The best answer is that accordionists have suffered long enough this past year. We have had to forfeit our socially oriented in-person local accordion meetings, accordion festivals, workshops, lessons, conventions, and for some of us, playing engagements. For some, this has affected our income!

The National Accordion Association wanted to provide some ways to keep our members motivated. We want all of us to “Keep Moving Forward!” There are many things that we can still do despite the pandemic. So, we are sending out an activity by email every week that we hope will inspire accordionists to move forward with the accordion community.

Some activities are related to helping other players, such as our first week’s request to look over the NAA’s compilation of accordion teachers, vendors, and online meetings and workshops. We had asked to be informed of any that we were not aware of. We still want any additions to our existing list. One accordionist responded to the idea: ”This is great to keep the accordion spirit alive and make us feel connected.” This just about sums up why we are doing this!

Master Plan for the 52 Challenges Program:
1. Odd weeks are Help Others in the accordion community
2. Even weeks are self-motivated personal challenges

As an example of what we are doing, here is the activity for Week 2 (February 26):
Select and begin learning to play a new piece.
Any piece that appeals to you is fine. We suggest that you choose something not too difficult so you can have quicker gratification. Playing in public may just become possible sometime soon, so a new piece would be nice for you and your audience. And if you join in an online accordion meeting’s open mike, you will have a brand-new musical selection to perform!

Interested in Participating in the 52 Challenges Program?
For a number of years, the National Accordion Association has kept a master database of USA/Canadian accordionists’ contact information. The 52 Challenge mailings are being sent to those on this list. If you have not received any information about this program and wish to receive it in the future, please let us know so we can add you to the Master Accordionist database.

Contact Norman Seaton at natlaccordion@sbcglobal.net