Accordion | Chris Miller | Beginning/Intermediate | Period 1 | Week 1 (July 6-10, 2026)
This class is perfect for anyone new to the Cajun accordion or for anyone who plays tunes already, but has not yet mastered the concepts of chords and harmony and how the chord change patterns relate to playing Cajun Accordion.
• Class will use a Cajun accordion in key of C. We will focus on the 3 primary major chords for key of C (C, F and G), Key of G (G, C and D), and Key of F (F, Bb and C).
• Class will the chords on the left side of the instrument and how to play chords using both hands.
• Class will learn rhythmic “seconding” techniques to use chords to play accompaniments to Cajun songs where other instruments or singers provide the melody.
• Some basic 2-4 note licks will be taught that use these basic chords. The licks are the building blocks of some of the signature sound of Cajun Style accordion.
About the Instructor
Chris Miller has been an active performer and music educator in southwest Louisiana for the last 44 years. He has performed with Cajun music legends like Rodney LeJeune, Hadley Castille, the Vanicor Family and many others, along with his own groups—Louisiana’s Kingfish, and Chris Miller and Bayou Roots. Chris is a singer/songwriter and plays accordion, fiddle, piano, harmonica and several other instruments. The Cajun French Music Association (CFMA) has awarded him and his band “Band of the Year”, “CD of the Year,” “Song of the Year,” “People’s Choice,” and has won the “Accordionist of the Year” three different times from the CFMA, Chris is a Cajun Music Hall of Fame member at the CFMA in Lake Charles. He has Music Education degrees from McNeese State University and recently retired after teaching 33 years at Barbe High School in Lake Charles. He recently began piano services business, “Bayou Piano” and continues to teach privately and perform with his band in the area. Chris has taught frequently at “Augusta Heritage Cajun Week” in West Virginia as well as “Blown Away on the Bayou” in Opelousas. He is also the choir director at St Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Lake Charles.