Patricia Bartell,  Founder & CEO

Patricia Bartell’s accordion life began in rural Montana when she started taking lessons at the age of eight. Originally from an orphanage in La Paz, Bolivia, Patricia went on to graduate from Whitworth University with a B.A. in Music Education and Accordion Performance. She was the first student to graduate from Whitworth with this degree. Since graduating, Patricia has continued to hone her artistry and skill. She has studied under piano and accordion masters, such as Dr. Judith Schoepflin, Kendall Feeney, and Frederic Deschamps. Her training and talent have lead to her successfully competing in international accordion competitions. Now she grooms students who have the potential and desire to compete on the world stage.

Patricia is recognized in North America as well as internationally as an adjudicator, performer, and teacher.  

In 2012, Spokane, Washington, proudly hosted the Trophee Mondial world accordion championships. This was the first time this event had ever been held in the United States, conducted by the World Trophy Accordion Organization with Patricia as the President.

Patricia has been teaching piano and accordion from her Spokane studio Bartell Music Academy since 2003. In the continual quest to improve her students' accordion skill levels, Patricia researches new techniques and methodologies from around the world to integrate into her curriculum. She loves instilling passion and love for music into each student and always looks for ways to make music easy to understand by teaching in a variety of styles.

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she performs with Tango Volcado, an Argentine Tango Quartet; leads a young modernized accordion band, The Portatos; represents the U.S.A. as a judge for the Trophée Mondial of the World Confédération for the Accordion; has helped develop the Hohner Teacher Certified Simply Music Accordion Method; HOHNER Endorsee and Artist; Owner and producer of one of the most comprehensive online accordion video education website, accordionlife.com. 

Yevgeniy Nosov,  Instructor & Camera Guru

Born in Belarus, Yev Nosov moved to America at age four and began playing piano accordion at age 11. In 2008, Yev began formal training with Patricia Bartell of Bartell Music Academy. He learned quickly and it wasn't long before he began to substitute for Patricia Bartell when she was out of town. Shortly after, Patricia brought him on board as a teacher.

Yev has also studied with world renown accordion teacher Frédéric Deschamps in France. He's played in various orchestras and helped lead a young radical accordion band called The Portatos. Yev has competed in the Leavenworth and Kimberly International competitions and competed in the 2012 Trophy of USA in the CMA Trophée Mondial.

Yev teaches all levels of students (beginner through advanced) both in person or via ZOOM in all styles of music from Classical to Techno on chromatic (C and B systems) and piano accordion. He also teaches composition, improvisation, and reading chord charts. One of his many strengths is teaching his students technique and how to play the accordion properly  – but as a high-energy instructor, he does this in a way that is never boring.

Yev is also a Licensed Simply Music Accordion  teacher. You can find his teaching in the Single Song Tutorials (with a monthly or annual Accordion Life Academy membership) or take private lessons with him via Zoom. He has also made small guest appearances in the core curriculum courses. 

In addition to teaching, Yev helps with the behind the scenes camera work, editing, and planning of Accordion Life  courses. 

Corrie Nosov,  Graphic Design, Production & Customer Support

"Music is a family tradition for me. We never had any famous musicians in our lineage, but the music was always there and loved. I hope to carry on that tradition and bring the gift of music to others that they might have the joy of it throughout their lifetime."

Growing up in a family where music was an almost daily occurrence, Corrie Nosov took some piano lessons when she was young. This set the foundation for her to learn the accordion when, in 2000, she began learning to play an accordion that had been gifted to her in 1998. She was self-taught until 2005 when she discovered that accordion teachers did, indeed, exist. It was then that she had the privilege of meeting Patricia Bartell and beginning her studies with her.

Since then, Corrie has competed in both the Kimberly International Accordion Championships and the Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration. She has been involved with both the Vivace Accordion Orchestra which competed internationally as well as The Portatos Accordion Band. 

Corrie is also a Licensed Simply Music Piano and Accordion teacher. 

In addition to music, Corrie loves design and being creative – these skills have combined to allow her to assist with design and production of the Accordion Life  courses, books, and educational materials, as well as the Accordion Life Today  magazine.  She has also made small appearances in the core curriculum courses. 

Frédéric Deschamps,  Instructor

Frédéric Deschamps is a world renowned teacher whose cutting-edge techniques consistently produce world champions. He regularly teaches master classes in France and abroad - Europe, China, USA, New Zealand, Chile, and more.

A world champion himself, Fred has spend many years training world champions with his cutting edge technique. A few of his students include, Grayson Masefield (NZ), Petar Maric (Serbia), Pietro Adragna (Italy), and Jerome Richard (France).

Fred is also president of the Confédération Mondiale de l’Accordéon since 2004, president of Trophée Mondial de l’Accordéon, director of the International Accordion Center - Loiret (France), professor at Shanghai Normal University (China) since 2009, professor at the Conservatoire de Paris from 1993 to 2004, product Manager for Hohner Accordions since 1993, and regularly hosts internships and master classes in France and abroad (Europe, China, USA, New Zealand, Chile, etc.)

Fred has made his teaching and techniques available in the Accordion Life  course, The Deschamps' Technique.

Grayson Masefield,  Instructor

Originally from Auckland, New Zealand, Grayson Masefield began his musical career at the young age of three under Fay Schaw. He then developed into the entertainment field with Maurice Jones. 

Grayson trained classically at Auckland University with Stephanie Poole and has studied extensively under Frédéric Deschamps. Grayson has been invited to perform in many European countries: France, Spain, Germany, UK, Portugal, Slovakia, Italy, USA, Canada, Russia, Lithuania, Portugal, China, New Zealand, Australia, Finland.

In 2009, Grayson became the first competitor to win the Coupe Mondial top classical category and the Coupe Mondial Virtuoso Entertainment category in the same year. In 2009 he also won the Roland International V-Accordion Competition & Festival, Rome and the Primus Ikaalinen International TV Competition, Finland, showing his amazing musical versatility. In September of 2010 Grayson won the Trophée Mondial Classique World Accordion Championships and retired from competitions.Grayson is a 6x World Champion. 

At the 2010 Coupe Mondiale, Varaždin, Croatia, Grayson was elected to the prestigious CIA Music Committee. He also made a major USA Tour in 2010.

Grayson teaches about the accordion, its parts and mechanics, in his course The Mechanics of the Accordion.