Old Town School of Folk Music’s Little Red Wagon
Contents
The Old Town School of Folk Music’s Little Red Wagon provides high-quality music instruction to students of all ages in the Chicago area.
The Old Town School of Folk Music
The Old Town School of Folk Music is a music school in Chicago, Illinois, that offers classes and workshops in a variety of musical genres. They also have a music store and a performance venue. The school was founded in 1957 by Win Stracke and Frank Hoffmann.
A brief history
The Old Town School of Folk Music is a music school in Chicago, Illinois, United States, founded in 1957 by Ewan MacColl and Charles Seeger. The school offers classes in a wide variety of musical styles, including folk, blues, country, Celtic, bluegrass, jazz, flamenco guitar and hip-hop. In addition to music classes and concerts, the school also offers dance classes and hosts a variety of special events.
The Old Town School of Folk Music began in a rented house on North Avenue in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood. The first class was taught by Win Stracke; it was a six-week course called “Folksongs for Fun.” With an enrollment of just over 200 students, the school moved to its current location on Armitage Avenue in 1960. In 1976, the school opened its Lincoln Park campus.
The Old Town School of Folk Music has been featured in many films and television shows, including The Blues Brothers (1980), High Fidelity (2000), Stranger than Fiction (2006), and Bicentennial Man (1999). It has also been featured on CBS Sunday Morning several times.
In addition to its two campuses in Chicago, the Old Town School of Folk Music also operates a satellite campus in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois.
The school today
In 1957, the school purchased its first building, a former 1892 Lutheran church located at 333 West Chicago Avenue. The church had been scheduled for demolition by the city, but was saved by Old Town School founders Win Stracke and Frank Hamilton. The following year, the school began offering music lessons in the building.
Today, the Old Town School of Folk Music is located in several buildings in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, including the original church building at 333 West Chicago Avenue. The school offers classes and workshops in a variety of musical genres, as well as music instruction for all levels of experience.
The Little Red Wagon
The Little Red Wagon is a mobile music school that brings music education to underserved Chicago communities. The school was founded in 1996 by Megan and Mike Conner, who saw a need for music education in the city. The Little Red Wagon has been a mainstay in the Chicago community ever since, serving over 10,000 students.
The wagon’s history
The Old Town School of Folk Music’s Little Red Wagon is a Chicago institution. The wagon, which is actually a converted red Radio Flyer, has been bringing music to the people of Chicago since the early 1970s.
The wagon was originally built by students at the Old Town School of Folk Music and was used as a means of bringing music to the city’s many neighborhoods. The wagon would travel from neighborhood to neighborhood, providing entertainment for residents and spreading the word about the Old Town School.
In recent years, the wagon has become more than just a means of transportation; it’s now also a stage for performances. The wagon has been outfitted with lights and speakers, and it’s often used for impromptu concerts in the city’s parks and streets.
If you’re ever in Chicago, be sure to keep an eye out for the Little Red Wagon. You never know when or where you might find some great live music!
The wagon today
The Little Red Wagon is now on permanent display at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, Illinois. The wagon was donated to the school by Jay and Mavis Williams in 1998. It is used as a symbol of the school’s commitment to music and education.
The future of the Old Town School of Folk Music and the Little Red Wagon
The Old Town School of Folk Music has been a Chicago institution for over 60 years. It is known for its music education programs, its performances, and its iconic red wagon. The school has been struggling financially in recent years, and its future is uncertain. The Little Red Wagon is one of the school’s most beloved symbols, and it represents the school’s commitment to teaching and spreading the joy of music.
The school’s plans
The Old Town School of Folk Music plans to stay in Lincoln Park and expand its campus, the school announced Wednesday.
The school has outgrown its current home at 4544 N. Lincoln Ave., said President and CEO Bau Graves. It plans to buy a vacant lot at 4545 N. Lincoln Ave., where it will build a three-story, 30,000-square-foot addition. The school will also renovate its existing building.
The additional space will allow the school to offer more classes and workshops, as well as rental space for community groups, Grave said. The renovation will include updating the school’s performance spaces and classrooms.
The school has launched a $25 million capital campaign to fund the expansion and renovation. It has already raised $12 million, Graves said. Construction is expected to begin in 2019 and be completed by 2020.
The wagon’s future
The Old Town School of Folk Music’s Little Red Wagon has been a staple in the Chicago music scene for over 60 years. The wagon, which is a mobile stage and classroom, has been used by the school to teach music to thousands of children throughout the city.
In recent years, the wagon has become increasingly popular with adults, as well. The school has started offering adult classes on the wagon, and it has also been used for events such as concerts and parties.
Due to its popularity, the school is currently fundraising to build a new, larger wagon. The new wagon will be able to accommodate more people and will be equipped with modern features such as wifi and sound equipment.
The Old Town School of Folk Music is an important part of the Chicago community, and the Little Red Wagon is a big part of that. We are excited to see what the future holds for this beloved institution.