The author: Crystal Wang (王从余 Congyu Wang) is a renowned accordionist and educator in China. She currently serves as Member of the CIA Music Committee, Deputy Secretary-General of Chinese Accordion Association (CAA), Director of Accordion Professional Committee of Shanghai Musicians Association, Dean of the Department of Western Music at the Shanghai Normal University Music College, Professor of the Accordion Major, and Master’s Supervisor.
Enjoy this comprehensive overview of art events from July to August taking place across China this summer. These events will bring together accordion enthusiasts, masters, and rising stars from around the world for a series of concerts, competitions, workshops, and cultural exchanges.

Released June 4, 2025, at 5:00 PM, “Heart Music, Listening to the Wind — Simple Arrangements of Classic Accordion Songs” (Xinle Tingfeng — Shoufengqin, Jingdian Gequ, Jiandan Tan), published by Shanghai Music Publishing House, was launched in a ceremony at the 3rd Hohner Summer Accordion Festival.

The book features adaptations of ten familiar Chinese and international classics, balancing artistic merit with accessibility. Additionally, the author, Xu Keqing, conducted a masterclass titled “Symphony on Fingertips,” where he explained accordion playing techniques and musical expression through live demonstrations and interactive teaching. The event enjoyed a lively atmosphere and garnered significant attention.

Author Profile

Xu Keqing is a young accordionist, a faculty member in the Accordion Department at the Central Conservatory of Music, and the founder of the HeHe Chamber Ensemble. He studied under the renowned accordion performer and educator, Professor Cao Xiaoqing.

In recent years, he has been active in major music festivals and concerts both domestically and internationally, performing over 500 times as a soloist, in chamber music, concertos, and ensembles. He has performed for leaders of various countries on multiple occasions. He has collaborated with prestigious ensembles including the China National Symphony Orchestra, National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra, PLA Military Band, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra, Henan Symphony Orchestra, China Philharmonic Orchestra, and China Musicians Association Philharmonic Male Choir. His artistic expression has been highly acclaimed by both the industry and audiences.

In 2012, his debut album “Highway Express” (Gonglu Kuaiche) was released. In 2018, the HeHe Chamber Ensemble’s album “HeHe I — Tango of Flowers” (HeHe I — Hua zhi Tange) was launched on major global music platforms. In 2024, his compiled book “I Love You, China — Selected Classic Songs for Accordion Accompaniment” (Wo Ai Ni, Zhongguo — Shoufengqin Banzou Jingdian Gequ Xuan) was published. He has provided exemplary models for innovative accordion interpretation while also contributing professional expertise to its teaching and popularization.

Highlights of this Book:

From absolute beginner to fluent playing, “Heart Music, Listening to the Wind” will accompany players on a journey full of surprises and rewards with the accordion. It’s not just a collection of sheet music, but a “music mentor,” offering professional guidance and thoughtful companionship. To address the common challenges of “difficulty reading music” and “difficulty getting started,” the book innovatively adopts three concepts:

1. Beginner-Friendly: Includes Fingerings for Piano Accordion/Bayan. The sheet music uses layered notation: thin numbers above the staff indicate piano accordion fingerings, while bold number symbols below correspond to Bayan button accordion fingerings. This “one-score, two interpretations” design caters to learners of both mainstream accordion types and deepens understanding of accordion playing logic.
2. Professional Dual-Stave System: Numbered Notation/Staff Notation Side-by-Side. The dual-stave presentation meets the needs of different players. Whether you are a professional learner accustomed to staff notation or a music enthusiast who prefers numbered notation (Jianpu), you can easily find the suitable way to read the music. Example immediately below. Click to enlarge.
   
3. Multi-Scenario Adaptability: Suitable for Solo/Ensemble/Accompaniment; Stage Performance / Daily Practice. The book also includes supplementary teaching videos and accompaniment audio tracks.

Teaching Videos cover song introductions, explanation of key points, playing tips, and performance demonstrations, helping accordion learners deeply study and master the techniques for playing each song.

Accompaniment Audio Tracks are meticulously arranged by the author using MIDI technology specifically for accordion enthusiasts. They solve the problem of missing accompaniment during solo practice or stage performances, allowing players to enjoy an immersive musical experience whether practicing daily or performing on stage, thereby enhancing the convenience and fun of learning. Also of Note: “I Love You, China — Selected Classic Songs for Accordion Accompaniment”.

Equally noteworthy is Xu Keqing’s compiled book “I Love You, China — Selected Classic Songs for Accordion Accompaniment” (Wo Ai Ni, Zhongguo — Shoufengqin Banzou Jingdian Gequ Xuan), published in 2024 and launched at the Shanghai Book Fair that year. While the accordion is a very widely played instrument globally, often used for choral accompaniment, most vocal accompaniment scores on the market are written for piano, with very few specifically for accordion. To fill this gap, Xu Keqing devoted significant effort to arranging accompaniments for the accordion, compiling numerous songs into this collection.

The collection selects sixteen popular “red classic” songs (hongse jingdian) from the 1940s to the present day. Each work, having endured the test of time, possesses unique era-specific characteristics and historical significance, carrying distinct generational memories, serving as an important vehicle for inheriting and promoting China’s revolutionary traditions. Songs like “Return from Target Practice” (Daba Guilai) and “The Red Star Guides Me to Battle” (Hongxing Zhao Wo Qu Zhandou), with their bright rhythms and stirring melodies, evoke patriotic sentiments and rekindle revolutionary fervor. It also includes newer era songs like “China in the Lights” (Denghuo Li de Zhongguo), which celebrates the motherland, showcasing its prosperity and the beautiful life of its people.

The book uses a dual-stave presentation (staff notation and numbered notation) to meet the needs of different players, whether young people, seniors, professional performers, or music enthusiasts, allowing flexible choice. Furthermore, the songs offer diverse performance formats, covering common vocal solos, choruses, and accordion solos or ensembles, providing convenience for performances in various settings and meeting different needs.