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Hi y'all! I just recently got a 20-key CG Anglo and I'm looking to start taking lessons. I would love to be able to take in person lessons, but am also more than willing to go online. I'm looking to have lessons maybe 2 to 3 times a month, and am interested in learning on all subjects, from playing the instrument itself to theory and anything in between. I'm located in Gallatin County, Montana US. Please message me if you offer lessons/know where I could look for some. Thanks!

For years I kept and annually revised a static page here on C.net listing the concertina learning opportunities in North America. Since the switch to Forums I haven't completed this in most years, even though every winter I did look to see who was teaching classes and where and when and start to compile a document. It turns out a few of the usual offerings have on-line alternatives this year, so I thought, "Why not?" Here is what I have and I know all of you will add anything you know of. As ever in the US, a lot of this is for Irish on anglo, but there must be other stuff going on. I'll include placeholders for the events that happen most years but are not being held during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is short notice for some of these events - my apologies (it's been one of those years), but I hope we all find musical outlets of some sort. I know there are many individual concerts/performances and tons of archived stuff online. Here I'm mostly focusing on learning opportunities (with a few arbitrary exceptions). -- Ken Augusta Heritage Center, Elkins, West Virginia Augusta has not had an Irish Week or concertina instruction in a number of years, but they've posted a large number of online live events for July and lesson opportunities through August, for those with other musical ambitions. Augusta class schedule. Virtual Catskills Irish Arts Week Originally scheduled in person in mid-July, this event typically has classes for Irish style on anglo concertina at two or three levels; several C-netters have been on the staff in past years. For 2020 they are offering on-line master classes with Brenda Castles (Ireland, Int/Advanced level) and Tierna Rowsome (USA, Basic/Int). Info here. Virtual Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy OK, I know this isn't North American, but this is the event that gave me the idea for posting this list. Recordings of concerts and recitals from the 2019 edition of renowned summer school in County Clare, Ireland (typically in early July each year) are a nice diversion, and cover far more than just concertina. View the list of concerts. They give a number of ways to access the videos; I went to the YouTube channel ITMAVideos (search for ITMAVideos on the YouTube site). They also have video highlights of the previous several decades of concerts at the same link/YouTube channel. Swannonoa Gathering, Asheville, North Carolina During what would have been Celtic Week (that's as I post this) 13-17 July 2020, there are videos posted each day by instructors, including concertinist Grainne Hambly. These are taken down at the end of the week so don't put off checking it out at the Swannanoa Gathering and the Staff Videos page. Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School at Home This event, typically in August in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has set up a large number of classes and lectures, which take place live online Sat. 8 August 2020 through Tues. 11 August. Among the offerings are a concertina Master class with Caitlín Nic Gabhann. More info here. The Northeast Squeeze-In NESI, as it has come to be known, was cancelled, but the tireless organizing committee have scheduled some substitutes while we all wait for 2021. On the original dates, 25-27 September 2020, you can join in the fun by submitting a video for the virtual concert by Sept. 10th, offer a prerecorded or live virtual workshop (proposals due Sept. 10th), or submitting an entry to the Limerick and Haiku contest (entries due Sept. 1st). They haven't posted the details on the web page so follow the directions there to join the discussion group on io groups and read all about it.

Hi all, My first time posting here! My name is Caitlín Nic Gabhann and I'm a concertina player from Ireland. I came on here because I've just launched a new website for learning the concertina online and I wanted to let you all know about it! There's a complete Starter Course on the website now - you can take the lessons any time you want, in your own home. Each lesson features: -- A video, and audio (both of which you can 'loop' a section for repeating - very handy for when you want to just repeat a particular phrase. Also - these are slow-downable) -- Staff and ABC notation (which you can download and print) -- Tips on technique from me (eg: which high D' to use) -- Notes on the Story behind the tune and more... There are also many other features on the website, such as suggested listening, tips if buying a concertina and. a free sample lesson. Here is the website so you can check it out: www.IrishConcertinaLessons.com - I recommend trying the free lesson to see if it's for you. I plan on adding an Improvers Course and an Advanced Course in 2019. Let me know what you think, Kindest regards, Caitlín