Little Strummers
Beginner
Sunday with Carey Farrell
45 minutes · Once a week for 4 weeks · $108 ($98 members)
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
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 our Kids Guitar classes, 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 of kids guitar at Old Town School 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!
Sunday with Carey Farrell
45 minutes · Once a week for 4 weeks · $108 ($98 members)
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
Friday with Max Berg
30 minutes · Once a week for 1 week · $0 ($0 members)
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday with Jessica Martino, Ruben Portillo or Stephen Kuhn
55 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $231 ($211 members)
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus or Lincoln Park - Armitage Ave
Monday, Wednesday or Sunday with Jessica Martino, Stephen Kuhn or Damien Dimas
55 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $231 ($211 members)
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
Monday with Damien Dimas
60 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $165 ($145 members)
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
60 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $231 ($211 members)
Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday with Julie Helenius, Carey Farrell, Max Berg, Ruben Portillo or Stephen Kuhn
55 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $231 ($211 members)
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus or Lincoln Park - Armitage Ave
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.
$346 for 30 minutes ($336 for members)
$495 for 45 minutes ($480 for members)
$635 for 60 minutes ($615 for members)
8-week lessons: 06/23/2025 – 08/17/2025
Monday 05/19/25: Re-registration for current students begins
Monday 06/02/25: Transfer registration
Wednesday 06/04/25: Open registration
8-week lessons: 09/01/2025 – 10/26/2025
Monday 07/14/25: Re-registration for current students begins
Monday 07/28/25: Transfer registration
Wednesday 07/30/25: Open registration
8-week lessons: 10/27/2025 – 12/21/2025
Monday 09/22/25: Re-registration for current students begins
Monday 10/06/25: Transfer registration
Wednesday 10/08/25: Open registration
Click for teacher profiles and schedules
John Abbey »
Bass Guitar, Upright Bass, Guitar
Henry Altenberg »
Guitar, Piano, Ukulele, Electric Bass
Luciano Antonio »
Guitar
Libby Apley »
Piano, Guitar
Max Berg »
Guitar
Scott Besaw »
Guitar, Voice
Bill Brickey »
Guitar, Wiggleworms Program, Drummers, Voice for Guitarists
Sean Colledge »
Fiddle, Guitar, Irish Tenor Banjo, Irish Mandolin, Irish Concertina, Cajun Accordion, Clawhammer Banjo
Steve Dawson »
Guitar, Songwriting
Deanna Devore »
Guitar, Songwriting
Damien Dimas »
Guitar
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
Steve Hutchins »
Guitar, Blues Band Live!
Xadie James »
Piano, Bass, Guitar, Cello
Paul Kaye »
Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin
Charles Kim »
Bass, Composition, Guitar, Songwriting, Ukulele (including Baritone), Mandolin
Colin Kolasny »
Piano, Guitar, Voice, Bass
Camille McClellan »
Guitar, Songwriting
Julia Mendiolea »
Guitar, Bass, Piano
Shelley Miller »
Guitar, Songwriting, Ukulele, Ensembles
Elaine Moore »
Guitar, Voice
Randy Morris »
Guitar
Shoji Naito »
Guitar, Harmonica (Blues & Jazz), Ukulele, Bass
Michael O'Toole »
Guitar
Mary Peterson »
Theater, Guitar, Wiggleworms Program, School Partnerships
Ruben Portillo »
Guitar
Josh Ruebeck »
Audio Engineering, Voice, Guitar, Bass, Songwriting
Bill Simmons »
Guitar
Joel Styzens »
Drum Kit, Piano, Percussion, Guitar
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
Anonymous
James G. Hart Foundation
Geraldine Keefe
Negaunee Foundation
Rob and Karen Ospalik
Tomford and Grossman Family