The Complete Piano Accordion Tutor

I have a number of books regarding how to play the piano accordion, each have their own merits but this particular one stands out. It is ideal for a complete novice to learn the instrument, the only complaint that I have is where the tutor tells you the placing of your hands on the keyboard, which I found virtually impossible. My great grandfather started to teach me when I was younger, when it comes to the keyboard and hand placement the best way is to put them where it easier for you. Of all the books I have this one stands out. Enjoy your learning and playing the accordion.

I'm finding this book useful, but mainly for the good number of graded pieces and exercises that take the player from their first notes to some quite complicated pieces (or at least so it seems to me). The pieces themselves are all musically enjoyable, unlike the studies found in some books.I am less enthusiastic about the explanatory notes. The author spends the first double spread describing how the accordion should be 'worn' and the positions of the arms and hands, but that is about the limit of it as far as technique is concerned.There is much more explanatory text throughout the book, but it concentrates almost exclusively on musical notation and the layout of the keys and buttons on the accordion. However, I am not sure the explanations would be gentle enough for a complete beginner, yet for a musician such as myself coming from another instrument most of it is redundant.I was rather hoping for explanations throughout the book on subjects such as bellows technique, common mistakes by beginners, how to navigate the larger jumps between buttons, and other such things specific to the piano accordion.For someone taking face to face lessons I can see this being a very useful book with an abundance of practice material, but as a teach yourself accordion book it is a bit of a disappointment.

I agree with Anyanka. This thorough and well rounded book covers all the bases as it leads you from complete beginner to intermediate standard. It is strong in 3 main areas: lessons, practice pieces, and importantly, linked musical theory. Learning to read music from scratch is included. In addition an account is given of the working characteristics of the instrument (for example, how the registers - also known as couplers - function, what international accordion symbols in sheet music mean, how pitch ranges operate in the bass keyboard). For some players the standard achieved through this book will be sufficient. Others can seek an advanced book when the time comes.The author has taken a lot of care. To succeed, all you need to do is to take as much care when you work through the book. Highly recommended.I agree with F. Martin too. If you are new to Music and the business of learning an instrument then life would be a lot easier if you started with one of the Easy-to-Learn tutor books. Later you could progress to Beynon's book if you decided.No-one can write a tutor book containing music pleasing to all of the people all of the time. Let it be enough for the tutor book to teach you the ways of the instrument. Afterwards you can spend a lifetime finding the music you like best.[How is your 'footwork' on the bass buttons? Do consider 'The Mighty Accordion - The Complete Guide to Mastering Left-Hand Bass/Chord Patterns' by David DiGiuseppe. The book starts with the basics and moves steadily forward through to advanced techniques. You can use it after completing your tutor book/s or at the same time. Highly recommended].

I bought this book first and then discovered that, even though I read music and play woodwinds, the pace was a little fast for my uncoordinated hands. I am sure someone with a good grounding in Piano/Keyboard would find this book useful and it is quite comprehensive. Others, like me, may find they'd prefer more practice pieces to help them assimilate the new skills more gradually.I have switched to the Palmer-Hughes set of books. They may be old, but they work at a steady pace with a shallower learning curve.