Practical advice 

1 - Upper belts: connect both ends to the same eye belt. Not leather-to-leather connection . 

2 - The use of these belts is optimal when the height of your instrument matches the length of your thorax. If you are quite tall and play a small instrument, or quite short and play a big instrument (whose mounting points are much higher than your armpits), they may not work properly. 

3 - Instrument's protection: in order not to scratch the celluloid of your instrument, we suggest that you apply a thick leather protector around the mounting points. 

4 - If you don't use the straps properly, the hooks may be damaged. Replacements may be found on our website.

If you adjust the straps too loose, the friction between the hooks and the instrument's mounting point may consume the metal. Keep checking regularly the integrity of the hooks and the instrument's mounting points and eventually replace them.

Ergonomic Accordion Straps

« When I began studying and practicing the Alexander Technique, I struggled to find an alternative and improved strap system. Standard straps are not designed for big and heavy instruments but for hanging lightweight instruments from the shoulders, or even from the neck. I have experimented with all possible, thinkable "wrapping" and "hanging" methods and I finally designed an ergonomic strap system which provides a greater mechanical advantage, freeing the performer from many physical constraints. Their firm support of the back allows a proper weight and force distribution, letting the neck, shoulders and arms free.They may prevent harmful effects which often arise using traditional straps: shoulders pushed forward and down, chest compressed down, floating ribs squeezed, pulling-down of the sides of the chest, sinking down in the hip, "getting heavy" in the lower back. With the ergonomic straps, the base of the instrument is secured to the lower back by the lower belt. The instrument rests on the thighs, with the bellows centered on the left thigh. The upper straps distribute the pressure of pulling and pushing across four bands. They connect the instrument's mounting points (the upper hooks) with the back, at the low shoulder blades level: two belts wrap the thorax under the armpits and the other two pass beside the neck. Once the straps are tightened enough, the instrument will not joggle, it will be stable and firm so that the shoulders, arms and the hands are free from having to grip, support and control the instrument. 

However, it is necessary to know the principles of the Alexander Technique in order to properly use these straps. Otherwise, they may feel quite uncomfortable at first glance. As they prevent the thorax from slumping forward and sideways, the movement 'for pressing a chin register, for example, must be done by bringing the instrument upwards, towards the chin, with the help of the legs. 

The ergonomic straps are designed to be used with a full range button accordion, but they also give excellent results with other types of instrument. »

Excerpt from the book “Mastering Accordion Technique: a new approach to accordion playing based on the Alexander Technique” by Claudio Jacomucci and Kathleen Delaney (2013)