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.

Reading: The Rise of Rural Rhythm

Our enjoyment of music deepens when we know the history behind it: the people, the traditions, the institutions which gave rise to the music we love. That’s one reason why the Old Town School maintains its wonderful resource center — thousands of books, CDs, videos, records, tapes on a wide variety of musical traditions and styles.

Perhaps less known are the resources represented on the School’s the teaching staff. One example is Paul Tyler, fiddle teacher and local convener of the Fiddle Club of the World. Paul holds a doctorate in Folklore & American Studies/ Ethnomusicology from Indiana Unversity; he was the scholar behind the highly-praised Folk Songs of Illiniois, Volume 2, published last year. His most recent work is the lead article in “The Hayloft Gang: The Story of the National Barn Dance,” a collection of essays on the nation’s most popular country music radio program during the 1930s and 1940s, just published by the University of Illinois. Paul’s contribution is “The Rise of Rural Rhythm,” covering the music of the Barn Dance from 1924-41. Other contributers cover the later years of the Barn Dance, Chicago during the depression, radio, immigration, western music, and related topics. Fascinating history!

For “The Hayloft Gang: The Story of the National Barn Dance,” visit your local bookstore to find a copy or follow the link below — http://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/87wfw5fp9780252033537.html. best: ask your local public library to order it!

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | August 13, 2008 | Comments (0)

Disappointed?

As you’re reading this, you may be among those who were not able to get tickets to the Janis Ian concert on August 8th.

If you find that you missed getting tickets to this Old Town School show, and maybe other sold-out shows in the past, it may be because you’re not a member of the Old Town School of Folk Music. Members are notified of the “members only” advance sale period, when they can buy tickets before the general public – and at a discounted price.

If you’re taking classes, the timing is perfect: by signing up for September classes now, you’ll get both the early registration discount AND a members discount (and yes, another discount for your second class!) Yep, you can become a member right here at oldtownschool.org!

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | August 2, 2008 | Comments (0)

Muriel Anderson on youtube….wow!

When you’re next on youtube, look up Muriel Anderson’s Angelina Baker. (Muriel is a former OTS techer and was the first woman to be national guitar fingerpicking champ.) If you’re an old-timey devotee (or even not), you’re likely to be amazed at the sight of her playing Angela Baker on a guitar in….well, in a banjo style. Or in a style using banjo techniques. Or using skills she learned from the devil. Really, you need to see it yourself. And keep watching as she does several variations. Great version! And all the while, she’s clearly having a wonderful time!

Depending on the breadth of your tastes, you may decide to stop the video when Muriel breaks into bluegrass fingerpicking and the crowd goes wild. But that’s worth watching too. Wow. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJw7-vFrKnQ.

Muriel gave a workshop at the School in July. No doubt she’ll be back again; it’ll be worth taking.

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | July 13, 2008 | Comments (0)

Blues legend Corky Siegel: Workshop Debrief

Thanks, Strummer folks! Great, great workshop!

What might have been a whole lot of book signing and a mini workshop on Saturday, May 31st, was just the reverse. Corky gave a full two hour free workshop, then hung around mostly to chat and answer questions. He signed a few books, but mostly he came to teach. The content — given free — was just a different take on the earlier ($!) workshop that banjo guru Michael Miles credited with making a major improvement in his playing.

About 20 folks attended, some sitting in the chairs that had been set up by the front window and some standing behind. Most stayed the whole time. Corky’s points, delivered with fervor, can’t be captured in a few words, but they had to do with focusing on your own playing (even when playing with others), using dynamics, and getting out of your comfort zone. He invited volunteers to come forward and then coached them as they played.

His book, Let Your Music Soar, is available at the store for $20. It’s the result of his years of playing/teaching, the book he says it was his duty to write. It’s worth buying the book AND attending one of his workshops.

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

Blowin’ the Blues w/Adam Gussow: Workshop Debrief

A very good workshop! The teacher was Adam, best known for Adam and Satan, a team of street musicians on the streets of Harlem. Adam (Gussow) is master musician. His workshop on Sunday afternoon, May 25th.

Adam focused on skills that can not be reflected in tablature, including developing your embouchure, enhancing your vibrato, and expanding your rhythmic possibilities. He has DVDs of his lessons on youtube. The DVD covers much of what was taught in the workshop: his approach to basic skills. Worth viewing, getting. http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/page/page/4514503.htm.

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | May 24, 2008 | Comments (0)

Harbert’s Folly

Café menu items come and go – but if this item reappears on the chalkboard, try it. Miki’s creation marries sausage and potatoes with mustard. The result? Well, if this is folly, it is a nice folly indeed.. Should Harbert’s Folly not return to the chalk board for a while, don’t despair: remember that Miki’s felafel sandwich is always with us, served with the felafel comfortably nestled in Jerusalem salad. Note: this felafel sandwich was nominated as the nation’s best for Public Television’s special on America’s Great Sandwiches.

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | May 2, 2008 | Comments (1)

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)


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