How long does it take to learn how to play the accordion?

This video aims to address the most commonly asked question about the accordion from beginners: How long will it take me to learn?

While there's no straight answer, I do my best in the video to explain some expected timeframes based on a couple of varying factors, such as your prior musical experience and how long you practise.

Enjoy!

Lucy xx

+ Instagram: accordionlucy

[Samk_]

I started playing accordion at 8 years old and i am currenty 14. I still havent mastered it but im good enough to impress beginners. Most people give up after 3 years because it starts to get really difficult.

[ryano.]

15 minutes a day! Why 15 minutes a day? Because 15 minutes doesn't sound like an intimidating amount of time. It'll get you to pick up the instrument. However, what ends up happening is that 15 minutes flies by, and then before you know it, you look at your watch and it's 2 hours later! ...or maybe that's just me... lol Also, don't forget to hydrate! The accordion can be a physically demanding instrument, even if it doesn't feel like it!

[tomvalletta]

Hi Lucy! I started accordion in 1971. I progressed very quickly, and by 1980, i was the State of Rhode Island state champion in America, and placed 1st to 5th in different categories on a national level. I learned on Palmer-Hughs, and what memories when you played the examples. I distinctly remember learning and playing those songs. I guess it hasn't changed much! I can't believe the Russian and Polish classical music i used to play. Wow. I still have my custom accordion with 3 extra keys. Great condition after 40+ years. I retired from music after getting married in 1987. Now i play piano, learning guitar, and sometimes pick up the accordion. I'm sure you know Cory Pesatori. He's from my home state. I know his teachers. I'll be seeing him perform next year and hope to talk to him in person. Great video! 🙂

[markjones]

Hi Lucy! I'm 64 and decided to take up the accordion. Years ago I was a comp major with basic keyboard skills. Once I started looking at the potential for the accordion and studied the stradella configuration, I was hooked. I write my own arrangements and pieces like Amazing Grace, Katyusha, Ashokan Farewell, etc started happening for me within about a month, practicing every day. I estimate I'll be comfy with the accordion in about one year. Toughest for me is large shifts on the bass side, like going from E7 to Cmaj in Katyusha. Practicing about an hour each day and have fallen in love with the accordion. Wish I had started in my 20's 🙂It's a great companion.

[JBSpecialMusic]

Thanks so much for producing this. I was doing good with self instruction a couple years back, until I hit Little Brown Jug in PH book 3. This was during 6-9 months of intense daily accordion hugging in the pandemic. I still have my full-size 41/120. Part of my heart still beats inside her.

[RenatoVargas]

Thank you so much for all your videos. I love your song tutorials. I was on the fence about buying my first accordion, and trying out your Bella Ciao tutorial on a Casio keyboard with the accordion sound made me say "I can do this" and I bit the bullet. This is the first video where I see you out of "performance character" and it's very relatable seeing you talk like this. It's as if having a candid discussion with a friend about accordion books. Cheers from Guatemala!

[avgirlaustintx]

Thank you for this! I am on book 1 but I am about 75% done with it. I just need to perfect the songs without pausing a lot. I think it has taken me 6 weeks to get this far. I practice 30 min to 1 hr a day, but skip some days if I am busy. I probably wouldn't have started or got this far if I hadn't seen this video! You inspired me to try the Palmer Hughes book. I have a some experience playing ukulele and guitar by ear but I couldn't read music. I think it will take me at least 10 weeks to master book 1. Also I'm using an accordion with a "uniform" keyboard...so its a different style piano. It was my mom's accordion when she was a girl.

[hazelwoodgarage]

I have been playing for way over 10 years and still a work in progress

[NeoN-hjjv]

Hi Lucy.
I picked up the accordion last year2023 April, and I practiced like 15min every day 90% of the time, ass you said takes a long time to make some music. Right now 2024 February I got a few psie songs and a complicated one I repeat repeat and I still not got to the right speed.
And when I try to show off to my friends I screwed up 😂. I think I'm emotional. But I love playing and fool around, so I will not stop.

[cdnsoul]

You're so full of life and you bring it across your videos most of the time. I used to edit video for television. Over there we had 3 editor. #1, #2, #3. #1 would edit from raw data and pass it on to #2 who would edit the 1st edit as raw data and the same with #3. We alternated position depending on what was being produced. It always was for a 1 hour show so 40 minutes of the program. Now I know I am being very picky, force of habit, when I watch your videos, but I like them, really like them so I want to offer you something FREE. I live the furthest away from you possible. In a straight line it is 16, 560 and our time difference is 15 hrs. You are ahead of me here.
My offer: If it's possible, send me your raw data, all the clips you want included in the video you put out and I will do the editing for you. Knowing how long it takes to edit videos, this should free up some of your time for whatever else you wish to do. Interested?

[petr_cz]

Hello Lucy, the most important thing is to enjoy playing accordion. 🥳😀 I have started from the scratch and PH1 took me one year and PH2 ( I am before Danube..) another year but it does not matter. Anyway, I still follow you and like listening to your practical advices. It is nice to see you and 🤞in your business.

[chucks_music_stuff]

Thanks for the realistic expectations. I really enjoy your videos.

[HA-lcik]

I started on Baritone, switched to tuba, played bass guitar and acoustic guitar and i recently picked up a 1950s cellini keyboard accordion. I have a E flat tuba (king) i also kinda learn by ear

[marianaluduena]

Thank yoy very much Lucy! <3 Today I picked up my accordion for the first time in months and God, I couldn't play it like before. I'm learning it by ear and I'm still a beginner but I felt a little disappointed. So thank you for the tips and for the books! :)

[Neomalthusiano]

Actually, when deciding the route a given marathon will follow, usually all those factors are taken into consideration. The route must be either mostly flat or have a maximum span between elevations so it's expected there will be no uphill or downhill considering the entirety of the route. Also, there must be a mandatory chance of direction, so runners can't be always in favor or against the wind. I would say that the major factor is climate and of course, runner's Vo2 max.

While flat marathons in cool weather are definitely faster, its astonishingly accurate to predict someone's performance as long there's enough data about previous trainings/events, even without knowing where the marathon will take place (as long its somewhere within reason).

But this only a side commentary (for generating engagement), great video.

[michaelm]

Hi Lucy, and thanks for this. As I told you, I originally skipped Palmer Hughes 1 as I had two other first level methods and thought I wouldn't need it. I've been stuck at page 137 ever since. My issue at the moment is largely due to my bad coordination. I have been stuck on marrying the left and right. I can perfect the treble, as well as the bass. Putting them together is the issue. Page 13 of P.H.#1, they call it 'The Kick Off', is one I learned from one of my other books. With single tones per treble measure I do fine now, this one, long committed to memory, is always part of my warm up. Page 17, "Skating', is largely where I've been stuck. I will strike the chord instead of the fundamental note, or chord then note note, making me wondering how I manage to walk and chew gum at the same time.

Now that one is largely memorized as well. And I've been aware of doing better my memory then I do sitting in front of the music and worrying about mistakes. Where as that is doubtlessly the way you learn, it is sometimes a hinderance to me. It is just as important, in my case to practice what I've learned away from the music stand.

More then a week ago I had a practice experience that mixed intense frustration with a feeling of moving forward as I've not felt on this instrument before: Lately I've taken to removing my daily wear glasses, leaving me blind as the proverbial bat. before I put my accordion on. This is very conducive to concentration with me. Besides needing to find fundamental C with my left ring finger, if I run my thumb between the bassoon and master switches, I'll find middle C, and concentrate on what I'm doing. I did lots of bass practice, at one point I allowed myself a pleasure I deny myself too frequently, I just allowed myself to play treble for my own enjoyment. Before long melodies I never attempted before (including the Beer Barrel Polka) starting flowing out me, with very few mistakes and I had a smile frozen on my face. Prior to that I had been forgetting to have fun too often :)

When I put my reading glasses on for 'structured' practice I tried something new. Looking ahead in the 'Easiest Accordion' book, being VERY sick of 3/4 time, I decided to give "When The Saints Go Marching In' a go. Standard fare for any beginning keyboardist, I figured easy peasy...

Perhaps not, despite the treble being burned in my long term memory, I could not marry it, did not matter. I was successfully playing alternating bass, which made me nervous when I first read it. I quickly decided to let go and learn it! The frustrating part was when I went back to page 17 of P.H. #1 and proceeded to slipping all over the ice. I shut that book, took off the reading glasses and began alternate bassing like mad, up and down the buttonboard. :)

I suspect I am going to be a high practice individual, I'm 56 after all! I'd like to be competent at this sooner rather then later. I've had mainly the heat of Summer standing in my way. Since all that, I've been getting more adept at ghosting alternate sides to bring it together. It's still something I need to work at. Natural clumsiness can be overcome with enough of the right kind of practice :)

[livinhoslots]

Meu sonho é aprender a tocar esse lindo instrumento! 🥹

[f.k.n.zachthebard]

This video is a wonderful life saver. Thank you so much for the recommendations. I have been playing piano for years. The left hand bass notes are my biggest challenge right now. So your suggestion of the bass melodies book was greatly appreciated!

[andygremett]

For me, 12 weeks for Palmer Hughes Book 2 is a big underestimate. Most songs took me about one to two weeks to learn and there are about 20 songs in my edition. I play the piano and guitar as well so I understood music. I shoot for 30 min of practice each day for 6 days a week. I typically have one brand-new song and one I am just polishing up for each week. Along with some exercises from another book. For me, this is a full load as a hobbyist.

[rubydoobyd]

i feel that this is a fairly unrealistic time frame, it's taken me 13 weeks to get through book 1 and that is with a teacher. my teacher didn't want me rushing, and everyones learns at different paces, but i just find 4 weeks for a beginner who practices everyday to be pretty unrealistic. i practiced mostly everday and its taken me 13 weeks. i find it totally possible your students learn at a different pace from me but i just have a hard time believing most people will learn THAT fast. also my teacher gave me 1-2 songs a week to work on. nothing against you or your teaching, i actually really like your videos. I'm just putting this out there so any other beginners won't feel like they're learning too slow.