On October 3-4, Joan Cochran Sommers visited Chicagoland Accordion Academy, La Grange Highlands, IL, to work with our young students and provide insights and advice for our teachers.

Professor Sommers worked with 15 young students while their teachers, Mayra Martinez, Roberta Rubinson and Mary Ann Covone observed. Each student had a mini lesson with Professor Sommers that ranged in length from eight minutes to thirty minutes depending upon the student’s level and ability.

Everyone was so excited to meet and receive instruction from such an icon in our accordion world.

To memorialize the event, each student will receive an autographed photo of themselves with Joan Sommers.

We are so grateful to Joan Sommers for taking the time and making the effort to travel to Chicago to share her 75 plus years of teaching experience with us.

I am certain we will have a repeat in the not-too-distant future. As instructed, all students will have 5 memorized pieces ready to play before Prof. Joan Sommers returns!