Come to class, take a lesson, join the jam, build a band, or guitar together. Six strings of musical expression all your own!
When you go to the Old Town School of Folk Music, you are learning something bigger than just how to play guitar. Surrounded by the thousands of musicians who play on our stages, climb our steps, jam in our lobbies, we are a piece of something larger-a rich history, an evolving tradition, a living culture of folks from around Chicago and the world coming together to create music. Through the guitar, we foster holistic musical understanding and a true love for music. We teach young folks how to: create good tone, understand and maintain steady beat, play rhythm, hear and follow musical form, and be musically creative! The approach is joyful and accessible. We learn cool tunes of folk, rock, and pop traditions from around the world. Each song purposefully and authentically teaches new skills.
At the Old Town School of Folk Music, learning within the social environment is core to our approach. The musical conversation of our school - from classroom to concert to jam - inspires, motivates, and teaches our youth and their families to live musical lives. Come participate in that magic!
Saturday with Mallory Coakley
45 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $160 ($140 members)
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
Monday or Saturday with Jonas Friddle, Jessica Martino or Mallory Coakley
55 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $192 ($172 members)
Now 55 minutes of practice and play!
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
Saturday with Jessica Martino
55 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $192 ($172 members)
Now 55 minutes of practice and play!
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
Wednesday or Saturday with Henry Altenberg or Jessica Martino
55 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $192 ($172 members)
Location: Lincoln Park - Armitage Ave or Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
Saturday with Henry Altenberg
55 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $192 ($182 members)
Now 55 minutes of teaching and learning!
Location: Lincoln Park - Armitage Ave
Saturday with Jessica Martino
55 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $192 ($182 members)
Now 55 minutes of teaching and learning!
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
Saturday with Jessica Martino
55 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $192 ($182 members)
Now 55 minutes of teaching and learning!
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
Wednesday with Jessica Martino
60 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $144 ($124 members)
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
Our private lessons like our group classes run in 8-week sessions, however, you can begin private lessons during any week in the session. Please call our customer service folks at 773.728.6000 to register as private lesson availability is based upon individual teacher schedules.
Lessons are scheduled weekly, for 30, 45 or 60 minutes, and are available every day of the week at our Lincoln Square and Lincoln Park locations. Our experienced and professional faculty will work with you to develop an individualized program that helps you achieve your musical goals.
Stop in at either location or call the front desk at 773.728.6000 to register.
$296 for 30 minutes ($286 for members)
$424 for 45 minutes ($409 for members)
$544 for 60 minutes ($524 for members)
8-week lessons: 04/25/2022 – 06/19/2022
Monday 03/21/22: Re-registration for current students begins
Tuesday 04/05/22: Transfer registration
Wednesday 04/06/22: Open registration
8-week lessons: 06/20/2022 – 08/14/2022
Monday 05/16/22: Re-registration for current students begins
Tuesday 05/31/22: Transfer registration
Wednesday 06/01/22: Open registration
8-week lessons: 08/29/2022 – 10/23/2022
Monday 07/11/22: Re-registration for current students begins
Monday 07/25/22: Transfer registration
Wednesday 07/27/22: Open registration
8-week lessons: 10/24/2022 – 12/18/2022
Monday 09/19/22: Re-registration for current students begins
Monday 10/03/22: Transfer registration
Wednesday 10/05/22: Open registration
Click for teacher profiles and schedules
John Abbey »
Bass Guitar, Upright Bass, Guitar
Patrik Ahlberg »
Violin, Fiddle, Guitar
Henry Altenberg »
Guitar, Piano, Ukulele, Electric Bass
Luciano Antonio »
Guitar
Louis Bardales »
Guitar
Bill Brickey »
Guitar, Wiggleworms Program, Drummers, Voice for Guitarists
Liz Chidester »
Ukulele, Wiggleworms Program, Voice, Piano, Guitar, School Partnerships
Chris Corsale »
Guitar
Steve Dawson »
Guitar, Songwriting
Deanna Devore »
Guitar, Songwriting
Tony Do Rosario »
Jazz Guitar
Steve Doyle »
Dobro, Guitar, Lap Steel
Al Ehrich »
Bass Guitar, Upright Bass, Cello, Dance & Movement - Qi Gong
Ryan Fisher »
Banjo, Guitar
Jonas Friddle »
Banjo, Fiddle, Guitar, Mandolin, Ensembles, Band Coaching, School Partnerships
Dan Fulkerson »
Guitar
Pedro Garcia »
Guitar
Donna Herula »
Guitar, Resonator Guitar, Blues, Slide, Fingerstyle
Steve Hutchins »
Guitar, Blues Band Live!
Paul Kaye »
Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin
Charles Kim »
Bass, Composition, Guitar, Songwriting, Ukulele (including Baritone), Mandolin
Shelley Miller »
Guitar, Songwriting, Ukulele
Elaine Moore »
Guitar, Voice
Randy Morris »
Guitar
Shoji Naito »
Guitar, Harmonica (Blues & Jazz), Ukulele
Michael O'Toole »
Guitar, Ukulele, Fiddle, Banjo, Mandolin, Theory, Improvisation
Mary Peterson »
Theater, Guitar,
Wiggleworms Program, School Partnerships
Bill Simmons »
Guitar
Joel Styzens »
Drum Kit, Guitar, Percussion, Piano
Jacob Sweet »
Bass Guitar, Guitar, Songwriting, Ukulele
Harlan Terson »
Bass Guitar, Guitar
Rebecca Toon »
Voice, Guitar
Jon Wall »
Guitar, Ensembles, Bass
Chris Walz »
Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin
Chris Winters »
Guitar, Ukulele
