Palmer-Hughes Accordion Course: Book 4

I use this book when I teach, and it progresses nice and quickly and has some real challenging pieces.

Can't go wrong with these step by step instructions for how to play accordion but also how to understand music. Not just for kids. I love the pictures and who cares about the design. All you got to do is practice. Even if you can't master one piece in one day. Go back the next day. The fact that these books are so old and still around is a true gift to the family. Thank you.

This is probably the best course available. I took lessons progressing through the first 4 books back in the late 1950s and then took a 50 year break. A month ago I decided that now I have time to enjoy playing the accordion and have invested significant time relearning and improving my technique. Since my Palmer-Hughes books are ancient and covered in scotch tape, I didn't hesitate to repurchase books 4 & 5. This is a great course as it provides both technique and theory. Being a good accordionist does not simply depend on hitting keys, but understanding the sound and how the treble and base work together to create pleasing melodies. Note that I still have my 1 through 3 PH books, but they are in relatively good shape. Once you progress past book 2 the course provides a number of selections that you will want to play again and again. While my Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean [Book 1] allows a parent to marvel at your child's potential as a prodigy, it's not something that he or she will ever come back to. "Ciribiribin" in book 4 remains one of my favorites as does "Hall of the Mountain King" in book 3. I would highly recommend this course for aspiring musicians. However, if the musician is a pre-teen the parent should ensure that the learner carefully read and understand the theory sections and not skip over and just learn the songs. In the past month or so I've marveled at how much musical knowledge I missed because my teacher didn't require it from me. There is incredible knowledge in this course and, as I now understand that they why is as important as how, I'm carefully learning musical theory from this great course.

I bought this used on amazon and, since I haven't played the accordion in nearly 50 years it was a great quick review and I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had notes in it from previous owner and I love them.

A very clear tutor book, but it doesn't explain in the content review pages that one would need at least a 72 bass accordion to follow it. So be on your guard! The information is very well presented and its easy to follow providing you have the right instrument with the correct number of bass buttons 72 bass upwards. It came next day by return of post well packed. Our friends at Amazon do us proud, it clearly has to be one of the very best, if not 'THE BEST' service on the internet for shopping. 10 stars to Amazon! Having looked at this book further it could easily be adapted to 48 bass accordions, I judged this book too quickly and too soon, sorry about that.