On September 19th, 2026, the 3rd Conference for Accordion Educators, organized by the Forum of Austrian Accordion Educators, took place in Salzburg, Austria. Thirty-six participants from all Austrian federal states (including South Tyrol) gathered to spend the day exchanging professional insights, gaining fresh inspiration for their teaching, and presenting current projects and activities related to the accordion.

Running from 10am to 6pm, the conference offered a varied program that included both professional presentations and ample time for personal interaction and networking.

To kick off the event, board members introduced the newly founded association, the “Forum of Austrian Accordion Educators.” They outlined the association’s goals and mission and highlighted ways to strengthen the network among accordion educators in Austria and facilitate the implementation of joint projects.

Another key element of the conference was the personal and professional exchange among participants. During a “scheduling exchange” session, attendees shared information about upcoming concerts, events, and projects from across Austria’s federal states. This provided an interesting overview of the accordion scene’s diverse activities while creating opportunities to forge new contacts and initiate collaborative ventures.

Conversations continued in earnest during the shared lunch. In a relaxed atmosphere, participants shared experiences from their daily teaching practice, deepened professional connections, and developed new ideas. These personal conversations, in particular, proved once again to be a vital part of the conference.

New teaching literature was also showcased. Diana Music presented the first volume of her newly developed accordion method book, “Kunterbunt,” offering insights into its concept and pedagogical approach. This gave the educators present an opportunity to discover new teaching materials and discuss various methodological approaches.

Hubert Kellerer provided further professional insights with his presentation on “Successful Promotional Activities for Music Schools – Strategies for Attracting New Students.” The session focused on ways accordion teachers can effectively showcase the instrument, reach new students, and increase their visibility.

Another key topic was “Body Work in Accordion Instruction.” Fanny Mas presented her concept, which utilizes specially designed mats featuring illustrations of a button accordion’s fingerboard. By engaging their entire bodies, participants can learn and internalize notes, fingerings, and playing sequences in a playful and intuitive manner.

The positive feedback from participants demonstrated the immense value of such a platform for accordion educators in Austria. The mix of expert presentations, practical ideas, information sharing, networking, and personal interaction was highly appreciated by everyone involved.

The 3rd Accordion Educators’ Conference was a successful and inspiring event; it not only offered fresh professional insights but also strengthened the sense of community and networking among Austrian accordion educators.