Ain Haas was eight years old when he arrived in the United States from the Estonian refugee community of Gothenburg, Sweden. Ain's mother taught him to do some knitting, embroidery, and Estonian cooking as a youngster, but it was music that really interested him. When his uncle came to visit, he brought a recording of Estonian music, featuring Estonian zithers and pipes. But it was the small, triangular, archaic kannel that caught Ain's eye.

Ain made his first kannel using birch wood from a tree in his parents' yard. Ever since then, Ain has made 33 instruments, many of which he has given away to family and friends.