While most in-person traditional Irish sessions were shut down due to COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021, John Whelan kept the tunes flowing by hosting a very popular weekly ‘Taking Time’ slow session on Zoom. It has been so popular that he continues with this session in 2022 and into 2023!

Click on the button for the year indicated to be taken to the audio components and playlists for each ‘Taking Time’ session.

John teaches a tune phrase-by-phrase for one hour starting at 2:30 PM Pacific time. Then, after a 30-minute break, the main session starts at 4:00 PM Pacific time, lasts for about two hours, and regularly draws attendees from around the world.

Players and listeners of all levels are very welcome to enjoy playing or hearing favorite tunes at a moderate tempo, along with the all-important warmth of connection that shared music brings into our lives. This is also a great opportunity for learning new tunes, as everybody but the session leader (John) will be muted while they play. Unlike an in-person session, you can noodle along to your heart's content, and nobody will ever know unless you tell them!

We are indebted to Michael Eskin for formatting and hosting the audio components of these videos making them available to folks around the world. Go raibh míle maith agat, a Mhíchíl!

And for those of you who might not know John, he is hailed as one of the world’s best living Irish button accordion players. A seven-time All-Ireland champion born to Irish parents living in Dunstable, England;, John was raised in the vibrant London Irish music scene of the 1970s, learning his craft from such legends as Lucy Farr, Roger Sherlock, Paddy Taylor, Mick O’Connor, and his teacher, Brendan Mulkaire. John currently lives with his partner on Vashon Island here in the Pacific Northwest!