Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music
Contents
Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music is the perfect place to learn about and enjoy folk music. With a wide variety of classes and events, there’s something for everyone at the Old Town School of Folk Music.
Introduction
Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music is a renowned music institution that has been teaching folk music to people of all ages and backgrounds for over 60 years. The school offers classes in a variety of musical styles, from traditional folk to contemporary rock and pop, as well as instrument lessons and ensemble performance opportunities. In addition to its educational offerings, the Old Town School hosts a wide range of musical events throughout the year, including concerts, dances, and festivals.
History
The Old Town School of Folk Music is a music school in Chicago, Illinois, that teaches and promotes various forms of folk music. The school was founded in 1957 by Win Stracke and Frank Hamilton.
Early history
In its early history, the Old Town School of Folk Music focused on American Folk music. Artists who taught at the school and gave concerts there included John and Alan Lomax, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Pete Seeger, Burl Ives, Earl Scruggs, Josh White, and Odetta. The school offered its first guitar class in 1957. In 1964 it began offering classes in rock and roll.
Recent history
Founded in 1957, the Old Town School of Folk Music is a landmark music institution in Chicago. It’s known for offering classes and workshops in a wide variety of musical styles, from jazz and blues to country and rock. Originally located in the Old Town neighborhood on the city’s North Side, the school moved to its current location in Lincoln Park in 1998.
The school has produced a number of well-known musicians over the years, including Steve Goodman, Bonnie Raitt, John Prine, and Suzanne Vega. In recent years, it has continued to be a major cultural force in Chicago, hosting events and concerts featuring both local and touring musicians.
Programs
The Old Town School of Folk Music offers a variety of programs for all levels, from beginner to advanced. We have classes for all ages, as well as private lessons, ensembles, and performances. Our programs are designed to give you the skills you need to enjoy playing and performing music for the rest of your life.
Music education
Old Town School of Folk Music is a music school in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Established in 1957, it offers instruction in various folk styles, including blues, country, Celtic, bluegrass, old-time music, flamenco guitar, African drumming and dance, polka, and many others. The school also offers instruction in contemporary rock and pop styles and jazz. It is located on Lincoln Avenue in the city’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.
The Old Town School of Folk Music was founded by Win Stracke and Frank Hamilton. The first classes were held in a bar called the Old Town School of Folk Music on Armitage Avenue; hence the name of the school. In 1964 the school moved to its current location on Lincoln Avenue. In 1998, the school began offering classes at its second location in suburban Evanston, Illinois.
The Old Town School of Folk Music is a not-for-profit educational organization. It is governed by a board of directors and supported by tuition fees and private donations. Programs offered by the school include music lessons, concerts, workshops, dances, and community outreach programs such as senior citizen and disabled services reaching over 14000 participants annually.. Most of the instructors are working professional musicians who perform regularly in the Chicago area.
The Old Town School of Folk Music has been influential in promoting folk music and folk arts since its founding in the 1950s. Notable alumni include Steve Goodman (who wrote “City of New Orleans”), Bonnie Koloc (a popular figure on Chicago’s music scene in the 1960s and 1970s), Sue Fink (a founding member of The New Christie Minstrels), Eric Andersen (who has recorded with Bob Dylan), John Prine (who wrote “Hello In There”), Loudon Wainwright III (whose song “Dead Skunk” was a hit single in 1972), Chris Smither (whose song “I Feel The Same” was recorded by Bonnie Raitt), Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul & Mary fame), Paul Simon (of Simon & Garfunkel fame) and George Gerdes (who wrote “Mr. Bojangles”).
Performance
The Old Town School of Folk Music teaches and celebrates music and cultural traditions as an integral part of daily life. The school offers regular concerts by world-renowned artists, showcases for up-and-comers, and weekly performances by dazzling in-house talent.
Notable alumni
The Old Town School of Folk Music is a renowned music school in Chicago, Illinois with a long history of notable alumni. Some of the school’s most famous graduates include Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Steve Goodman, country music legend Woody Guthrie, and blues great Muddy Waters.
See also
* List of folk festivals
* List of old-time music festivals
* List of bluegrass music festivals
* Music of Illinois
References
– Founded in 1957, the Old Town School of Folk Music is a Chicago institution that has been teaching and celebrating music and cultural traditions from around the world for over 60 years.
– Located in the city’s historic Old Town neighborhood, the School offers classes and workshops for all levels of students, from beginners to seasoned professionals.
– The Old Town School is home to one of the largest and most diverse music libraries in the country, with over 500,000 items ranging from folk songs to world music to jazz.
– The School also presents more than 700 concerts and other events each year, featuring both world-renowned artists and emerging talent.
External links
The Old Town School of Folk Music is a music school in Chicago, Illinois, United States, that offers classes and concerts for the music of many cultures from all over the world.
Founded in 1957 by Frank Hamilton, Win Stracke, and George Mitchell, it has since become one of the largest and most acclaimed folk music schools in the United States, with an enrollment of over 5,000 students annually.
The school offers High Beginner through Masterclasses for ages 7 and up in many different instruments as well as vocal classes for all levels. It also offers adult education classes in various musical styles such as blues, country, rock, bluegrass, gospel, jazz improvisation, songwriting, music theory & history, and dance. In addition to its credit-bearing course offerings, the school provides more than 700 weekly opportunities to take non-credit classes and workshops led by some of Chicago’s finest folk musicians. These include singing circles (often a cappella), dances (including contra dancing), ukulele clubs (all levels), old-time jams (all levels), children’s gamelan (Javanese percussion orchestra), world music ensembles (for both adults and children), free fiddle lessons on Wednesdays at noon (no experience necessary) and much more.
Link to website: https://www.oldtownschool.org/
