The NorthEast Squeeze-In Young Player Award

[David Barnert]

Award Intent:

The NESI Young Player Award is intended to find and encourage a young player (under age 26) who demonstrates a growing interest and engagement in music with a free-reed instrument: concertina, melodeon, or accordion. Commitment to becoming a better player is the primary criterion for selection. Advanced proficiency on the applicant’s instrument is not required.

 

The award provides registration, housing and meals for the upcoming NESI event.

 

See details here.

 

See announcement of the 2024 Squeeze-In here.

[wunks]

Perhaps a sponsorship for an upgraded instrument, lessons and/or tutorial materials would be worthy?  It's tough being under 26 YOA these days 😏.

[David Barnert]

6 minutes ago, wunks said:

Perhaps a sponsorship for an upgraded instrument, lessons and/or tutorial materials would be worthy?  It's tough being under 26 YOA these days 😏.

 

The organization doesn’t have a lot of cash to give away, and the award isn’t its primary purpose. It’s a volunteer organization running the Squeeze-In since The Button Box decided not to run it any longer in 2010. Providing perks like what you’re describing would require applying for grants and whatever, far beyond the scope of the group.

[Lynn Hughes]

Thanks, David, for your accurate clarification of what we who keep the NorthEast Squeeze-In alive are all about. I would add that many people who come to the weekend find it transformative in different ways -- becoming better at playing their instrument, discovering a new genre with a wealth of tunes and songs, finding a teacher, having the experience of performing for an audience for the first time, buying an instrument that elevates their playing, and more. It's just a few days, but it can make a difference. Our primary goal with the award is to bring some younger people into the fold. Like a lot of organizations, we are becoming older and greyer. We need the young folks to join us before we all die off!

 

Edited October 7, 2023 by Lynn Hughes
superfluous content

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

It's a good thing to encourage learning on different instruments to that most popular these days .. as there is a plethera of would-be guitarists it seems all over the place; so enthusing others to start learning other musical species is a great idea.

[Aaron Bittel]

The NorthEast Squeeze-In is looking for applicants for its Young Player Award. As noted above, this is a scholarship-type award to fund attendance at the upcoming Squeeze-In event, September 20-22, 2024 at Wisdom House in Litchfield, CT, USA. Applications are due June 30th.

 

Do you know a concertina or accordion (any type) player under the age of 26? Then please share the attached flyer with that person!

 

Are you a concertina or accordion player under the age of 26? Then consider putting in an application. (And even if you don't apply for the award, we hope you'll join us at the next Squeeze-In!)

 

David said it before, but it's worth repeating: Commitment to becoming a better player is the primary criterion for selection. Advanced proficiency on the applicant’s instrument is not required.

 

The YOUNG PLAYER AWARD offers FREE registration, lodging and meals to a young player who demonstrates a growing interest and engagement in music with a free-reed instrument. If the player is under 18, expenses of an accompanying adult are also covered.

 

The applicant must:

• be 25 or under by Sept. 1 of the year of the NESI event for which the award is given;
• be a player of concertina, button accordion, or piano accordion;
• be identified in writing by a teacher or other adult free-reed player as serious about their advancement as a player of their instrument;
• if under 18, be accompanied to the event by a responsible adult who will remain on site for the duration of the event.

More information and an application form can be found at:
https://www.squeeze-in.org/YoungPlayer.html
QUESTIONS? lynnh1947@gmail.com

Young_Player_flyer_web.pdf