Bumper Sticker....
By Joan Grauman AAA Historian
“Who is this crazy person tailgating me??”, thought my good friend and fellow accordionist, JoAnn Pankow. She was driving to the Carver Center in Purcellville, Virginia to return containers that she uses to prepare and deliver meals through the center’s home-delivered meals program. The woman behind the wheel, Karen Michaels, was not going to give up. She pulled into the left lane of the road (yes, where oncoming traffic could be an issue!) and asked JoAnn to please stop. She did, and what a sweet meeting that turned out to be!! Why did Karen tailgate and stop JoAnn? Karen had been desperate to find other accordionists to play with her father. Then she saw JoAnn’s “I’d Rather Be Squeezin’” bumper sticker.
Karen’s father, Art Piel, is an accomplished accordionist. Art now has Alzheimer’s and has moved near his daughter to a dementia facility. Karen wanted to keep her father busy and fulfilled, so she signed him up as an official volunteer in Loudoun County, Virginia. Karen and Art were on their way to — you guessed it — the Carver Center where Art would play accordion for an adult daycare group. JoAnn returned her containers, then walked over to where Art was playing the popular music of the 1940s. She sat at the piano and joined him. Art was so pleased!
“My father lives in the moment,” Karen said. “If it’s a joyful moment, he will remember being happy.” She spoke of her father’s love of the accordion and of music in general. Art taught himself to play the accordion at the age of 5, then took lessons on and off, but he mainly plays by ear. Art worked on his sight-reading skills when the Connecticut Accordion Orchestra was formed. He loved playing with this group, then under the direction of Linda Soley Reed.
Linda described Art as “the sweetest person I have ever met. He always volunteered to help with everything and anything and was always the first to arrive at rehearsals and performances.” It was sad for all when it became apparent that Art was losing his memory.
“My father is still physically fine, but the dementia has become very advanced. This doesn’t take away his passion for music, and he still plays with feeling,” Karen noted. She asked JoAnn if she would consider accompanying her father again. JoAnn drove to the facility where Art now lives. His roommate is an accomplished guitar player and they frequently play together. JoAnn joined the duo playing the hits of the 40s. This time she brought her accordion. Art was thrilled!
Karen reflected on that first amazing meeting with JoAnn, which she feels was “God’s intervention.” Karen was running late that day, and she is almost never late for anything. “That car with the bumper sticker was RIGHT in front of me! If I had been on time....”
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[email protected] or [email protected]
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February 9, 2019
Two was the charm in January. After snow forced us to cancel the originally scheduled meeting, on the 13th, the weather cooperated on the 27th, and we were able to get together to elect officers for 2019 (the same as for 2018) and kick off the year with a play-along. Thanks go to Silvia Eberly for greeting us with her upbeat selections, to JoAnn Pankow for managing the refreshments, to Robert Ford for presiding over the play-along, and to all who brought music to share or just plain participated.
Please organize any music you received in a three-ring binder, so that you will have it for the next play-along. If you brought music, please bring any extra copies to the next play-along for those who missed this one.
As a reminder, here are the guidelines for good play-along music:
- Fake book (aka lead sheet) format preferred – easier to sight-read
- Relatively simple - no complex extended chords, no virtuosic passages
- Sight-readable on first reading by the majority of our players
- Melodic in nature
- Easily grasped rhythms
- Simpler key signatures
- No page turns – one page preferable, 2 pages max
- Multiple parts okay but each should meet the guidelines - may include right-hand-only part(s)
- Bring 20 copies the first time, and 6 for newcomers at subsequent play-alongs
Next Meeting
Sunday, February 24, 4 pm
Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church
3435 Sleepy Hollow Road
Falls Church, Virginia
Check out our website at www.washingtonaccordions.org
More ...
At the January meeting, Karen Malan-Uribe mentioned a new Italian restaurant she and Luis had tried; see http://ciao-osteria.com/?utm_source=tripadvisor&utm_medium=referral
She also passed on this great story in the current AAA newsletter:
And All Because of a Bumper Sticker....
By Joan Grauman AAA Historian
“Who is this crazy person tailgating me??”, thought my good friend and fellow accordionist, JoAnn Pankow. She was driving to the Carver Center in Purcellville, Virginia to return containers that she uses to prepare and deliver meals through the center’s home-delivered meals program. The woman behind the wheel, Karen Michaels, was not going to give up. She pulled into the left lane of the road (yes, where oncoming traffic could be an issue!) and asked JoAnn to please stop. She did, and what a sweet meeting that turned out to be!! Why did Karen tailgate and stop JoAnn? Karen had been desperate to find other accordionists to play with her father. Then she saw JoAnn’s “I’d Rather Be Squeezin’” bumper sticker.
Karen’s father, Art Piel, is an accomplished accordionist. Art now has Alzheimer’s and has moved near his daughter to a dementia facility. Karen wanted to keep her father busy and fulfilled, so she signed him up as an official volunteer in Loudoun County, Virginia. Karen and Art were on their way to — you guessed it — the Carver Center where Art would play accordion for an adult daycare group. JoAnn returned her containers, then walked over to where Art was playing the popular music of the 1940s. She sat at the piano and joined him. Art was so pleased!
“My father lives in the moment,” Karen said. “If it’s a joyful moment, he will remember being happy.” She spoke of her father’s love of the accordion and of music in general. Art taught himself to play the accordion at the age of 5, then took lessons on and off, but he mainly plays by ear. Art worked on his sight-reading skills when the Connecticut Accordion Orchestra was formed. He loved playing with this group, then under the direction of Linda Soley Reed.
Linda described Art as “the sweetest person I have ever met. He always volunteered to help with everything and anything and was always the first to arrive at rehearsals and performances.” It was sad for all when it became apparent that Art was losing his memory.
“My father is still physically fine, but the dementia has become very advanced. This doesn’t take away his passion for music, and he still plays with feeling,” Karen noted. She asked JoAnn if she would consider accompanying her father again. JoAnn drove to the facility where Art now lives. His roommate is an accomplished guitar player and they frequently play together. JoAnn joined the duo playing the hits of the 40s. This time she brought her accordion. Art was thrilled!
Karen reflected on that first amazing meeting with JoAnn, which she feels was “God’s intervention.” Karen was running late that day, and she is almost never late for anything. “That car with the bumper sticker was RIGHT in front of me! If I had been on time....”
Our mailing address is:
[email protected] or [email protected]
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.
**********************************************************************************************************************
Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society Update
February 27, 2019
What a great party! WMAS celebrated its sixteenth birthday with music, dancing, and cake on Sunday, February 24. It’s hard to believe we’re so old, but we still know how to have fun!
Thanks go to Halina Banas-Jones for setting the festive tone as greeter; to JoAnn and John Pankow for managing the kitchen; to Ken Kunec for serving as emcee and filling in awkward silences with music and jokes; to Halina and JoAnn for getting people out on the dance floor; to Karen and Luis Uribe for bringing the cake; and to all those who helped set up and clean up, performed for us, danced, provided dishes to share, and took part in the celebration. We appreciate all of you!
We were so happy to welcome two new friends this month. Karen Michaels and her dad, Art Piel, were two of the people Joan Grauman wrote about in last month’s update. JoAnn Pankow was the third, and she’s the reason Karen and Art came to the meeting. We loved hearing Art play, especially when he jammed with a few of our members toward the end of the meeting. What a treat! (For those who missed it, the story is republished below.)
At our next meeting, on March 17 at 4 pm, we’ll be celebrating both Saint Patrick’s Day and Saint Joseph’s Day (March 19), so please sign up to play an Irish or Italian piece. After that we’ll hold a play-along, so please also plan to bring your accordion, music stand, and your binder of sheet music (we know you’ve put one together). If you’d like to be the greeter, please let us know. In any case, we look forward to another great, music-filled get-together.
RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP
Our membership year starts January 1, so membership dues are payable now. Please see Peter DiGiovanni at the March meeting to get yourself square.
COMING UP!
Gypsy Jazz with LISA LIU and DALLAS VIETTY at Sandy Spring Museum
April 12, 8 pm
$20
Experience a musical performance like never before in the museum’s intimate Dr. Bird Room. This space allows you to enjoy the show without getting lost in a crowd. You’ll feel like you’re on stage with the artists!
Dallas Vietty is one of the most sought after accordionists in the US. Lisa Liu is an incredibly accomplished guitarist… and for one night only, they are bringing Gypsy Jazz to Sandy Spring. This style of music exploded on the scene in the 1930s with the help of famed European guitarist Django Reinhardt.
Dallas’s unique sound is heavily influenced by both Gypsy and American jazz. He has performed at some of the top US festivals, including TEDx Philly and Djangoary Festival, and has played iconic venues including The Iridium NYC and BB King’s Time Square.
Lisa fell in love with guitar at age 13 and knew early on that she wanted to study the art of jazz. She is an Artist Ambassador for the Santa Cruz Guitar Company and was accepted to be an Artist in Residence at The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation.
Hear them live at the Bird on April 12! Beer and wine will be available for purchase.
See https://www.sandyspringmuseum.org/event/gypsyjazz/
And All Because of a Bumper Sticker...
By Joan Grauman, AAA Historian
“Who is this crazy person tailgating me??” thought my good friend and fellow accordionist, JoAnn Pankow. She was driving to the Carver Center in Purcellville, Virginia to return containers that she uses to prepare and deliver meals through the center’s home-delivered meals program. The woman behind the wheel, Karen Michaels, was not going to give up. She pulled into the left lane of the road (yes, where oncoming traffic could be an issue!) and asked JoAnn to please stop. She did, and what a sweet meeting that turned out to be!! Why did Karen tailgate and stop JoAnn? Karen had been desperate to find other accordionists to play with her father. Then she saw JoAnn’s “I’d Rather Be Squeezin’” bumper sticker.
Karen’s father, Art Piel, is an accomplished accordionist. Art now has Alzheimer’s and has moved near his daughter to a dementia facility. Karen wanted to keep her father busy and fulfilled, so she signed him up as an official volunteer in Loudoun County, Virginia. Karen and Art were on their way to — you guessed it — the Carver Center where Art would play accordion for an adult daycare group. JoAnn returned her containers, then walked over to where Art was playing the popular music of the 1940s. She sat at the piano and joined him. Art was so pleased!
“My father lives in the moment,” Karen said. “If it’s a joyful moment, he will remember being happy.” She spoke of her father’s love of the accordion and of music in general. Art taught himself to play the accordion at the age of 5, then took lessons on and off, but he mainly plays by ear. Art worked on his sight-reading skills when the Connecticut Accordion Orchestra was formed. He loved playing with this group, then under the direction of Linda Soley Reed.
Linda described Art as “the sweetest person I have ever met. He always volunteered to help with everything and anything and was always the first to arrive at rehearsals and performances.” It was sad for all when it became apparent that Art was losing his memory.
“My father is still physically fine, but the dementia has become very advanced. This doesn’t take away his passion for music, and he still plays with feeling,” Karen noted. She asked JoAnn if she would consider accompanying her father again. JoAnn drove to the facility where Art now lives. His roommate is an accomplished guitar player and they frequently play together. JoAnn joined the duo playing the hits of the 40s. This time she brought her accordion. Art was thrilled!
Karen reflected on that first amazing meeting with JoAnn, which she feels was “God’s intervention.” Karen was running late that day, and she is almost never late for anything. “That car with the bumper sticker was RIGHT in front of me! If I had been on time....”
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Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society Update
March 30, 2019
March 17, our meeting date, was St. Patrick’s Day, so the Sleepy Hollow UMC fellowship hall was filled with Irish airs and green-clad people! The few who were not in green most likely were observing St. Joseph’s Day, the Italian holiday we were also celebrating; it falls on March 19. (Years in Rhode Island teach you that the one holiday is not possible without the other.
Thanks go, again, to Halina Banas-Jones for setting the festive tone as greeter, to JoAnn Pankow for managing the kitchen, and to Robert Ford for directing the play-along. Our president, Peter DiGiovanni, did the honors as emcee this time (we don’t want to overuse Ken Kunec) and his jokes were just as much groaners as Ken’s. Kudos, Peter! We also are grateful to all who helped set up and clean up, performed for us, provided dishes to share, and took part in the play-along. Thanks for bringing music to share, and for assembling your binders (hint, hint).
At our next meeting, on April 14 at 4 pm, we’ll be featuring international music, presented by Silvia Eberly (Austrian), Robert Ford (Bolivian), Yimeng Huang (Chinese), Mike Rubin (Israeli), and Jim Vandelly (Russian). Each will speak briefly about their genre and play some examples. There may be an opportunity to play with some of the presenters, and we also hope to play together as a group afterwards, so please bring your accordion.
If you’d like to be the greeter, please let us know. In any case, we look forward to another fun, music-filled get-together.
RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP
Our membership year starts January 1, so membership dues are payable now. Please see Peter DiGiovanni at the April meeting to get yourself square, or mail a check to 603 Rock Creek Church Road NW, Washington DC 20010.
MAY MEETING
Please put May 19 on your calendar now! This will be a guest-artist concert featuring Cody McSherry, our young friend from Pennsylvania. Remember, paid-up members enter free; all others pay $8.
ALSO COMING UP
GYPSY JAZZ WITH LISA LIU AND DALLAS VIETTY at Sandy Spring Museum
April 12, 8 pm $20
Experience a musical performance like never before in the museum’s intimate Dr. Bird Room. This space allows you to enjoy the show without getting lost in a crowd. You’ll feel like you’re on stage with the artists!
Dallas Vietty is one of the most sought-after accordionists in the country. Lisa Liu is an incredibly accomplished guitarist… and for one night only, they are bringing Gypsy Jazz to Sandy Spring. This style of music exploded on the scene in the 1930s with the help of famed European guitarist Django Reinhardt.
Dallas’s unique sound is heavily influenced by both Gypsy and American jazz. He has performed at some of the top U.S. festivals, including TEDx Philly and Djangoary Festival, and has played iconic venues including The Iridium NYC and B.B. King’s Times Square.
Lisa fell in love with guitar at age 13 and knew early on that she wanted to study the art of jazz. She is an Artist Ambassador for the Santa Cruz Guitar Company and was accepted to be an Artist in Residence at The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation.
Hear them live at the Bird on April 12! Beer and wine will be available for purchase.
See www.sandyspringmuseum.org/event/gypsyjazz
Washington Balalaika Society Orchestra Concert
June 1 and 2, 2019
The Washington Balalaika Society will be presenting its spring concert at 3 pm on Sunday, June 2, 2019, at the Wakefield High School Theater, 1325 South Dinwiddie Street, Arlington VA. The same program will be presented at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater, 603 Edmonston Road, Rockville MD on Saturday, June 1 at 8:00pm. This is our 30th anniversary concert and features several world-class soloists. The 60-member WBS Orchestra is the largest orchestra of its kind in the U.S. You can find more info at www.balalaika.org.
For $18 group-rate tickets for the Virginia concert, contact Peter DiGiovanni at 703-919-5701 or [email protected].
Check out the WMAS website: www.washingtonaccordions.org
Our mailing address is:
[email protected] or [email protected]
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.
***********************************************************************************************************************
Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society Update
April 18, 2019
April 14 was International Day, a chance for some of our members to introduce – or re-introduce – us to musical genres we may be less familiar with. Some presenters grew up with them; others learned them later. Regardless, it was a fun and music-filled meeting, and an opportunity to learn something new. Our greeter, Silvia Eberly, warmed up the room, and then Val and Donna Zadnik started off the program with a Slovenian duet that warmed our hearts.
Mike Rubin ran through various types of Jewish music, including sacred, Sephardic, Klezmer, Yiddish, Israeli, holiday, and show tunes. He demonstrated an example of each.
Yimeng Huang demonstrated the Chinese major (1 2 3 5 6) and minor (6 1 2 3 5) scales and played three songs: the first two were more minor, and the third was more major. She also distributed sheet music showing the same song arranged in Chinese and western notation.
Robert Ford learned the accordion in Bolivia, although he did not learn the folk music he performed on Sunday until more recently. Bolivian music varies from region to region, and Robert played some of each, including some cuecas that had some people up and dancing.
Jim Vandelly played Russian folk tunes on his bayan. Although he studied the piano accordion as a child and can read music, he plays the bayan by ear. In Russia, folk music is losing popularity, he said – so we’re lucky he’s keeping it alive for us.
Silvia showed off her Strasser-brand Steirischer harmonika. This instrument was invented in 1875 and has never changed, she said. It’s played in the Alps for folk dances, and can have three, four, or five rows of buttons plus Helikon (tuba) bass reeds. For a small box, it can put out a lot of sound, as Silvia demonstrated. She also had us yodeling – sort of.
Rounding out the program was Ken Kunec, who played a couple of Greek songs and sang them in Greek – which he doesn’t actually speak. His wife Teddy wrote the lyrics out phonetically for him, and as far as we were concerned, he did a great job.
April News
Sadly, this was Lee and Ron Paulson’s last WMAS meeting. In a few weeks they’ll be moving a few hours away to Salisbury, Maryland, where they’ll be closer to one of their daughters. The Paulsons have been a part of the club since the very beginning, and have contributed in too many ways to count. We’ll stay in touch, of course, but will sorely miss seeing them every month. ☹
On the brighter side, the Executive Committee continues to make changes. We’ve switched to MailChimp for meeting reminders and updates, and the new website is now up. Thanks go to Peter DiGiovanni for the tremendous amount of work he put into it!!! Next we’ll be working on updating the bylaws to reflect some of the changes going on around us (i.e. to ensure we stay focused on what brings us together: music).
We are also grateful to JoAnn Pankow (and also her husband John, but he didn't attend this month) for schlepping several gigantic boxes of supplies to each month's meeting, and for then so ably managing the snacks and kitchen. It's time (past time), too, to mention Teddy Kunec's great work handling the name tags! Our club functions as well as it does because so many people chip in their time and expertise, and that's wonderful.
Check out the NEW WMAS website: www.washingtonaccordions.org
MAY MEETING
Please put May 19 (not 17) on your calendar! This will be a guest-artist concert featuring Cody McSherry, our young friend from Pennsylvania. As Peter noted at the April meeting, “If you haven’t seen Cody perform in the past year, you haven’t seen Cody!” Remember, paid-up members enter free; all others pay $8. You can download a flyer to send to your family and friends at https://www.washingtonaccordions.org/uploads/1/2/4/8/124892684/2019_5-19_cody_mcsherry.pdf. And you can pay your dues at the door.
ALSO COMING UP ...
Washington Balalaika Society Orchestra Concert
The Washington Balalaika Society will be presenting its spring concert at 3 pm on Sunday, June 2, 2019, at the Wakefield High School Theater, 1325 South Dinwiddie Street, Arlington VA. The same program will be presented at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater, 603 Edmonston Road, Rockville MD on Saturday, June 1 at 8:00pm. This is our 30th anniversary concert and features several world-class soloists. The 60-member WBS Orchestra is the largest orchestra of its kind in the U.S. You can find more info at www.balalaika.org.
For $18 group-rate tickets for the Virginia concert, contact Peter DiGiovanni at 703-919-5701 or [email protected].
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Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society Update
May 28, 2019
Message from Joan Grauman
(read by WMAS President Peter DiGiovanni as an introduction to Cody McSherry’s May 19 guest-artist concert)“I wish I could be with all of you today to resign as Music Director in person, but sadly my time in Maryland became so limited that I just couldn't break away to attend today's concert.
"I want to thank everyone for making my 16 years as music director, conductor, and chair of the Guest Artist Series a totally joyful, heartwarming experience. I will miss all of you very much, will visit as often as possible, and will definitely remain a member of WMAS for life.
"I am turning over my baton to our club President Peter DiGiovanni, who has been my good friend and a tremendous asset to WMAS for many years. I know that he will do a great job and that I'm leaving you all in good hands.
"Peter asked if I could still announce today's guest artist, and it would be my pleasure and a total honor to do so. I created the Guest Artist Series in 2004 and chose the wonderful Busso Trio for our first concert. It was a resounding success, and we have enjoyed spring and fall guest-artist concerts ever since. I believe [correctly] that Lou Coppola is in the audience today, and I'm sure all would agree that his concert was one of the true highlights of our 15-year series!
"I met today's guest artist, Cody McSherry, when he was eight years old. His adorable little face and beautiful smile melted my heart. Then I heard him play, and then he asked me to dance with him -- and, well, he has been like a grandson to me ever since. I am so proud of the young man and fabulous musician that he has become.
"You see many kinds of accordions up here that Cody will demonstrate. You might think, 'It's amazing that he can play all of these and so well!' Cody also plays -- quite well -- the theater organ, hammered dulcimer, saxophone, piano ... and the list goes on. An advanced placement student in high school, Cody also finds the time to sing in select choruses, and he performs in dinner theater productions -- and that list goes on, too!
"This is the last Guest Artist Concert that I will bring to WMAS. I could not think of a better choice than Cody. So now, please give a big hand to welcome Cody McSherry!!”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes on the Concert Indeed, the concert was wonderful! More than 50 people showed up, including such paragons of the accordion world as Mary Tokarski (Cody’s teacher), Lou Coppola, Frank Busso, Sr., and Frank Busso, Jr. Cody held the audience rapt, playing a wide range of musical genres on three totally different accordion layouts.
On his Titano Virtuoso C System, he played:
Troika/Korobushka
Meglio Stasera
Fugitive
Five O'Clock Rush
On his Titano Royal Starlight, he played:
La Partida
Besame Mucho
Ashokan Farewell
Reine de Musette
Ballad of Faithe
Tanzende Finger
Makedonsko Devojce
Slovenia, Odkod Lepote Tvoje
Wien du Stadt meine Traume
Waltz Allegro
Tailspin
Carousel of Dreams
Fox and the Hound
On his Strasser GCFBb Deluxe, he played:
Vecer na Robleku
Prijatelji, Ostanimo Prijatelji
Lake Bled Waltz
Mr. Buttons
Olympic Polka
Majsko Cvete
Flying High
We thank Cody and the McSherrys for taking the time to enhance the WMAS experience for us all. Thanks also go to greeters Karen and Luis Uribe, who amazingly managed to get the kitchen up and running at the same time, and to all those who pitched in to help.
Business
The revision to the WMAS Bylaws, new Article X, passed overwhelmingly (by 40 votes to 3 votes), and it’s now posted to our website, at https://www.washingtonaccordions.org/about-wmas.html.
Other information about our club is on that same page; you might want to take a look.
Next Meeting
Our next meeting is on June 16 at 4 pm, and this will be our annual member concert. Please sign up for a 5-minute slot to play whatever you’d like; we don’t have a theme for this particular event, so anything goes! We also need a greeter! Please email [email protected] to participate either in the concert or as a greeter (or both).
Thanks! See you in June!
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Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society Update
June 30, 2019
WMAS celebrated Fathers Day with music, of course; it was the annual members concert. Ken Kunec opened as the greeter and then also as the emcee—and he took the opportunity to give us a couple of songs in honor of his and Teddy’s wedding anniversary. “I save a lot of money this way, not having to buy a gift,” he joked. Other performers included Janice Lavoie, Jim Vandelly, Peter DiGiovanni and his student Victoria Arellano-Pappas in duet, Peter solo, Mona Berch, Robert Ford, Joe Kulick, Yimin Zhuang, and JoAnn Pankow. In addition, JoAnn and Mara Cherkasky played Ashokan Farewell as a tribute to Joan Grauman, who has moved from the area.
We are deeply grateful to Joan for everything she’s given the club over these many years: all the music she’s arranged and conducted, the tunes she’s performed, the musical instruction and advice she’s dispensed, the dances she’s taught, and just simply the fun with which she’s filled the room. Everything she’s given us has been out of love, and we miss her dearly! The club is not the same without her, but we know she’ll come back to visit when she can!
Planning (Way) Ahead: Christmas in JulyAs we swelter in a 90+ degree heat wave, it’s not too soon to be thinking about the Holiday Concert! Peter DiGiovanni is starting to work on new arrangements and selections for the WMAS Orchestra, and he has a few questions for us. Do you intend to participate in the orchestra? Are you comfortable playing bass (left hand)? Do you have any ideas or requests regarding selections for the orchestra to play? Please email him at [email protected] or call/text him at 703-919-5701.
Upcoming Meetings Our next meeting will be July 14, Bastille Day. Joyce Palmer’s group CHAOS (Capitol Hill Accordion Orchestra Society) will be our greeters starting about 3:45 pm, and then Robert Ford will present a bellows workshop. Please bring your accordions so you can participate in that as well as in the play-along that will follow the workshop. Don’t forget your binders of sheet music either!
We don’t always meet in both July and August, but this opportunity was too good to pass up. On August 18, Russian accordionist Elena Stenkina will be in town on her way to a competition on the West Coast, and she has agreed to perform for us for 30 minutes and then teach a one-hour master class! So put WMAS on your calendar for August 18 at 4 pm, and take a look at this video when you get a chance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlqOa8cAiQk&feature=youtu.be.
Best wishes for a safe and happy Fourth of July! See you soon!
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Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society Update
July 19, 2019
About 30 intrepid souls braved the mid-July heat to enjoy a really cool time with their fellow accordionists on the 14th. The Capitol Hill Accordion Orchestra Society (aka CHAOS) got the day started, welcoming everyone with a selection of old-timey tunes. Next on the agenda, Robert Ford conducted a workshop on bellows technique. He emphasized the importance of paying attention to dynamic markings — which turn mere notes into music — and demonstrated how the unique aspects of the bellows can be used to make music played on an accordion “come to life,” even beyond what is typically notated in written music. No genres are immune; all can benefit from proper use of the bellows. Prudent use of bellows shakes instead of playing rapidly repeating notes can make the music more exciting. Practice slowly and don’t overdo it. Stop if your arm gets tired or starts talking to you otherwise.
Following the workshop, members including Yimeng Huang, Joe Kulick, Ken Kunec, Peter DiGiovanni, Robert Ford, and Bob Juszczyk each performed a French selection in honor of Bastille Day. A play-along rounded out the meeting. Thanks to all who brought music to share! Remember to add it to your binders so you have it readily available for the next French play-along. For those who missed it, we will be uploading the music to the WMAS website for you to download and print. We’ll let you know once it’s ready.
We will also be using the website to distribute the music for the Holiday Concert. Hard to think about it with the 100-degree heat index, but we are! Some of you have already let us know of your intent to participate — thanks! For those of you who haven’t, please drop Peter DiGiovanni a short note and let him know whether you are comfortable playing left-hand bass or not. Either way is fine; the goal is to have the correct parts for everyone right at the outset.
Next Meeting
Remember to save August 18 for a special performance and master class by Elena Stenkina, who is in this country from Russia for a brief time. Her schedule happens to coincide with our August meeting date, so we are fortunate to have this chance to see her perform and learn from her. Don’t forget to bring you instruments; this will be a hands-on workshop. Since this is a special performance with a guest artist, we will be charging non-members $8, so be sure your membership is up to date.
September Meeting
Please put WMAS on your calendar for September 15, at 4 pm! That day we will be hosting a guest-artist concert with the mariachi group Esmeralda, so get ready for some great music as well as great dancing.
We need greeters for both August and September. Please sign up!
ISO Accordionist
Hello, my name is Nancy and I live in the Roanoke Virginia area. I am looking for an accordion player to play polkas at the 90th birthday party for a friend of mine in late September. Do you know of anyone who lives in the Roanoke or Lynchburg or Southwest Virginia area who plays polkas in the accordion?
Please contact Nancy Paciga
Roanoke, Virginia
Cellular: 540-892-9652
That’s it for now, Keep cool! We hope to see you soon!
Check out the WMAS website: www.washingtonaccordions.org
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Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society Update
August 31, 2019
More than 40 intrepid souls braved the dog days of summer on August 18 to enjoy our uniquely talented guest performer. Elena Stenkina, here for the summer from Moscow, amazed us with her virtuosic playing and dancing—at the same time! Her repertoire is highly varied: from Piazzolla to Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder to contemporary jazz! We are fortunate that Elena had the time to spend with us.
After her performance Elena conducted a hands-on master class in which she stressed proper bellows technique as the key to making music come alive. She also demonstrated numerous exercises and had us try them ourselves. Please do try some of the techniques Elena suggested while they are still fresh in your minds!
Thanks go to Silvia Eberly, our ever-delightful greeter!
Thanks go, also, to all who anted up extra into the jar to help the church fix the broken glass door in the social hall where we meet. After all, this is our home and we want to help keep it in order. The church was VERY appreciative of our donation.
Next Meeting
Our next meeting, on September 15, will feature the mariachi band Esmeralda. This is sure to be lots of fun, so please don't forget to invite your family and friends. Members enter free; non-members pay $8.
We still need a greeter for that day; please sign up!
Holiday Concert
It is time to start planning for our BIG December 15 Holiday Concert! Conductor Peter DiGiovanni needs to know who is playing in the Orchestra and what kind of part you want so he can ensure that all parts are covered and that each participant receives the appropriate parts. The optimum part is one that you can’t play perfectly the first time through but that, with practice, you play easily by the time we get to the first rehearsal. Please email [email protected] with the following information:
- Your Name
- Whether you want to play right hand only (RHO), left hand only (LHO), or both hands (BH)
- How easy or challenging a part you want, on a scale from 1 to 4: 1 is the easiest, 4 is the most challenging.
- Specific suggestions or requests, if any (e.g. musical content, format, etc.)
The Orchestra music will be uploaded to the WMAS website by October 1. You will be given instructions for how to access the members-only section from which you can download your music.
If you have not already, please put these dates on your calendar
- November 3 at 4 pm: first rehearsal
- November 17 at 4 pm: November meeting and rehearsal
- December 8 at 4 pm: rehearsal
- December 15: rehearsal at 1:45 pm, concert at 4 pm
Hanzhi Wang Concert
Accordion virtuoso Hanzhi Wang will be playing a concert, "Redefining the Classical Accordion," on Saturday, October 5, at 7:30 pm, at Howard Community College's Smith Theatre, in Columbia, Maryland. For more information and tickets, call 410-997-2324 or go to candlelightconcerts.org.
Castelfidardo Trip
Joyce Palmer has called our attention to an April 21-25, 2020, group trip to Castelfidardo, Italy, the accordion-manufacturing capital of the world. Here's the information sent out by the tour leader:
Places available …… Join other USA, Canadian and UK accordionists
Excellent value due to the weak GB pound at the moment with Prices starting around $600 for the whole package if arranging your flight to Bologna and meeting up with the group flying from London. If flying to London and travelling to/from Bologna with the London group the prices start around $700
What’s included:
Flights from London to Bologna (if this option chosen / Luxury coach travel from Bologna airport to Castelfidardo and throughout the trip / Hotel accommodation including breakfast / Lunch at a Vineyard on the way to Castelfidardo from Bologna / Selection of accordions to play at the hotel during the stay / Various visits to factories to see accordions being made / See how reeds and bellows are produced / Visit the Accordion Museum / Try the largest working accordion in the world! / Try new instruments in the showrooms / Visits also to nearby towns and restaurants / Evening entertainment / Final night dinner with guest accordionist / Visit to San Marino / Accompanied throughout
We stay at what is probably one of the first accordion hotels in the world, featuring accordion displays and posters plus some good instruments for guests to play. We also have some top-quality accordions loaned exclusively to our group by some of the manufacturers.
If extended tour is an option before or after we can assist with pre and post stays and hotels in Italy and / or the UK.
If you’re interested, please contact Peter LeGeyt for full information on how to book your place [email protected]
Check out the WMAS website: www.washingtonaccordions.org
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Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society Update
October 2, 2019
WMAS kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month with a visit from Mariachi Esmeralda! This five-piece local band surprised the group by starting their first song outside, and out of sight, and then proceeding to the front of the room. With their lively arrangements, the band delighted with mariachi standards and probably was amused that so many of us could sing along with “Cielito Lindo,” “Llorar y Llorar,” and other songs.
Santana Velasco on the "guitarron" (a large guitar) leads the group, with his daughters Esmeralda on the trumpet and Laura on the guitar. Manuel Centeno plays the vihuela (a small guitar) and Benjamin Flores plays the accordion. Benjamin learned the instrument by ear and, as we heard, is a great asset to the group. You can hear Mariachi Esmeralda most Thursday nights at the El Paso Cafe in Arlington, Virginia.
Because hiring mariachis is a birthday tradition in Mexico, the band did a special tribute to Luis Uribe, whose natal day was coming up in a few days. As Karen Uribe said, “It was a lot better than being woken up by it at dawn,” as is customary.
The day was special, too, because we had Dale & Deann Wise in the room, along with Lou Coppola – three good friends.
Silvia Eberly greeted once again. Thank you, Silvia! Thanks also to JoAnn Pankow for running the kitchen.
Oktoberfest
Our next meeting, on the 20th of this month, will be our annual Oktoberfest. This event depends on participation by a lot of people. So here’s what we need from you:
- Sign up to play something people can dance to, sing along with, or (pretend) drink to, or to lead the group in a circle dance or whatever you can come up with.
- Bring your accordion and your Oktoberfest sheet music.
- Bring German/Austrian dishes to share.
- Invite your friends and family.
- Come early to help set up and decorate.
- Serve as greeter; please sign up!
Holiday Concert
As you know we’re getting ready for this year’s Holiday Concert, but we haven’t heard from enough of you whether you’ll participate in the orchestra. Please email [email protected] with the following information:
- Your Name
- Whether you want to play right hand only, left hand only, or both hands
- How easy or challenging a part you want, on a scale from 1 to 4: 1 is the easiest, 4 is the most challenging.
- Specific suggestions or requests, if any (e.g. musical content, format, etc.)
The Orchestra music will be uploaded to the WMAS website shortly. Those who sign up will be given instructions how to access the members-only section from which you can download your music.
If you have not already, please put these dates on your calendar
- November 3 at 4 pm: first rehearsal
- November 17 at 4 pm: November meeting and rehearsal
- December 8 at 4pm: rehearsal
- December 15: rehearsal at 1:45 pm, concert at 4 pm
Coming Up This Weekend
SerbFest DC
Saturday, October 5: 11 am - 10 pm
Sunday, October 6: 12 noon – 9 pm
Delicious Serbian Food!
Live Serbian Music & Dancing!
Live Serbian Folklore Dance performances!
Children's Activities!
St. Luke Serbian Orthodox Church
10660 River Road
Potomac MD 20854
Free Admission & Parking! Complete information at www.serbfestdc.com
Questions? E-mail: [email protected]
Hanzhi Wang Concert
Accordion virtuoso Hanzhi Wang will be playing a concert, "Redefining the Classical Accordion," on Saturday, October 5, at 7:30 pm, at Howard Community College's Smith Theatre, in Columbia, Maryland. For more information and tickets, call 410-997-2324 or go to candlelightconcerts.org.
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Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society Update
November 7, 2019
October 20 was dreary and rainy outdoors, but things were bright and happy inside Sleepy Hollow Church, as more than 50 people showed up to celebrate Oktoberfest with us. The afternoon featured lots of music and dancing, as well as a variety of delicious snacks, and finally a play-along to close out the day.
Thanks to all who made the gathering a success: helping with setup and cleanup; performing and dancing; teaching a dance; digging up jokes to fill in the gaps; bringing food to share; managing the kitchen; and just plain showing up. It was truly a pleasure to have Dan Darrikhuma as our greeter – thanks, Dan!
Since the Oct. 20 meeting, we’ve held our first rehearsal for the Holiday Concert. It’s being conducted this year by club president Peter DiGiovanni, who also arranged most of the music we’ll be performing. The concert is less than six weeks off, a scary thought! PLEASE PRACTICE!!!
Our second rehearsal will take place at the next meeting, on November 17. We’ll start with a mini-concert by Jim Vandelly at 4 pm, and then move directly into the rehearsal. Who would like to greet starting at 3:45 pm? Please let us know!
December is right around the corner. Please make sure you have the 8th on your calendar for a rehearsal (4 pm at the church) and the 15th for a final rehearsal at 1:45 pm, followed by the concert at 4 pm. As always, a potluck supper will follow the concert, and we ask our members to please bring main dishes and side dishes. Please let us know if you would like to play a solo, duet, or other arrangement during the evening. The concert is meant to showcase the orchestra, so there will only be limited time for others; however, there will be lots of time during the meal. Overall, we’ll be doing the same thing as usual, except for having Peter as our conductor. Again, PLEASE PRACTICE, and don’t forget to use the MP3s so you can get the tempo and dynamics correct.
Check out the WMAS website: www.washingtonaccordions.org
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Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society Update
November 23, 2019
It was great to have Jim Vandelly back in the fold for the November 17 meeting. After greeter Silvia Eberly got us off to a lively start, Jim played a few pieces on his bayan and also answered questions about the instrument.
Peter DiGiovanni announced our annual election of officers, which will take place at the January meeting. Nominating Committee chair Karen Uribe will see about getting a slate of candidates together. If you’re interested in putting your name forward, please let us know.
Following the program and business portions of the meeting, Peter led us through our second rehearsal for the Holiday Concert. We sounded better than we did at the previous rehearsal, but we definitely have a ways to go. Please, please, please practice with the MP3s, and be sure to let us know if you’re having trouble accessing them. Also, while you’re practicing, remember to write yourself notes in your music to help remind you what to do – fingering, watching the conductor, sharps and flats that you might miss, etc. It will really help in rehearsals and in the concert.
Our next rehearsal will be Sunday, December 8, at 4 pm. Then on Sunday, December 15, we’ll have a final rehearsal at 1:45 pm, followed by the concert at 4 pm. Please let us know if you would like to play a solo, duet, or other arrangement during the evening. We need to start organizing the program.
As always, a potluck supper will follow the concert, and we hope you will bring a main dish or side dish.
Thanks! Have a happy Thanksgiving!!
Check out the WMAS website: www.washingtonaccordions.org
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Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society Update
January 6, 2020
WMAS performed another successful Holiday Concert on December 15, conducted for the first time by our president Peter DiGiovanni, who also composed one of the offerings and arranged most of the others. It was quite amazing to experience the progress the orchestra made in only a matter of weeks, from receiving the somewhat complicated music in mid-October and rehearsing it for the first time in early November to playing it for an audience a month later.
Thanks to all who helped organize the concert and potluck! At the risk of leaving someone out we’d like to express special gratitude to Peter for all his work with the orchestra; to JoAnn and John Pankow for managing the potluck; to Ken Kunec for emceeing; to Janice Lavoie for greeting; to Silvia Eberly, Jim Vandelly and the others who played during the break before dinner; to Clare Cherkasky for working the door; to the orchestra members who worked so hard and sounded so good; to Dan Grauman for video-recording the orchestra; and to everyone else who helped set up and clean up, who performed, who brought food, and who were part of the audience.
At our first 2020 meeting, on January 26, we will discuss the concert/potluck and what went right or wrong. Please write down your thoughts now while you can still remember the event and bring your notes with you – along with your accordion, binder, and stand. We’ll be starting the year with a play-along (more on this below), after the discussion and the election of 2020 officers. Nominating Committee Chair Karen Uribe’s slate of candidates looks identical to last year’s, as all three elected officers have agreed to continue: Peter DiGiovanni as president, Robert Ford as vice-president, and Mara Cherkasky as secretary-treasurer. This slate does not preclude others from running, however. If you’d like to be considered for one of the offices, please make yourself known.
As usual, the January 26 meeting will take place at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church, 3435 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church, Virginia. Directions and other information are at www.washingtonaccordions.org.
We still need a greeter, and please bring snacks to share.
MORE ON THE PLAY-ALONG:
Peter will be uploading some sheet music to washingtonaccordions.org and will notify members in a week or so that it’s ready to download, print, and bring to the meeting.
After each play-along, please organize your music in a three-ring binder, so that you will have it for the next play-along. If you’ve brought music, please bring any extra copies to the next play-along for those who missed receiving it.
As a reminder, here are the guidelines for good play-along music:
- Fake book (aka lead sheet) format preferred – easier to sight-read
- Relatively simple - no complex extended chords, no virtuosic passages
- Sight-readable on first reading by the majority of our players
- Melodic in nature
- Easily grasped rhythms
- Simpler key signatures
- No page turns – one page preferable, 2 pages max
- Multiple parts okay but each should meet the guidelines - may include right-hand-only part(s)
- Bring 20 copies the first time, and 6 for newcomers at subsequent play-alongs.
NOTICES
Did you take photos at the Holiday Concert? Do any of them show Jim Vandelly playing Amazing Grace at the beginning of the concert, or of the audience singing along? This was part of the tribute to Davita Hays, and Jim would like to have a picture or two if you have some. Thanks!
In addition, Jim is interested in selling his Sonart accordion, but it’s available to WMAS members only for $5,000. You can see a photo of the instrument, along with contact information, at https://www.washingtonaccordions.org/classified-ads.html
Mike Rubin lost his eyeglasses at the Holiday Concert. The front part is brown with black or yellow, and they have black temples (the part that goes over the ear). If you remember seeing them, please let us know. Thanks!
The video of the orchestra's performance is at https://youtu.be/ttVL8LRLIoE. Individuals may request their performances on a case by case basis.
Finally, we’re happy to announce that WMAS will welcome back Stas Venglevski as our guest artist on March 15, so please mark your calendars. You can download a flyer to send to friends and family at https://www.washingtonaccordions.org/calendar.html
TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIPOur membership year starts January 1, so membership dues are payable now. Please see Peter DiGiovanni at the January meeting to get yourself square, or mail a check (for $20 for an individual or $30 for a family) to Mara Cherkasky, 603 Rock Creek Church Road NW, Washington DC 20010.