Accordion Banjo Fiddle Guitar By Gary Breitbard

This is the music I love to play for backyard parties, cafes, restaurants, terraces, receptions. Everyone seems to love the old Italian and French accordion tunes. We spice it up with vocals in English and in French. Jena is a beautiful singer of Balkan dance songs and I also sing Yiddish. We often involve the audience in singing or even, heaven help us, dancing (if the Champagne is flowing). Generally we prefer to perform this music strictly acoustically, both for sound quality and to better interact with listeners.

This category differs from the Continental in that it consists of French Country Dance music. This is a rather rough and ready style involving accordions, hurdy-gurdys, fiddles and bagpipes, and must be heard to be believed. It always makes people smile and sometimes dance. Jena and I teach French country dancing, which is, of course, the perfect compliment to this music.

Reading music is a very useful skill, but it's not part of my teaching method. You should not be staring at a piece of paper while you play; your brain power becomes used up doing visual processing. Little is left over for listening to the music, paying attention to your instrument, your hands and arms, and your body rhythm. The eyes should be used to make visual contact with the instructor or with the audience when you're performing.

Unlike most banjo players, I pick in several styles, including basic up picking, frailing or clawhammer, old time fingerpicking and guitar pattern picking. I will teach to your desires and abilities. I like to use the banjo for singing -- many old time fiddle tunes are also songs -- but many people are strictly into tune playing or accompanying others. The banjo offers immediate rewards to the beginner.