Dance, Guitar, Percussion (Non-Drum Kit), Voice, Body Rhythm
Styles - Swing, Doo Wop, Traditional Folk, Old Time, Country Blues
Techniques - Vocals: Vocal Stylings, Doo Wop Harmony, Swing Harmony; Dance: Fundamentals of Ballet, Appalachian Clogging; Guitar: Strumming Variations, Syncopation, Simple Fingerstyle; Rhythms: Washboard, Bones and Body Rhythms with Commonalities
First and foremost Barb wants her students to feel comfortable in the group and with her. She does her best to set a relaxed, fun-filled atmosphere while applying ourselves to our discipline. The classes work through exercises to develop strength, stamina, grace, whether it be voice, guitar, or dance. She likes to touch on the science behind the sound or movement being produced, then move through the material with confidence and resolve. A typical voice class may have break-out groups and/or pairings of voices to work in greater detail with independence. The culminating Cabaret shows are well-oiled presentations with solos, duets, and group songs, the material chosen in great part by the students themselves.
Barb fronts several diverse bands: The Teflons, a country-swing sextet rich in ‘30s and ‘40s-style harmonies; The Schticklers, an award-winning Jewish jug band; a Vaudevillian trio called Silver Rose with various permutations of musicians; founding member of the renowned Laketown Buskers who appeared several times on Prairie Home Companion.
She was awarded repeated grants over a period of 15 years from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the local Rothshchild Foundation for life-story productions of the White Crane Players and was keynote speaker for a regional conference associated with this work.
She was part of the first international travel group from Old Town School to England and Finland.
And Barb plays a mean washboard.
Education: Indiana University - Bachelors Degree
Chicago Dance Center, Columbia College Dance Center, Chicago City Ballet Supplemental Training
Started at the Old Town School in September of 1996
