I stumbled upon this video and it just plain brought back so many memories. This is exactly what I did playing in the streets in Europe for years...making money and practicing French musette music at the same time. It doesn't get better than that.

He's playing a very expensive Roland electronic accordion with an internal speaker (a very loud speaker)....starts at 00:38


This song is the very first Musette song I learned. When I heard another accordionist play it, I instantly fell in love with French musette. That progression in the beginning of this song (Dmin-A7-Dmi-D7 etc) is what got me. Been playing it ever since.



And, finally....the proper way this song gets played by a professional.

I still play this, but on the piano now...it really keeps my fingers flexible. If anyone wants a copy, I have it in PDF form.

Very nice,and I certainly respect your ability to play it.

Bernie

Chas is gonna love watching this I'm sure........

The Piano and Accordion if you think about it are the
only true SOLO Acoustic Instruments as you can do three things
at once, play left hand....right hand....and sing.

Great stuff Mark! I’d love to learn to some tunes in that style on the keyboard. Please send me a chart!

Great stuff Mark! I’d love to learn to some tunes in that style on the keyboard. Please send me a chart!

Huh???????? I don't recall seeing any one-handed guitar players. In any case, YOU'd still need another hand to POST .

chas

Mark
Good stuff I enjoy hearing music of other countries. I have a job coming up and they want some European Music so I've been working on a small medaly of tunes from Germany. France, Switzerland, Netherlands.
Here on Hilton head a new resturant just open called "Taste of Europe" run by two Hungarian ladies and its getting rave reviews. Going tomorrow night to try it. They have a small bar attached to it and started entertainment. You guessed it !!!
An acoustic guitar player/singer.
Wish you were here, you would be great.

Chas: have you ever considered saying something positive and uplifting like the other members did here?

Bill...thanks for the compliment. I wish I was there too. It's very tempting for me to try and get back to playing European music.

I have all popular "evergreen" European music in PDF's...particularly Germany, France, England, Italy, Spain etc. I only saved the "good" ones. If you need anything just let me know and I'll email it to you.

You've got it, Paul

I didn't expect ANY kind of response to this post. I was pleasantly surprised to hear the upbeat comments from you guys.

While I'm on a roll, I'd really appreciate more remarks for this reason. I've been thinking for a while now about changing course even this late in life. I like American music and I play American music, but my forte and preference is...."foreign" music."

I've been thinking about posting that for a while now. I think I WILL put a post together and see if anyone has a suggestion on how to go about it or open my eyes up to "opportunities." Bill already planted a seed in my mind with his "Here on Hilton head a new resturant just open called "Taste of Europe" run by two Hungarian ladies and its getting rave reviews."

Mark, I was questioning why Donny would think piano and accordion were the only instruments one could do 'three things at once'. You want to tell me what I AM allowed to say? Hey, I'm positive and uplifting when there's something to be positive and uplifting about. As I recall, YOU aren't always the king of warm fuzzies yourself (remember those ).

chas

EXAMPLE:



chas

Well Chas can you name a few other Acoustic solo instruments that you could do three things at once playing them?

??? I just did; Guitar - left hand, right hand, sing. What am I missing here or rather, what are YOU missing? Anyhow, let's kill this before we both get blasted for taking Mark's post SOUTH....Oops, too late, already there .

chas

Chas maybe you don't understand SOLO playing TWO "Different parts
at once and singing....I don't think strumming a guitar qualifies sorry.

You certainly can do that on an arranger keyboard. If you want to.

Don we are talking acoustic....just sayin

For years, the city of Lexington would hire us to play at the turn-around point for holiday races. We'd use acoustic drums, guitar, upright and a trumpet or saxophone. Lots of runners (about 10,000) would tip.

Then, we'd move downtown to play during the holiday festivities. Again, good tips.

I miss that.


Russ

That sounds fun Russ for group buskering.. but,
not one solo acoustic instrument

Hi,
must be missing something, what’s the difference between accompanying oneself with a guitar vs a piano. I would have thought either instrument could be played as a solo instrument if need be. Tell a classical guitarist he’s not playing a solo.

Donny, in that group, the trumpet and the guitar were solo instruments. Remember Django? I played a Selmer MacKafee Django guitar. Loud as hell!

Russ

I understand that Russ.....but I was speaking of the
"two solo acoustic instruments" that you can play 2 things at once
and sing..

Mark
I'm sure whereever you are there are small niche restaurants doing ethnic food that you could approach and offer something very different. I bet it would go over big. The thing most transplants here miss about the Northeast is the food which is why this new restaurant is a breath of fresh air. Also I would love if you could send me some of your "Hits" from other coountries. I'm thinking about trying to get a gig in this new place. I can play more ethnic music than anyone here. $$$ plus Stuffed cabbage and pirogues !
One more thing. In Ashville NC busking is big all over the city. All kind of players and even dancers. Unwritten rule. Work your corner for two hours and then move on and give someone else a chance. A Waiter tole me his friend does violin and pulls in hundreds a day. Lots of tourists.

Well it has to be brutal busking in the summertime in that tremendous Heat down south ?

Lets see, now. Back when I played a 12-string guitar, I used my left hand for chords - hmmm - just like a piano, then I filled in with my hand while singing. Guess I must really have been stupid back then. I could have got away without using my right hand and didn't know it at the time.

I did a few street jobs (busking) in Havre de Grace, Maryland, it was fun for a few hours, but when the weather turned nasty, I had about 5 minutes to get my gear in the van and out of the rain. The worst street job I had was when I played for the election party of the county executive, the stage was a flatbed trailer, and about an hour into the party it began snowing like Hell and the temperature dropped to well below freezing. I was wearing a tux! Bad night, I was outa there in the next 15 minutes, got home and spent the next hour drying my gear with a hair drier and towels. Sure glad those days are over!

Gary

No weather forecasts in those days, Gary ?!? ...

Yep, and just about as accurate as they are today - NOT! Today, the weather doodle on TV was calling for 45 degrees, cloudy with an occasional sprinkle. When I got up this morning, there was not a single cloud in the sky, but damned it was cold - 35 degrees f. Try to plan your day around that, Tony. Maybe they are a bit more accurate where you live, but considering they all get their weather forecast from NOAA, well I kinda doubt it.

Good luck,

Gary

They usually do it more in the evening and get in the shade of a building if theres any sun. You get used to it And its a longer season to play outdoors.

Need a super simple setup and a tarp. YOu never know

Go for it Bill just setup anywhere put out a tip cup
and start playing and singing..

😎

Actually, Gary, the forecasts up here have been pretty accurate for some time ...

Simply amazing!

Gary

Short story...years ago I was waiting for a train
and in the station I heard "Besa Me Mucho" off in a distance.....
It sounded so beautiful keyboard & a Trumpet.....
I had to see where it was coming from so I walked to the other end
of the station platform and there sitting on the floor was
an older man with a battery powered Casio arranger KB across his lap
accompaniment being played with his left hand.....
and he was playing the lead melody with a real Trumpet in his right hand
I was blown away at his performance and tossed
$5.00 in his case and told him when he finished how enjoyable it was.
As soon I returned home I sat down and learned and played that song as it stuck in my head to this day.
There is some amazing talent in the streets.....
enjoy it, embrace it, learn from it.

take care


Although this is not the player in my story it gives
you an idea of how he was performing..

Are my able to send the PDF attachment to Paul via Synthzone personal email? Can't find the magic button that makes it work!

Can I legally post the Style Musette here, as an attachment, and not get in trouble with copyright laws....does anyone know?

Chas...that clearly calls for an apology on my part, because you CLEARLY didn't make any derogatory "accordion" remarks. So....I do apologize!



No, I'm NOT "always the king of warm fuzzies," but...if I'm correct, though I might use strong words, I've always tried to remain a gentleman when I'm letting loose with a "fuzzie."

Cold weather!!! That was part of the bad memories.

I busked almost every single day. Locally during the week, but on Friday's it was "pay day." I would get up at 6 am, and strap the accordion to my back, get on my motorcycle and head for Waterloo Station. There I would greet the morning rush hour who were most generous with their cash on "pay day."

Hand warmers were an essential part of your gear. And...gloves with open fingertips were standards for everyone who worked outdoors.

Cold weather!!! After a day of busking, you came home to ice water coming out of your faucets when you wanted to clean up. No central heating and no hot water to bathe in if the landlord didn't remember to stoke the fire. No showers...only ice cold, frigid baths. I think that's where I started learning "mind principles." You had to imagine real hard....think that the water was hot as you poured it over you with a bucket. You'd be amazed how after some practice sessions, it really works. One of the rules: what you think in your mind becomes true in your environment. Sorry....I DID promise myself no more mention of "mind principles."

The thing most transplants here miss about the Northeast is the food which is why this new restaurant is a breath of fresh air.

Yes...if I were to move that's the first thing I would miss...food....genuine food and genuine sub sandwiches. But that BBQ they serve down there...I'd sell my dog to the Arabs for more of that. Ate at the Golden Coral quite frequently. I spent a few weeks in Charlotte NC and Columbia SC. BTW...there were a total of about 2 nursing homes in Charlotte. I played in one of them as a volunteer and when I asked if they would like me to play again, they were "pleased to have me there" while they were handing me about 3 inches of paperwork to fill out as part of the program. I exited their volunteer program rather quickly!

Also I would love if you could send me some of your "Hits" from other coountries. I'm thinking about trying to get a gig in this new place. I can play more ethnic music than anyone here.

Bill, I'll do whatever I can to help you if you really want to land that gig. I'm an old hand at performing European music. The only glitch here is...I have so many song sheets (that I scanned into my computer), I wouldn't know WHAT to send. German alone there are about 150 of them...all good, recognizable songs. Then the French ones and the rest I mentioned. But to be honest, I can play and sing two hours of German music, which I do at Oktoberfest time, but for the most part, after I show I know my "stuff" it gives me license to settle back into American tunes. The trick is every few tunes remind them that you DO know the real thing by playing something authentic.

I'm trying to say don't knock yourself learning the European stuff because most Americans don't really buy into it. Just do a standard repertoire and throw the foreign stuff here and there to keep yourself "honest."

Having said that...think about it and if you still want to go forward with it and DO want some sheet music or just advice let me know and I'll help you as best I can.

your buddy Mark

Loved it Mark! Thanks for sharing ... I'm inspired to practice ... unfortunately, it will pass before I get 'round tuit.

Mark, a big thank you. Polkas, French waltzes, classical music, they were a big part of my enjoyment playing.

About fifteen years ago I stopped playing them I had to focus on music that was in demand. (at parties) Back in New York, Jewish and Italian music was a must.

Your post brought beautiful memories. I have my old books out again.
Thanks my friend, John C.

PS, your love for this music is to be admired. Nice

I LOVE that. It's the story of my life . I'm sure I'll plagiarize it at some point in the future. Years ago while trying to stop smoking, I congratulated myself for "being strong enough to overcome my own willpower".

chas

Mark
Thanks I would appreciate a few of the really best known songs from Europe if its not too much trouble. Just like to have them in my library fro an expert. Went to the restaurant, decent food but not setup for music. Bare bones dining area which they did fill to max. Bar in back had more diners along the wall but the the place was kind of dumpy. See what happens in the future.
Thanks again

When I was working the day job we actually had this round piece of plastic that said "tuit" ... so when someone said they would do something when they got 'around to it', they got the "round tuit" ...

John...there were two words in your message here that reached out to me: "enjoyment" and "music."

Folks our age remember when "music" was "music" and not something resembling aerobics with sound. "Enjoyment" was a pleasurable state of mind that I can only reach now by listening to Classical Music/Opera or listening to....."silence!"

Sad!!

My offer extends to both you and Bill. I have an extensive library of music if you need a piece.

Bill...the offer still goes but here's the qualifier. I need to know exactly what you want or need. Example: Mark, this place plays mostly xxx music. I can use maybe 3-4 more songs to spice up my repertoire. Or...I'm going into a "specialty" restaurant where they want ALL xxx music.

Trying to say, I just did a "find" for ethnic music alone in my music folder in the computer. 836 songs! I wouldn't know where to start.

I'm (hopefully) always here. So, if you tell me in the future that you're trying to land a job somewhere, we'll use that as a starting point.