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.