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Unverzichtbare Rhythmus Basics
About
Matthias
At the bottom of this page is my philosophy of life. Along the way, I would like to give you a vivid insight into how I came to this. If music plays a role in your life, you will get some food for thought: It means a lot to me to share these lines with you.
In a nutshell:
My love of the accordion is a recurring theme in my life.
Over the past two decades, I have taken this love out into the world in many different ways. As a soloist on stages from Europe to Asia and the USA. With a total of 36 national and international prizes and awards, as a teacher and juror and as a lecturer at the Hohner Conservatory, among others.
In over 100 compositions and arrangements for accordion, I pass on my music and my knowledge, and with the Matzke Method® I have bundled all this experience into a unique mentoring program.
In the following, I would like to share some autobiographical scenes and the most important milestones of my work with you.
- Official Artist -
How a childhood dream of “becoming a world champion” turned into a truly dreamlike life with and for music.
Summer 2002
I'm sitting in the sandpit under the climbing frame with my best friend.
She tells me dreamily about her wish to become a vet. At the age of nine, I am very sure at this moment that we will get married one day.
“I’m going to be world accordion champion!”, my “career aspiration” bubbles out of me. Shortly before that, my father had taken me to a Christa Behnke concert and I had found my great idol in her. At this point, it is inconceivable to me that accordion world champion is not a profession at all.
Shortly before...
Christa is on stage and charmingly captivates her audience.
I am standing somewhere in one of the back rows and am overwhelmed with amazement. At this time, nothing occupies my mind more than savoring the half hour a day that I get to spend playing video games as much as possible. Strangely enough, however, my thoughts are elsewhere during the Christa Behnke concert: when I grow up, I want to be world accordion champion.
For me, being a world accordion champion like Christa means giving other people moments of lightness and amazement and transporting them into a world that must be at least as exciting as the fantasy world of Pokémon (I was an incredibly big Pokémon fan).
Back in the sandpit
We live in a time when you can still get a Michael Schumacher pen at the bank on World Savings Day and every boy wants to be Formula 1 world champion. Accordion world champion? Nobody can imagine what that means. My girlfriend jumps up and the subject is off the table.
Then we build a volcano out of sand and burning paper before we leave the playground in a hurry because we are suddenly no longer sure whether our parents could go to prison for the little fire…
october 2011
I'm sitting in the back seat of a cab in Shanghai...
and hold out a handwritten note with characters to the driver because he only speaks Chinese. Almost three hours before the Prizewinners’ concert of the Coupe Mondiales the call has been received. It’s not easy to grasp: I won first prize in virtuoso light music.
I have been following these competitions for years and admire the achievements of the prizewinners. The presentations that I attended myself this year were of outstanding quality.
During the 20-minute cab ride through Shanghai’s dense evening traffic, memories of those days in the sandpit come flooding back. I wonder if the girlfriend could even remember. Over the past few years, I have really done an extraordinary amount to keep my “Childhood dream” to realize them. Isn’t it true that most life dreams seem more and more illusory the closer you get to them?
Finally at your destination?
That night I will perform on stage in front of the TV cameras with the “Accordion Worldchampionships” banner and receive my trophy.
Then I’ll have a title, but I’ve only just stepped onto the starting block on my way to becoming a professional musician, because after the award ceremony in Shanghai, I want to make things clearer.fter the award ceremony in Shanghai, a few things should become clearer to me.
This competition feels like a milestone. A Milestone alone is not yet the goal, but it is an important point of orientation on the way there. And the more I look at my path, the more certain I become that the path is also the actual goal for me: this success is a clear consequence of the fact that I am able to achieve my goals. passion for the accordion and learning more and more through playing.
I am convinced that the path holds experiences and insights for me that are worth passing on:
To listeners in the form of musical experiences, to students in the form of inspiration, tips and shortcuts - and as a beacon to all those who, like me, are sitting in the (symbolic) sandbox and want to set off on a journey - young and old.
Winter 2021
The turning point...
After further first prizes at international competitions such as the ROLAND V-ACCORDION FESTIVAL and the COUPE MONDIALE, a phase followed in which I questioned many things. Talent obliges, but why? If I can theoretically rehearse almost any music, what do I really want to rehearse? What is meaningful enough to be shared with others after all this?
I was so busy picking apart at times that I got tired of trying to impress. Listeners mean well with compliments that praise finger speed and note memory. I also really appreciated the attention. But at the end of the day, that’s what craft remained for me: what I practiced in order to convey something greater about it.
Fortunately, the phase of picking things apart was followed by a wonderful realization:
What comes from the heart is worth reaching another heart.
A new path
The true power of music....
Music has the power to make us think. It can transport us to emotional worlds that take us away from our everyday lives and at the same time process or underpin experiences from our everyday lives. It is not a matter of course to impress and amaze adults in the same way as unbiased children.
As a musician, I consider it a blessing to have given up the pretense of having to save the world. But I see it as my duty to sensitize people. To bring people together. To encourage people to think and exchange ideas. And to see music as a role model: Music is a universal language – much like a smile. Music knows no boundaries: it can fuse together the most diverse origins, it combines the old with the new and it always takes place in the NOW. A mistake in the previous bar can become completely meaningless as soon as the next note really touches. And the fear of a difficult passage can be overcome for musicians if they allow the flow of music to flow and the ego to sink into it.
A new focus is emerging
This is confidence and strength that everyone deserves for the challenges of life. Music also opens up a magical connection of invulnerable serenity and presence between listener and performer.
Just 10 years ago, I could not have imagined teaching as much as I do today. In the meantime, I have experienced what it means to strengthen this musical power in others and to send them out into the world as “ambassadors”. As a lecturer at the Hohner Conservatory, as a trainer for the music mentors of the German Harmonica Association or as a delegate to the “Confédération Mondiale de l’Accordéon” for Germany.
And as the creator of the Matzke method and the mentoring based on it, this task fulfills me wholeheartedly.
At a glance
Extract from the milestones
36 national & international awards
Among others at “Coupe Mondiale”, “International Roland V-Accordion Festival”, International Festival “Città di Castelfidardo”, International “Primus Ikaalinen”, Federal Competition “Jugend musiziert”, Federal Competition “Deutscher Akkordeonmusikpreis”, Landesmusiktag der Akkordeonjugend and “Kid of the Keys” of the IFET.
Over 15 years as a lecturer and teacher in Europe, USA and Asia
Workshops and master classes with students, entertainers and hobby musicians, targeted coaching, study preparation and support as well as instructors for the music mentors of the German Harmonica Association.
5 cultural awards
Leonberger Musikpreis, Förderpreis der Sudetendeutschen Landsmannschaft, Förderpreis des Hohner-Konservatoriums, Schubart Kulturpreis der Stadt Geislingen, Förderpreis der Franz-Liszt-Stiftung.
6 CD recordings
“Furioso” (solo), “Träume” (classical accordion and soprano with Leonie Kratz), “HOT Favorites” (soloist with the Hohner Accordion Orchestra 1927), “Wir schaffen das” (cabaret with Karla Karumms), “Small Shadows” (guest with Gabriel Zanetti) and “Vangardion”.
3 Degrees
As a state-approved music teacher in the jazz/pop profile, in keyboarding and music production, Bachelor in Jazz Pedagogy
... and a mission:
It became my mission statement to share my enthusiasm for unexpected possibilities with the accordion with as many people as possible.
A look into the future
This mission statement inspired me to bring all my experiences together to create something completely new.
Would you like to experience the amazing possibilities that can inspire you day after day with your accordion?
Under “Accordio-Show” you will find the first open live coaching for all accordion enthusiasts. All you have to do is sign up and join in!
Maybe we’ll see each other there soon and can make music together? I would be delighted!
Your Matthias
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