Diatonic accordion
Since September 2016, Stéphane Milleret has been hosting online instructional videos.
Genuine courses in learning the button accordion, designed for medium to more advanced accordionists, who seek technical advice, autonomy and new tunes for their repertoire, whatever type of instrument (two- or three-row) or keyboard they use.
Each season comprises 10 episodes, lasting twenty to thirty minutes, subtitled in English.
In seasons 1 and 2, in each episode there is a new tune to work on, as a basis for work on technique (rhythm, left hand accompaniment, bellows work, groove, phrasing, ornamentation…)
Season 3 is constructed around a rather different concept. Stéphane has chosen to get back to basics of instrumental technique, sometimes less difficult than in the first two seasons. The season is divided into three sections
- Right hand keyboard (construction, logic, memorisation, scales…)
- Left hand accompaniment (constructing a catalogue of rhythm formulas according to the different types of rhythm)
- Rhythms (how to accompany a dance tune)
Season 4 continues with the same concept as season 3 with 3 new sections.
- Precision in rhythm, how to work out a melodyrhythm easily, how to use a metronome (setting it either to the left hand or the right hand)
- Compression and the left fore-arm (dynamics, push, managing changes in bellows direction, sound quality)
- Right hand phrasing (note length, attack, ornamentation…)
Cyrille Brotto takes over as host for season 5 and returns to the original concept of the first two seasons.
In this season, you’ll have access to a repertoire over ten dance tunes together with sheet music, tabs and free Mp3 downloads.
With the help of traditional tunes and original compositions, you’ll be able to work on melodies and left hand accompaniment. You won’t just be learning the basic melody, you’ll be using ornamentation and variation as well as working on right hand rhythm.
The intention is not only to supply you with a repertoire of dance music, but also to provide ways and means of incorporating this season’s new-acquired technical knowledge into your own repertoire.
The two friends have got together to host season 6.
Closely linked to the Brotto/Milleret Duo and Groove Factory repertoires, these 10 episodes examine musical arrangement in depth.
After studying a tune from their repertoire, they give you hints and ideas on how to arrange it – counterpoint, rhythm, intro, ostinato, break, coda…
If you play in a group, a duo or even on your own, this season will tell you how to craft arrangements, many of them quite simple. This will give your pieces more depth, and colour, and you won’t always “be playing the same thing over and over”.
At the end of each episode, there is a two-accordion overlayering of everything studied, as well as a full version in an “off the cuff” arrangement.
The main thing is to have fun!
