Charles Kim

Bass, Composition, Guitar, Songwriting, Ukulele

Rock Pop Improvisation Jazz Theory

Songwriting, Composition and Improvisation, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Fingerstyle, Flatpicking, Open Tunings, Slide, Bass, Music Theory, Ear Training, Alternative/Indie Rock

Charles loves to teach beginning to advanced students who are open to new ideas and excited and eager to create something new. You can take private lessons with Charles or experience his teaching in a group guitar, ensemble or songwriting class.

He's taught everything from Beatles and Radiohead tunes, Jazz Improvisation, bass lines, and how to sing and play together. He's an author of his own nationally distributed guitar method book. He also teaches the year-long songwriting program, which includes six classes: Lyrics, Melodies, Harmony and Chord Progressions, Arranging and Editing, Generating Song Ideas, Music and Words. He's also taught students how to write a pop-song, how to figure out their favorite tunes, work on band arrangements, and get ready for the recording studio.

Charles has appeared on over 30 albums, works as a producer/recorder, and written works for theater, dance companies and film, including a commissioned work for the Royal College of London.

Charles Kim has played with bands and aritsts such as Pinetop Seven(Truckstop/Atavistic), Sinister Luck Ensemble (Perishable), Will Oldham(Drag City), Boxhead Ensemble (Atavistic), Ken Vandermark (Atavistic), Pan American (Kranky), Fruit Bats (Sub Pop), and Chris Mills (Powerless Pop). He's also a film, TV, and theatre composer, working for Showtime, Chicago'sRedmoon Theatre, and Mayfair Workshop.

He has been teaching beginning through advanced group guitar and theory classes at the Old Town School since 1999, including specialty classes such as 90's Rock, Learning Songs From Recordings, Playing and Singing Together, Jazz Theory, Fingerboard Theory, Ear Training, and Pro Tools Recording. He currently teaches Guitar I-IV, Lead Guitar, Beginner and Intermediate Music Theory, and Music Theory For Songwriters.

Charles also teaches private lessons. Guitarists and bassists can bring in their favorite songs to explore the technique of their instrument, whether you want to study rock, country, funk, classical, fingerstyle, blues, jazz or just want to improve your overall playing. Songwriters can bring in ideas that they haven't completed, either to learn the craft of using chords, melodies, lyrics and structure, or to help with new approaches to songwriting.

Education: Charles has studied with McArthur Grant Recipient Ken Vandermark for Jazz Studies and Improvisation, and studied Classical Guitar at Vanderbilt University.

Started at the Old Town School in January of 1999

• charleskimmusic.com
• astronomermusic.com
• Old Town School Workshop and Class Videos
• Musician Charles Kim Draws Music from The Great Perhaps (Chicago Public Radio, July 2009)
• Conversation with the Astronomer’s Charles Kim (Chicago Public Radio, November 2005)