Concertina Learning Opportunities in North America, 2010

Every winter I like to find out who will teach concertina and where. Many dates have been confirmed recently, so here is the latest version, restricted to the U.S. and Canada. Try the ICA website (see the Links page for the link) for U.K. and Europe events. Many schools fill up early, so contact your choice soon. I won't plug my other articles here except to say you can read my two pence about music schools from a link on the Learning page. Spring is now nearly as full as summer. Once again it looks like you could go to half a dozen in a row, or dozens of you can go to one school. Boggles the mind, or perhaps the bellows.

If you know more (additions) or different (corrections) about any of these, let me know via an email or on the forums. The majority of these are still for Irish-style playing on anglo system concertina. I'd love to see other styles (and I think the student market would support them also), and those offerings are slowly appearing.

-- Ken Coles

Listed as follows: Dates, place, sponsor or school if any, teacher(s), style and level, Web contact info. All are for anglo system concertina, unless otherwise noted.

March 8-13, 2010, Roche Harbor, WA, Friday Habor Irish Music Camp, Florence Fahy of County Clare, (Irish, level not stated). "Held on beautiful San Juan Island, Washington. The camp will feature music classes, concerts, dances, sessions, and carrying on, in the spirit of Co. Clare's 'Willie Week.'" (From the Web Site)

March 25-27, 2010, 6th Annual Southwest Concertina Squeeze-In, at the Palestine Old Time Music Festival, Texas. "We'll have John Roberts visiting us for the Palestine Old Time Music Festival (and concertina workshop) March 25-27 2010, along with Mark Gilston on EC, Gary, Kurt, Steve, and Jim on duets and the usual cast of unreformed characters." - from Dan Worrall, who can be contacted through the forum system, or see this forum thread.

March 26-28, 2010, Southeast Tionol, Roswell, Georgia. From Gary White: "Concertina Instruction will be provided by Florence Fahy, Fiddle by Willie Kelly and Piping instruction will be provided by Cillian Vallely and Michael Cooney. Sign up at the website."

April 16-18, 2010, St. Louis MO, St. Louis Tionol, concertina workshop taught by Mary McNamara, who will also perform. Details are at www.tionol.org.

April 17, 2010, Amherst MA, Sixth Northeast Concertina Workshop, taught by an outstanding lineup again this year: the flyer lists Dave Townsend, Rachel Hall, and Ian Robb on English, Jody Kruskal, Micheal O Raghallaigh, and George Keith on Anglo, and Bob Webb on duet. Button Box are known for putting on great events! (anglo, English, Hayden duet).

May 28-30, 2010, Huntingdon, PA, 11th Annual Folk College with Simple Gifts, a wonderful group of musicians/teachers that includes Rachel Hall. Folk College offers many workshops for all instruments. In past years Rachel has sponsored workshops on English concertina and concertina band (for all systems). The web site has details and lists some outstanding staff for 2010. I'm hoping to attend this one myself!

June 11-13, 2010, Mystic CT, 31st Annual Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival, usually has various concertina performers in song accompaniment and occasionally in other styles. Check their Web site, specifically the link "Special Events."

July through September, 2009, Plymouth, MA, Pinewoods Camp of the Country Dance and Song Society. This multi-week program sometimes includes concertina teachers and gatherings of players of various styles on both English and anglo (e.g., song accompaniment at Folk Week, Morris at English Dance Week). Folk Week, directed by concertinist Dave Webber and his wife Anni Fentiman, is July 24 to 31, and the staff will likely include other notable players. Check the Web site for details or read about my time there in 2003.

July 11-17, 2010, Swannanoa, NC, Swannanoa Gathering Celtic Week. Grainne Hambly listed for concertina classes this year. Web site

July 11-17, 2010, East Durham, NY, Irish Arts Week. The past five years included outstanding coverage (primarily anglo) with three or four teachers each year. From director Paul Keating; "Concertina classes will be taught by Edel Fox, Caitlinn Nic Gabhann and Msgr. Charlie Coen. We may add another section and teacher if the demand is there." All the nocturnal wildness you could wish for, also. (Irish, all levels). Web site, follow the link for Irish Arts Week.

July 25-30, 2010, Elkins, WV, Augusta Irish Week, Caitlin Nic Gabhann will teach the concertina classes. Web site

June to August, 2010, Woodstock, NY, Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Camp, three week-long programs; no list yet of classes offered. Web site

July 30 - August 7, 2010, Mendocino, CA, Lark in the Morning Music Camp, Jack Gilder (Anglo system, Irish style). Check their Web site by their Webmaster, concertina player and sometime C.netter Jack Gilder!

August 2-6, 2010, Goderich ONT, Celtic College prior to the Celtic Roots Festival (also in August, the 6th to 8th), Frank Edgley teaches Irish-style anglo here and frequently they import other concertina teachers also. Web site

Frank wrote in 2004 (this year's dates inserted):

Most people arrive on Sunday (Aug. 1st), and stay until the week-end festival (Aug 8th). This is a great week, with over 50 instructors, mostly in instrumental music, but also with classes in singing, Irish language, cooking, Celtic artwork, blacksmithing, stone carving etc. for spouses who may or may not play an instrument. There are free concerts every night, by musicians who will be appearing on the weekend, slow jams and sessions. [In 2003] performers included Dervish, Davey Spillane, Sean Keane, Gearoid OhAllmuirhain, and others. The school is a real steal at $230 US per person, and local accomodations are quite reasonable. At this summer school the teachers and performers are the most accessible of any I have attended.

July-August, 2010, Noel Hill Irish Concertina School, New York, Oregon, Ohio/Kentucky, 3 one-week sessions, Noel Hill (Irish, all levels).
July 25-30, 2010, East Coast location TBA.
August 1-6, 2010, Erlanger, KY
August 8-13, 2009, Newburg, OR
Read lots about NHICS here on Concertina.net or go to the Web site.

August 16-20, 2010, Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School, the group Slide, which includes concertinist Aogan Lynch, is listed on staff. Web site

September, 2010, tentatively at Bucksteep Manor, Washington, MA, Northeast Squeeze-In, many players in all styles and on all free-reed systems! Instruction is informal and self-organized. One of this writer's favorite musical events. We eagerly await details from a new group of volunteer organizers via their Web site and the C.net forums.

September 25-26, 2010, Portsmouth NH, Maritime Music Festival, no classes, but in the past has featured an outstanding group of English, anglo, and duet system players - a great chance to listen and watch some experts. Web Site

November 12-14, 2010, St. Petersburg, FL, Sunshine State Acoustic Music Camp, Gail Keel, who has taught both Anglo and English concertina classes in past years, is listed on the staff. Web site