I know this thread is a few years old, but I figure I'll join it rather than start a new one.
I am also a beginner player in Oregon: Anglo concertina, Portland area. I started out with one of those red 1960's Italian models with 20 floppy keys which I found to be about equal parts fun and frustrating, so after a few years of stopping and starting with that I got a 30 button Rochelle and I am happy to say I think I am finally making a little bit of progress now. And I would love to connect with other concertina folks in the Portland area.
