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Palmer-Hughes Accordion Course, Book 2: Accordion Book

$10.99 USD

Palmer-Hughes Accordion Course, Book 2: Accordion Book

Name: Palmer-Hughes Accordion Course, Book 2: Accordion Book
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-204
Price: 10.99 USD
Availability: InStock

For Group or Individual Instruction

By Willard A. Palmer and Bill Hughes

Item: 00-204

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This comprehensive method of music instruction enables the beginner to progress to an advanced stage of technical skill. "The Echo Waltz" is a Federation Festivals 2016-2020 selection. A Federation Festivals 2020-2024 selection.

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Series: Palmer-Hughes Accordion Course

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 48

ISBN10: 0-7390-0366-6

ISBN13: 978-0-7390-0366-4

UPC: 038081001821

SKU: 00-204

More about this title

About the Author: Willard A. Palmer

Willard A. Palmer established himself as a leading figure in accordion pedagogy and music scholarship throughout his career. Starting as a child prodigy who performed piano on radio at age 13, he pursued formal training in both piano and accordion, eventually earning his degree from Millsaps College and completing advanced study at the Conservatory of Leipzig on a two-year scholarship. At the University of Houston, Palmer taught accordion for 18 years, pioneering the institution's first successful college-level accordion courses while composing and arranging hundreds of works across multiple instruments and ensembles.

Palmer's scholarly contributions extended well beyond performance and pedagogy. Recognized internationally as an authority on Baroque music ornamentation, his research became the foundation for the acclaimed Alfred Masterworks series. Over his lifetime, he published 789 compositions and arrangements, many translated into German, Japanese, French, Dutch, and Spanish. His achievements earned him recognition with both a Doctor of Humanities degree (1971) and a Doctor of Music degree (1983), and he served as director of the Riemenschneider Bach Institute while maintaining active membership in the American Accordionists' Association and other professional organizations.

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Why we love this

Book 2 of the Palmer-Hughes Accordion Course maintains the method's reputation for building genuine technique without rushing the learning process. The inclusion of "The Echo Waltz" as a Federation Festivals selection across two competition cycles means students studying this book have built-in performance opportunities at the regional level. Palmer's writing reflects decades of accordion teaching experience, with repertoire that sounds musical from the very beginning.

What to expect

Book 2 opens up a wider musical palette while keeping the learning curve steady. The pieces transition from simple technical exercises into genuine melodies that sound like real accordion music rather than purely pedagogical studies.

Who it's for

Students progressing beyond beginner fundamentals who are ready to develop more sophisticated technical control and musical expression on the accordion. This book serves accordionists preparing for festival competitions or students working with a private instructor who needs structured, musically rewarding material to maintain engagement.

How to get the most out of it

Maintain consistent bellows pressure when moving between single-note passages and chords to ensure even tone quality throughout each piece.
Practice the registered shifts (changes between different accordion button combinations) away from tempo first, then gradually integrate them into the full performance speed.
Listen to how each piece sits within the accordion's natural range; Palmer's voicings are designed to showcase the instrument's strengths rather than work against them.

How to use it

Students studying toward Federation Festivals can prepare "The Echo Waltz" from this book during the 2020-2024 festival cycle. Private instructors can use it as the primary text for intermediate students, typically introducing it after completing Book 1 and working through it over the course of one school year.