Concertina Learning Opportunities in North America, 2008

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 3-9, 2008, 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 27-29, 2008, 4th Annual Southwest Concertina Squeeze-In, at the Palestine Old Time Music Festival, Texas. Workshop on all systems by Jody Kruskal, Mark Gilston, all-systems concertina band, events for beginners, repair clinic by Harold Herrington, jams, etc. Find out how to register in advance at this forum thread, or contact Dan Worrall through the forum system.

April 4-6, 2008, St. Louis MO, St. Louis Tionol, concertina workshop taught by Micheal O Raghallaigh, who will also perform. Details (thanks to Mike Mullins for this one) are at www.tionol.org.

April 19, 2008, Amherst MA, Third 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 to be announced soon, we are told.

June 13-15, 2008, Mystic CT, 29th 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 "Upcoming Events."

June through August, 2008, 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 Alistair Brown, is July 19-26 and while there is no specific concertina class, the staff includes notable players Brian Peters and John Roberts. Tom Kruskal will be at English Dance Week (August 2-9). Check the Web site for details or read about my time there in 2003.

July 13-19, 2008, Swannanoa, NC, Swannanoa Gathering Celtic Week. No concertina is listed for this year. Web site

July 13-19, 2008, East Durham, NY, Irish Arts Week. Staff includes outstanding coverage (primarily anglo) with four teachers (Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin, Edel Fox, Michelle Mulcahy, Fr. Charlie Coen this time around) for the fourth successive year. All the nocturnal wildness you could wish for, also. (Irish, all levels). Web site, follow the link for Irish Arts Week.

July 20-25, 2008, Elkins, WV, Augusta Irish Week, Edel Fox will again teach concertina (Irish on anglo, intermediate/advanced). Web site

June to August, 2008, Woodstock, NY, Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Camp three week-long programs; no list yet of classes offered. Web site

August 1-9, 2008, 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 4-7, 2008 (dates unconfirmed; I'm guessing), Goderich ONT, Celtic College prior to the Celtic Roots Festival (also in August; dates not confirmed, so check their web site as summer approaches), 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. 3rd), and stay until the week-end festival (Aug 10th). 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, 2008, Noel Hill Irish Concertina School, New York, Oregon, Ohio/Kentucky, 3 one-week sessions, Noel Hill (Irish, all levels).
July 27-August 1, 2008, Cincinnati, OH
August 3-8, 2008, East Durham, N.Y.
August 10-15, 2008, Newburg, OR
Read lots about NHICS here on Concertina.net or go to the Web site.

August 11-15, 2008, Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School, no word on concertina this year yet. Web site

September 19-21, 2008, 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 27-28, 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 14-16, 2008, St. Petersburg, FL, Sunshine State Acoustic Music Camp, Gail Keel has taught both Anglo and English concertina classes in past years, including beginner level. Web site