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Teachers at the Old Town School

Chris Walz

Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin

Bluegrass, Blues Slide, Fingerstyle

In 2016, Chris celebrated 20 years of teaching at The Old Town School Of Folk Music!

Chris first got interested in the guitar as a teenager through the music of the early Country Blues players like Mississippi John Hurt and Blind Willie McTell. He plays and teaches this style to this day. Always interested in Bluegrass as well, he developed his flatpicking skill and wound up spending three and a half years touring the world with the bluegrass band The Special Consensus. Chris has been at the Old Town School of Folk Music since 1996 and divides his time between performing and teaching.

“I've been teaching both guitar and five string banjo for more than 20 years. Since 1996 I've been a teacher at The Old Town School Of Folk Music. I teach all levels from beginners to advanced experienced. The real satisfaction I get is when I'm able to get a student to execute something they didn't think they could do. I work with both tablature and by ear, but mostly what I try to do is get my students to think for themselves.”

Started at the Old Town School in January of 1996


Private Lessons in the 8-week session beginning 08/28/2023

Mondays 12:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Tuesdays 12:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Wednesdays 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm


Private Lessons in the 8-week session beginning 10/23/2023

Mondays 12:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Tuesdays 12:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Wednesdays 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm


Group Classes for the session beginning 08/28/2023

Flatpicking 2 - Technique with Chris Walz

$248 ($228 members)

08/29/2023 – 10/17/2023 (8 meetings)

Tuesdays · 6:30 PM – 7:50 PM · In-Person @4544 N Lincoln Ave


Group Classes for the session beginning 10/23/2023

Bluegrass Banjo 3 with Chris Walz

$248 ($228 members)

10/24/2023 – 12/12/2023 (8 meetings)

Tuesdays · 8:00 PM – 9:20 PM · In-Person @4544 N Lincoln Ave

Guitar 2 Repertoire with Chris Walz

$248 ($228 members)

10/25/2023 – 12/13/2023 (8 meetings)

Wednesdays · 6:00 PM – 7:20 PM · In-Person @909 W Armitage Ave

Introduction to the Banjo with Chris Walz

$248 ($228 members)

10/25/2023 – 12/13/2023 (8 meetings)

Wednesdays · 8:00 PM – 9:20 PM · In-Person @909 W Armitage Ave

Guitar 3 with Chris Walz

$217 ($200 members)

10/26/2023 – 12/14/2023 (7 meetings)

Thursdays · 5:30 PM – 6:50 PM · In-Person @4544 N Lincoln Ave

Bluegrass Banjo 4: Earl Scruggs New Treasures with Chris Walz

$217 ($200 members)

10/26/2023 – 12/14/2023 (7 meetings)

Thursdays · 7:00 PM – 8:20 PM · In-Person @4544 N Lincoln Ave