Hot Times at Old Town

Appearing below are selections from the hard copy Hot Times. The objective is to highlight activities at the School and in the larger community, especially those featuring or of special interest to teachers and staff. Your suggestions are welcome. Enter a comment (under any item); it will come to me rather than automatically appearing.

New Classes Begin June 23rd - sign up early

Yep, another class session will be coming up in June, probably sooner than you expected. That makes this a great time to grab the class you want. Timing is especially important if you’re interested in a class that usually fills up and has a waiting list. (The other advantage, of course, is the $10 early sign-up discount). Not sure what to take? If you want information about a particular class, leave a note at the desk for the teacher – you’ll hear back by phone or email. Or see the current term’s class in action; ask when and where the class is having its “big gig” at the end of the term.

If you have a flexible schedule, keep in mind that the School has adult classes during the day. For example, on Fridays you have your choice of four levels of guitar and two levels of harmonica.

Whatever day you take classes, see if your class time is right before or after “Second Half,” the teacher/student gathering held every day of the week. This is when you learn new songs and play music with teachers and students from other classes. Second Half is a school tradition; great fun!

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | April 19, 2008 | Comments (0)

Recycling Music

How about recycling music to other folks at the School? Yeah, we do it all the time. But here we’re talking about songs on paper, specifically Tim Joyce’s Songbook Recycling Project.

Tim is Different Strummer Manager. Here’s what he says: “We are all eagerly awaiting the release of our brand new version of the Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook published by Hal Leonard; but as hard as we have tried, there have been a few snafus that have pushed back the release date. The hope is that the new song book will arrive near the end of the next session. As of right now though, we are in the position of deciding if we should wait it out with no songbooks or reorder a massive printing of the spiral bound version of the songbook. (Ordering a small quantity would make it too expensive for students to purchase.) ”

Tim’s suggestion:

“If you have an extra copy of the songbook lying around your house or in a old guitar case (I have at least two) please drop them off in the box at the Different Strummer Music Store. They will be redistributed/shared with the new students taking classes the next session. Beat up copy? Bring it in! Cover missing? Bring it in! Coffee/beer stains? Bring it in! Duct Taped copy? Bring it in! New-ish copy? I’ll believe it when I see it… The more we get the better. Hopefully there are enough extras out there that we can help all the students who need a copy. Thanks in advance for your help, See you in the Store — Tim Joyce. ”

(Text courtesy of the oldtownschool.org page for the Different Strummer. Never visited? It’s just one of the many nooks and crannies of the website worth exploring).

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | April 18, 2008 | Comments (0)

Putting on our International Travelin’ Shoes!

Remember last summer? Teachers from the School arrived in Moscow on July 4th (!), and spent the next few weeks teaching and jazz to Russians.

It turns out that was just the beginning. At a meeting early in 2008, Executive Director Bau Graves began exploring other possibilities. He connected with the Program in Traditional Music and Dance at the University of Newcastle in Britain, and the Folk Music Department of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. Thanks to the Illinois Arts Council, the School received funding for a reconnaissance trip.

The trip was in early April, and included Joe Filisco (harmonica), Steve Levitt (guitar), Boogie McClarin (dance), Maria McCullough (fiddle), Barb Silverman (clogging, washboard, guitar, vocals), and Robert Tenges (piano, voice, administration). The trip gave possible partners a chance to meet and experience the work of our teachers, and will result in teachers from Finland and Great Britain coming to Chicago. At the same time, by their several performances in each country, our teachers were promoting Chicago as an exciting destination for music-loving visitors.

Thanks, Illinois Arts Council!

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | April 17, 2008 | Comments (0)

Wednesday Concerts - Passing the Hat for great music

Concerts on Wednesday nights? Yes – and exciting music you can often hear only at the School. In March, the school began a lineup of bands by great performers – probably unknown to you, but with growing reputations, often in the ethnic communities from which they come. This is your opportunity to enjoy excellent music….and it’s FREE (with an opportunity to contribute), courtesy of the Afrofolk series. NOTE: You need to call in advance to reserve a seat – that avoids the overflow crowds drawn by some of these programs, back before reservations (yes, free reservations) were started: 773 728-6000.

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | March 22, 2008 | Comments (0)

New Classes begin March 3rd!

Yep, another class session is coming up, and probably sooner than you expected. That makes this a great time to grab the class you want. Timing is especially important if you’re interested a class that usually fills up and has a waiting list. (The other advantage, of course, is the $10 early sign-up discount). Not sure what to take? If you want information about a particular class, leave a note at the desk for the teacher – you’ll hear back by phone or email. Or see the current term’s class in action; ask when and where the class is having its “big gig” at the end of the term.

If you have a flexible schedule, keep in mind that the School has adult classes during the day. For example, on Fridays you have your choice of four levels of guitar and two levels of harmonica.

Whatever day you take classes, see if your class time is right before or after “Second Half,” the teacher/student gathering held every day of the week. This is when you learn new songs and play music with teachers and students from other classes. Second Half is a school tradition; great fun!

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | February 17, 2008 | Comments (0)

Secret Menu Item of the Month

The Cafe, our mini-restaurant, has a secret menu. Better expressed, the Cafe offers special dishes. These are (quietly) named by Chef Miki in honor of the customers who always request them. In the interests of full disclosure, The Hot Times has from time to time disclosed one or more of these dishes.

This month, we not only reveal the special dish, but also add to transparency of the School’s administrative management. What follows is a key to the gustatory tastes of Robert Tenges, newly named Director of Education and Programs.

THE ROBERT TENGES: Green salad, Jerusalem salad, and ranch dressing with a scoop o’ tuna salad.

Who would have guessed?

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | February 17, 2008 | Comments (0)

Recommended treatment for ear worms

Do you get earworms? Earworms can infect anyone, but old-time musicians probably have a corner on them. « Read more »

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | February 1, 2008 | Comments (0)

A Guitar Study Hall? Yep!

Admit it. You occasionally have questions or problems with your playing – something you don’t understand or that you want help on – but you’re not sure who to ask. Well, here’s the answer. On Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:00 pm we now have How Do I Play That? Our very own guitar guru Steve Levitt hosts these weekly hour long question and answer sessions. Come in with a question or issue you’re having with your guitar playing and walk away a better player! No need to register – in fact, you don’t need to be a student! Just come on down to room B7 on the lower level. It’s free.

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | February 1, 2008 | Comments (0)

Start the weekend with a Six String Social - 2-15 update

Have you stopped by a Six String Social? They’re held at the mothership, 909 W. Armitage, just a few steps from the El stop. These are song-circles/speciality workshops on a particular theme/performer/topic. Update: Friday, February 15th - Love Hangover w/Shelley Miller; February 22nd, Bible Belt Songs, w/Colby Maddox; February 29th, Bluegrass 101 with Simon Flory; March 14th, Vintage R & B with Barbi Silverman; March 23rd, Steve Earle songss with Jim Stacho. Always at 6:30! $5.

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | February 1, 2008 | Comments (0)

Friday 3/7 - When the school’s communities get together!

You like coming to the school, enjoy the folks you meet, and love your classes — right? But you haven’t been to a First Friday? Jeeze Louise! You’ve missed out! First Friday is when everything happens: when the School’s communities come together to have fun. Things jump off at 6:30, at our 4544 N. Lincoln building. A $4 donation is requested.

Festivities begin at 6:30. Guitar teacher Cathy Norden leads the SONG CIRCLE. You don’t need to bring an instrument, don’t need to bring a song, you don’t even need to know a song — just stop by and join in. Fiddle teacher Walter Hojka or Danny Miller hosts the STRING JAM and beginners are welcome! Fiddle, banjo, guitar are standard but bring what you have! Steve Joyner convenes the SONGWRITERS’ CRITIQUE & EXCHANGE. « Read more »

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | January 29, 2008 | Comments (0)


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