NAA Convention Band Director: Dick Albreski (Oklahoma)

Dick will direct both the Saturday "NAA Youth Band" and the all-convention Thursday "NAA Fun Band."

Rehearsal Time: Spurs Youth Center, Saturday at 9:00 - 10:00 am., and 11:00 until noon.

NAA Famous Fun Band

Lesson One! What is a controlled "JAM SESSION"?
Answer! We start and stop together. What happens between start and stop is called FUN. That's why we need you to join the the controlled JAM SESSION with the NAA FUN BAND and have some FUN. The music goes from ethnic to romantic to rag time.
Now what could be more FUN?
Rehearsal Time: Ballroom 10:30 am until noon, and 2:30 until 4:00 pm.

Sam Falcetti: Springfield, MA. www.FalcettiMusic.com/

Sam Falcetti will conduct a pure digital Orchestra. Conventioneers must sign up before the convention on a first come first serve bases. Most likely the titles will be "Fiddler on the Roof", a Tex-Mex Medley and God Bless America. He will provide sheet music upfront and also files for a USB drive to practice. We need at least 12 digital players.



Shelia Lee: The Whole World including Texas www.SheliaLee.wordpress.com/
NAA Dance Band Music 2020

1. Achy Breaky Heart 1992 / Elvira 1981
2. Old Time Rockin Roll - Bob Seger 1978
3. Crazy Patsy Cline 1961 - Willie Nelson - 1962
4. You've Lost that Loving Feeling - Righteous Brothers 1964
5. Twist and Shout - Beatles 1964
6. What a Wonderful World 1967 / Over the Rainbow 1939
7. Save the Last Dance for Me (Latin) Ben E King 1960

Line dance, Rock N Roll, Slow Country, Latin, Dreamy Slow – all the bases are covered!!!





2020 Symphonic Orchestra director: Matthias Matzke (Germany) www.facebook.com/MatzkeMatthias/

Rehearsal Times: Ballroom Thursday 9:00 - 10:20 am., Friday and Saturday 11:00 am. until noon.


Matzke is sending his favorite musical arrangements. After the initial read-through, Matthias and the orchestra participants will select the actual arrangements to be preformed on the evening concert.

Wintergames (David Foster, Arr.: Matthias Matzke)
The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Medley (Koji Kondo, Arr.: Matthias Matzke)
November Rain (Guns n’ Roses, Arr.: Matthias Matzke)
Trossinger Morgensupp (Georg Penz)
Conga del Fuego Nuevo (Arturo Marquez)

Maestro Matzke explains:

1. Wintergames is an orchestral overture with a pop touch.
2. The Legend of Zelda classical sound track.
3. November Rain would compliment the rock workshop very well.
4. Trossingen Morgensupp is an uplifting polka from "Hohner City“ Trossingen.
5. Conga del Fuego Nuevo is classical music with latin influences.

Dick Albreski: Oklahoma City Accordion Club    www.OklahomaAccordionClub

Dick Albreski: The accordion and Dick Albreski are almost synonymous. Since the age of six, Dick has played this magical instrument. It has become a very integral part of his life. His love of the instrument comes alive when Dick applies his fingers to the keyboard. With smooth articulation and dynamics as required, Dick will take simple melodies and transform them into memorable classics. His music will transcend into the audience where he works to become part of them. His experience has taught him how to judge and respond to all audiences. His love of ethnic music is evident in all of his performances. Growing up on the shores of Lake Erie gave him a cultural background that lived to enjoy their ethnic roots. This feeling continues to become stronger as new opportunities arise.

Dick is comfortable playing solo or with a group. His talent has allowed him to play at many weddings, dances, restaurants, social clubs, and conventions, anywhere an accordion was or is needed. He is also comfortable doing accordion workshops.

The acoustic accordion will always be his “main squeeze”, however; today he does play the midi-accordion to enhance the acoustic sound. He programs a balance that allows the acoustic accordion to be the predominant sound and the midi, an added value. This allows him to play his music with a true accordion presentation. Dick not only plays the accordion, but also repairs and teaches the instrument as well. You could say he knows the instrument from the inside out.

Dick will please you with his interpretive ethnic style and allow you to enjoy his music in a pleasant presentation. He has played for decades and will continue to share his gift with you in years to come.

Gary Blair: Scotland www.facebook.com/GaryBlairAccordionist.com/ and/or www.GaryBlair.com
Proposed Workshops:

1. How to improve technique
2. Tips and tricks for better accordion playing

Sam Falcetti: Springfield, MA. www.FalcettiMusic.com/
Sam Falcetti has proposed to teach the following two 2 sessions:
1. Left Hand patterns and how to improve them
2. How to memorize a song an d how to fake music.








Gordon Kohl: California www.GordonKohlAccordions.com/
Proposed Workshops:
1. Playing the Beautiful Music of Austria.
2. Accordion stylings for both a Tango waktz and a new pop musette piece.
3. Playing Dance Standards with musical flair.
4. Teaching plan and music used in a 12-week elementary school program (including the cost for accordions, stands, and music.)






Shelia Lee: The Whole World including Texas https://SheliaLee.wordpress.com/
NAA Dance Band Music 2020

Shelia is offering a Saturday workshop of the Conventioneer's choice.

Proposed workshops by Matthias: www.facebook.com/MatzkeMatthias/

1. Reading music vs. understanding music:

Matthias Matzke demonstrates his approach to prepare songs efficiently and to expand your memorized repertoire. Connecting music theory with accordion methodology, ways are shown to sustain musical creativity from the first moment of sight-reading until the final stage of performance on stage, improvisation or even composition.

2. Playing digital accordion in a rock band

In 2014 Matthias Matzke started to experiment with the digital accordion as the centerpiece of a symphonic rock band. His current project „Synthonic Rock“ plays own compositions and over 90 minutes of Nightwish tributes. This workshop offers an exclusive look into vast orchestration and arrangement so that the bass parts as well as the orchestral parts in a band can be played on digital accordion. We will also take a look on triggering external sounds with the accordion in a master keyboard function.

3. Orchestrating Evergreens (German for Classic Standards) :

Matthias Matzke shows his approach to evergreens such as „Olé Guapa“ and „La Paloma“ in order to perform them in a fresh way on digital accordion. Starting with left hand patterns this workshop also dives into harmonization and embellishing melodies with the focus on using effects and facilities of the digital accordion in a aesthetic manner.

Ginny Mac ( Cowtown USA aka Fort Worth, Texas) www.GinnyMac.com/ and/or www.facebook.com/GinnyMacInTexas

1) Stage Presence and Building Your Show, Exploring all the elements that go into building a set or a show; finding your “voice” as an artist; allowing your personality to shine; connecting with the audience.

2) Accordions & Western Swing, Explores some of the great accordionists of the genre and their playing styles; incorporating songs and stylistic elements of the genre; also covers the many roles of the accordion in Western swing bands, accompanying vocalists, and improvisation.








Randy McPeck: Minnesota      www.Facebook.com/Randy.Mcpeck and/or www.CastleAccordions.com/
Accordion bellows in’s and outs Randy is the Room Coordinator for Salon A. He does his own scheduling. Accordion bellow repairs
Bellow tape repair, bellow corner service, repair bellow leaks, and bellow gasket repair






Richard Noel (Bakersville, CA): www.NoelAccordion.com
Proposed Workshop Titles

1. From Acoustic to Digital: A Transformative Journey.
2. Preparing and Playing Your Digital Accordion for All Occasions

Cory Pesaturo (Worldwide Accordionist and Flirt) www.facebook.com/CoryPesaturol/ and/or www.CoryPesaturo.com/
Proposed Workshops:
1. Italian / French Looking into the high level of flamboyance in French Musette Music, both in constant tempo changes, thumb slides and how to add notes / fills. We will also go over Tarantella rhythm, and the strange forms and phrasing of Italian music. Plus the Neapolitan b2. Musical examples will be played from recordings for each.

2. Klezmer / Balkan: The scale is both these genres are very different than most music accordionists play. We’ll go over the intricacies of Klezmer, with the many different grooves it offers, and try to get Odd Meters into people’s playing for Balkan! 7/8, 11/8, 13/8, etc..

3. Tango / Brazilian: How to play Not on the beat but a constant flow of being ahead & behind it; that is Tango. Also, various aspects of Brazilian music, including 3/3/2 & 3/4/4/3/2+ grooves. Musical examples will be played from recordings for each.

Cory says: I feel these workshops should Be Interactive, “Masterclass” style. I will be able to teach much better using examples as people try and figure out the details of which I am giving for each genre.






Jim Rommel: (Dallas area)
Workshop Proposals:
1. Rock and Roll workshop
2. Haven’t thought about a second one yet.






Sharon Seaton: North Texas      www.SharonSeaton.com

Proposed Workshop: Sharon Seaton's "Circle of Confidence":     "Circle of Confidence" Handout
Sharon has not updated this description for 2020. This is a repeat of a popular group activity conducted in several previous conventions. Accordionists will come prepared to play one or two short pieces for a small group of players. Then the other participants will be invited to comment on the performance, offering positive encouragement and possible suggestions for improvement.

Participation in this workshop will be limited to 8-10 musicians. Skill level? The ability to hold an accordion.

Dr. Sharon Seaton is a professional accordionist in the Dallas area. She teaches music at El Centro College, including private piano lessons. When working with private students, she incorporates technical skills, memorization, preparing for performance, and sight reading into student lessons.

Tutto a Dio (Lithuania): www.facebook.com/TuttoaDio/
Has proposed the following workshops:

1. How to improve your playing accordion technique? (Augustinas Rakauskas)
2. The art of improvisation - Me (Greta) & Augustinas
3. Individual or open Masterclass (duo for chamber music | Augustinas for accordion)

Arlyn Visentin: Houston Area
Mom’s 15 Minutes of Fame and On-going Photo Op:


Longhorn Ballroom - 9:00-5:00 Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Hosted by Arlyn & Tom Visentin

Always bring your accordion to the Convention and Mom's 15-minutes of Fame! Come join in the fun at Mom’s 15 Minutes of Fame! This is your chance to play your accordion and your favorite music your way, to a non-judgmental group of fellow conventioneers. This event is meant for everyone, from beginners, and hobbyists to experienced professional accordionists.

Music enthusiasts and other instruments are welcome too.
We love accordions. We love having fun with music and you’re invited! Let us hear your accordion and let’s become famous at the Convention! Don’t miss it! Arlyn is the master in managing the "fame" event and taking pictures for the NAA web-based photo gallery.

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