Fast Facts
About Accordions
-The Chinese sheng, a free reed instrument introduced to Europe in 1777, is generally credited with being the first thing that led to the development of the accordion.
-Weights and sizes differ based on the preferences, needs and sizes of the player and the type of music they want to play.
-Italy was the first large-scale production center of accordions. Today most are manufactured in Europe and China. China has the most accordionists.
-Any style of music can be played on the accordion, if the player is good enough.
Source: Accordions.com
SPRINGDALE — AnnieBeth Mabry never had much interest in playing an instrument — that is until a man showed up at her school with an accordion.
“I wanted to play it because I thought it was really nice,” said AnnieBeth, 8, a third-grader at Turnbow Elementary School.
She discussed her newfound love with her grandmother, who gave her a children’s-size accordion for Christmas.
That was two years ago. It turns out Mabry’s interest in the accordion was genuine because she’s still playing it. And she doesn’t intend to stop.
“She just picked it up so fast,” said her mother, Maryanne Mabry.
On a recent morning at school, AnnieBeth demonstrated her accordion skills for visitors, playing “Camptown Races” along with one of her favorite tunes, “The Big Parade.”
Accordions — those box-shaped instruments played by pulling and pushing bellows while pressing keys or buttons — are not very popular, at least in America.
But Gunther Vinson, a Bella Vista resident who has been Mabry’s accordion teacher, said the accordion gets a bad rap.
“Everyone thinks the guitar is cool, but the accordion is Urkel dorky,” Vinson said, referring to accordionist and ultra-nerdy character Steve Urkel from the ’90s television sitcom “Family Matters.”
Vinson noted, however, the complexity involved in learning how to handle the accordion’s keys and bellows at the same time helps build a young person’s brain.
“They’re multitasking right off the bat,” Vinson said. “It helps them learn melody, rhythm and accompaniment all in one.”
Vinson, 29, has played the accordion since he was 7. He spends 30 minutes per week with AnnieBeth, his only student.
“She’s done real well,” Vinson said. “When she first started she couldn’t do anything. Now she plays a pretty good number of songs. She works real hard, and you can tell every time at practice she gets better and better.”
If there’s a social stigma that comes with the accordion, AnnieBeth doesn’t seem bothered by it.
“My friends think it’s really cool I can play,” she said.
Her inspiration to play the accordion came in fall 2010 when her school welcomed Sergei Shapoval, a native of Ukraine, to talk to the kids about Russia. As part of his presentation, Shapoval played his accordion.
Returning to the school last month, Shapoval played again — this time accompanied by AnnieBeth and Vinson.
Maryanne Mabry credits the school for exposing her daughter to a different culture and a different instrument.
“Our kids are created with talent and gifts,” Maryanne Mabry said. “If someone isn’t there to spark that interest, the kids might not discover their talent.”
AnnieBeth has performed in front of numerous audiences, including her grandmother’s church, West Ridge Baptist in Fayetteville. She played for the Springdale School Board this past summer. She played “Jesus Loves Me” at her aunt’s funeral last month.
About that last performance, she admitted being nervous.
“I didn’t want to mess up,” she said.
Web Watch
Talent Show Video
AnnieBeth Mabry’s accordion talent can be viewed online. Search for “Annie’s Talent Show 5-31-11” at youtube.com.