Online Teachers

Learn how to play 5 string kantele in the Haapavesi style with Outi Linnaranta

This is a Finnish language site. To find the kantele lessons in English, click on the link to the English version of the site, then click on Learning materials. In addition to her written description of this style, Outi Linnaranta includes 11 short videos that you can download.

Vilma Timonen has an audible chord table for the kantele.

California

Merja Soria teaches Finnish music at San Diego State University and gives workshops and private lessons for children and adults. She specializes in traditional music of Finland and performs around the country (voice and kantele). She is the founder of a performing ensemble, Suddenly Finnish .This group has performed at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC.

Tiffany Moon teaches in Caifornia. You can email her at rasputia@yahoo.com.

Connecticult

Kasha Breau is a kantele teacher in Marlborough, Connecticut. You can email her at kantele@att.net.

Maine

Sarah Cummings-Ridge has been a music educator in Maine since 1989 and began the serious study of the kantele in 1998. She studied with Vilma Timonen and Pauliina Kauhanen in June 2000 when she attended the Ilomantsi Kantele Camp in Ilomantsi, Finland. Since November 2000, she's taught monthly workshops to a multi-aged group which has now evolved into The Maine Kantele Consort. Sarah teaches, plays, and performs with five, ten and 36-string kanteles She is available for workshops and performances and may be contacted via email at sarahcr@aol.com.

Michigan

Jill Sherman summers in Upper Michigan where she teaches the 5 string kantele to beginners. She learned to play at the Oriveden Opisto, Orivesi, Finland, from Hannu Saha and Rauno Nieminen, who were (at that time) visiting instructors from the Kaustinen Folk Music Institute. You can email her here.

Minnesota

Diane Jarvi is a kantele teacher and player in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

North Carolina

Jill Sherman, lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina where she teaches the 5 string kantele to beginners. She learned to play at the Oriveden Opisto, Orivesi, Finland, from Hannu Saha and Rauno Nieminen, who were (at that time) visiting instructors from the Kaustinen Folk Music Institute. You can email her here.

Ohio

Linda and Harvey Horton: This couple teaches begining and intermediate 5 and 10 string kantele, plucking, chording and block style. Linda also teaches beginner big kantele Perho River Valley style. They both teach workshops. Their teachers have been Timo Väänänen, Cathy Cushing, Merja Soria and Joyce Hakala. The Hortons play with the Kantele Players of Lake Erie. You can email them here.

Washington

Valerie K. Blessley: Email. Valerie lives in Vancouver WA and teaches Perho River Valley style Finnish kantele. She performs with the NW kantele group Livakat, and the Finnish trio Soittorasia.