Polka people unite at UA

Brian Foster Arizona Summer Wildcat B.A.Foster/Arizona Summer Wildcat UA music professor James O'Brien plays sweet music on his accordion last week during a four-day workshop held on campus, which is fitting since June is accordion awareness month.

Accordion aficionado Bill Stephens lives that polka kind of lifestyle.

The fifty-something Californian has only been playing for about a year, but already has developed quite an attachment.

"I like to practice four to five hours a day," he said. "Sometimes I go to sleep with it on."

Stephens isn't the only squeeze-box lover in town, as UA professors and polka-lovers alike converged on the University of Arizona campus last week in celebration of accordion awareness month.

"I came here to play with someone who is an expert and who could critique my performance," Stephens said, adding he is agog about music-making and has composed an original polka-tune.

A half-dozen accordionists gathered for the free four-day workshop led by UA music professor James O'Brien. The group jammed to big band music from the 1930s and 1940s, polkas and classical music.

One UA professor appeared more embarrassed than excited about the squeezing and button-pushing.

"If my students hear about this, I'll never hear the end of it," he said, asking not to be named.

O'Brien, who has been playing the accordion since middle school, said the focus of the workshop was to fine-tune playing skills and gain recognition of accordion playing as a "music-making activity.

"I'm trying to get people to use the accordion musically," O'Brien said, offering individual and group lessons during the one-hour classes each night of the workshop.

Most of the players were from Tucson, but Stephens trekked all the way from Chino, Calif., to enjoy O'Brien's expertise.

UA graduate student David Ropp, a seven-year accordion veteran, said the workshop was a great chance to play and observe others' techniques.

"I've really enjoyed the workshop," Ropp said.

Even those not-so-seasoned players agreed.

Tucson resident Doug Laney had tangled with the accordion for only six days.

"He's (O'Brien) been very energetic and optimistic about our playing," Laney said.

Even talk of forming an accordion club could be heard over the bellowing chords.

"This workshop got me enthused and motivated to start playing again," said Phyllis Mitchell, a Tucson resident and sporadic accordionist.