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Faculty & Staff

Charles Kim

Charles Kim

Songwriting, Composition, Guitar, Bass

He's taught everything from Beatles and Radiohead tunes, Jazz Improvisation, bass lines, and how to sing and play together. He's an author of his own nationally distributed guitar method book. He also teaches the year-long songwriting program, which includes six classes: Lyrics, Melodies, Harmony and Chord Progressions, Arranging and Editing, Generating Song Ideas, Music and Words. He's also taught students how to write a pop-song, how to figure out their favorite tunes, work on band arrangements, and get ready for the recording studio.

Charles has appeared on over 30 albums, works as a producer/recorder, and written works for theater, dance companies and film, including a commissioned work for the Royal College of London.

He has been teaching beginning through advanced group guitar and theory classes at the Old Town School since 1999, including specialty classes such as 90's Rock, Learning Songs From Recordings, Playing and Singing Together, Jazz Theory, Fingerboard Theory, Ear Training, and Pro Tools Recording. He currently teaches Guitar I-IV, Lead Guitar, Beginner and Intermediate Music Theory, and Music Theory For Songwriters.

Education: Charles has studied with McArthur Grant Recipient Ken Vandermark for Jazz Studies and Improvisation, and studied Classical Guitar at Vanderbilt University.


On the web:

  • charleskimmusic.com
  • astronomermusic.com
  • Musician Charles Kim Draws Music from The Great Perhaps (Chicago Public Radio, July 2009)
  • Conversation with the Astronomer’s Charles Kim (Chicago Public Radio, November 2005)
  • Private Lessons

    Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays.
    For Bass, Guitar | ages 13 & up
    Call 773.728.6000 for times, locations, and availability.

    Group Class Offerings

    Songwriting 1

    Mondays at 6:30 PM beginning 8/30/2010 for 8 weeks
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    No class Sept. 6- Labor Day

    CLASS CANCELLED | Seats Available: 0


    Guitar 3

    Mondays at 8:00 PM beginning 8/30/2010 for 8 weeks
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    No class Sept. 6- Labor Day

    CLASS IS FULL. Please call 773.728.6000 for waiting list info.


    Guitar 1 Repertoire

    Wednesdays at 6:00 PM beginning 9/1/2010 for 8 weeks
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    REGISTER NOW | Price: $160 | Member Price: $150


    Lead Guitar Basics

    Wednesdays at 8:00 PM beginning 9/1/2010 for 8 weeks
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    REGISTER NOW | Price: $160 | Member Price: $150


    Beginning Music Theory

    Thursdays at 5:30 PM beginning 9/2/2010 for 8 weeks
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    CLASS CANCELLED | Seats Available: 0


    Guitar 1 Repertoire

    Thursdays at 7:00 PM beginning 9/2/2010 for 8 weeks
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    CLASS IS FULL. Please call 773.728.6000 for waiting list info.


    Songwriting for the Absolute Beginner

    Thursdays at 8:30 PM beginning 9/2/2010 for 8 weeks
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    Guitar 2 ability. Click to see what skills are covered in that level.

    CLASS CANCELLED | Seats Available: 0


    Guitar 3 Repertoire

    Saturdays at 11:00 AM beginning 9/4/2010 for 8 weeks
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    REGISTER NOW | Price: $160 | Member Price: $150


    Ensemble Basics

    Saturdays at 1:00 PM beginning 9/4/2010 for 8 weeks
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    CLASS CANCELLED | Seats Available: 0


    Beatles for Beginners

    Saturdays at 1:00 PM beginning 9/4/2010 for 8 weeks
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    REGISTER NOW | Price: $160 | Member Price: $150


    Radiohead Ensemble

    Saturdays at 2:30 PM beginning 9/4/2010 for 8 weeks
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    CLASS CANCELLED | Seats Available: 0


    Songwriting 1

    Mondays at 6:30 PM beginning 10/25/2010 for 8 weeks
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    REGISTER NOW | Price: $160 | Member Price: $150


    Lead Guitar Basics

    Wednesdays at 8:00 PM beginning 10/27/2010 for 8 weeks
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    REGISTER NOW | Price: $160 | Member Price: $150


    Music Theory For Songwriters

    Thursdays at 5:30 PM beginning 10/28/2010 for 8 weeks
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    REGISTER NOW | Price: $140 | Member Price: $131.25


    Songwriting 2

    Thursdays at 8:30 PM beginning 10/28/2010 for 8 weeks
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    REGISTER NOW | Price: $140 | Member Price: $131.25


    Beatles for Beginners

    Saturdays at 1:00 PM beginning 10/30/2010 for 8 weeks
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    REGISTER NOW | Price: $160 | Member Price: $150


    Workshops

    Strumming Secrets
    Sunday, September 19 at 1:30 PM-3:30 PM
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    Now that you’ve learned your first few chords, figure out how to make your rhythm sound more solid. This workshop will help you quickly figure out strumming patterns, syncopation, singing and playing together, and how to make your rhythms more interesting and inspired. A workshop for beginners and old pros alike!

    Guitar 1 and above if you know 12 chords you are welcome

    REGISTER NOW | Price: $20 | Member Price: $20

    Magic Formulas For Songwriting
    Sunday, September 19 at 3:30 PM-5:00 PM
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    When you hit the ground running writing a song, take a look at some of these time tested templates of song construction. Many songs in rock, pop, blues, country, jazz and standards use similar forms of lyrics, chords and melodies. By learning some of these easy formulas, you can jump headfirst into a song by adding your own personal touches. Just plug in to these secret formulas, and you’ll have new songs coming out of you in now time at all!

    REGISTER NOW | Price: $20 | Member Price: $20

    Fingerpicking For Absolute Beginners
    Sunday, October 10 at 1:30 PM-3:30 PM
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    Fingerpicking can be easy if you know how to start! Learn simple techniques and patterns that you can use right away! Let us show you simple thumb- and- one finger approaches to finger picking that can eventually turn in to more complex accompaniment.

    REGISTER NOW | Price: $20 | Member Price: $20

    Generating Ideas for Songs
    Sunday, October 10 at 3:30 PM-5:00 PM
    4544 N Lincoln Ave

    Learn how to inspire yourself with new approaches of writing both words and music! You’ll also learn how to break down your writer’s block. You’ll develop methods to inspire, surprise and challenge yourself lyrically, melodically, harmonically and sonically. You’ll use techniques including journaling, collaboration, randomization, and referencing other works to pull your songwriting out of the ruts. Discover how to find those new ideas and funnel them into songs.

    REGISTER NOW | Price: $20 | Member Price: $20

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SPECIAL EVENTS


PRICES

8-Week Classes for adults are $160, unless otherwise noted in the class description.

Financial aid is available. Click for info.

Click for registration and class policies.


INSTRUMENT RENTALS

The Different Strummer music store rents instruments for most group classes. Check for availability.


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