For Teachers

 

Reedwax Music is proud to present its wide range of original compositions for accordion.

The repertoire for the modern accordionist has long suffered from a lack of new pieces of different grades, styles and playing abilities. Reedwax Music publishes over 80 original compositions that help to advance the musical and technical ability of students, and are melodic and interesting to play. They will help you, as teachers, to guide your students towards becoming musicians and not just accordion players or technical virtuosos.

They range from Grade 1 to Grade 9, and bring back melody – missing from much of the contemporary repertoire, so that performers of the future can play music that non-accordionists can also enjoy listening to.

While some of the advanced compositions are technically demanding, others are designed to teach and expand a player’s abilities, interpretation, feeling, and musicianship. Still others are entertaining and display the uniqueness of the accordion as a musical instrument. Click on Accordion Sheet Music for more information about each composition, and to purchase.

 

New

 

Dominoes (SB – Grade 3)

This playful piece begins in C major, in 4/4, with a four-bar introduction. It then speeds up immediately, with a faster first section hosting a very hummable, happy-go-lucky treble melody, supported by rhythmic basses and chords. A second 16-bar section follows, jointly in C major and A minor, with triplets and accented notes in the treble……

Imposition (SB – Grade 6) 

A fast-paced six-bar introduction in E minor is quickly followed by an eight-bar section with a theme reminiscent of western cowboy films. This is repeated, but with a different bass rhythm, and several subtle changes to the treble. A bright 12-bar second section chase sequence follows in E major, with stabbing treble chords under a sustained note, prior to a bass motif and treble/bass interplay……

Anxiety Polka (SB – Grade 5) 

Written in G major in 4/4 time. After a short four-bar introduction, a number of finger-testing treble triplets sets the tone for this toe-tapping, danceable polka with an insistence of finger agility during the first 16 bar melody section. A second 16-bar section has a twist on the first section in that it uses more of the upper keyboard section, and a different melody……

Hot Patch (SB – Grade 6) 

Written in F major, this joyful vamp-like composition has an 8-bar introduction, with syncopated treble chords and semi-sustained basses – followed by an eight-bar theme in the treble that is repeated but modified and extended, with detailed phrasing and accenting. At the end of the next section, a jazzy treble chord spread announces the next section – a syncopated, Gypsy-like hummable……

A Minor Moment (SB – Grade 5)

Written in 3/4 time in E minor, an eight-bar staccato-style treble chord introduction leads into a flowing melody. After 13 bars it morphs into A minor, with a jazzy two-bar treble chordal motif feeling in the treble, combined with swing jazz basses (the rhythm section) which cross the middle beat of the bar…….

Down the Road (SB – Grade 4) 

Written in 4/4 time, in F major, the piece starts with a four-bar introduction with thirds in the treble, followed by a catchy treble melody, supported by basses and chords. This morphs into a second section which takes the treble melody briefly into a minor mode and back again……

A Sharp Interlude (SB – Grade 6): Written in the key of B major, this snappy piece is all about sustainability in the basses, while the treble frolics mostly along the black notes of the keyboard. The fast-pace of a chase suddenly dissolves suddenly into a simple, almost poignant harmonic progression between treble and bass keyboards……

Apricot One + Apricot Two (SB – Grade 1): Written in 3/4, using the first five notes of the scale, Apricot One is for beginners. So is Apricot Two, written in 4.4, has a march-like melody, ends in a two-note chord.

Backstage Waltz (SB – Grade 3): This waltz, written in Eb major, starts with a four-bar introduction. This is followed by the next eight bars which take the treble melody through a tuneful dance, with phrasing, slight tempo changes, and dynamic variations…….

Bellissima Waltz (SB – Grade 3): This tuneful little piece is written in three sections, all in G major. The second section has a different melody and feel while the third section repeats the melody of the first section, but introduces the player to a harmony under the melody, leading to the end.

Clown in a Pickle (SB – Grade 5): This is piece is written in 4/4, in A minor. The four-bar introduction is slow and somewhat classical in nature (it’s the clown in his artful planning mode), but it jumps to a much faster pace in a second, eight-bar introduction that includes some four-note treble chords and syncopation. The ensuing 16-bar treble melody presents the clown performing his act…….

Conundrum (SB – Grade 6): This composition, in A minor, starts with a bold concert-like introduction, but after four bars changes to an emotional motif. Suddenly a speedy, turbulent allegro con brio section ensues, with abundant off-beat accenting in both treble and basses. This is followed by a section that suddenly stumbles into an almost dream-like state of emotions and feelings, played rubato, followed by a treble cadenza, and a lead-up to a major key…….

Dunroamin’ (SB -Grade 5): Written in ABA format, the piece starts with two bass notes forming its 12/8 rhythm basis in the first section. It is reminiscent of a Scottish lament, while the treble hosts a melody with underlying harmony. In the second section the time signature changes to 3/4 into a bright, cheerful waltz, at the same tempo as the first section…….

 Horseplay (SB – Grade 3): Written in G major, this piece has an 8-bar introduction, followed by a tuneful, hummable main theme and melody, with a couple of twists that may introduce the performer to accents and phrasing. The middle section in F major, demands triplets in the treble, following by a change back to G major, and a repeat of most of the first section…….

 Pulsations (SB – Grade 6): This driving piece captures the big city lifestyle, with a calmness suddenly inserted in the second section, before returning to the rush of the big city. It is written in 4/4, 12/8. and 6/4…….

 Three Into Four (SB – Grade 5): This composition combines multiple styles, time signature changes, articulation and phrasing. The introduction is in 3/4, in G major, with sustained basses. This is followed by a bouncy eight-bar section, also in 4/4 in G major. This is repeated, but there are subtle differences in the treble…….

 

NOTE

To help you find the right compositions, they are presented in grade order.

SB = Standard Basses

FB = Free Basses

SB + FB = For both Standard Bass and Free Bass instruments

 

SOLOS: GRADE 1

Apple Core (SB);  Blueberry One (SB);  Blueberry Two (SB);  Crab Cakes (SB);  Crackpot (SB + FB);  Dandy Waltz (SB + FB);  Early Morning Rising (SB + FB); Musical Routes (album of 4 solos: SB);  My First Week (album of 7 solos: SB);  Squash (SB)

 

SOLOS: GRADE 2

A Cool Thing (SB);  Abbadabba (SB);  An Early Sunrise (SB);  Bells & Whistles (SB);  Blog 27 (SB);  Clouds Passing (FB); Doubly Bubbly (SB + FB); Three Down Up (SB + FB)

 

SOLOS: GRADE 2/3

Forest Waltz (SB); Mosaic Waltz (SB)

 

SOLOS: GRADE 3

A Summer Breeze (SB);  Backstage Waltz (SB); Bellissima Waltz (SB): Chocolation (SB);  Dandy (SB + FB);  Countryside March (SB); Early Morning Rising (SB + FB);  Expanse (SB);  Hocus Pocus (SB);  Horseplay (SB); Lamentosa (SB + FB);  Mosaic Waltz (SB); The Happy Gnome (SB);  The Naughty Monkey (SB)

  

SOLOS: GRADE 4

A Dawn Beginning (FB);  Asdfghjkl (SB);  Clairette (SB);  Clown in a Pickle (SB); Dijon (SB);  Emergency Tango (SB); Exaggeration Waltz (SB);  Hymn for Her (SB);  Jabbermouth (SB);  Khalif of Kotor (SB);  Nuance (SB);  The Happy Whistler (SB);  The Swiss Efficiency Polka (SB)

 

SOLOS: GRADE 5

ACC 515 (SB);  Ali Baba’s Barber (SB);  Anxiety Waltz (SB);  Aria No. 1 (SB);  Bootstrap Tango (SB);  Castleton Reel (SB);  Charlie’s Revenge (SB);  Chasing Rabbits (SB); Dunroamin’ (SB); Emancipation (SB); Escapade (SB);  Magganajjer (SB);  Moonshadow (SB);  Morris Minor (SB);  Scotch Grass (SB);  Serenity (SB);  Seven Over Eight (SB); Three Into Four (SB); Upside Down Polka (SB)

 

SOLOS: GRADE 6

Abacus (SB);  About Time (SB);  Baguette (SB);  Changes (SB);  Coming Home (SB);  Cycophantic Impressions (SB);  Hot Patch (SB); Into the Spice Market (SB);  Mystique (SB);  Pulsations (SB); Sunny Days (SB);  Tampopo (SB);  Tributaries (SB)

 

SOLOS: GRADE 7

Cambadacha (SB); Conundrum (SB);  Desperado (SB);  Resolution (SB);  Rhapsidium for a Rainy Day (SB);  Subterfuge (SB)

 

SOLOS: GRADE 8

Boutique Overture (SB)

  

SOLOS: GRADE 9

Precipice (FB). This was specially composed following a short time Douglas Ward spent in Papua New Guinea after the eruption of Mount Tavurvur near Rabaul and the life of a little boy named Qalaalo (pronounced Kalarlo) meaning ‘near the cliff’ in his language. The story ends in a cliffhanger!

 

DUETS

Bananas for Two (SB; grade 3); Topas (SB; grade 3); Two Boots (SB; grade 4)

 

ENSEMBLES

Boutique Overture (grade 7); Subterfuge Two (grade 7)

 

 

Simply click Accordion Sheet Music to order and download. Enjoy the compositions. Thank you very much.