I started playing the accordion when I was 12, with no experience before. Mary Ann explains things very well, like the notes on the staff, and many different techniques that make playing the accordion so fun. I always look forward to my lessons because she has such a wonderful personality and is such a great teacher. I have now been playing the accordion for about 9 months, and I have my first solo and band piece to perform.

Elle

Mary Ann is an inspiring mentor and educator. She's patient, relaxed, and is incredibly talented, both as a musician and teacher. She has a keen understanding of when to power forward and when to take a step back to teach an impromptu lesson about music theory, the guts of an accordion (that's right, we dissected and repaired an accordion in class one day!), or just give a plain pep talk when a particular section of music is giving us trouble. Whether I come to class excited, frustrated – or exhausted from being 8 months pregnant - I invariably leave itching to practice, and with a few hilarious stories to tell my family.

One of coolest things about Mary Ann's accordion program is her creative vision. She seems to have an endless supply of ideas and enthusiasm about how to expand, innovate and educate. While it started with group and private lessons, Mary Ann's program has blossomed into a plethora of activities; accordion band, music theory, an international accordion festival, guest speakers, concerts and online get-togethers to name a few. She is genuinely excited about her students' ability and potential, and is constantly seeking ways to enrich and enhance our experience.

It’s not always fun to learn a completely new skill from scratch. I am so grateful for how much I've accomplished so far, and for how truly delightful it has been. I look forward to many more lessons and am eager to see where else she takes us!

Mia C.

At the age of 63, I decided to learn the accordion. I was fortunate to find Mary Ann Covone teaching a group class for beginners. Mary Ann’s love and enthusiasm for the accordion are infectious. She’s an extremely talented player – having majored in accordion performance in college. But more importantly for her students, she’s a talented and patient teacher. Mary Ann had us beginners playing simple songs right away, which builds confidence and provides the incentive to keep working – even though the accordion can be pretty challenging. The students in my beginner class had a variety of musical experience – some played other instruments and others knew almost nothing about music. Mary Ann provides the right level of “music theory” for the group. I have been studying with Mary Ann for a little over six months now, I’ve advanced to the next level and I’m loving playing the accordion every day. If you’re interested in the accordion, I would highly recommend Mary Ann – regardless of your prior experience and level of musical knowledge. She’ll get you playing and enjoying the accordion.

Mark D.

Mary Ann is a welcoming, positive, and passionate teacher. As an actress in Chicago, I have always wanted to learn an instrument. At the start of accordion classes in the fall of 2018, Mary Ann immediately wanted to help me soar as an actor/musician; leading me to being a devoted student!

She is your biggest cheerleader; supportive, kind, and has a knack for assessing her students in order to reach their full potential. With a flexible schedule and willingness to offer affordable instruction, I highly recommend taking lessons from Mary Ann—either private or Accordion band. Since working with Mary Ann, my skills and confidence with the Accordion have soared!

Madison K.

Mary Ann is my first music teacher and I truly believe I couldn’t have been luckier in that aspect! Deciding to learn how to play the accordion as an adult and without any previous knowledge of music was intimidating at first, but after one lesson with Mary Ann I felt supported and inspired. Mary Ann is not only knowledgable and experienced when it comes to playing (and even fixing) the accordion. She is also an excellent teacher, and that requires a whole other skillset; as a teacher myself, I can recognize that. One of the things I deeply appreciate in my lessons with Mary Ann is that she doesn’t have a stagnant teaching style or lesson plan; she adapts her lessons to my needs and she supports me in learning in a pace that matches my lifestyle. If you are looking for an accordion teacher, look no further! You found a great one!

Galini G.

My maternal Great Grandfather led an Accordion Trio in the 1930’s in Chicago. After a lifetime of wanting to learn the Accordion, at the age of 56, in November of 2018, I purchased a new, used (1969) vintage instrument and looked for an instructor to guide me. That’s how I met Mary Ann.

Mary Ann was recommended by the Accordion shop where I made my purchase. I reached out to her and we had pleasant initial conversation regarding music and the accordion, and after that, off we went. I have previous musical experience so I did not start as a novice. During our early sessions, Mary Ann determined my skill level as it related to music and from the start, tailored my lessons to my individual needs. She is patient and was especially so early on as I was all over the place with the notes. As an instructor, Mary Ann is exceptionally knowledgeable and does stress the required basics and mechanics. Initially, I was unclear on why the mechanics were so important, but as I progressed, it became very evident. The mechanics were needed as the music difficulty increased.

Mary Ann works to inject fun into the process. She frequently has me pick suitable music outside of the lesson book to augment the learning process. Almost 1.5 years into this journey, I really feel that I can carry a fun tune and am comfortable playing in front of family and close friends. For me, music is the best part of my week and I look forward to not only the practice, but the lessons as well.

I would recommend Mary Ann as an instructor for young and old if you really want to enjoy all the accordion has to offer. You will not be disappointed.

Mary Ann

I played accordion as a child and picked it back up some 40 years later. Mary Ann Covone is a great, inspirational teacher. She brings a great mix of enthusiasm, patience, and structure to her lessons. I have had group lessons with her, individual lessons, and accordion band. For individual lessons I switch between using the structured learning books and picking my own songs.

Steffen M.

Mary Ann Covone, an incredibly talented musician, has been my accordion band and private lesson teacher for two months. Mary Ann is a highly trained accordionist with a Bachelor of Music in Accordion Performance. Mary Ann is now teaching our classes via Zoom, a video conferencing tool. I am impressed with her ability to adapt our class of 18 students to Zoom.

Mary Ann is a very patient accordion teacher and has allowed me to learn at my own pace. Mary Ann’s combined skill, experience and love for music make her a highly qualified accordion teacher. Her love for music is contagious and inspires you to put more time into your music. Since taking accordion lessons with Mary Ann, I have seen various areas of my playing improve. She is experienced in many different genres of music. It does not matter if you are just starting or are advanced, Mary Ann will take your accordion playing to a whole new level. Her patience and experience separates her from the average accordion teacher.

Helen J.

I really look forward to my lessons with Mary Ann every week! In my time working with her I've seen HUGE improvement in my skill level. She's a motivating teacher and easily breaks down challenging concepts into bite-sized pieces; something I've not experienced at this level with other teachers. I always leave my lessons feeling accomplished and a little bit better than when I started!

Sarah H.