“Hi, My name is Karen and I’m an accordion player.”

Hi, Karen.

OK, so maybe it’s not exactly an Accordions Anonymous meeting, but people do tend to look at you askance and avert their eyes when you admit to playing (or loving) one. I don’t get it. I don’t get the jokes either.

What’s the difference between an onion and an accordion? – No one cries when you chop up an accordion.

What do you call an accordion player with a beeper? – An optimist.

I mean, what’s not to like? It’s beautiful, it’s versatile–a freakin’ one-man band! Polkas, klezmer, Tejano, Cajun, Zydeco, Jazz, classical, Balkan, French–you name it, the list of musical genres goes on and on. It ain’t just the Beer Barrel Polka on the Lawrence Welk Show–not that there’s anything wrong with that!

I loved the Lawrence Welk show and watched it religiously when I was a little girl–I suspect that’s where my love affair with the accordion began. But fast forward to September 2007.

Joe and I are at Capital Ale House in Richmond celebrating Oktoberfest with a cold beer and an Oompah Band. The Oompah boys were fabulous, accordions and all, but the Brooklyn-based, Klezmer punk band Golem was what really got my attention. The lead singer was a petite woman in a short skirt and go go boots playing kick-ass accordion. This band rocked! When I got home it hit me. I didn’t want to just admire accordions anymore–I wanted to play one. So for my 45th birthday, which was conveniently the following month, my husband bought me a used accordion online from Elderly Instruments. 

I’m starting this blog for two reasons. First, to encourage people that it’s really really fun and satisfying to learn to play an instrument in your forties. Second, to show people that the accordion gets a bad rap. Check back with me occasionally and I’ll do my best to show you why.

Accordions rule.