This is where I am having a problem as I am trying to teach myself since I cannot afford online courses or a teacher to pay. U-tube is all I can do or free lessons. I'm on a fixed income and so that is where I am . I will listen and watch and try it on my 12 bass , 25 piano key accordion.

Thank you. Please keep doing these. I’m a professional piano player and I now am a part of a square dance band with my accordion. I want to get better and your videos are such a help

Excellent video and instruction. I wish I had seen this when I started. You are an excellent instructor!

I play the piano, not the accordion, and I find this video very interesting. It's great to get to know some of the mechanics of this fabulous instrument. Thanks!

Hi... longtime musician and first time accordionist! (oftentimes, radio callers will say "long time listener, first time caller" haha) I've had my accordion for a week now, and I just discovered myself doing something to make the bellows easier. (Firstly, I want to assure you that my accordion is in proper position, bottom of the keyboard on my inner thigh, and also strapped tightly to my chest.) I noticed I had the bellows resting on my left thigh, and I was fanning my left leg so as to support the weight of the bass register as well as keep it perpendicular to the ground (parallel to the keyboard) as the bellows moved out and in, rather than fanning the bellows toward the floor (which changes angles and also relies on your left arm to support all the weight of the bass register, in addition to your left arm fanning in addition to actually playing the bass!). I know it may be visually distracting for an audience, so possibly not desired for a performer especially a lady performer, so maybe not for everybody. But in terms of ergonomics, I've already found it to be very beneficial. Some guitars are very "neck heavy" and I can't play as well on the fretboard because I'm using energy from the same hand just to hold the neck up. Same with the accordion buttons. So I just wanted to pass along my experience. Edit: I meant to mention, I'm slightly taller than average, 5'10" (180cm), so I have linky arms and legs. I'm also decently athletic and somewhat flexible. My left knee is able to fan out about as far as my left wrist can stretch to the side, so I'm still able to get full range of bellows movement. Also, if I were to fan the accordion down towards the floor like traditionally done, then the leverage of the weight wouldn't be in my favor. As the center of gravity of the accordion gets further and further out, it gets increasingly harder and harder for me to support it while maintaining good posture.

Thanks ❤

Thank you.... really helpful advice.

This was exceptionally good!

I am new to your site I would like to start taking classes.

Hi Alexsander. Many thanks for your hard work in making these numerous videos. This video on bellows control is particularly interesting and least understood by many accordion players. I can see you are a very proficient player and need no instruction from me. Those who watch this video need to understand that maintaining compression in the bellows is the key. I fully appreciate this is not an easy concept to explain in just one video but it is, in my opinion, the most BEAUTIFUL concept in playing the accordion. In fact, as you know, to master the change in direction of the bellows can only be done if there is constant compression in the bellows. As you rightly point out, the exact place in the music where you change the bellow direction is also primordial. I personally explore the exact position of any possible changes by using my lungs and singing the music. All this makes the instrument a pure pleasure to work with. I could talk for hours on this subject, but for now, have a very happy Christmas and keep safe for you and your family. Paul

As far as phrasing goes, I usually say to try and extend and close the bellows at the points where you would normally stop and take a breath as if you were singing.

It’s very useful.Thank you so much

When you learn a new piece do you plan and mark the bellows changes on the music and do it the same way every time? Thanks

Professor, I have a question: What if we want to play standing but the accordion weights more than 10kg and has like 3 registers on its bass side? Is there a proper bellow technique for that or it is not recommended?

What's the piece at 3:40? I've heard it before, I love it but I don't know the name

pool or push xD