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.

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)

Boneyard Prayer - Music by teacher Charles Kim - Runs to May 11th

Does anyone not know about Redmoon Theater? This is one of America’s most exciting, innovative theatrical organizations – a standout in Chicago’s dynamic community.

In this just-opened, new production, Redmoon explores struggle, sorrow, and salvation, drawing from such varied sources as William Kennedy’s Ironweed, Dante’s Inferno, T.S. Eliot’s The Hollow Men, tramp art, Santos sculpture, and other period literature, music, and art. Boneyard Prayer tells a Depression-era tale of one man’s fractured life and ultimate redemption using various forms of puppetry and shadow images, along with extraordinary music inspired by the songs of the age.

The music, composed by Old Town School guitar teacher Charles Kim, includes Kurt Weill/Tin Pan Alley period songs, Tom Waits-like crunch, and chamber music arrangements. This is Charles’ fourth work for Director Frank Maugeri, “a beautiful, eerie world based on, among other influences, William Kennedy’s novel Iron Weed. “ The production runs until May 11th. For information and tickets: www.redmoon.org.

Filed under: Interesting elsewhere by Skip | March 22, 2008 | Comments (0)

Dancing to a Different Beat - May 17th

Cajun rhythms – what a joy! If you enjoy dancing and haven’t yet tried Cajun, you’re in for great fun with the Cajun waltz and two-step. Not a dancer? Cajun dancing is easy, even for beginners. For more experienced dancers, the two-step has lots of chances for jitterbug moves but with simpler footwork. How can you pursue this fun?

The Cajun French Music folks have set up three Saturday dances: March 29th, April 19th, and May 17th, each with live music. Dances run from 9 to 11 pm, with dance instruction during the band break. (Non-dancers can listen and munch from their bake sale, and perhaps be teased into the instruction). $10. Dances are at the Portage Park Center for the Arts, 5801 W. Dakin St. (Former Nebo Lutheran Church, corner of Dakin and Menard, 1 block South of Irving Park, 2 blocks west of Central; entrance on Menard towards rear).

Filed under: The joy of dance by Skip | March 22, 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)

Great Bread is the Stuff of Heaven

Even think of a dinner comprised entirely of bread? If your tastes incline to Indian cuisine – and its breads – head over to the Bombay Kabab House, 1901 W. Howard St. This wonderful restaurant ranks with very good restaurants on Devon Avenue – but surpasses them by offering sixteen “Tandoori breads,” including offerings like bhatoora (leavened, fermented bread fried in hot oil), onion kulcha (stuffed with onion and fresh coriander), a nan stuffed with pineapple, cherries, and walnuts, and a “special bread” stuffed with nuts and raisins. A basket of 6 varieties is $12.95. Very nice folks, wonderful food including a luncheon buffet daily, midday - 3 pm.

Filed under: Interesting dining by Skip | March 22, 2008 | Comments (0)

A Bit of Old Town School History

In 1987 after receiving his Grammy nomination (he later won the award), John Prine talked with a Chicago Tribune reporter. “When I was 12 or 13, [my big brother] took me [to the School] just to sit and watch what they were doing. They put me in class and I learned some different styles. I took classes for two semesters and then went into the Army. When I got out, I got interested in guitar again and went back down when I heard Ray Tate was teaching bluegrass classes. You didn’t have to read music [because] they could teach you…. It gave everyone a different corner to hide in until they learned how to play chords. It stopped being so complicated and without that, I don’t think a lot of people would’ve continued on. That’s what I thought was great about the School.” www.oldtownschool.org/history/celebs

(This is just one of the fascinating items on the School’s website worth exploring. Did you know that the site includes streaming video from years of concerts? Including Irish and bluegrass. http://www.oldtownschool.org/video)

For celebrity stories, see http://www.oldtownschool.org/history/celebs.html)

Filed under: Teacher stories by Skip | March 22, 2008 | Comments (0)

Practice tip - “the Ray Tate”

When you’re home, never put your instrument in its case: keep it near the television set and use the commercials for practice time. Numerous short practices are better than periodic long ones.

(from Ray Tate, Executive Director and Teacher, circa 1979)

Filed under: Practice tips by Skip | March 22, 2008 | Comments (0)

Mark Dvorak to receive Lifetime Achievement Award!

Usually the recognition that Mark Dvorak receives is applause from audiences and thanks from guitar students — such appreciation warms the heart. Now he’s to be the recipient of a different form of recognition: the Woodstock Folk Festival Lifetime Achievement award. Mark will join past winners Art Thieme, Ella Jenkins, Larry Penn, Amy Beth, Holly Near and Jim Post, in being recognized for a broad, long-term contribution to the local and national folk community.

In her letter to Mark, Festival Board Vice President Annemarie Serra writes:

“[We are giving you the Seventh annual Woodstock Folk Festival Lifetime Achievement Award] in recognition of your work as a performer, teacher and folk historian. You are a vibrant part of the local and national folk community. Not only have you contributed to the Old Town School of Folk Music as a teacher but you have also kept the history of the school and its founders alive. It seems especially appropriate that we honor you as OTSFM has just completed its 50th Anniversary year in which you played a key role.”

The formal conferring of the award will take place on July 20th, at the 2008 Wookstock Folk Festival, on the historic town square in Woodstock, Illiniois. (For more information, see www.woodstockfolkmusic.com/folkfestival).

Congratulations, Mark! We’re proud to have you as a friend and colleague!

Filed under: Teacher bios by Skip | March 22, 2008 | Comments (1)

Dvorak Wins Lifetime Achievement Award - Details coming!


Filed under: Teacher bios, Uncategorized by Skip | March 21, 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)


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