No New Year’s Day to celebrate
No chocolate covered candy hearts to give away
No first of spring, no song to sing
In fact, here’s just another ordinary day
No April rain, no flowers bloom
No wedding Saturday within the month of June
But what it is, is something true
Made up of these three words that I must say to you
I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart
No summer’s high, no warm July
No harvest moon to light one tender August night
No autumn breeze, no falling leaves
Not even time for birds to fly to southern skies
No Libra sun, no Halloween
No giving thanks to all the Christmas joy you bring
But what it is, though old, so new
To fill your heart like no three words could ever do
I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care, I do
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart
I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care, I do
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart
Of my heart
Of my heart (baby, of my heart)
My Girl
I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day
When it’s cold outside
I’ve got the month of May
I guess you’d say
What can make me feel this way
My girl, my girl, my girl
Talkin’ ’bout my girl
My girl
I’ve got so much honey
The bees envy me
I’ve got a sweeter song
Than the birds in the trees
Well, I guess you’d say
What can make me feel this way
My girl, my girl, my girl
Talkin’ ’bout my girl
My girl
Ohh ohh
Hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
Oh yeah
I don’t need no money, fortune, or fame
I’ve got all the riches baby one man can claim
Well I guess you’d say
What can make me feel this way
My girl, my girl, my girl
Talkin’ ’bout my girl, my girl, talkin’ ’bout my girl
I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day with my girl
I’ve even got the month of May with my girl
Talkin’ ’bout, talkin’ ’bout, talkin’ ’bout
How I Got Started Playing Rock on the Accordion
“I don’t want people who want to dance. I want people who HAVE to dance.” –George Balanchine (Co-founder of the New York City Ballet)
So, yeah, it was pretty much like that for me from the start. Even when I was a kid in grade school being asked to play (or nominated to play by my sainted mother) at an assembly I would start rocking it a little bit, you know? I remember one time one of the Franciscan Nuns kind of stepped in and made me stop playing my very upbeat version of “My Bonnie,” because my classmates were enjoying it a little too much! (It’s not really a party until the cops are called, right?). This was when The Fab Four had started their epic climb to greatness–around 1964 or 65.
Anyway, I came to find out many years later that The Beatles actually had recorded a rocking version of “My Bonnie” when they were the backup band for Tony Sheridan! So, after The Beatles broke up we started getting all these bootlegs, and “previously unreleased” tracks and everything. I’m clerking in the record store (Riera’s Records in Danville, California) at the time for my godfather and we get this shipment of new releases including the aforementioned Tony Sheridan album “featuring” The Beatles. And I say to myself, “Well, THIS is interesting.” And there it is in the track listing—My Bonnie! So I break it open and give it a spin on the old turntable. Now, obviously I must say their version was vastly superior to my 5th Grade efforts. But there was something there in those Beatle’s grooves of vinyl that I connected with and recognized as a little bit similar to what I had produced and certainly a different rendition of the song from what a listener usually expects in the song–more of an easy-going waltz. And I was thrilled at the recognition because the fog of the naysayers had lifted, in a way. And I became more determined than ever to play the music I wanted to play on the instrument I wanted to rock out on.
So, think back to your own experiences. Try to Remember, as the old song goes, and if you remember, then follow! Follow your heart. Maybe it was a certain song that featured our beloved instrument (Think “We Can Work It Out” by The Beatles, or “Paper in Fire” by John Mellencamp). Maybe it was a certain artist (Think Bruce Hornsby) who utilized the accordion to great, rocking effect. Then, make YOUR move. There are terrific rockers inside you. Let. them. out.
Don’t Worry Baby
This Beach Boys tune written by the great Brian Wilson remains one of my all-time favorites to play. Thinking of this song, I remember a breezy day in the early 80s. I stopped by Columbo and Sons Accordions in the North Beach district in San Francisco. At that time North Beach was still mostly Italian with a lot of accordion fans in the neighborhood. I was looking for what would later become known as a digital orchestral accordion. Alas, the digital world had not caught up to me yet.
However, Mr. Columbo did have some very outstanding instruments with full amplification which he generously allowed me to try out. First shot, right out of the box, I played this tune, “Don’t Worry Baby.” And before I had gotten through the first verse he had bolted out of his chair and opened the windows onto the street. Then, about six or seven neighbors came into the store with smiling faces, asking about the song. That was a great day.
Memorizing and the Power of “Yet”
Beauty in Distortion
Uptown Girl
She’s been living in her uptown world
I bet she’s never had a backstreet guy
I bet her momma never told her why
She’s been living in her white-bred world
As long as anyone with hot blood can
And now she’s looking for a downtown man
That’s what I am
She wants from her time
And when she wakes up
And makes up her mind
Just because
I’m in love with an uptown girl
You know I’ve seen her in her uptown world
She’s getting tired of her high-class toys
And all her presents from her uptown boys
She’s got a choice
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
You know I can’t afford to buy her pearls
But maybe someday when my ship comes in
She’ll understand what kind of guy I’ve been
And then I’ll win
She’s looking so fine
And when she’s talking
She’ll say that she’s mine
Just because
I’m in love
With an uptown girl
She’s been living in her white-bred world
As long as anyone with hot blood can
And now she’s looking for a downtown man
That’s what I am
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
She’s my uptown girl
You know I’m in love
With an uptown girl
My uptown girl
You know I’m in love
With an uptown girl
My uptown girl
You know I’m in love
With an uptown girl
My uptown girl
You know I’m in love
With an uptown girl
Danny Boy
Bewitched
Future
Swingin’ My Love
I know my heart can stay with my love
It’s understood
It’s in the hands of my love
And my love does it good
Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
My love does it good
I’ll still find something there with my love
It’s understood
It’s everywhere with my love
And my love does it good
Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
My love does it good
Only my love holds the other key to me
Oh-whoa, my love, oh-oh, my love
Only my love does it good to me
Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
My love does it good
I never say goodbye to my love
It’s understood
It’s everywhere with my love
And my love does it good
Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
My love does it good
Whoa-whoa, I love, oh-whoa, my love
Only my love does it good to me
Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-
Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
Going Against an Established Rehearsal Agenda
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Do your homework. Before you decide to go against an established rehearsal agenda, make sure you have clarity about the situation, the reasons behind it, and available alternatives . Gather some information to support your new agenda and to anticipate challenges or objections.
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Communicate effectively. Once you have decided to go against your regular rehearsal agenda, communicate your desired results, and goals clearly and persuasively to your stakeholders–which includes yourself. Explain the benefits and risks of your the new agenda and how it aligns with your purpose. Listen to feedback and address any concerns constructively.
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Be flexible and resilient. As you begin the new agenda, adapt and adjust to changing circumstances. Remain open to learning from mistakes and failures and use them as opportunities to improve and innovate. Be persistent and optimistic in pursuing your new agenda and celebrate your achievements along the way.
Let’s Stay Together
Whatever you want to do
Is all right with me
‘Cause you make me feel so brand new
And I want to spend my life with you
Since we’ve been together
Ooh
Loving you forever
Is what I need
Let me be the one you come running to
I’ll never be untrue
Let’s, let’s stay together (Together)
Loving you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad
Oh, turn around and make-up?
I just can’t deceive
You’d never do that to me (Would you, baby?)
Stayin’ around you is all I see
Loving you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad, come on
Let’s, let’s stay together
Loving you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad
Recital Coming Up? Do These…
If you find yourself stressing at hearing the word “recital” it’s time to do something about it. If you have rehearsed regularly there is absolutely no need to panic. If you haven’t, a cool head is the first requirement and always your best friend.
Recitals, you must realize, are not conspiracies directed at you by your instructors or distant supervisors of your instructors. Nor are they organized attempts to trip you up or catch you off your guard.
Rather, the purpose of a recital is to determine, whether, over an extended period of time, you learned something which you did not previously know.
You always know sometime ahead that your recital is coming; but you may, like an ostrich with its head in the sand, pretend not to notice.
Beware.
Time is too short, but the chances are you will try to do more than you can and become even more stressed out…
So, about a week before the recital, pull your material together. Put your notes in the order of your repertoire and review effectively. Most of the time you need only remind yourself of the main themes to the selections. Your teacher would not give you much more than you can handle. Maybe a little more in order to get you to stretch your limits, but not much more. Relax and take action.
Stand back. See and hear what you still need to know. Go to work filling in any remaining little blanks. DO NOT WASTE YOUR PRECIOUS TIME GOING OVER ANYTHING YOU ALREADY KNOW
WELL.
Get to bed early the night before a recital. Not only should your mind be clear; you must be as physically alert as possible and not worn out by insufficient sleep. Can you imagine an athletic team practicing all night because the next day’s game was going to be difficult?
If you happen to fall ill on the day of your recital, say so. You will do better to play at the next recital, and you don’t help anybody trying to do your best when you do not feel well. On the other hand, if you are in the grip of fear, fight it out! (And don’t pretend
to have a headache.) You must face your fear sometime, just as new college students must get over homesickness, and the sooner the better.
It is best to get to your recital a little ahead of time. Be sure to bring all the equipment you need. Don’t count on borrowing it. Forget about the other musicians on the program. Don’t keep checking up on the progress of others and the state of mind of
your friends. You will have enough time to talk to them after the recital.
Recitals are as much a part of your music learning as your lessons. They give all of us at least a couple of unpleasant hours; but if you
will look at them and see what they really are (a super opportunity to improve) you will become much more relaxed.
Rocky’s Reminder: When they call your name, know your number.