Accordionists attending our USA workshop
workshop can expect:

-Intensive one-on-one instruction with master teachers.

-Group classes learning the Mornet Method with other attendees.

-Personalized instruction on music of your choice.

-Performance preparation.

-Local lunches catered by New Orleans chefs. 

Here are just a few ways of how you’ll benefit
from your week with Jacques and Nathalie:

-Unlock your emotional expression.

-Fine tune your ear to listen more musically.

-Learn the secrets of bellows phrasing to produce a rich sound.

-Playing on the surface, and creating dynamics and a variety of articulations.

The workshop schedule

•   Monday afternoon: Brief orientation, then a short video is made of the song you’ll be working on during the week. After, our first group class, followed by private classes.

•   Tuesday through Friday: Attendees get two group classes and two private classes per day, and lunches (from Tuesday until Friday) are included in the workshop price.

•   Friday afternoon: a final group class, then the “after” videos are made of each student.

•   Friday night: an end-of-workshop recital in which everyone will present the music they worked on during the week, followed by a professional performance by Nathalie Boucheix. (Attendees are strongly encouraged, but not required, to perform in the recital.)

•   Saturday: The final morning of the workshop, in which before-and-after videos of your progress are reviewed, along with a detailed analysis of your strengths, and areas which can be focused on in your post-workshop practices and performances.

Tuition
Early bird registration is $650 
Full tuition of the workshop is $750

Pre-registration:  You can hold your workshop place with a non-refundable pre-registration deposit of $200. You can pre-register up until April 20th, 2024

Full registration: You can register and pay the full amount at any time.


How to Pay 

On the registration form, let us know how you want to pay. Here are the options:

Paypal/Venmo – with Paypal/Venmo you can opt to use your Paypal/Venmo credit/balance or a credit card, however they charge a 3.5 % fee which we have to pass on to you, so your total price will be higher than those listed above. If you choose Paypal or Venmo we will send you a Paypal/Venmo invoice. 

Zelle – the most convenient option, with no hidden charges.

Check – if you opt to send a check you’ll be sent a mailing address for payment.

Cancellation Policy

If you choose the pre-registration option with the $200 deposit and have to cancel, that fee is refundable up until April 20, 2024. After April 20, 2024, the $200 is not refundable.

If you register in full, that fee is refundable until April 20, 2024. After April 20, 2024, $200 of the registration is not refundable. After May 6, 2024, 50% of your registration is refundable. 

Payment options:

Zelle
Scan QR code or go to the Zelle app

and enter cnimausa@gmail.com

No extra fees with Zelle!

Paypal or Venmo
Paypal account: cnimausa@gmail.com

Venmo account: Click here 
There is an extra 3.5% fee when you use PayPal or Venmo, so please send a total of $207.

More about the CNIMA and Jacques Mornet Method

The CNIMA (Centre National et International de Musique et d'Accordéon) is an internationally renowned French based accordion school founded by esteemed professor Jacques Mornet and award-winning accordionist, co-founder and director, Nathalie Boucheix.

CNIMA students have enjoyed multiple successes, including having won a record 123 awards at international competitions. The school has trained several generations of finest French accordionists: Alain Musichini, Domi Emorine, Félicien Brut, Vincent Lhermet, Christine Rossi ... to name a few.

Jacques Mornet has taught workshops in Russia, China, Italy, Great Britain, Denmark, Bulgaria, Spain, Serbia, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia ... He is the recipient of the Gus Viseur Prize and the Russian Gnessin Academy Silver Disc. Nathalie Boucheix has won the greatest international accordion championships - Trophée Mondial (1994), Klingenthal (1994) and at French contests - The Medard Ferrero Prize (1993). She got awarded with the Sacem Francis Baxter prize (1993).

Testimonials

"CNIMA in New Orleans was one of the best intensive accordion experiences I have had. Each day we attended two group lectures with accordions on our laps, and then had two individual lessons. It’s hard to say which was better. The opportunity of quietly sitting in during others’ individual lessons was extraordinary. The effect upon each of us of five intensive days was documented in before and after videos. If you love accordion, whatever your level of musicality, you will benefit from instructors Jacques Mornet and Nathalie Boucheix, as well as fellow students. "
Ian Blair Fries, M.D., Florida

"Everything about this workshop was fantastic! Instructors, instruction, observation, logistics, location, food!

 It was a pleasure and a privilege learning from Jacques and Nathalie. I learned about real musicality using proper air flow, and appropriate touch of the keys. Learning opportunities were continuous as we were encouraged to observe each other's individual lessons, making our days as full and focused as we wished. Recordings were prepared on the first and last day---a huge learning tool. Organization, administration, and logistics were the best. The Garden District was an absolutely perfect place to be."

Donna Kaspar, California

"Jacques to me on the first day: "First we have to fix this (bellows cycles matched to musical phrases), then we can get to work!" That was a huge step for me: playing without bellows 'hiccups'. Jacques and Nathalie were both so enthusiastic to pull the deepest beautiful music out of my playing. The workshop really improved my comfort level for playing in public (and their advice was to do it as often as possible). The workshop was a type of musical heaven, really-- surrounded by avid students, attending each others' classes and performances, getting professional tips on everything from attacks and phrasing to posture. And so many cool accordions!"

Mark Cain, Arkansas

"An unbelievable, marvelous experience! After 15+ years of admiring the accordion, followed by 30+ years of self-instruction, the two top teachers of CNIMA (the world’s finest accordionschool), crossed the Atlantic and shared with me their patient and detailed methodology,reforming my technique and reinvigorating my love of the instrument. With their guidance, Ihave learned how to play with greater musicality and renewed enthusiasm."

William H. Robichaux, MD Tulane Medical School, New Orleans, Louisiana

"The CNIMA workshop in New Orleans was so inspiring. The instructors’ love of the accordion and of music was obvious and they were able to convey that to the students via their knowledge, personalities, and patience. The CNIMA concept of musicality -- the way the body moves with the accordion, proper use of the bellows, exploring dynamics, etc. -- makes even the simplest of songs sound like a masterpiece. I would definitely attend another CNIMA workshop."

Loretta Palagi, Washington

"Being a complete beginner in accordion I didn’t really know if the workshop was going to be useful for me. I can say that it was one of the best musical experiences I have ever had. The approach from Jacques and Nathalie during the workshop focuses a lot on producing a beautiful sound with your instrument rather than musical complexity. Moreover, I really enjoyed meeting all this wonderful people at the workshop. Everyone with different levels of proficiency but everyone learning, sharing and enjoying the workshop. For me New Orleans was a great location to have this workshop. I was able to drive (and didn’t have to carry my accordion on the plane), but also the fact that New Orleans has so much to offer in terms of music was wonderful."

Alberto Rivas, Texas

"I especially appreciated how Jacques and Nathalie went out of their way to tailor the instruction to the students' interests and skills. As an example, Jacques noticed a couple of us were interested in jazz and gave us customized instruction of his deconstructed approach to jazz articulations. I love how the entire workshop is built around concepts related to articulation and expression of each note on the instrument, a very refreshing orientation given that much of the accordion world outside CNIMA is what I'll call an articulation wasteland, giving far too little heed to the critical aspects of sound that form CNIMA's core tenets.

For me the material fell pretty cleanly into two categories:

 First there was technical advice about what and how to practice challenging material, and I found this advice immediately useful because I always have a mental list of tunes I can barely play and I'm always looking for help with them. I was able to apply the juicy bits of their advice and see the benefits immediately, which is remarkable. One specific principle I still use regularly is to practice difficult passages not only slowly, but with all the different types of articulation. Instantly and consistently helpful!

 Second there was what I'll call articulation choreography, i.e., specific ways to move the body and the instrument according to the rhythms in the music's melody. This material I found more opaque, harder to absorb quickly. The material is important and worth teaching in a workshop of any length, but it seems like the depth of this material presents challenges for both instructors and students a one-week curriculum. The limited time afforded me no opportunity to learn the reasons behind some of the practices: I often wondered why I ought to move this specific way for this specific rhythm rather than some other way, and my learning style benefits a lot from understanding the reasons behind things. I suspect more repetition and more time will clarify a lot of that for me, and until then it's a little hard for me to retain everything without looking back at my photos of the whiteboard from our sessions.

 So I love that we got instruction that paid off immediately, AND I love that Nathalie and Jacques did not shy away from material that would require additional follow-up and give us more of a longer-term payoff.

 Having the workshop in New Orleans seemed perfect to me. I love the musical and cultural character of that place, and I could see some effort on the part of the CNIMA organizers to connect with the community. I look forward to more of that in the future as CNIMA's connection to New Orleans takes hold more deeply. And I dream of studying the full curriculum someday in Auvergne!"
Robert Kennedy, California

"I really enjoyed learning at CNIMA in NOLA. 

Jacques and Nathalie were wonderful teachers. I learned how to use my upper body when you play accordion. That made accordion sound much more personal. I met wonderful people there and they were very friendly. Great experience, I am willing to learn more of their techniques."

Mariko Venema, Michigan