How to become the best musician, athlete, or player? The answer is obvious. Learn from those who play better than you, run faster, jump higher. The pupils of the children's art school had a wonderful opportunity not only to hear Igor Kvashevich, the "Golden Accordion of Belarus," but also to attend his "masterclass." And to learn from a virtuoso in his field.
How to become the best musician, athlete, or player? The answer is obvious. Learn from those who play better than you, run faster, jump higher. The pupils of the children's art school had a wonderful opportunity not only to hear Igor Kvashevich, the "Golden Accordion of Belarus," but also to attend his "masterclass." And to learn from a virtuoso in his field.
Igor Kvashevich arrived in our town as part of the musical and educational project "Belarus Tour." The event is organised by the public association "Belaya Rus" in conjunction with the Association of Belarusian Bayan and Accordion Players. From September 2016 to November 2017, Igor Kvashevich will visit 120 cities in Belarus.
The evening concert was preceded by a masterclass. Mark Podsevalov, who has been studying at the art school for two years, was not shy in front of the maestro. Igor gave several professional tips on hand position and posture.
...Mark plays the C major scales, surprising the experienced mentor. Indeed, they are among the most complex.
The "creative tandem" moved on to the piece "Kak pod gorkoy, pod goroy" (As down the hill, down the hill) arranged by Soudarikov. Mark's small fingers flutter confidently over the keys. The experienced musician advises on which bar to place an emphasis, how to ease the work of the left hand's fingers. To an uninitiated person, these may seem like minor details. But this is far from the case. Even a spectator not too knowledgeable in music understands what a magnificent opportunity it is to hear advice from one of the best accordionists of the post-Soviet space.
The masterclass lasted about an hour. In the evening, a magnificent concert awaited the audience. Waltzes, Mozart's "Turkish March," "Besame Mucho," and "Fiesta de Andalusi" in a modern arrangement were performed under the enchanting magic of the accordion. Igor Kvashevich not only played but also sang. His latest album consists of his own songs. One of them is in the repertoire of People's Artist of Belarus Nikolai Skorikov.
After the concert, we spoke with Igor. Not only about how a simple village boy from Telekhany became the "Golden Accordion of Belarus," but also about the role of art in human life and its "substitutes."
Evgeny NIKOLAEV.