Concertina Learning Opportunities in North America, 2009

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. 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. 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 9-15, 2009, Friday Harbor, WA, Friday Habor Irish Music Camp, Gearoid O'hAllmhurain, (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 26-28, 2009, 5th Annual Southwest Concertina Squeeze-In, at the Palestine Old Time Music Festival, Texas. "This year we feature Bertram Levy, who will give workshops on the concertina in OT music (both for Anglo and for all systems), and will speak on a few things he learned about making music on any free reed instrument whilst studying tango music on the bandoneon in Buenos Aires the past few years. Randall Merris and Dan Worrall will speak on concertina history. Mark Gilston will return with his sterling English accompaniment style. And, as usual, we'll reprise the all-systems concertina band, events for beginners, repair clinic by Harold Herrington, and lots of jams and concerts with all sorts of old time musicians." - from Dan Worrall, who can be contacted through the forum system, or see this forum thread.

April 3-5, 2009, St. Louis MO, St. Louis Tionol, concertina workshop taught by Mary McNamara, who will also perform. Details are at www.tionol.org.

April 18, 2009, Amherst MA, Fifth (if I'm counting right) Northeast Concertina Workshop, taught we are sure by an outstanding lineup again this year. Button Box are known for putting on great events! (anglo, English, Hayden duet) Staff includes Dave Townsend, Ian Robb, Dave Paton, Chris Stevens, Bob Webb.

May 22-24, 2009, Huntingdon, PA, 10th Annual Folk College with Simple Gifts, a wonderful group of musicians/teachers that includes Rachel Hall. She writes, "I'm going to be leading a concertina band at Folk College May 22-24 2009. Last year we had six players and performed the Hallelujah Chorus. Folk College offers many workshops for all instruments. If there is interest, we can add a concertina workshop in addition to the band class." (This has since been added, English concertina, all levels.) The web site has details and lists some outstanding staff for 2009. I'm hoping to attend this one myself!

June 12-14, 2009, Mystic CT, 30th 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 25 to August 1, and the staff includes notable players Louis Killen, Danny Spooner, and Bob Walser. Check the Web site for details or read about my time there in 2003.

July 12-18, 2009, Swannanoa, NC, Swannanoa Gathering Celtic Week. Grainne Hambly listed for concertina classes this year. Web site

July 12-18, 2009, East Durham, NY, Irish Arts Week. The past four years included outstanding coverage (primarily anglo) with four teachers each year. This year will feature classes with Fr. Charlie Coen, Edel Fox, and Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin. All the nocturnal wildness you could wish for, also. (Irish, all levels). Web site, follow the link for Irish Arts Week.

July 19-24, 2009, Elkins, WV, Augusta Irish Week, Edel Fox will teach the concertina classes. Web site

June to August, 2009, Woodstock, NY, Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Camp three week-long programs; no list yet of classes offered. Web site

July 31 - August 8, 2009, 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 3-6, 2009, Goderich ONT, Celtic College prior to the Celtic Roots Festival (also in August, the 7th to 9th), 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. 2nd), and stay until the week-end festival (Aug 9th). 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, 2009, Noel Hill Irish Concertina School, New York, Oregon, Ohio/Kentucky, 3 one-week sessions, Noel Hill (Irish, all levels).
July 26-31, 2009, East Durham, N.Y.
August 2-7, 2009, Cincinnati, OH
August 9-14, 2009, Newburg, OR
Read lots about NHICS here on Concertina.net or go to the Web site.

August 11-14, 2009, Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School, no word yet on concertina this year. Web site

September 25-27, 2009 [Note change of date!], 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. Web site

September 26-27, 2009, 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 13-15, 2009, St. Petersburg, FL, Sunshine State Acoustic Music Camp, Gail Keel has taught both Anglo and English concertina classes in past years. This year the listed instructor is Bill Schustik, but system is not stated. Web site