It didn’t take long for him to outgrow it. The lad soon got a larger one.

Since then, Michael Middleton, M.D., said he has gone through about nine of them.

He wasn’t the ideal neighbor as a teenager. He wasn’t devilish or annoying, always playing loud, offensive music.

The Tuba was what made a pest of Middleton. He played the tuba in high school and at university, the accordion. Hours and hours of practice could be heard echoing from his childhood homes.

“Believe it or not, one of the most popular instruments in the world is the accordion,” Middleton said. “Especially throughout Europe and Russia. The accordion fell out of favor in 60’s, 70’s and 80’s in America, but it seems to be making a comeback.

“I was ribbed continually for being a tuba and accordion player, but it helped shape me.”

He was named to the All-State Band in tuba in his senior year at McCallum

IF YOU GO

What: Chisholm Trail Chorus of Sweet Adeline’s 25th anniversary concert featuring Michael Middleton on accordion

When: 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: Cultural Activities Center, 3011 N. Third St. in Temple

Tickets: General admission $10; seniors and groups $8 each; and children $6

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High School in Austin; Middleton was offered a partial band scholarship by Southwestern University; and he received a full science scholarship. While playing in the SU Symphonic Band for four years, his true passion was science.

Now the director of nuclear medicine at Scott & White and an associate professor of radiology at the Texas A&M Health Science Center, Middleton has been at Scott & White for nearly 14 years.

But he still plays his accordion. It sometimes even goes to work with him.

As a nuclear physician, Middleton prescribes and administers radioisotopes and radio pharmaceuticals to diagnose and and treat medical conditions, mainly cancer.

“About 10 percent of what I do is dealing with cancer but 90 percent of what I do is diagnostic, examining PET scans,” he said.

“When I was in high school and college, I loved science. It was my really my favorite subject when I was growing up, but at the same time, I was torn because I enjoyed music and performing.

“I struggled. I wanted to be a symphony conductor or a performing entertainer, but I really realized that with the accordion, it wasn’t an option,” he said.

His mentors told him he could always play the accordion as a hobby, and do science as a career.

In 1981, he was in the Texas All-State band playing tuba, he was awarded Outstanding Musician for the Class of 1981 from McCallum High School and the Polka Champion in Shiner. In 1981 and 1982 he was chosen the Texas State Accordion Champion during Grande Days in El Campo.

After is state championship win he played at festivals and restaurants to help pay for college. A highlight was being invited to play at the Wurstfest held in New Braunels.

“In those days, and being state champion, I was paid well,” he said.

He has played at the Temple Train Festival for the past 10 years, and enjoys playing for patients at Scott & White.

“One of the most rewarding things to me in the last few years is I’m getting my kids interested in musical instruments,” he said. “The sad thing is none of them are interested in the accordion.

“My daughter, Meredith, started on the piano but changed to the harp. My older son, Lance, plays the drums and we are kind of like a duet. My youngest son, Mitch, has started on bass guitar. We kind of have a little band; I call it Mike and Middle Tones.

“My kids and I, get asked to play periodically at some of the different nursing homes, and that’s what I feel is very important. It’s important for them to learn to give back to the community. If there is any population that really enjoys music it’s the patients in the nursing homes,” he said. “To me that has been one of the best parts of my musical career, playing with my kids.”

Music has been an important part of his life and has taught him lessons that have helped him in all aspects.

Chief among them was “discipline,” he said. “I learned … (that) you can be naturally talented, but unless you practice you can’t comfortably perform in front of an audience without getting nervous.”

His days are filled with ong hours and patients dealing with life and death issues. Music is his release.

“It also makes you use a different part of your brain,” he said. “I think that’s what makes it fun for me… Music, as an outlet, has really made me survive and thrive. Music is something that can make you happy or sad, I can play a polka or waltz and it brings back happy memories.”

Dr. Middleton is at the top of his career and yet still holds a passion for the accordion. Once he retires and his children have moved on with their own lives, he said, he hopes to teach.

“Apparently I am not very patient at this stage. I did try to teach my daughter, maybe I am just not ready to teach yet,” he said. “Until then I will continue to enjoy playing when asked at charity functions and fundraisers.”

“I tell my kids, ‘I don’t care what you do, you can be a janitor, just make sure you enjoy what you do, because you’ll be doing it for a long while. It’s part of the reason why I am still involved in Scouts. I really believe in the program. That’s what it is all about: learning about collecting and projecting yourself onto other people,” he said.