The Grand Return
This is the story of how just joining an accordion forum changed my life in a very unexpected direction. … Continue readingThe Grand Return
The Musical Memoires of JerryPH
This is the story of how just joining an accordion forum changed my life in a very unexpected direction. … Continue readingThe Grand Return
My Hohner is a very special instrument… It was truly a purchase driven by my passion and obtained by my parents with incredible amounts of love and devotion. Let me share this very special story with you… … Continue readingThe Story of My Morino
My Hohner is a very special instrument… this is the story of the company that made my accordion, and the special man himself… … Continue readingThe Hohner Story
I want my Hohner to be 100% and that means being fully functional and pluggable into an amplifier or mixer. So this becomes my first “repair”. I needed to find those cables, and since I could not find them anywhere in Canada, the USA or even the UK, I went to the source… the Hohner factory in Trossingen Germany. … Continue readingMicrophone cables are in!
Those of us that have an issue with our accordions sometimes wonder if we can fix it ourselves or wonder if we should pay for the services of an expert. This decision for most people is not an easy one to make. Here the story of how I handled that question. … Continue readingShould I, Shouldn’t I?
I have scans of factory original brochures that are year specific to my Hohner accordion and other scans of PDF format files for the preservation of my memories including scans of original Hohner time specific price lists. Enjoy! … Continue readingSpecial PDF Files
The Solton Programmer 24 is an excellent arranger with plenty of rhythms and other features to make playing quite a lot of fun, however, it has to be programmed to listen in on specific midi channels before it can work with the Elkavox 83 accordion. Here is that process… … Continue readingSolton Programmer 24 setup
I had been playing quite a while and based on the requests of several family members, needed a way to record my accordion. Here I discuss the setup I used to have to start out with and what I use today. … Continue readingRecording the Accordion #1
The Elka is a beautiful accordion and it is overall of above average in terms of quality and sound. Toss in the MIDI capabilities and this makes it a very interesting instrument! … Continue readingElkavox Pictures
Here are a few photos of the other three accordions that I own, and their little stories. We’re getting into some serious decades of time with most of these great little instruments. Enjoy the stories! … Continue readingOther Accordion Photos
I really wanted to start the first practice with the Hohner, but since life gave me lemons, I decided to make lemonade. In easier terms, I did my first practice today using the Elka instead of the Hohner.
This is how that first session went… … Continue readingFirst practice!
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
It’s near 6:00pm now as I write this and I will be able to go pick it up at 9:00pm tonight. No, wait… push that to April 22nd… wait, push that to April 28th! Getting an accordion fixed sure takes a LOT of patience! … Continue readingIts ready, its back!
My Hohner’s mics are dead. This is the story of how I handled that situation not only effectively, but for only a few dollars and with results that meet or exceed the factory original quality! … Continue readingCan You Hear Me Now?
I was watching several online YouTube videos where an accordionist was using some kind of glove to help reduce friction and control perspiration. This is the story of how I made my glove which is better and cheaper and made to my requirements! … Continue readingThe Glove
Featuring 16 mono/mic channels, 4-band Perkins QE, 6 AUX sends, 4 subgroups and so much more, this mixer was one of those diamonds that was just sitting there waiting to be used. This is the story of how I acquired this beauty! … Continue readingMackie 1640i Mixer
This page is a placeholder for info about how to tune an accordion, as I learn it. From how to make a bellows testing machine to what software to use to how to actually tune, this page is a collection of info found on the internet about this topic. … Continue readingTuning an Accordion
The most terrible loss possible. The greatest loss Is the loss of a mother, father or sibling. In my case, I just so recently lost my father on June 3, 2016… and the pain is incredible and devastating. … Continue readingThe most terrible loss possible
New straps for the Hohner! The story of how I got my new and super nice 4″ wide accordion shoulder straps. I basically searched the world only to find the perfect set in my own back yard! … Continue readingNew Morino Shoulder Straps
The basic process of tuning as I learn it. I plan to document the process in writing and in video to best help me out on different projects. Here is my page where I start to gather up this information … Continue readingHow to Tune – Part1
This is the story of how I was to create three 30-60 second German Polka style jingles. Indeed, a new kind of happening in my life with this little fun challenge! … Continue readingThe 3 Polkas Project!
I was on Facebook and saw a mug that was kind of cute. I wasn’t really interested in purchasing this cup, but I thought that it would be fun to make my own version of this cup using my own pictures… here is that little story. … Continue readingSuper Power!
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Almost every one of my songs has a tiny story behind it, each song has a reason to be here… sometimes I share the story, sometimes I don’t. Every song here in some way moves me, speaks to me inside. Here you may listen to me as I play these songs. … Continue readingSome Music
In this post, I want to discuss it with a little greater detail and share what it takes to start the process from the hardware side. Now, of course, each song kind of follows it’s own path, but this will hopefully explain my process a little better. This is the first of a couple posts on the topic. … Continue readingRecording the Accordion #2
There was one more thing that I wanted to play with, and that is a wireless solution, some way that I could connect the Hohner to the mixer and not have a wire hanging down from the accordion to the mixer, and my one requirement was that it had to be very affordable… maybe I found that answer? … Continue readingAffordable Wireless Solution?
In going through the system, I have found another source of hiss, and it’s a bit difficult to deal with. It seems that the Bose 802-E equalizer has developed a good hiss. Here is how I am dealing with it. … Continue readingBose 802-E Equalizer Issues
Well, I am officially jumping off the deep end even thinking about such a project. I am wondering if I could somehow, all by myself, make a sonically high quality microphone setup for my Hohner that comes close to being as good as the HATools system, just of course for a lot less. Here is where this rabbit hole leads me! … Continue readingCustom Microphone System
A fun evening with the Quebec Accordionist Association… my first time ever at this kind of an event! … Continue readingAccordion Club Meet #1
This is a small posting about our 2nd time at the accordion meet… fun, fun, fun! … Continue readingAccordion Club Meet #2
My first time hearing a Russian Bayan Free Bass accordion… and a grand time it was! Here is that story from my point of view! … Continue readingBayan Recital
The story of how I came to find my Roland FR-8x. A good 20 or more special sets of circumstances had to happen before this accordion could be in my hands… here is the story of how that happened. Also, of how I stumbled on to a Roland BK-7m! … Continue readingMy Roland FR-8x
This is a place holder for all the stuff that is technical and concerns my Roland V-accordion. … Continue readingFR-8x Tech Info
Meeting #3, the Christmas meeting for the Quebec Association of Accordionists, my first public performance in several decades and how my night went! … Continue readingAccordion Club Meet #3
To help me know what is where in terms of settings, set locations and so on, I am making this page of notes. … Continue readingWhat is Where
First time playing in public in over 3 decades… here is that story! … Continue readingFirst Performance in 3+ Decades!
My BK-7m backing module did not come with any kind of a foot pedal, as they normally don’t, even from the factory. Here is the story of how I tackled this challenge! … Continue readingFoot Pedals for the BK-7m
Well, I think that this is going to be the event that caps 2016 for me. We were invited to my cousin’s house for the Christmas meal. Traditionally we arrive there, eat like crazy, have a few glasses of whatever… but this time I brought the new FR-8x accordion with me! … Continue readingFamily Christmas Gathering
I wanted to change the design on my bass buttons… but I never received any, so here is how this story played out. … Continue readingBeautiful Buttons
We have a new domain name! Click here to read about this story! … Continue readingWe Have A New Name!
I saw online where some people experienced an annoying vibration noise from the left side of their accordion when using settings that produced deep bass at maximum volume. Well, I was testing out the maximum volume of my 8X, and there it was. This is the story of how I dealt with this issue! … Continue readingBad Vibrations
Not too much, not too little… my solution for the times that I don’t need all my full setup of equipment at a gig. Here is that story! … Continue readingEquipment Portability
First Real BK-7m Usage’, ‘Trying to slowly integrate the BK-7m in to my playing, and it’s not as easy as I thought it would be! Here is that story. … Continue readingFirst Real BK-7m Usage
Today was my 4th time attending an accordion club meeting. Like the previous ones, this time I decided that I would perform and have fun and that my mother was there. What I like is that there is something always different each meet. Here is that story. … Continue readingAccordion Club Meet #4
Today with the help of my good Floridian friend Ed, I made the decision to make some kind of a small video studio in the basement. Here is that story! … Continue readingVideo Studio
My FIRST Video! So this it, my absolute first music video, and it is a first on many levels… first, it is the first video I have made since I returned to the accordion! Here is that story! … Continue readingMy First Video
When I first found the Montreal Accordion club, I was very excited about it. Here is the story of how the club lost it’s luster for me. … Continue readingNo More Accordion Club Posts?
In this article, I look at a few details of what it takes to record the accordion. Here is that story! … Continue readingRecording the Accordion #3
A nice birthday gift… the Owners Manual and Buyer’s Guide to the Piano Accordion… here is that story! … Continue readingEarly Birthday Present!
Today I received a very cool gift from a man I have never met (yet), a man who’s hand I never shook (yet), but is a man that I call a friend. I received a t-shirt from Ed Manfredi, and it is a special one, because it represents a celebration that he will enjoy at a special accordion event in California next month. Here is the story! … Continue readingEd Manfredi Accordionist Extraordinaire
About two weeks ago I decided to look in to this place and see if it was possible that I one day visit this place. I heard several small stories, all amazing. I saw a couple YouTube videos… all amazing. NONE of that prepared me for the day that I would walk through those doors… here is that story. … Continue readingNew England Accordion Museum Visit #1
I created a series of short educational videos in response to my friend Ed’s specific questions in areas he wanted some fill-in info on and I tossed in a few hints to aide him in making his videos a little better. So, this is my way of taking that info and making it public. Here is that story. … Continue readingVideo Editing: The Basics
Video taping yourself with a single low end camcorder… it can give you good results. Use these tips and learn how to draw the most out of your accordion videos using these 5 simple tips! … Continue readingVideo Taping with ONE Camera
Today I’ve added a new tiny member to the family, another Hohner and Free Bass accordion… this is this story! … Continue readingNew Baby in the Family
A new addition to my videos! I recorded “Never On A Sunday”! Here is that story. … Continue readingNever On A Sunday
The first time I visited the New England Accordion Museum, I was overwhelmed. The second time I saw more, did more… and was still overwhelmed, but not by the accordions, but the by the kindness of the man that runs it as well. Here is that story. … Continue readingNEAM #2!
When using one or two cameras, and trying to get the best possible results, the preparation can start to get a little complex, so I created this page to help me keep track of those little things I want to configure. Here is that story. … Continue readingVideo Camera Settings
I found some of my old 4-track cassettes of music that I recorded back in the 80’s… here is the story of what I am going to do about them! … Continue readingOld 4-Track Recordings
I put together the recordings that I made during my own update process and shared it, with the hopes that it helps a few people. Here is that story. … Continue readingFR-8X Firmware Update to V.2.50
Funny how the mind works. A memory that took my frown and turned it up-side down. Here is that story. … Continue readingAn Old Memory
The story of my lost and now found and remastered 4-track tapes! … Continue readingRemastered Tapes
Around December 10th, the accordion forum that I visit mentioned the idea of everyone that wants to, to pitch in and record their favorite rendition of Silent Night. These are my TWO renditions of that song! … Continue readingSilent Night X 2!
Here is the story of how I had recorded all those songs decades ago! … Continue readingChristmas Music
Ever since I did my little Silent Night videos, I’ve wanted to get a little more in to the green screen thing, but I had a couple of limitations. Here is the story of how I dealt with those challenges. … Continue readingSmall Lighting Upgrade
I love my toys! Here is the story of my condenser microphones, the supporting accessories, an unboxing and impressions discussion and several great hints about making good recordings with them! … Continue readingExternal Condenser Mics
This is the story of how I got my audio finally up to snuff! … Continue readingUber Cheap Voice Recorder
One of my very old dreams was always to have had an amplified stereo setup but with no wires between me and the amp or mixer. Well, I’ve taken the first step to begin this process… here is that story! … Continue readingGoing All Wireless
‘A super nice set of quality condenser mics, a high quality recorder and a set of mic stands and cables to tie them all together. This is the story of how I got those!’ … Continue readingRecording Acoustic Accordion #1
Zoom F4 V.3.00 Firmware update. The story of how the Zoom F4 came to get a new firmware update. Here is what’s new and how to install it! … Continue readingZoom F4 V.2.0 Firmware
A continuation of the last post, the experimentation about various mic techniques finally starts a bit… read how this story goes! … Continue readingRecording Acoustic Accordion #2
A loving homage to my father… let me tell you how this story went! … Continue readingBesame Mucho
Wow, seriously? A country piece? Let me tell you how this story came to be! … Continue readingHave You Ever Been Lonely
Accordion Fills… my small answer to a question asked on the accordion forum… here is that story! … Continue readingFills
What is the most minimal computer strength needed to capture your accordion? I explore this question and offer my answer. Read that story here. … Continue readingHow Strong?
The story of this month’s visit to the New England Accordion Museum! … Continue readingMaking Memories
Computer software and computers are never where we want them to be… but this is the story of how I got around one of my major issues that will result with me making more and better videos in the future. Here is that story. … Continue readingExercise in Frustration
This post is a little addendum to my post of a couple of weeks ago. I want to present to you a little post about another video that I made after the event was completed. The topic? His wonderful and at the time, just newly released book! … Continue readingMemories #2
A Nice Surprise from a good friend, here is that story! … Continue readingA Nice Surprise
Always thinking and looking at how to take my videos to the next level, this is the story of how I made a big jump in the quality of my vids! … Continue readingChristmas Bananas
With 2018 almost over, I wanted to end it with a bit of an up-swing… here is an old favorite of mine! … Continue readingGuantanamera
The story of how I finally met my friend Ed face to face. … Continue readingFlorida Vacation
Travelling with your 8X? Read this story of how I did it for some valuable information! … Continue readingTravelling with the FR-8X
Exceptional video quality… the next step in my evolution to eventually making superb looking short musical stories! … Continue readingThe New Toys
Video Recording Yourself – Part 2-A’, ‘This post is the first in a series of posts where I sort of place my thoughts to paper and then place them here and discuss my process on how to record and capture video. … Continue readingVideo Recording Yourself – Part 2-A
This next excerpt in my striving to make story telling videos, here is that story… and music video! … Continue readingPretend
My system of creating music videos. This is a fairly big post… so be ready… here is that story! … Continue readingRecording Tips & Techniques
This is the story of how I post process my audio files. Enjoy! … Continue readingTips On Audio Processing
The story of how the Zoom F4 came to get a new firmware update. Here is what’s new and how to install it! … Continue readingZoom F4 V.3.0 Firmware
How to integrate an energizer bunny in to the battery of your 8X… here is that story! … Continue readingMy DIY Battery for the FR-8X
The story of how I had the 8X fixed, and the cool places I visited while in Toronto! … Continue readingFR-8X Surgury
The Story of how I found my new small portable digital mixer! … Continue readingQSC Touchmix 8
The story of how I got mentioned in one of the most famous of book review houses in the world! … Continue readingI got mentioned!
The story of a surprising number of people that used this website… astounding! … Continue readingA New Attendance Record
The story of how I tried to help find some better than factory bellows settings to make playing easier. … Continue readingFR-8X Too Fatiguing To Play?
USB Keys and the FR-8X… here is that story! … Continue readingUSB Keys and the FR-8X
An improved cable for stereo output? Yes! Here is that story! … Continue readingNew FR-8X Cable
More microphones? Oh no… wait, oh yes, here is that story! … Continue readingSmall Condenser Mics
Bringing my most special accordion back to top performance condition is a lovely thing… here is that story! … Continue readingMy History of the 80’s
Bringing my most special accordion back to top performance condition is a lovely thing… here is that story! … Continue readingThe Morino Revived!
The story of how I found these little gems! … Continue readingExercise Time!
The story of how I am starting a new chapter with the goal of bettering my accordion skills. Here is that story! … Continue readingLast Bang This Year!
The story of how the start of this new decade bodes so well for me musically and in many other ways! … Continue readingThe Start of a New Decade!
How to install and setup Java and the editor for the FR-8X, yet another story! … Continue readingFR-8X JAVA editor
Večer nad Vltavou, a beautiful Czech tango. Here is the story of that video. … Continue readingVecer nad Vltavou
I wasn’t rocking and rolling how I wanted… this is the story of how I stopped my ROLL! … Continue readingRoll No More
The story of how I went “phase 1” wireless on the 8X … Continue readingBudget Wireless for the FR-8X
The story of how I created this famous Czech song video! … Continue readingBeer Barrel Polka a la Jerry!
Live Streaming?? Are you crazy?? Here is that story! … Continue readingLive Streaming!
The story of how I made a video from this lovely song! … Continue readingSabor a Mi
Capture good sound on your cell phone from your V-Accordion… here is that story!
… Continue readingRecording From Cell Phone
Wireless MIDI… how cool is that? Here is that story! … Continue readingWireless MIDI
An old friend returns and then comes home to me! Here is the story of my Hohner Imperator! … Continue readingAn old friend shows up again!
My yearly Christmas post, here is that story! … Continue readingMerry Christmas 2020
How did this super dream come about? Read on to find out this story! … Continue readingUltimate Geek Setup!
New opportunities arise when I get a new phone! Here is that story. … Continue readingNew Phone, New Video Camera!
Free Bass… an experience that not many accordionists will ever even consider, much less touch… the road is rough and full of pot holes for me! Here is that story! … Continue readingMy Path To Free Bass
How does one start a journey when there is no direction? Here is the story of how I found that direction! … Continue readingLet the Hunt Begin!
Getting the Morino back… what a trip, there and back in ONE day!! What a story! … Continue readingInteresting Saturday!
Finally a start to a little Free Bass… here is hat story! … Continue readingFinally a start!
Great video… but cellphones alone capture really bad audio… here is how to solve that challenge… and that story … Continue readingBluetooth No More!
An Apple what?? The story of how I moved to an Apple Mac Mini M1 to up my videos a little! … Continue readingNew computer!
When I purchased my new Apple Mac mini M1 computer, I knew this was a great time to tune up my video editing skills… enter the REMASTERED series… here is that story! … Continue readingThe Remastered Series!
The story of how I had my My family and I went to a Halloween event at one of Canada’s most scary haunted houses and had our caricatures done! … Continue readingMy Charicature
How often is it that you get to meet your “Elvis”? Here is the story of how I met had the chance to get together with *three* of mine all together in the same room! … Continue readingAccordion Icons
Am I stressed out beyond belief? You betcha! Here is that story. … Continue readingA Rant?
Does the Roland editor work on my Mac M1? According to them, no… according to me… YES! Here is that story! … Continue readingFR-8x Editor
Live Streaming part deux! Just some rambling about my new streaming setup and how to do it… here is that story! … Continue readingLive Streaming Part 2
ZOOM meetings were not really made to be used in a stereo environment, and therefore, one has to push the limits on a few things to make it happen… and happen it did for me. Here is that story! … Continue readingLive Streaming Part 3
The story of how and why we are down. … Continue readingWe’re so sorry!
The story of how I never again will lose my cherished websites! … Continue readingA New Computer!
The story of how in 2022 we again went to visit a good friend. We were overdue for this visit! … Continue readingYearly Pilgrimage to the NEAC
When someone offers you something THIS beautiful, you dive in with both feet! Here is that story! … Continue readingThe New FR-8X Grill
Back… to the future… again! We’re alive, but not kicking all that strong yet! … Continue readingWe’re back!
The story of my first performance in about 5-6 years… outdoors! … Continue readingHostyn Czech Festival
Firewire in general and internal vs external varieties… how good are they? Here is that story! … Continue readingFireWire, INT vs EXT
The story of how I move my Mackie mixer’s inputs to the other side of the room… without moving the mixer! … Continue readingMackie 1640i Modification
The story of a new book of music from JS Back… just ordered and it looks interesting! … Continue readingNew Bach Book
I love my basement, but when you install a new furnace, things get messy… here is that story! … Continue readingMassive Mess!
Why a wonderful day… today I inherited TWO accordions… here is that story! … Continue readingGreat Sentimental Value
The story of my new shelving unit that now holds almost all my accordions! … Continue readingShelves are in!
Setting up the new recording layout for a recording session the following day… here is that story! … Continue readingReady to make some music!
This is the first video of 2023, and its AWESOME, here is that story. … Continue readingLa Paloma
Can’t play this second, so let’s make lemonade… err, custom balanced XLR cables! Here is that story! … Continue readingCustom Balanced XLR Cables
Tom and Jerry making a video? That’s nothing new… but both playing accordion, now THAT is a story… haha! … Continue readingMoon River with Tom
The most ambitious musical project I have ever decided to make to date… here is that story! … Continue readingThe 9.5 Accordion Song
Sometimes the impossible does happen. Here is the story of how some reed blocks for my Soprani Italia came to me! … Continue reading1938 Paolo Soprani Italia
Toys that will improve my video quality a bit further… here is that story! … Continue readingNew Hardware!
A happy day when an old friend returns home… the Scandalli Brevette is back! … Continue readingWelcome Home!
More shoulder straps needed! The story of how we ordered 5-inch wide straps all for the sake of getting better straps on the Scandalli! … Continue readingNew Shoulder Straps
Here is the story of the deal of a lifetime… NOT! … Continue readingFOR SALE!
The story of my May 2023 visit to Caanan where TONS of amazing memories were made! … Continue readingNEACM 2023
The story of how the ‘Tuna found it’s home with me! … Continue reading‘Tuna Anyone?
Do you have a little wooden heart? Here is a little wooden accordionist story for you! … Continue readingLittle Accordionists!
The story of how joy returned to my music. … Continue readingIt’s Happened!
The story of how to make the LIMEX Midi system sing! … Continue readingLIMEX MIDI Info
More room! This is the story of how I increased my accordion storage capacity! … Continue readingNeeded more shelves!
My first video using the Beltuna… sweet little story! … Continue readingBeltuna Video!
Hoppy birthday to meeeee! The story of the start of my 63rd year of life! … Continue readingMy 63rd Birthday!
The story of the cleaner Brevette! … Continue readingCleaning the Brevette
Want to make a better green screen? Here are a few important hints in a nice and easy story! … Continue readingA Couple Green Screen Hints
Have you seen the world’s most expensive, rarest, most treasured and ULTIMATE accordion? Well, here it is… come inside to read that story! … Continue readingThe Ultimate Accordion
The story of playing both my Morino and Gola… and some interesting differences. Here is that story! … Continue readingWho’s Bigger/Better?
The story of how you too can learn to play without looking at your keyboard! … Continue readingFind Your Keyboard
The return of the Imperator, a short story that is a worthy read. … Continue readingThe Hohner Imperator V is back!
The story of my return to work and search for some motivation along with a way to maybe get a nice jump start on 2024! … Continue reading“Me Time” now near all gone
Everyone likes a little Christmas story! … Continue readingA Few Christmas Tidbits
Times that I just play with my hardware/software often gives me new tools in my toolkit, thats often leads to a good story! … Continue readingInteresting Video Technique
The story of how I went to get my Gola! … Continue readingThe Gola is back!
A fun project, a serious issue… and a song. Here is that story. … Continue readingThe Czech Series – Intro
A story about a collection of a few nice accordion related pictures. … Continue readingA few nice online pics
Chodouňská, nice old Czech polka played typically by more brass bands, but excellently represented on my Scandalli Brevette accordion, here is this story. … Continue readingThe Czech Series – Chodouňská
“How do they make an arranger follow the chord changes of a V-Accordionist?” This is the story that answers this question. … Continue readingMIDI 101
The story of a stupid accident that I wish didn’t happen… but did anyway! … Continue readingOuchie!
The song with a story about a town… Kufstein, here is that story! … Continue readingThe German Series – Kufstein
How and why the streaming setup is back… here is that story! … Continue readingStreaming Setup is back!
How does one set up the Elkavox 83? Carefully! Here is that story! … Continue readingElka 83 Revived
It died! The story of how I revived my digital mixer! … Continue readingTouchMix Troubles
The story of a new way to get some really good quality video from my iPad! … Continue readingTiny Techno Breakthrough
The story of how I set up the audio/video aspects of the stage for one of my videos. … Continue readingRecording Acoustic Accordion #3
How to turn my ‘Tuna from a boring MONO sound machine into a beastly STEREO box… what a story! … Continue readingBeltuna Reconfiguration
The story of the past, present and future… and the addition of a new family member! … Continue readingNEAC&M May 2024
The story of a video that NO ONE wanted to make… until now … Continue readingHow-To: Mackie 1640i
One of the coolest ways to spend a birthday, here is that story! … Continue readingHappy Birthday!
An amazing European trip of a lifetime, here is that story! … Continue readingEurope 2024!
October 10, 2024 Provenance <noun>: the place of origin or earliest known history of an item. Let’s talk a