Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn to play the accordion
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
The accordion gives you the tune in one hand and the bass and chords in the other. Beginners' classes teach you to hold it, work the bellows and bring both hands together.
Moderate£100 to £500 / $130 to $650MonthsIndoorsAlone or with othersUK and US
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What it's really like
Morley College's beginners' course in London starts with how the accordion works and how to hold it with good posture. You then work on simple right-hand exercises, left-hand bass and chord exercises and basic music theory, before putting both hands together for simple tunes.
Size matters. Morley prefers a 24, 32 or 48 bass instrument, the number of buttons on the left-hand side, and says a 12 bass can work with some adjustments. You need your own accordion to enrol on the full course, though the college lends one for a trial class. A hire scheme is a cheaper way to start; the East Anglian Traditional Music Trust, a charity, hires out a 48 bass piano accordion.
Clubs give you somewhere to play. The National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs, founded in 1971, links about 50 clubs in Scotland and northern England devoted to Scottish traditional dance music. They meet monthly, many of them from September to May; players bring their instruments and join in, and the night usually ends with a visiting band.
Ways in and what they cost
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Morley College, London | Accordion Beginners: 12 Wednesday mornings of 90 minutes, 16 September to 9 December 2026; absolute beginners, age 19 and over; bring your own accordion | £225, or £170 concession |
| Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago | Accordion 1: eight weekly classes of 80 minutes, Monday or Thursday; beginners | $264, or $244 for members |
| EdAdvance Adult and Continuing Education, North Canaan, Connecticut | How to Play the Accordion, beginner level: five weekly one-hour sessions, fall 2025 run from 20 October; accordions to use in class, but you need a piano accordion at home to practise | $55, plus optional $25 textbook and $50 sheet music |
| East Anglian Traditional Music Trust | Hire scheme: a Bell 48 bass piano accordion | £15 admin fee, then £10 a month |
The East Anglian Traditional Music Trust's Hohner Arietta can be lent free for up to a year to a young person under 25 from East Anglia; ask the trust about availability.
How to start
- Book a beginners' class; Morley College in London runs one for absolute beginners and lends an accordion for a trial session.
- Hire or buy a small piano accordion, 24, 32 or 48 bass, before the course gets going; a hire scheme lets you try before you buy.
- Once you can play a few tunes, find an accordion and fiddle club near you and go along to listen or join in.
Where to go
- Morley College: Accordion Beginners (London) UK
- National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs: clubs in Scotland and northern England UK
- East Anglian Traditional Music Trust: accordions for hire UK
- Old Town School of Folk Music: adult beginner classes, including Accordion 1 (Chicago) US
We opened these links on 9 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
What size accordion should a beginner buy?
Morley College prefers a 24, 32 or 48 bass accordion for its beginners' course, and says a 12 bass can work with some adjustments.
Can I rent an accordion?
Yes, from some charities and shops. The East Anglian Traditional Music Trust charges a £15 admin fee and then £10 a month.
Do I need my own accordion for lessons?
Usually. Morley College asks you to have one for the full course, though it lends one for a trial class, and EdAdvance's class asks for a piano accordion at home for practice.
Are there accordion clubs near me?
In Scotland and northern England, the National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs lists about 50 clubs that meet monthly, many of them from September to May.
Where this comes from: Morley College, Accordion Beginners (W26MPPA01A); National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs, About; East Anglian Traditional Music Trust, Accordions for hire; Old Town School of Folk Music, Adult beginner classes; EdAdvance Adult and Continuing Education, How to Play the Accordion: Beginner Level; ABC News, Oscar Winning Actress Mary Steenburgen Takes Up Accordion at 60 (21 October 2013). Opened 9 November 2026.
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