Old Town School of Folk Music – A Chicago Institution

The Old Town School of Folk Music is a Chicago institution that has been teaching the joys of music to people of all ages for over 60 years.

What is the Old Town School of Folk Music?

The Old Town School of Folk Music is a Chicago institution that has been teaching folk music to students of all ages for over 60 years. Founded in 1957, the school offers classes in a variety of folk music styles, from bluegrass to Irish to blues. In addition to group classes, the school also offers private lessons, workshops, and performances.

The Old Town School of Folk Music is open to people of all ages and abilities, and no prior experience is necessary. Whether you’re a beginner who wants to learn the basics or an experienced musician looking to brush up on your skills, the Old Town School of Folk Music has something to offer you.

History of the school

The Old Town School of Folk Music is a Chicago institution that was founded in 1957 by Frank Hamilton, Win Stracke, and Sue Willis. The school was started in an old town hall on Wells Street with just six students. Since then, it has grown to become one of the largest and most influential music schools in the world, with over 5,000 students enrolled in its classes and workshops.

The school’s mission is to “provide the opportunity for anyone to learn, enjoy and perform music”, and it does so through a wide variety of classes and programs taught by some of the most talented musicians in the city. In addition to its regular classes, the school also hosts a number of special events throughout the year, including concerts, workshops, and festivals.

Famous alumni

The Old Town School of Folk Music is a Chicago institution. Founded in 1957, it is the largest and oldest independent non-profit community school for music and dance in the United States. With over 700 faculty members and more than 5,000 students, it offers classes and workshops in a wide variety of musical styles to people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

Some of the school’s most famous alumni include:

-John Prine: Grammy-winning singer-songwriter
-Steve Goodman: Grammy-winning singer-songwriter
-“Sixty Minute Man” Bill Haley: Pioneering rock and roll musician
-Ed Holstein: Founder and owner of the famous Chicago guitar shop Ed’s Guitar World

What the school offers

The Old Town School of Folk Music is a Chicago institution that has been teaching the joys of music to people of all ages for over 60 years. The school offers a wide variety of classes, from guitar and piano to fiddle and banjo, as well as dance and Djembe drumming. With two locations in the city, there is sure to be a class that meets your needs. The school also offers private lessons for those who want to take their musical skills to the next level.Regardless of your age or experience, the Old Town School of Folk Music is the perfect place to learn about and enjoy music.

Why the school is important to Chicago

Founded in 1957, the Old Town School of Folk Music is a community-based music and arts school with locations in the Lincoln Park and Lakeview neighborhoods of Chicago, Illinois. With over 700 teachers and a student body of over 5,000 people, it is the largest independent music school in the country.

The school offers classes and workshops in a variety of musical genres, including folk, blues, country, world music, jazz, and rock. It also offers non-performance classes such as dance, drama, whittling (wood carving), and photography. In addition to its class offerings, the school presents over 700 concerts each year featuring local, national, and international artists. The school has been credited with helping to start the careers of many well-known musicians, including Steve Goodman , John Prine , Bonnie Raitt , Dan Fogelberg , Tracy Chapman , Suzanne Vega , Jerry Jeff Walker , Sheryl Crow , Natalie Merchant , Ani DiFranco , Jason Mraz , and Mos Def .