the same over here,my wife always laughs when i play because of the faces i pull, i call it: "realy getting into the music"

I think she buys it

Wilfred

It's coincedental, but I tried that yesterday. It could be the brew, but I seemed to play better watching my hands!

That reminds me of a funny story.
Ed Luckenbach, God rest his soul, was playing Cajun accordion at a festival.

This one child stood right in front of Ed the whole time as if transfixed. Finally they took a break.

Ed thought that he had really made an impression on this child with his playing.

The child then asked, "Hey Mister, how come you make such funny faces when you play?"

That was Ed!

DP

In my minds eye, I can picture that very well Dana... a good visual.

Cut way short... I wish Ed was still among us (for all of us) physically. He was very encouraging and an absorbing musician and vocalist.... in some ways sorta ugly on the ugly scale, but what a novel character he was to be sure! Was once told by you know who that Ed belonged in Nashville laying it all down inside a studio for what he posessed as tallent.

Anyhow, we take what they give us, not soon to be forgotten in my estimation.

I believe you and Ed pal'd alot on tuning and repair stuff and playing ... Yes/No?

Yes, Ed and I traded tuning/repair tips as well as accordions. :)

Ed spent some time mentoring under Jr Martin in his accordion shop working on and building accordions.

I was working on an experimental micing system for his triple-row when he passed.

Hmmm, maybe it's time to pull out the old "Tete Rouge" CD!

DP

That's a very common problem... I tend to have a cryspy face when I play, but then I relax as I get into the song... THat is especially true when I play a new song, or one that is more technically challenging. Something very funny: when I started playing, my wife told me she couldn't watch me playing as SHE would get out of breath!!
That improves too with experience as we better control the bellow action. One of friends recently told me that my music was great, but now I needed to improve my visual by better looking at the people I'm with when I play and SMILE. I am working on that right now.