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分享31-Jan-2020
by Kevin Friedrich
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 The recently established accordion program in Chicago is off to a great start with new enrollments furthering the excitement. Founder Mary Ann Covone (picture left) reports that the interest is high and the students are motivated and committed to their newly established accordion orchestra. In the 1940-60s, the accordion was a very popular instrument in Chicago. There were schools in every section of the city with hundreds of students at each school taking lessons and participating in “accordion band.” When the students were very young and novices at the accordion, they played in the “beginner band.” As their skills developed, they would progress moving up to the intermediate band and ultimately to the senior level band! These bands traveled to competitions around the country sponsored by the American Accordionists Association (AAA) and the Accordionists and Teachers Guild (ATG). The accordion was a part of every day life and had its own “social life” as accordionists from all over the country (and the world) shared this common interest and came to know each other! Mary Ann recounts that she grew up in that life (albeit a little later in time), and the good times, good teachers and good friends have impacted and influenced her life in ways I could never have imagined. I am grateful for those experiences and am planning to recreate them for all through the Chicagoland Accordion Academy (CAA). Anyone that has ever played the accordion, and it still holds a special place in your heart, or those wishing to learn for the first time, are invited to join the activities! Together they are renewing the enthusiasm and recapturing the fun of playing the accordion! The Chicagoland Accordion Academy classes are geared toward adults who want to learn to play for their own enjoyment. Students learn to read music and to listen to music and learn how to adapt it to the accordion. Our students have expressed a variety of reasons why they want to play the accordion such as: • They like the sound of the instrument • They have an older relative who played • They inherited an instrument • They want to play with an ethnic group • They want to play music of their heritage • They played as a child and want to resume learning • They played the piano but want to learn accordion because it is portable • They know that playing the accordion provides an outlet from the stress of everyday life. Whatever your reason is for wanting to play the accordion, the Academy will work with you and help you achieve your goal! Mary Ann Covone is one of a handful of classical accordionists in the United States. She studied with Joan Cochran Sommers and continues to play in the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) Chamber Accordion Ensemble under her direction. Mary Ann graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Accordion Performance from UMKC and has performed and taught extensively in the Chicago area for many years. She has presented programs that include light pop, ethnic and semi-classical music. Recently, Mary Ann performed with the West Suburban Orchestra and the Loyola University Orchestra in various Shostakovich works. She has also played in the pit orchestra in the show Cabaret with the Beverly Theater Guild. Mary Ann is available to teach all genres of music at all levels. For more information email: maryann@chicagolandaccordionacademy.com |
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