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8-Week Classes: May 1 - June 25
Registration is Open Now! »
8-Week Classes: June 26 - August 20
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8-Week Classes: September 5 - October 29
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8-Week Classes: October 24 - December 18
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Monday - Thursday 10:30 AM - 8:30 PM
Friday - Sunday 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
4544 N. Lincoln Avenue: 773.751.3398
909 W. Armitage Avenue: 773.525.1506
Celebrating the rich variety of our musical community - jump on in!
Let the Old Town School help you start playing a truly American style music.
The Old Town School is proud to be the home of the largest and most cohesive bluegrass program in the city. Our staff of incredible bluegrass musicians will take your playing to the next level!
Be sure to read the class descriptions to see the needed level of proficiency on your instrument of choice.
For anyone who wants to pick and sing! On the last Sunday of the session Bassists, Fiddles, Mandolins, Flatpick Guitars, Bluegrass Banjos, and Bluegrass Ensemble students are invited to join an informal bluegrass jam with our faculty. It's free and open to prospective students, current students, former students, and anybody else who just wants to pick. All levels are welcome.
Free Bluegrass Jam » Introduction to the Banjo | Banjo | Group ClassBeginner 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $196 ($186 members) Tuesday or Thursday with Jonas Friddle or Matt Brown For anyone attracted to the 5-string banjo but not sure which style to try first, this is for you! Grouped with: Bluegrass · Country & Traditional · Old Time · Folk · Clawhammer | |
| 21st Century Banjo Repertoire | Banjo | Group ClassAdvanced 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $196 ($186 members) Tuesday with Matt Brown Learn to play some of your favorite contemporary songs on the banjo! Grouped with: Bluegrass · Clawhammer · Artist Specific · Two-Finger | |
| Bluegrass Banjo 1 | Banjo | Group ClassBeginner 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $196 ($186 members) Thursday with Chris Walz The first of five classes in the Bluegrass Banjo series that will take you through the techniques needed to play in a bluegrass style. Grouped with: Bluegrass · Country & Traditional | |
| Bluegrass Banjo 1 Repertoire | Banjo | Group ClassBeginner 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $196 ($186 members) If you would like to be contacted when this class runs again, please email Program Manager Ian Wilson with your contact information. Grouped with: Bluegrass · Country & Traditional | |
| Bluegrass Banjo 2 | Banjo | Group ClassIntermediate 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $196 ($186 members) Thursday with Chris Walz Pick up some advanced rolls and tunes, as well as rhythm and back-up playing. Grouped with: Bluegrass · Country & Traditional | |
| Bluegrass Banjo 2 Repertoire | Banjo | Group ClassIntermediate 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $196 ($186 members) If you would like to be contacted when this class runs again, please email Program Manager Ian Wilson with your contact information. Grouped with: Bluegrass · Country & Traditional | |
| Bluegrass Banjo 3 | Banjo | Group ClassIntermediate 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $196 ($186 members) Thursday with Chris Walz Put all the pieces together - the right hand rolls and changing them inside of one measure, back up and fill in licks, and vamping positions with chops and rolls. Grouped with: Bluegrass · Country & Traditional | |
| Bluegrass Banjo 4 - Earl Scruggs | Banjo | Group ClassAdvanced 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $196 ($186 members) If you would like to be contacted when this class runs again, please email Program Manager Ian Wilson with your contact information. Grouped with: Bluegrass · Country & Traditional · Artist Specific | |
| Bluegrass Banjo: Advanced Skills | Banjo | Group ClassAdvanced 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $196 ($186 members) Grouped with: Bluegrass · Musicianship | |
| Bluegrass Ensemble | Ensemble | Group ClassIntermediate 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $216 ($206 members) Monday with Colby Maddox or John Huber Grouped with: Bluegrass · Country & Traditional | |
| Folk Songs: Carrying History Forward | Ensemble | Group ClassIntermediate 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $200 ($190 members) Thursday with Peggy Browning A fun and rewarding ensemble class for all levels of player Grouped with: Bluegrass · Country & Traditional · Folk | |
| Johnny Cash Ensemble | Ensemble | Group ClassIntermediate 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $204 ($194 members) If you would like to be contacted when this class runs again, please email Guitar Program Manager Jimmy Tomasello with your contact information. Grouped with: Bluegrass · Blues · Country & Traditional · Folk · Artist Specific | |
| Vintage Country Ensemble | Ensemble | Group ClassIntermediate 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $200 ($190 members) Wednesday with Gail Tyler or Paul Tyler Grouped with: Bluegrass · Country & Traditional · Old Time | |
| Fiddle 2 Repertoire | Fiddle & Cello | Group ClassIntermediate 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $196 ($186 members) Tuesday with Steve Rosen Fiddle 2 Repertoire is the next step to Fiddle 3. Practice correct bowing, scale knowledge, and other Fiddle 2 skills. Grouped with: Bluegrass · Country & Traditional · Old Time | |
| Flatpicking 1 - Rhythm | Guitar | Group ClassIntermediate 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $196 ($186 members) This class alternates with Flatpicking 2 If you would like to be contacted when this class runs again, please email Guitar Program Manager Jimmy Tomasello with your contact information. Grouped with: Bluegrass · Musicianship · Country & Traditional | |
| Flatpicking 2 - Technique | Guitar | Group ClassIntermediate 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $196 ($186 members) Tuesday with Chris Walz Let's get melodic Grouped with: Bluegrass · Musicianship · Country & Traditional | |
| Flatpicking 3 - Repertoire | Guitar | Group ClassAdvanced 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $196 ($186 members) Tuesday with Chris Walz Let's develop soloing skills Grouped with: Bluegrass · Musicianship · Country & Traditional | |
| Introduction to the Mandolin | Mandolin | Group ClassBeginner 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $196 ($186 members) Tuesday with Colby Maddox If you love the sound of a mandolin but have never played a stringed instrument before, this class if for you. Grouped with: Bluegrass · Celtic · Country & Traditional · Old Time | |
| Mandolin 1 | Mandolin | Group ClassBeginner 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $196 ($186 members) Wednesday with Colby Maddox Learn Mandolin fundamentals like left hand fretting, using a pick, and basic chords and melodies. Grouped with: Bluegrass · Celtic · Country & Traditional · Old Time | |
| Mandolin 1 Repertoire | Mandolin | Group ClassBeginner 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $196 ($186 members) If you would like to be contacted when this class runs again, please email Program Manager Ian Wilson with your contact information. Grouped with: Bluegrass · Celtic · Country & Traditional · Old Time | |
| Mandolin 2 | Mandolin | Group ClassIntermediate 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $196 ($186 members) If you would like to be contacted when this class runs again, please email Program Manager Ian Wilson with your contact information. Grouped with: Bluegrass · Celtic · Country & Traditional · Old Time | |
| Mandolin 2 Repertoire | Mandolin | Group ClassIntermediate 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $196 ($186 members) Wednesday with Colby Maddox Take Mandolin 2 Repertoire to polish your skills, learn more songs from a variety of traditions and begin learning how to arrange and improvise. Grouped with: Bluegrass · Celtic · Country & Traditional · Old Time |
The Old Town School of Folk Music, Inc.
4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago IL 60625 • 773.728.6000
