Accordion Facts for Kids

Introduction – What is an accordion?

Accordion is a musical instrument that has piano-looking keys but it is small enough for a person to hold and play. You probably didn’t know that the accordion is also referred to as a squeezebox and The person who plays the accordion is referred to as an accordionist.

What Does an Accordion Look Like?

Accordions come in different shapes and sizes. Some can be huge and heavy, while some can be small and lightweight! There are different parts of an accordion that enables it to create beautiful sounds. Here are the different parts of an accordion:

Keys or buttons: The accordion has keys like a piano that are pressed to play various notes.
Bellows: This is the panel that you see in the middle of the accordion. These plates expand and collapse as the accordionist pushes and pulls to create airflow (which the instrument is powered through).
Reeds: These are the small metal plates of the accordion that vibrate to create sound, as air passes over them.
Grille: This is the part which covers the reeds and it can be in metal or plastic. This part also boosts the sound of the accordion.

These parts come together and create the musical instrument, which looks like a mix of a piano or an organ (the instrument not part of the body).

How Does an Accordion Work?

An accordion works in a simple manner.

The bellows are the panels which are pushed and pulled to create airflow in the instrument
While the panels are pushed and pulled, the accordionist presses the keys or buttons and this causes various notes to be produced.
When the air passes through it causes the reeds in the accordion to vibrate and create sounds.

Types of Accordions

There are various types of accordions:

Piano accordion gets its name from having a right hand keyboard that looks similar to a piano! It functions the same way an accordion does but has a keyboard for more complex sounds. Here’s an interesting video to show you the contrasting sounds that this type of accordion can create.
The Button accordion consists of a series of buttons instead of keys. The accordion can be played faster and it’s easier to learn tricks on this type of accordion.
Concertina is smaller in size and it creates more gentle, soft sounds. It has keys on its sides the same way regular accordions do. Here’s an interesting video to show you the contrasting sounds that this type of accordion can create.
Bandoneon creates different sounds on the push and pull action. The major differentiating factor is the sound. The keyboard has two layouts, for opening and closing notes which enables the sound difference. Here’s an interesting video to show you the contrasting sounds that this type of accordion can create.
Livenka creates sounds that have the same tone despite the direction of the bellows. The bellows are very long in this type of accordion as well.

History of Accordions

According to historians this musical instrument was invented in Germany by Christian Friedrich Ludwig Buschmann in 1822 and it was called a “Handäoline” in German. In 1829, Cyrill Demian, from Romania, patented and coined the name “accordion” for the instrument. It was a modification of the Handäoline.

Where Are Accordions Used?

Accordions are used in:

Folk music
Classical music
Orchestras
Video games
Movie tracks
Cultural events
Jazz music

This makes the musical instrument have a rich history. The instrument is also used throughout the world and is a part of many countries’ cultures. Here are a few countries that love accordion music:

Russia
Germany
France
Colombia
Austria
Brazil
Croatia and many others

Famous Accordion Players

There are many famous accordion players but these players have established their names in the music industries as accordionists:

Pietro Frosini was an Italian accordionist, musician, composer and vaudeville performer. He was based in the United States and played the button accordion.
Weird Al Yankovic is American, accordionist, Grammy winner, musician, director, producer and author. He is famous for 100s of melodic songs and his skills in playing the accordion.

Can Kids Learn the Accordion?

Yes, kids can learn the accordion! Children from the ages of 8 and onwards can learn to play the accordion, through music lessons . They can begin with a twelve bass- accordion and continue to learn from there.

Accordions vs. Pianos

Accordions	Pianos
The accordion invented around 1822	The modern piano was invented around 1700
Single playing technique and a limited range of notes	Complex with various playing techniques and wide range of notes
Easier to learn according to people	Harder to learn according to people

Conclusion

Accordions are a very beautiful and unique instrument. Learning how to play this musical instrument can be very fulfilling for children. It is important to note that it depends on the child’s attention level and interest in learning this instrument. Parents should not force their child into learning an instrument they are not interested in.

According to many people, being pushed into learning an instrument at a young age causes a lot of mental pressure. So always ask your child what they want and be supportive of their interest. Keep reading for fun facts about accordions!

Accordion Facts For Kids

Did you know the accordion is also called a portable orchestra?
Some accordions can be huge and heavy and some can be tiny and light weight!
Oftentimes accordions are used in video games and movie music.
Accordions are also referred to as squeezebox.
50,000 accordions were produced in Tula in 1866.
Accordion got its name from the German word Akkord (chord).

Frequently Asked Questions About Accordions for Kids

Is the accordion a difficult instrument to learn and play?

Like all instruments accordions require constant learning and practice, but that doesn’t make it a difficult instrument to learn and play.

How much does a beginner accordion cost?

A good quality beginner accordion can cost you roughly up to 200-500 dollars.

Is an accordion heavy for children?

No, there are light and small accordions as well like the concertina, this means that even children can play this instrument.

Who invented the accordion?

Historians debate between who created the accordion but it is widely accepted that it was invented in Germany by Christian Friedrich Ludwig Buschmann in 1822.