For me, It's a combination of #3 & #4. I don't read music, nor tabs. (I suppose I can read music, but at such a beginner level it's not even funny).

So, when I hear a song I like, I try to find the song(CDs, videos, etc.). I also find the lyrics from Ann Savoy's book, or I ask on this site.
Then I listen to it a gazilion time to assimilate it under my skin.
Then I play along the CD at the same time, then I do it on my own.
Bottom line: I learn by ear.

The best way is by listening.

In fact, you can make the case that it is almost the only way possible. Why?

1) There is virtually no standard notation sheet music available for Cajun accordion, and what little there is is either wrong or so vastly oversimplified as to be useless to anyone but the most bare bones beginner.

2) Tabs. There are more tabs available than standard notation, but they are equally simplistic and/or wrong.

3) Watching someone play. Unless you are in Louisiana, this is impossible.

You didn't mention videos. I know that many people make use of them. I have watched some, but I never got much out of them. Maybe some people do.

I think that in the end, if you develop your ear, you will be way ahead of the game. If the only way you can play is by sheet music or tabs, you will never get very far. It is like that old story "Give me a fish and I eat today, if I learn to fish I eat every day".

I played a private party gig once, and in the audience was a guy that claimed he could play Cajun music and asked if he could sit in. We said yes (somewhat hesitantly - you never know what you are getting into in these situations). He proudly brought out his accordion and a big stack of sheet music. It was from one of those really lame Mel Bay books, maybe it was called "Cajun Dance Hall". He started playing and it was pretty bad. You could recognize the melodies and he was playing correctly what was written, but the soul of the music was completely gone. It wasn't Cajun music any more - it was Cajun Muzak (like those really, really, really lame Cajun Midi files that were going around a few years ago on the internet - I think Gary Hayman had them playing on his website).

-David

Abbreviated reply, more specific to your poll:

For me, listening is the ONLY way I learn. (for the reasons stated on the previous post)

-David

My son is a talented trumpet player, aiming at a performance career. I was his music teacher from grades 5 - 8 (being a trumpeter, too), and I made the point to him from day one that 99% of the people on the planet who've ever performed music never saw printed notes on a page. At best, printed music is a shorthand hint at how the music, even classical or "art" music, is supposed to go. Producing music needs the link between the ear and mind, not so much the eye and the mind. It's really easy to use written music as a crutch, which can shut down your imagination and your own ability to hear what you're really playing. The other great learning tool is to record your own playing, whether practice or a gig, listen critically and try to bridge the gap between what you want to play and what you did play.

I think so too misto plumtree but you learned before they had videeyoz. using videeyoz has helped more than anything for me. Also, if you get a good accordion player to make some audio tapes of the songs you like, and play them slowwww and smewwwth, that helps a lot. You are extremely lucky if you can swap a video back and forth with a good player. one who shall go unnamed helped me this way and it was a good idea: I'd send him an audio tape and when he got done laffen he'd send me a videeyo of what I was trying to do.

finally, learning by ear really burns it in the fingers but the problem is that there is sooo much trial and error. you need some help starting out by a videeyo or something like that.

how the peaches and plums this year bro?

jt

hay jude

Hey Bro, how's thangs?

Me, I'm good. I had a nice couple gigs over the weekend playin' bass behind Mark St. Mary. It was fun gettin' down on the bass (and less stressful than leading a band on accordion!)

The peaches and plums won't be in for a while. We're still on the tail end of the naval oranges.

See ya,
David

There are other things to consider;

1) How long you have been playing the accordion
2) do you play other instruments
3) do you play other music.

I think the learning techniques may vary. By that I mean I live in a place (SC) where there is absolutely no Cajun music. My learning Cajun tunes come from
the Larry Miller Book and CD, Dirk Powell DVD #1. Joe Rogers DVD, Big Nicks web page. Dirk Powell DvD #2 is a little advanced for me. I can pick a little up from Cajun CD's.

I have played music all my life but only the accordion for five months so the Cajun tunes are new to me.

The non Cajun tunes that came right out of the blue totally by ear are those that I have played on other instruments, tunes such:
Edileweiss
Kentucky waltz
Boneparte Crossing the Rhine
Old Folks at Home, (Thanks Wilson for the DVD on Horace T.)
Star of County Down

Only one tune I learned from the notes Bill Sullivan's Polka and is listed on this forum.

My apporach was to play what I can even if its not Cajun so I can learn where the notes(sound) is on the keys and then move into more Cajun music and by
ear if possible

To answer your question directly Bohemain, I use what ever technique I can to learn the tune.

Thanks ..... Ed

just listen to a cd and try to play along with the accordian and try it over and over until your fingers are bleeding like i did.

When the neighbors start banging on the walls...you're gettin' there.

Banging on the walls ain't bad. It's when they start throwing shoes at you when you walk outside to get a breath of fresh air that you got to worry about.