Blake Miller and Friends play for museum crowd

The monthly gathering held at the Kaplan Museum is showcasing much of the city’s local talent.

One such talent is a young accordion player, Blake Miller.

When he received the call to perform at the museum, he called on a friend to play with him. That friend called another friend, and so on.

In the end, six friends ended up practicing together.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Blake. “Everyone at the museum told me the music was good.”

“All the band players must have enjoyed it also,” he said, “because after we finished playing, everyone wanted to know when we could get together again and practice.”

Blake is the 14 year old son of Marcus and Rebecca Miller.

“I grew up listening to French music,” said Blake. “I have always liked it, and my Dad also plays the accordion.

“Mom also comes from a family who loves music,” he said. “The Suires and Marceauxs have their own bands.”

Not only was he playing the accordion with his dad, he was a self taught musician.

“When I first began to play,” he said, “I never took lessons. I could just hear a song and was able to play the notes.”

Someone who can vouch for that photographic memory is his tutor, Donny Broussard.

Three months ago, Blake began taking lession with Donny. He is another accordion player who has a band, the Louisiana Stars.

“I have never seen a teenager have so much interest and dedication in learning to play Cajun music,” said Broussard.

The established musician also said that he has encountered anyone who can learn as fast as Blake can.

“When Blake called me to help him play his accordion,” said Donny, “nothing made me happier to see this young boy wanting to learn our heritage.”

Broussard said that young people are just not interested in keeping the Cajun music alive.

Even though he takes lessons only once a week, the teenager has already learned 33 songs.

“After only the first night of lesson with Mr. Donny,” said Blake, “I told my dad that I felt I had already improved my accordion playing.

“I strongly believe that Mr. Donny has changed the way I will ever look at music again. Now I realize how much fun it is to play the accordion.

“I would like thank Mr. Donny and Mrs. Claudia because both of them have made a huge impact on me.”

Blake says he practices every day for at least 15 minutes.

When asked if his future plans include a career as a performer, he shook his head and said no.

“I enjoy playing for the fun of it” he said.