You probably already have it marked on your calendar, but in case you didn’t, June is Accordion Awareness Month. The “holiday” was established in 1989 by San Franciscan Tom Torriglia to promote and educate people about the accordion, as well as help spread the word about the accordion’s resurgence in popularity. (Tom was also instrumental — pun intended — in getting the accordion named San Francisco’s official instrument in 1990.)
“But how do I celebrate Accordion Awareness Month?” Here are some ideas:
- Attend an event on the Let’s Polka accordion calendar.
- Wear tank tops all month. Explain that you’re showing off the muscles you’ve built through years of squeezing bellows.
- Make a YouTube video of yourself playing the accordion. Become an Internet celebrity overnight.
- Give the gift that keeps on giving: accordion lessons (in person or online).
- Change your ringtone to “Lady of Spain.”
How are you celebrating the best month of the year? Leave a comment and let us know.
6 Comments:
I’m taking your YouTube idea to heart, o’course! And playing mucho accordion music on my BlogTalkRadio show! WOO! This is one fantastic month. :)
Not to mention that I bought that accordion shirt from Woot. Once that comes – I *will* be wearing it everyday!
by Henry on June 4th, 2008
That’s awesome! Looking forward to seeing the videos. :-)
by Chris on June 4th, 2008
I am working on the final edits for my upcoming book “Accordion Dreams: A Journey into Cajun and Creole Music” (University Press of Mississippi, January 2009.)
Also playing accordion, of course. My band has 3 gigs coming up in June, so that qualifies as a busy month for us!
Nice site!
by Blair on June 7th, 2008
My web site is under construction. I have 18 accordions (button and piano) from all over the world. I am inspired by all of you promoting and keeping the accordion alive. I am trying to develop accordion lessons and sing alongs. I’ve been performing with puppeteers, and I just made a boa constrictor puppet I plan to sing with. I will perfect my left hand while Barbara Boa sings.
It will probably take me all month to get my web site going… lots of projects for the future.
Long live the accordion!!
Carol
by Carol Widder on June 8th, 2008
@Blair: Looking forward to your book; it sounds interesting. In the meantime, I’ve added your band’s shows to our calendar.
@Carol: Good luck with the website! We’ll keep an eye out for it.
by Chris on June 8th, 2008
Instead of YouTube, I’m uploading mini videos of me playing accordion to Flickr! Here’s the link. :)
by anna on August 22nd, 2008