Paul Houser was drawn to the accordion because of its complex mechanical nature. That and because it’s “like a one-man band,” said the 15-year old. “You can play the melody, the bass and the chords.”
He was inspired when he saw an accordion being played up close in an Italian restaurant. The instruments can be pricey — a new one can cost anywhere from 600 to a couple of thousand dollars — so Paul started on a rental and eventually bought his own from Petosa Accordions in Seattle.
“They make their accordions in Italy and ship them to the shop in Seattle,” he said. But used accordions are great too: “Mine is from 1962, and it sounds and performs well.”
Paul loves playing Irish music the most. “It is very fast-paced, interesting, and just fun to learn,” he said.
While his friends may not share his passion for the accordion, “they think it’s cool,” Paul said, and he thinks it’s becoming more popular.
“It sounds great, it looks cool, and it’s fun to watch people play it,” he said. “I plan to continue playing. In fact, I can’t see myself not playing the accordion.”
