Since I have been in Texas this year, I have discovered a style of music that really has me hooked. Tejano music is fun to listen to and I hope fun to play. Corpus Christi is arguably the birthplace of Tejano and the home of the late Tejano super star, Selena. There is a memorial for her on Ocean Drive. I have been listening to Tejano 99.9 FM out of Corpus for a couple of months now and I really love some of the songs. The station broadcasts in English and Spanish interleaved.

Having that said....I always analyze the arrangements and instrument voicing on the recordings. I noticed some really nice subtle passages on most of the songs that sound a lot like a harmonica. After extensive research, I discovered that the instrument is a Button Chromatic Accordion. A quick Google search revealed a plethora of information and instructional materials. A quick search on Craigslist for a button chromatic accordion and I found a music store in Corpus that has a special going on them. I went there, looked and messed with one and as you might have guessed by now I have a brand new BCA. I am practicing scales and chords and I suspect not everyone is pleased as I am with this instrument.

I have found a lots of tutorials online, mostly YouTube, and also a free training program for windoze. Much of the material is in Spanish which helps me gather some new vocabulary. The program, Senor Maestro, is all in Spanish as well.

Here are some pix.