Announcing a new National Accordion Program designed to keep us working as a team!

Notice: The weekly challenge will be described in a weekly electronic letter and displayed in this area of the website.

Pandemic Survival Kit

The National Accordion Association, Inc. (NAA) under the direction of Dr. Sharon Seaton is launching a special service for the NAA membership and special friends. The Pandemic Survival Kit is starting on Friday, February 19, 2021, and will continue every Friday morning for fifty-two (52) weeks.

Weekly Procedure:

The challenge of the week will be delivered to accordionists starting on Friday of each week. In the event that the current challenge will result in information that is applicable to most accordionists, we want respondents to report to us so we can share. The challenge will then be due before the next weekend. Each challenge will have a link available so accordionists can automatically give the report to Norman and Sharon.

Report Results:

The summary of results will be displayed as useful information for all participants. As appropriate, changes will be made to the NAA website and/or NAA Facebook as appropriate.

Challenge 1: (The most elaborate, but useful, challenge of the year)

Challenge 1 is divided into four (4) related tasks that require a review the NAA website (www.NationalAccordion.org ), Google searches, etc., then completing the form required to help us improve our services.

Task 1: Review the NAA Home Page and forward names of others who should be remembered this year.
Task 2: Review the National Resources - National Teacher’s Webpage to help locate all active teachers.
Task 3. Review the National Resources -National Accordion Sales, Services, Supplies, and Organizations (Clubs) information
Task 4. Review the four (4) Training Center web pages to understand the new program.

Next week’s challenge will be totally different. It will be more personalized. In other words, next week’s challenge will be about you, not the NAA.

Be Proactive!

Seriously, we play the accordion for fun, and it is more fun to play for an audience than it is to play in a closet.

The public performing engagements, with or without fees, that we had in the past are coming back again. Send your helpful hints to Norman Seaton (NatlAccordion@sbcglobal.net) who will keep this webpage updated so all of us can get back to work. This page will be updated as needed, so keep watching and sending your recommendations.

Suggestions Submitted by NAA Members

1: If you normally perform in senior citizen care centers, contact the entertainment director and see if they are opening the doors yet. If not, see if they have in-room video services. If yes, use Zoom and reconnect with your audience.

2: In the cool of the evenings, some accordionists are playing in the ground floor large patio area while the residents are sitting in private porches and/or patios. Use this idea when you approach the activities director.

3: It's Always a Festival Time! Be creative! Restaurants are beginning to incorporate both indoor and outdoor areas as a way to stay in business. Contact local restaurants and the usual businesses that celebrate the Festival of the Month, such as Oktoberfest, and let them know you are a good fit for 2021. We know how to social distance (accordions are not large) and we know how to wear face masks. In other words, we are an ideal choice for this venue.

4: Hold Backyard Events: Dee Langly writes: I’ve not had issues teaching online either, but I have adored the times this summer when I’ve had students and ensembles masked and distanced in the back yard.