The Old Town School Music Store

The Music Store With A Mission

Who is the Old Town School Music Store?

We strive to bring you the best products and services from all over the world. In addition to an incredible selection of guitars, banjos, mandolins, violins, ukuleles and other traditional stringed instruments, we also carry unique instruments like ouds, charangos, djembes and darbukas, sitars, vihuelas, and many other unusual items. We stock books, cds, and dvds to help understand and play these instruments. Not only that, but we offer many services to help you in your musical journey. You won't see most of our goods at any big chain stores. Stop by soon, and be sure to set aside enough time to try something new.

A note on pricing: We don't scream and yell about our LOW, LOW PRICES! We don't want to, and we don't have to. Sure, our prices are as good or better than any advertised price you will see at big chain stores or on the internet. We know that everyone wants a good deal (so do we) and we'll always give you that. So to us, price is a non-issue. What we really like to talk about is the fun stuff - the instruments, what you like to play, your favorite artist, your favorite guitar or banjo. Here at the Different Strummer it is all about the MUSIC! You can come in to our store and talk to an actual human being about what you do, and we will play some great instruments together. And maybe you'll find the perfect new instrument to take home. See you soon.

Store Staff Profiles

Tim Joyce

What he does: Director of Retail Operations. He keeps the ship sailing.
Date Started: 2000
Background: Many years of too much dabbling on too many instruments has left him addicted to the stuff in the store.
Education: BA in English (a.k.a. BA, Music Store Management)
Favorite Instrument: Can't play it, but love the oboe
Favorite Food: Pasta Amatriciana
Favorite color of Mahalo ukulele: orange
Now playing with: The Lesser Birds of Paradise
On the Web: www.lesserbirds.com

Tony Polecastro

What he does: Department Manager for Instruments
Also known as: Dr. Feelgood
Date Started: 2005
Background: Playing music since 2002
Education: Bachelor of Audio Arts and Acoustics from Columbia College
Favorite Instrument: Beard squareneck dobro
Must own CD: Skip Hop and Wobble by Jerry Douglas et al.
Favorite Food: Costello's Santa Fe Veggie Wrap
Favorite color of Mahalo ukulele: dark blue
Now playing with: Mitch Nelson
On the Web: no

Shankar Padmanabhan

What he does: Department Manager for accessories, resident bluegrass banjo expert.
Date Started: 2004
Background: Studied South Indian music from age 2, then a long slow slide into bluegrass. He plays most of the instruments in the store, especially banjo and mandolin.
Education: Bachelors and Masters in Forestry from University of Montana, also studied at the Ali Akbar Khan College of Music
Favorite Instrument: Nechville Meteor
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite color of Mahalo ukulele: dark blue
Now playing with: Haywood Yards, session work
On the Web: www.haywoodyards.net

Simon Flory

What he does: Department Manager for Media - books, cds, dvds.
Date Started: 2006
Background: Molasses, mules, and muskets. Don't ask.
Education: Studying fiddle and banjo with Professor Ed
Favorite Instrument: the fiddle. Not the violin.
Favorite Food: beans and biscuits
Favorite color of Mahalo ukulele: yellow
Now playing with: Merle the Mule, Ed Tverdek, Mitch Nelson
On the Web: www.merlethemule.com

Ed Tverdek

What he does: Store associate
Date Started: 1989
Background: Playing music since 1974, plays guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle
Education: went to school, lots o' book learnin'
Favorite Instrument: Piano
Favorite Food: Kimchee, fresh out of the Earth.
Favorite color of Mahalo ukulele: red
Now playing with: Simon Flory
On the Web: no

Andrew Stefano

What he does: Store associate, hangs out around the counter
Date Started: 2006
Background: Has played drums since the age of 11, and guitar ever since.
Education: Currently enrolled at Columbia College, studying music production.
Favorite Instrument: the cello
Favorite Food: mom's lasagna
Favorite color of Mahalo ukulele: dark blue
Now playing with: Colieda
On the Web: www.colieda.net

Dale Petersohn

What he does: Works that counter like no one's business
Date Started: 1995
Background: Playing and writing since age 14, member of ASCAP
Education: BA in mass media, U of I Chicago
Favorite Instrument: Petros High Cliff fingerstyle model guitar
Favorite Food: Linguine Alfredo
Favorite color of Mahalo ukulele: red
Now playing with: solo, and with Bill Ruffler
On the Web: just here

Tony do Rosario

What he does: Sales
Date Started: 2007
Background: Plays jazz constantly, and talks about it constantly. Also listens to jazz constantly.
Education: the streets, baby.
Favorite Instrument: Gibson Johnny Smith guitar
Favorite Food: sushi
Favorite color of Mahalo ukulele: red
Now playing with: other musicians
On the Web: www.tonyguitar.com

Bailey Doyle

What she does: sales; know-it-all
Date Started: 2007
Background: Musically speaking she does what she wants.
Education: Michigan Pickin' Circles
Favorite Instrument: Theremin
Favorite Food: pizza rolls
Favorite color of Mahalo ukulele: Red
Now playing with: Grupo Pichardo and Andrew up above
On the Web: MySpace

Jon Wall

What he does: sales, Answers all Jazz related questions
Date Started: 2007
Background: rock, jazz, classical, kazoo
Education: Instrumental Performance Columbia Chicago
Favorite Instrument: Guitar...he can't lie
Favorite Food: Anything spicy
Favorite color of Mahalo ukulele: Yellow
Now playing with: Awesome Gary, Abracadapter, The RC-50

Acoustic Guitars - Electric Guitars - Amplifiers - Banjos - Mandolins - Fiddles - Ukuleles - Keyboards - Woodwinds - Instruments from Around the Globe - Books - CDs - Hand Drums - Percussion - Rentals - Repairs

In the Classroom

On Stage

Support Your School

Music Store

Resources

About Us

TWO LOCATIONS

Lincoln Square

4544 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, 773.751.3398

Mon - Thu, 10am - 9pm
Fri - Sun, 10am - 5pm

Lincoln Park

909 West Armitage Avenue
Chicago, 773.751.3410

Mon - Thu, 10am - 9pm
Fri - Sat, 10am - 5pm
Sun, 11am - 4pm

Click for directions.

Old Town School Recordings

We've got our very own recording label! Several CDs are now available featuring our talented teachers and other friends of the school. Available at Bloodshot Records, the iTunes Store, Amazon.com, and both of our Different Strummer music stores.

Click for more about Old Town School Recordings.