Fredericksburg resident Phil Heim (right) and Gary Carper of Spotsylvania played a few tunes for guests at the picnic. Photos by View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

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Gospel according to the accordion

Accordion Man of Burr Hill still preaching the joys of beloved instrument

Date published: 8/13/2007

BY ROBIN KNEPPER

The joyful sound of traditional music performed by a concert band of nearly three dozen accordionists (and one tuba player) drifted through the Orange County countryside.

Dale and DeAnn Wise counted 78 guests at their Burr Hill home on the recent summer day. All of them were connected in some way to the accordion and its timeless music.

After lunch and talks by the musicians on the importance of their work, the accordionists (and one tuba player) were rehearsed by Dale Wise in his basement studio and then moved to the yard for the concert.

A few days later, Dale Wise referred to the annual picnic as an accordion celebration. Bringing accordionists together and getting the instrument and its music restored to popularity are his missions.

When the 66-year-old Wise, an accordion player since childhood and a school music teacher for 17 years, moved to suburban Washington in 1971, he found that accordion players were "idle, in the woodwork, unbeknownst to each other."

To address that lack of community, he went to work--teaching, performing, designing and selling accordions and proselytizing for his art and instrument.

"The accordion is the only portable, complete band you can carry in your arms," he said with a smile.

"Back then, there were only a handful of pros performing on the circuit," he said. "But something's really happened. Now we help each other, we play in groups. It's a collective, synergistic thing. We reach one and teach one."

Today, there are accordion clubs in Maryland and Virginia, he said. And the musical community solicits new members through the Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society and the Maryland Accordion Club.

"This time is so exciting," Wise said. "I want to see the accordion restored to the popularity it had when we were children, when it was such a joy and we shared with everyone."

The accordion celebration earlier this month demonstrated the sharing and love of the instrument. The music was spirited and the players and audience loved it.

One of Wise's students, 16-year-old Reed Beverstock, danced the tango with another guest as the band played.

Twenty-three teachers in 11 states participate in the Accordions for Kids/U.S.A. program. Dale Wise teaches 18 students at his Orange County home. The lessons, loaner accordion, programmed-instruction DVD, music stand and music booklet are free to students for 10 weeks. Free weekend seminars on accordion repair are held at Wise's home four times a year. For more information about Accordions for Kids, or to sign up for an invitation to a repair seminar, visit accordionplus@aol.com.

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Date published: 8/13/2007