Hey guys it's Ryan again some of you may have seen my introductory post but for those who don't know I'm a beginner and I recieved my Cajun accordion yesterday!! I posted a brief little video showing off my accordion and what I can do after only having it 2 days!! I can already play the scales and I know the octave pattern and I muddle through this waltz I know, but I'd greatly appreciate it if you watched the video and if you have any tips or tricks for me on my journey of learning this great instrument let me know by replying here or on the video.

Oh and the DVD I ended up getting was the instructional one that homespun offers and is taught by Dirk Powell, I'm enjoying it Dirk's a great teacher but it is going to take ALOT of practice I can tell. I need to get my left hand to work together with my right haha and I can't really wrap my head around what he calls "squeezing" with the right hand.

We all sounded like that once...

Haha thanks, I'm hoping and get the bouncing on my index finger down so I can at least get a cajun feel I'm working through the 99 year waltz right now, you would think bouncing isn't that difficult but doing it constantly and in somewhat of a rhythm can be a little bit of a challenge.

Actually, not all of sounded that way when we started ..

I think I sounded worse!

:-) .. BN

Nick you're too kind my friend. I ordered your DVD set last night!! I can't wait to get it.

Ryan,
Big welcome to the board! I don't get too many players newer than me here, so now I feel pretty good about my level of playing! LOL!
Just keep at it. If you love the music, it'll come.
Sit in front of a big mirror to help learn where the buttons are sooner. Get your right hand going first. "Before you can learn how to type, you have to learn how to spell."
I prefer the Big Nick DVD's.
Also, find Chris Miller's 5 part video of Love Bridge Waltz on you tube.
Welcome again and have fun with it.

Oh .. by the way .. There's another really good 'Learn Cajun Accordion'
DVD out there but I forget the guy's name.

Big Dick .. Or, Pig Hick .. Or something like that ..

--BN

Great...you got you a accordion....I learned the meat of my accordion playing from Dirk (vhs tape)...and later got Big Nicks DVD, which are great....also you need to attend some workshops on the accordion...there are two big ones you can attend, Balfa week in Louisiana, and Augusta in Elkins WV...both great...I have been to both of them...I believe there are links on the bottom of this webpage...Later