Concert Accordionist, Mary Tokarski performs both nationally and internationally as a soloist, with Symphony Orchestra and as a member of The 'K' Trio. For 20 years Mary served as Director of Music Education at Tokarski Music Center in North Haven, Connecticut, where she taught piano and accordion, as well as conducted the choral & ensemble programs, and supervised the pre-school programs. Mary currently teaches piano and accordion at her home in Northford, Connecticut.

She also serves as a Music Educator in the North Haven Department of Education's Early Childhood Development Program at Green Acres Elementary School. Currently, Mary serves as a Board of Director with both The American Accordionists' Association (AAA) and the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG) which are the two national member organizations of the Confederation Interntaionale des Accordeonistes, (IMC-UNESCO).

Now Available: New Book - An Accordion! What Is That?
See Mary on " Connecticut Style’ daytime TV program

 
Mary began her music career at 7 with Michael Fernino of Ansonia, Connecticut, and performed and competed at local, state and national events throughout early adulthood . . . amassing over 185 trophies and awards, including two U.S. Championship Titles, a 3rd place in the 1973 Confederation Internationale des Accordeonistes (CIA) Coupe Mondiale, and a 2nd place in that year's Coupe Mondiale Pop Category.

In 1983, Mary founded Tokarski Music Center, where she served as owner and Director of Music Education. Her students have also compiled an impressive list of awards in competition.

Mary's teaching started at an early age (before finishing high school) . . . and over the years has fine-tuned her teaching skills by taking all sorts of music and education courses, and studied Early Childhood Education through Kindermusik International at Princeton University and Boston University at Lowell. She is currently a music teacher in the North Haven Department of Education Early Childhood Development Program at Green Acres Elementary School, where she teaches music for the 3 and 4 year old programs. Her students have included many "special needs" children over the years, and she developed a successful Kindermusik program at Tokarski Music Center.

Holding memberships in the Music Teachers National Association, the Connecticut State Music Teachers Association, the New Haven Chapter of CSMTA, the North Haven Rotary Club, and the Arts Council of Greater New Haven, Mary is a Board of Directors member for the American Accordionists' Association (AAA) as well as the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG).

A member of The "K" Trio, Mary performs in concert throughout the United States and internationally with her sister Julie and brother Walter. The trio performs a wide variety of musical genres, and has been acclaimed as one of the world's finest accordion ensembles.

Mary is a "regular" on the workshop circuit in the musical associations, and along with the members of The "K" Trio, she regularly presents workshops on Precision Ensemble Techniques, Technical Development and Virtuoso Performance Preparation.
 

Mary began her music career at the age of 7 with Michael Fernino of Ansonia, Connecticut. During the course of her musical career, she has studied theory, performance, ensemble and orchestral training with professors from Yale University, Indiana University, Peabody Conservatory, Boston University, the University of Texas, and the University of Denver. In addition, she has had extensive Kindermusik training at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, and Princeton University, and has attended numerous seminars on the psychology of teaching, technics for "special needs" learners, and LOTS of education-related topics!
  

Mary has the distinction of winning over 185 trophies and awards for her performances in State, Regional, National and International competitions, and twice represented the United States in the Coupe Mondiale (World Accordion Championships) sponsored by the Confederation Internationale des Accordeonistes (CIA). She was elected to Who's Who Among America's Teachers in 2002, the Oxford's Who's Who in 1992 and was a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow in 2004.
  

Mary has now released her second solo CD titled "Music With Mary... With My Friends!"

Both this new CD, as well as her first solo CD, "Music With Mary... For My Friends" are $17.00 which includes shipping and handling. To order the CD's or New Book An Accordion! What is That?, please complete the order form below, and mail your check or money order payable to Mary Tokarski, to the address listed below. Be sure to select which CD you would like to purchase, your mailing address, phone number and e-mail address for return shipping purposes and order confirmation.

Mary Tokarski
15 Maplewood Lane
Northford, CT 06472
USA

Phone: (203) 484 5095
E-Mail: mary.tokarski@comcast.net

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General Information:
“What a delightful early reader! Yet, it is comprehensive for the older child as well. It is definitely a unique approach to teaching, not only the workings and complexities of the accordion, but the music as well. The accompanying CD and illustrations are a treasure. This book should be included in every school’s required curriculum.” Linda Soley Reed, President of the American Accordionists’ Association:

Description: This book is written for use as a Guided Reading Book, for the Listening Station, as well as a Read-Aloud and Early Reader K-2. Interest Level is K-adult. The objective of this book is to provide a low reading level, non-fiction, guided reading book with various text features, giving the student who is reading at a first grade level the opportunity to learn about how the accordion produces sound, while using a table of contents, headings, a glossary, an index, a bibliography and biographies. At the listening station as the student listens and reads the book he/she will develop an awareness of the variety of music the accordionist can create.

Students will gain an understanding of the accordion and the different types of sounds and music it can produce. They will be introduced to the multitude of text features in a way that is enjoyable and easy to understand. “Buzz Treble” guides the reader through the unique qualities of the accordion while listening to the narrated text - and musical “samples” illustrating the concepts. The CD includes the Story of The Fox and The Hound (narration and music), as well as 3 bonus tracks for listening pleasure.

To order YOUR copy ($20, includes $2.05 Shipping & Handling), please contact Mary Tokarski at 203-484-5095 or by email at mary.tokarski@comcast.net. BEE Happy!

Teacher’s Information
Use As: Guided Reading, Listening Station, Read-Aloud, Early Reader K-2, Interest Level K-adult
 
DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment) Reading Skills: DRA Level 16-18 I-J, problem & solution, predicting, asking and answering questions. Text features include; table of contents, chapter headings, glossary, index, bibliography, biography. Connect the beginning, middle & end of the story to the right, middle and left side of the accordion.
VGLA (Virginia Grade Level Assessment) Language Arts Skills: Compound words, plurals with s, multi-syllabic words.
 
Music Skills: Introduction to music theory, recognize different types of accordion music, relate the sound to specific parts of the accordion. Connecting the accordion to other instruments.
Science Skills: Uses of beeswax and its connection to the accordion; sounds - high & low, loud & soft, moving parts, simple machine, body parts, emotions.
 
Objective: The objective of this book is to provide a low-reading-level, non-fiction, guided reading book with various text features, giving the student who is reading at a first grade level the opportunity to learn about how the accordion produces sound; while using a table of contents, headings, a glossary, an index, a bibliography and biographies. At the listening station as the student listens and reads the book he/she will develop an awareness of the variety of music the accordionist can create.
 
Focus: Students will gain an understanding of the accordion and the different types of sounds and music it can produce. They will be introduced to the multitude of text features in a way that is enjoyable and easy to understand. With a question as part of the title they will form a prediction, ask questions and try to answer them as part of the reading process. A connection between the world of bees and music will result in a greater understanding and respect for the world around us.
 
Setting: This guided reading book can be used in several settings; early childhood classroom as a read-aloud, listening station and guided reading book; K-adult students reading at a low level with an interest in non-fiction; science classes studying bees, sounds, moving parts, simple machines, body parts and emotions; music classes studying music theory and the accordion.
 
General Lesson: In the early childhood classroom this would be a good read-aloud book and a student listening station. Reading the title together and discussing the question and then listening to the music, will stimulate the students to predict, create opinions and ask additional questions. As they listen to the table of contents they will gain an understanding about what they will learn in the book. The headings will unfold with the music demonstrating the various topics, the students will be able to draw conclusions and make connections to the music and text. They will see the parallel between the beginning, middle and end of a story and keyboard, middle and bass side of the accordion. Many will enjoy the music and story of the “The Fox and The Hound” as the book comes to a close then, they can listen to it by themselves and, put the book in their book bag to read it on their own.
 
Vocabulary: The vocabulary is listed in the order that it appears in the book. This will give the teacher a chance to locate specific teaching points. Language Arts Vocabulary is also listed by focus groups on the next page.

WORKSHOPS, PRESENTATIONS and MASTER CLASSES
Mary can make a presentation to YOUR group (big or small)!
 
PERFORMANCE CONFIDENCE - An in-depth look at why we get “nervous” and how to reconstruct your practice regimen to eliminate that feeling!
 
GROWING UP WITH THE ACCORDION GREATS – A look into “yesteryear” – a time when all the accordion “Giants” were alive, and the interactions of a time gone by that was an inspiration to say the least!
 
THE ADULT PERFORMER (How to Make Performing Fun!) – Learn mental techniques to control your anxiety and what to do to PREVENT the anxiety right from the start!
 
PERFORMING WITH A SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - The thrill of symphonic performance and the frightening facts. Mary’s experiences with The Moravian Symphony, The Auckland Symphony and The Mantovani Orchestra.
 
CONDUCTING AN ENSEMBLE OR ORCHESTRA - The conductor is a leader wherever he/she goes, the orchestra follows. Learn the best techniques to keep the “control” you need and the respect of your orchestra members!
 
“READY” AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE - Not how to prepare, but how to always BE prepared and STAY prepared for a performance, how to be ready on short notice and lots more!
 
RECORDING ON THE ACCORDION – The INS and OUTS of recording with an accordion!
 
EVERYONE’S A TEACHER – HOW DO YOU STACK UP? - Each of us is a teacher in some way or another we teach our children, our families, our friends, our co-workers we'll explore the kind of teacher YOU are, and work on ways to apply the skills you already have to help others appreciate music . . . and the accordion!
 
MAKING MUSIC FUN! – How to approach music (teaching or studying) to make the most of it, and enjoy EVERY moment!
 
TECHNIC – YOUR STYLE, YOUR WAY - We'll explore the endless ways to improve your technical skills In the shortest, least cumbersome ways . . . and have the most fun doing it!
 
THE TOTAL PACKAGE – Everything counts – a look at some of the most misunderstood parts of a performance!
 
WHAT MAKES MUSIC “MUSIC”? - Did you ever listen to a concert and doodle on your program? or make paper airplanes or think “Is it over yet”? We will examine what YOU need to do (and think) to prevent your audience from falling into this syndrome!
 
MEMORIZING SKILLS – THE FINAL FRONTIER! - Learn techniques to improve your memorizing skills!
 
THE ART OF PHRASING - Learn to express your music through understanding and insight as a soloist, duet team, or in an ensemble.
 
THE ART OF PRACTICE - “Get the most” out of your practice time by using a few simple study skills!
 
EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC – A look into how to use music as an educational tool. Everyone LOVES music – use it to teach!
 
PREPARING FOR A VIRTUOSO PERFORMANCE – Practical techniques for learning to be a better performer – including the goal of a performance, focusing your preparation and keeping yourself under control during the performance!

 
National Performances:

- First Guest Artist Appearance at 12 with the Fernino Quintet
- Performed as "guest artist" throughout the U.S., France and Belgium
- Performed with world-reknowned artists Dr. Willard A. Palmer and Bill Hughes
  (Dr. Palmer is co-author of the famous Alfred's Basic Piano Library)
- Soloist with the Texas Accordion Orchestra conducted by Gary Daverne in Dallas, Texas, 2003
- Selected "Concert Master" under the baton of world-reknowned conductors:
  Gary Daverne (Auckland Symphony, New Zealand)
  Joan Cochran Sommers (Formerly of the University of Missouri, Kansas City)
  Janet Millard (Milwaukee Philharmonic)

International Performances:

- Belgium, France, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Germany

Productions:

- Fiddler On The Roof (American Musical Theater, New London, CT)
- Alcyone (Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT)

Appearances With:

- Accordion Pops Orchestra (Conducted by Maestro Daniel Desiderio, Philadelphia, PA)
- Accordion Symphony Society of New York (Conducted by Maestro Joseph Biviano, then of New York City)
- Latin Arts Festival at Southern Connecticut State College
- Numerous Radio & Television Appearances
  

 
· Music Teachers National Association
· Connecticut State Music Teachers Association
· New Haven Chapter, CT State Music Teachers Association
· American Accordionists' Association - Board Member
· Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International - Board Member
· The Schubert Club of Fairfield County
· North Haven Rotary Club
· Rotary International
 

 
For more information, please contact:

Mary Tokarski
15 Maplewood Lane
Northford, CT 06472
USA

Phone: 203-484-5095
E-mail: mary.tokarski@comcast.net