Apprentice, 2005: Patti Kupchik
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| Accordionists Mike Macchia and Walter Peters performing at 2004 TAI Day at the Fair. Photo by Ilze Akerbergs.
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Mike Macchia, Hobart, Indiana
Mike Macchia is a professional accordion player and teacher who grew up listening to his father play the concertina. His father had learned to play it in his native Italy. Mike took his first lessons on the concertina from his father at the age of 10, who taught him by ear, but soon afterwards switched to the bigger accordion. He then took private lessons from Frank Bortoli in Chicago and soon started entertaining at the age of 16 at picnics and parties.
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| Accordionist Mike Macchia. Photo courtesy of Mike Macchia
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Mike feels great satisfaction when he gets somebody involved with the accordion. "I will do everything I can to promote it as long as I'm alive, especially in the smaller cities, where the accordion had become practically extinct," says Macchia. He started an accordion school in Hammond, and later in Gary, Indiana. He has been a pastor in Hobart for 45 years, and has organized an annual accordion concert in the church for the purpose of reviving the instrument within the community. About 15-20 accordionists participate in these concerts. It has grown so popular that last year it was standing room only. Macchia loves to play together with others and has worked as a roaming musician with his accordionist partner Walter Peters at the Indiana County Fair. He also plays and demonstrates the accordion in schools and church festivals.
Patti Kupchik, apprentice
Mike has worked with his apprentice, Patti Kupchik, for two years. Her love of the instrument has inspired him to continue working with her in the TAI master apprentice program. To Mike, it is a challenge due to Patti's visual impairment handicap. Mike teaches mostly by ear and is a master of polkas and dance music.
