Spooky Singalong at 4544 LincolnSat, Oct 28th | 10:30 AM
8-Week Classes: October 30 - December 23
Registration is Open Now! »
8-Week Classes: January 9 - March 5
Continuing student registration opens on December 8 »
Gift Certificates · Financial Aid · Class Policies
8-Week Classes: October 30 - December 23
Registration is Open Now! »
8-Week Classes: October 30 - December 23
Registration is Open Now! »
Gift Certificates · Financial Aid · Policies · Resource Center
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!
Great songs, great players, great fun!
Our faculty of teaching artists, extraordinary guitarists and professional musicians themselves, lead this program with a fun, multi-layered, and immediately gratifying approach to learning guitar. Young folks learn to play a wide variety of cool tunes from folk, rock, pop, and world music. Each song purposefully stretches new muscles and teaches new skills in an authentic and memorable way.
We expect that young folks work and play at each level for up to a year, mastering skills and becoming confident learners and players. Through the guitar, we foster holistic musical understanding and a true love for music. We teach young folks how to: create good tone, establish steady beat, play in rhythm, and internalize melody and song.
At the Old Town School of Folk Music, learning within the social environment is core to our approach. The musical conversation of a classroom, of a jam, of our school inspires, motivates, teaches our youth and their families to live musical lives! Come participate in that magic!
When you go to the Old Town School of Folk Music, you are learning something bigger than the guitar. Surrounded by the thousands of musicians who play on our stages, climb our steps, jam in our lobbies, we come from something larger-a rich history, an evolving tradition, a living culture of folks from around Chicago and the world coming together to create music.
Our Goals for Young Guitarists:
Young folks will learn to hear, to internalize music. As young folks refine their listening skills, they will learn to feel rhythm, internalize pulse, and remember melody.
Young folks will discover and develop their own musicality, and identify themselves as creative musicians.
Young folks will master a rich and varied repertoire, rooted in the traditions of diverse global and American communities.
In a social learning environment, young folks will learn how they learn. They will learn to articulate the learning process; and as they transfer knowledge to tackle new challenges, young folks will consider themselves lifelong musical learners of a growth mindset!
 Little Strummers | 4 & 5 years · Parents and Children Together! 45 minutes · Once a week for 16 weeks · $304 ($284 members) The next session of this class will be an 8-week session beginning the week of April 25th. Registration opens for current students on Monday, March 14th and for new students on Monday, March 21st. Let's MAKE music! Grouped with: 4-Year Olds · 5-Year Olds | |
| Beginning Strummers: 5 - 7 years | 5, 6 & 7 years 55 minutes · Once a week for 16 weeks · $368 ($348 members) The next session of this class will be an 8-week session beginning the week of April 25th. Registration opens for current students on Monday, March 14th and for new students on Monday, March 21st. Let's MAKE music! Grouped with: 5-Year Olds · 6-Year Olds · 7-Year Olds | |
| Intermediate Strummers: 5 - 7 years | 5, 6 & 7 years 55 minutes · Once a week for 16 weeks · $368 ($348 members) The next session of this class will be an 8-week session beginning the week of April 25th. Registration opens for current students on Monday, March 14th and for new students on Monday, March 21st. Let's MAKE music! Grouped with: 5-Year Olds · 6-Year Olds · 7-Year Olds | |
| Advanced Strummers: 5 - 7 years | 5, 6 & 7 years 55 minutes · Once a week for 16 weeks · $368 ($348 members) The next session of this class will be an 8-week session beginning the week of April 25th. Registration opens for current students on Monday, March 14th and for new students on Monday, March 21st. Let's MAKE music! Grouped with: 5-Year Olds · 6-Year Olds · 7-Year Olds | |
| Guitar 1 - Kids | 8 - 12 years 55 minutes · Once a week for 16 weeks · $368 ($348 members) Friday with Jason McInnes A great place to learn guitar for kids in grades 3 - 6! Grouped with: 8-Year Olds and up | |
| Guitar 2 - Kids | 8 - 12 years 55 minutes · Once a week for 16 weeks · $368 ($348 members) The next session of this class will be an 8-week session beginning the week of April 25th. Registration opens for current students on Monday, March 14th and for new students on Monday, March 21st. Let's MAKE music! Grouped with: 8-Year Olds and up | |
| Guitar 3 - Kids | 8 - 12 years 55 minutes · Once a week for 16 weeks · $368 ($348 members) The next session of this class will be an 8-week session beginning the week of April 25th. Registration opens for current students on Monday, March 14th and for new students on Monday, March 21st. Let's MAKE music! Grouped with: 8-Year Olds and up | |
| Guitar 4Ever - Kids | 8 - 12 years 55 minutes · Once a week for 16 weeks · $368 ($348 members) The next session of this class will be an 8-week session beginning the week of April 25th. Registration opens for current students on Monday, March 14th and for new students on Monday, March 21st. Let's MAKE music! Grouped with: | |
| Guitar 4 - Kids | 8-12 years 55 minutes · Once a week for 16 weeks · $368 ($348 members) The next session of this class will be an 8-week session beginning the week of April 25th. Registration opens for current students on Monday, March 14th and for new students on Monday, March 21st. Let's MAKE music! Grouped with: 8-Year Olds and up | |
| Guitar Together - Parent/Child Guitar Class | 7 years and up · Parents and Children Together! 80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $184 ($174 members) Thursday or Saturday with Jason McInnes Grouped with: 7-Year Olds · 8-Year Olds and up | |
| Jarana | All ages! 55 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks · $184 ($174 members) Saturday with Zacbe Pichardo Grouped with: 7-Year Olds · 8-Year Olds and up |
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.
8-week lessons: 09/04/2017 – 10/29/2017
Monday 07/17/17: Re-registration for current students begins
Monday 07/31/17: Transfer registration
Wednesday 08/02/17: Open registration
8-week lessons: 10/30/2017 – 12/24/2017
Monday 09/25/17: Re-registration for current students begins
Monday 10/09/17: Transfer registration
Wednesday 10/11/17: Open registration
8-week lessons: 01/08/2018 – 03/04/2018
Monday 11/20/17: Re-registration for current students begins
Monday 12/04/17: Transfer registration
Wednesday 12/06/17: Open registration
Click for teacher profiles and schedules
The Old Town School of Folk Music, Inc.
4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago IL 60625 • 773.728.6000
