Playing the accordion regularly keeps it in good condition. When you have finished practising don’t put the accordion away in its case, leave it out on a table or shelf ready for the next time you need a tune. Place a dust cover over it to keep it clean. An accordion out of its case is more inviting to play. Heat, cold and moisture are the worst enemy of accordions. As romantic as it sounds it is not a good idea to play outside by the river in the late evening . The accordion is an airtight container and damp air once trapped inside soon gets to work, rusting the carefully tuned reeds. When practising, aim at playing softly to achieve a smooth tone, unless of course you are in a bad mood want to get the grumpyness out of your system. Music is a good emotional stress reliever. If you are finding the shoulder straps uncomfortable, check the right hand strap is the longer of the two, the treble keyboard should be towards the centre of the body and more or less under the chin. We recommend broad velvet lined straps for comfort. Resist the temptation to wax polish your accordion. The wax will transfer to the keys and your fingers will slip and slide out of control. Enjoy your new hobby. Be happy, play the accordion.