Ensemble Classes

You don’t have to be 60 to be in the ‘60s Classics Ensemble. All you need is an unoccupied afternoon, your instrument, and a little bit of curiosity about that far off far out two-decades-in-one musical time. There was just no way to dig it all the first time through. Different songs are covered every session. No request refused, and you are encouraged to create your own charts to share with the class.

Grab your twang and get ready to rock. We'll learn songs by favorite alt-country artists such as Uncle Tupelo, Lucinda Williams, The Waco Brothers, Lydia Loveless, and more. You'll also learn some of the basic skills it takes to play and sing in a band - then put them to use playing an end-of-session online performance. Open to all instruments and vocalists. Guitar prerequisite: 2 Rep or comparable experience. For all other instruments: proficiency with basic major/minor chords (or melody playing) in keys of D, G, A & E and the ability to keep a steady rhythm in 4/4 and 3/4 time.

Join us as we explore the songs of the ever-burgeoning genre of "Americana," covering artists such as Jason Isbell, The Decemberists, Neko Case, Dawes, Shovels & Rope, The Lone Bellow, and more!

Learn Acoustic Arrangements from The Beatles' Catalog! Dive into the timeless music of The Fab Four with a focus on playing full-sounding arrangements on acoustic guitars. In this class, we'll explore iconic songs, harmonies, and signature riffs from The Beatles' catalog, along with select post-Beatles solo tracks. Whether you're strumming, picking, or singing, we’ll break it down and we can work it out! Join us for a musical journey… a splendid time IS guaranteed for all!

Have you always wanted to play in a group, but didn't know where to start! This is the class for you! Learn the immortal songs of the Fab Four while learning the essential skills of playing in time with a rhythm section, singing together, and creating a set that rocks from beginning to end. Learning an instrument can be fun, but playing in an ensemble is fantastic, and the Beatles makes it easy!

A special daytime version of our most popular ensemble class. Like it’s night time older brother, we will take on the catalog one album at a time. Join us on Friday afternoons at noon. A perfect time to tap into your inner Paul, John, George or Ringo. We will learn the entire album from A to Zed.

In Bluegrass Ensemble, you will learn the basics of playing and singing for bluegrass. From kick-offs to endings, discover the structure of a bluegrass song through playing the music. We look at what to play behind verses, choruses, and solo breaks in bluegrass songs. We encourage students to work on singing and solos while the teacher leads songs at first. As students gain confidence with their parts, the teachers hand the reins over and students are invited to share their solo and rhythm and lead songs in class. Play along tracks, instructional videos and charts are all provided, and students are encouraged to send their recordings of class songs to the teachers and to the whole class list via email. This class is a fun and challenging way to work out your bluegrass chops.

After rehearsing with your own blues bands for the entire session, you land a gig at Rosa's Lounge (3420 W. Armitage). There you'll perform a set for an audience filled with family and friends. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL! The graduation party is always on the last Sunday of each session. Doors open at 4PM. All students from Wednesday night and Saturday editions of this class must come to "orientation evening" held on the first Wednesday of each new session at 6:30 PM in room B4. On that evening, we'll have a jam session, discuss the details of the program and assign you to your own small band with which you'll meet for the remaining 7 weeks of the session. All instruments and vocalists are welcome. (vocals, electric guitar, harmonica, bass, drums, brass, woodwinds, strings, keys, and others!) Graduation is traditionally held at Rosa’s on the last Sunday of each session.

After rehearsing with your own blues bands for the entire session, you land a gig at Rosa's Lounge (3420 W. Armitage). There you'll perform a set for an audience filled with family and friends. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL! The graduation party is always on the last Sunday of each session. Doors open at 4PM. All students from Wednesday night and Saturday editions of this class must come to "orientation evening" held on the first Wednesday of each new session at 6:30 PM in room B4. On that evening, we'll have a jam session, discuss the details of the program and assign you to your own small band with which you'll meet for the remaining 7 weeks of the session. All instruments and vocalists are welcome. (vocals, electric guitar, harmonica, bass, drums, brass, woodwinds, strings, keys, and others!) Graduation is traditionally held at Rosa’s on the last Sunday of each session.

After rehearsing with your own blues bands for the entire session, you land a gig at Rosa's Lounge (3420 W. Armitage). There you'll perform a set for an audience filled with family and friends. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL! The graduation party is always on the last Sunday of each session. Doors open at 4PM. All students from Wednesday night and Saturday editions of this class must come to "orientation evening" held on the first Wednesday of each new session at 6:30 PM in room B4. On that evening, we'll have a jam session, discuss the details of the program and assign you to your own small band with which you'll meet for the remaining 7 weeks of the session. All instruments and vocalists are welcome. (vocals, electric guitar, harmonica, bass, drums, brass, woodwinds, strings, keys, and others!) Graduation is traditionally held at Rosa’s on the last Sunday of each session.

This class is designed for beginning level players that want to gain experience in a slower paced setting.

Inspired by the supergroup Boygenius, this ensemble celebrates the music of Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker and their collaborators. Some of the songs included: "Not Strong Enough," "Me and My Dog," and "Salt in the Wound." Play and sing three-part harmonies in an indie-rock band setting. All vocalists, acoustic, and electric instruments welcome. Class concludes with an end-of-session performance. Guitar pre-requisites: Proficiency with open chords and transitions, ability to keep a steady strumming rhythm at medium tempos. Knowledge of bar chords helpful but not required. Guitar 2 rep or similar experience suggested. Keyboard pre-requisites: Proficiency with either reading lead sheets or playing with guitar charts. Note-reading is not required but may be helpful. Piano 3 or the equivalent experience suggested.

For instrumentalists (drums, bass, piano, guitar, percussion, wind, strings) and singers. In this class the instructor will coach players and singers on Brazilian rhythms, harmonies, vocal placements and proper Portuguese pronunciation. Detailed ways to groove Samba, Bossa Nova, and different rhythms from North/Northeastern Brazil (Baião, Xote, Xaxado, Axé, Ijexá, Maracatú...) will be looked at and broken down with a magnifying glass. Arrangements are written to explore the specific instrumentation the class will gather. Want to dive deep into the Brazilian World of Music? This is the class for you!!

Zac Brown Band, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, George Strait, Martina McBride, and many more. Explore your inner twang, whether it be on guitar, fiddle, mandolin, dobro, banjo, drums, voice, piano, ukulele. Anything goes. Modern country is a virtual potpourri of influences, including rock, soul, folk and even blues. Ability to have fun and not take yourself too seriously required.

Immerse yourself in the high lonesome sound, the honky-tonk heartache, and a smattering of Sunday sanctification. We’ll teach you how to find those plaintive harmonies and create a soulful backup in the music of bands like the Carter Family, the Louvin Brothers, and Girls of the Golden West. Join with other pickers and singers to make a band . This is an ensemble class. Some students will work on lead, harmony and backup vocals, while others focus on lead and backup fiddle, mandolin or guitar lines. Rhythm guitar and bass provide the foundation. Paul Tyler and Gail Tyler will teach all the parts and coach you in performance.

Learn the fundamentals of playing in a band/ensemble in a friendly, supportive setting while learning songs by classic and contemporary acoustic artists like Lucinda Williams, Tracy Chapman, The Band and Brandi Carlisle. Find your voice and expand your musical toolkit learning simple riffs, rhythms and harmonies. Gain confidence and learn skills that will help you prepare for other Old Town School ensembles, jamming with friends, or starting that band of your dreams! Class will culminate with a final performance where we'll get a chance to show off our skills on a few songs we've worked up in class. Open to all acoustic instruments, keyboards, electric bass, drums and vocalists. Pre-requisites: Basic familiarity with your instrument (at least 3 months playing experience) strongly encouraged. No previous band or ensemble playing experience required.

A variety of classic rock, post-punk, new wave, psychedelic, goth, experimental-pop, and more—lovingly curated by teaching artist Tommi Zender. From CBGB to 4AD, Talking Heads to Radiohead, this ensemble is a musical journey through a wide range of genres. Think of it like KROQ's “Morning Becomes Eclectic”—we don’t want to eat the same thing every day, do you?! New students by instructor permission. This class has limited space and is primarily made up of regular and returning members. But we love to welcome new talent! If you're new, please reach out to the instructor before enrolling. We’ll have a quick chat to discuss your musical experience, interests, and any previous OTS class history to ensure the class is a good fit for both you and the ensemble. If the class is full at the time, we can add you to the waitlist and reach out in advance if spots open up in the future.

Folk Songs, Carrying History Forward is intermediate level class that is open to all beginners that can comfortably change chords on their respective instruments. We'll learn songs, and learn about artists like Hazel Dickens, Doc Watson, Mississippi John Hurt, Jean Ritchie, and others who have been influenced by, and have impacted old time country, folk, blues, and bluegrass. Students will work on creating their own arrangements in class, and be introduced to how to learn songs by ear. Each sessions ends with a final class performance that is joined by other classes offered at the same time.

Let’s Unplug! This class is designed for guitar players who sing (or want to!). We’ll explore a variety of music from the 1960s to the present—everything from Cat Stevens to Sufjan Stevens, and from John Prine to Jason Isbell. Curated by teaching-artist Tommi Zender, who believes in “folk music as a methodology rather than a genre,” this class will help you build your song repertoire and improve your musicianship, all while singing and playing acoustically. If the power ever goes out, the show will go on!

A long, strange trip indeed. From the deeply traditional to the cutting edge of the forms beyond chaos, the Dead did their best to love it all, and so do we. Performance oriented. It's all about the show.

From Toronto to Cleveland to Detroit to Chicago, there's no shortage of great music scenes that have grown up along the shores of the Great Lakes! In this multi-genre class, we'll explore artists and songs (past and present), from the Great Lakes region--from the giants of Motown and Chicago blues to rock icons like Devo, the Violent Femmes and Jack White, to contemporary singer-songwriters from both sides of the northern border. This is a performance-based class, and we will work together as a group to build a set and play an end-of-session show (either online or in-person). Ensembles are a great chance to strengthen your skills while gaining experience and confidence playing or singing in a band setting.

From Toronto to Cleveland to Detroit to Chicago, there's no shortage of great music scenes that have grown up along the shores of the Great Lakes! In this multi-genre class, we'll explore artists and songs (past and present), from the Great Lakes region--from the giants of Motown and Chicago blues to rock icons like Devo, the Violent Femmes and Jack White, to contemporary singer-songwriters from both sides of the northern border. This is a performance-based class, and we will work together as a group to build a set and play an end-of-session show (either online or in-person). Ensembles are a great chance to strengthen your skills while gaining experience and confidence playing or singing in a band setting.

Come learn and re-create the swinging sounds and repertoire of the great Django Reinhardt and his numerous Jazz manouche ensembles. Traditionally this genre is played with lead and rhythm guitars, bass and violins but other melody instruments are welcome like accordion, clarinet, and even a tenor banjo! Play the repertoire of the famous Hot Club Of France and more!

From Louis Armstrong to Miles Davis and beyond, students will learn to play classic jazz standards in a creative environment. Key goals include learning the fundamentals of improvisation, ear training, group dynamics, and swing based accompaniment that will take your playing to the next level.

Always dreamed of being in a band but worried you're not "good enough"? Interested in playing with others but not sure where to start? Learn the fundamentals of playing in a band/ensemble in a friendly, supportive setting. We'll cover everything from simple riffs, rhythms and harmonies to basic PA settings and mic technique. Students will have the opportunity to gain skills on their primary instrument, as well as try out other instruments like drums, bass or keyboards if they'd like! Gain confidence and learn skills that will help you prepare for other Old Town School ensembles, jamming with friends, or starting that band of your dreams! Class will culminate with a final performance where we'll get a chance to show off our skills on a few songs we've worked up in class. Open to all electric and acoustic instruments and vocalists. Pre-requisites: Basic familiarity with your instrument (at least 3 months playing experience) strongly encouraged. No previous band or ensemble playing experience required.

Always dreamed of being in a band but worried you're not "good enough"? Interested in playing with others but not sure where to start? Learn the fundamentals of playing in a band/ensemble in a friendly, supportive setting. We'll cover everything from simple riffs, rhythms and harmonies to basic PA settings and mic technique. Students will have the opportunity to gain skills on their primary instrument, as well as try out other instruments like drums, bass or keyboards if they'd like! Gain confidence and learn skills that will help you prepare for other Old Town School ensembles, jamming with friends, or starting that band of your dreams! Class will culminate with a final performance where we'll get a chance to show off our skills on a few songs we've worked up in class. Open to all electric and acoustic instruments and vocalists. Pre-requisites: Basic familiarity with your instrument (at least 3 months playing experience) strongly encouraged. No previous band or ensemble playing experience required.

Do you play, sing, or dance to traditional Irish music by yourself? Do you want to gain the confidence to join in with others at sessions? If so, this class is for you. In this welcoming, guided session, we will take the tunes, songs, rhythms, and steps you have learned in your instrument-specific lessons and classes and make music together in a supportive and joyful environment. You will hear new tunes and songs to add to your expanding repertoire. We will also introduce you to session etiquette and share how to best comport oneself at a session here and in Ireland. You can expect stories, jokes, and lots of great music. Come join us!

Interested in someday playing along in Irish sessions around town—or in Ireland—this welcoming, friendly class is your first step. We will learn the basic, classic tunes of Irish sessions, and break them down, part-by-part. Beyond expanding your specific tune repertoire, we will explore and discuss all aspects of Irish music and culture, including session etiquette, in a supportive and joyful environment. This class will put you on a path to one day participate confidently in an authentic Irish pub session yourself. You can expect stories, jokes, and lots of great music. Come join us!

As the title says, this will be a full jazz ensemble for the serious player. Participants should be able to read music and feel comfortable in improvising over major and minor 2-5-1 chord progressions in all 12 keys. Be prepared to improvise over chord changes in different styles of jazz including standards, bebop, Latin, fusion, etc.

Learn to speak the language of jazz, develop your ears and heighten your musicianship. Investigate the chord/scale relationship, turnarounds, voice leading, jazz charts, new scales, and chord substitution. We will listen and analyze tunes in the style of standards, bebop, latin-jazz, blues, modal, and more. Students should be familiar with basic theory, have functional reading skills and a desire to expand one’s musical horizons.

With roots in the blues, jazz, and ragtime, jug band music includes some of the happiest songs you’ll ever hear. We’ll explore the repertoire, learn musicianship skills, and prepare for a variety of performance opportunities, all in a fun and supportive environment.

Play the vibrant music of the Latinx experience. Learn about the clave, a concept that gives the music its unique rhythmic structure. Play roots styles like son montuno, mambo, cumbia, rumba, cha cha cha, bugalu, merengue, plena, afrocuban 6/8,bolero and other forms that contribute to the sound of Latin Jazz, Salsa, Latin pop,rock,funk,hip/hop etc.The influence of Jazz and world music will also be explored. Some of the artists we'll cover:The Buena Vista Social Club, Santana, War, Fania All Stars,Manu Chao, Selena, Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente and a host of others. We'll try our hand at arranging music from other sources in a Latin style and stretching our improv chops (descarga). Recommended reading “Salsa Guidebook for Piano and Ensemble” by Rebeca Mauleon (provides a good idea how the music is put together) “Cuba and its Music from the First Drum to the Mambo” by Ned Sublette

Play the vibrant music of the Latinx experience. Learn about the clave, a concept that gives the music its unique rhythmic structure. Play roots styles like son montuno, mambo, cumbia, rumba, cha cha cha, bugalu, merengue, plena, afrocuban 6/8,bolero and other forms that contribute to the sound of Latin Jazz, Salsa, Latin pop,rock,funk,hip/hop etc.The influence of Jazz and world music will also be explored. Some of the artists we'll cover:The Buena Vista Social Club, Santana, War, Fania All Stars,Manu Chao, Selena, Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente and a host of others. We'll try our hand at arranging music from other sources in a Latin style and stretching our improv chops (descarga). Recommended reading “Salsa Guidebook for Piano and Ensemble” by Rebeca Mauleon (provides a good idea how the music is put together) “Cuba and its Music from the First Drum to the Mambo” by Ned Sublette

Come join us. In the spirit of our founder Frank Hamilton, we'll learn by ear, making music with others creating our own arrangements of some core tunes and songs. We'll draw from gospel to blues, old time numbers to lyrical ballads. Let the Monday Night Special shine it's light on you!

Join the band and play the rich textured Britpop stylings of the Gallagher brothers. We’ll go back to the Definitely Maybe CD and play tunes from the band’s entire discography. Lots of fun with no sibling rivalry!

Join the band and play the rich textured Britpop stylings of the Gallagher brothers. We’ll go back to the Definitely Maybe CD and play tunes from the band’s entire discography. Lots of fun with no sibling rivalry!

Delve into the rich tradition of American Old Time Music by learning tunes on fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and guitar. Tunes will be taught in a group setting using a mix of written music and tab, audio and video. Each week will mix a review of pervious material and learning new repertoire. This class is for students that have gained some proficiency playing old time music on their instruments and want to get the experience of joining other instruments in an ensemble setting.

Delve into the rich tradition of American Old Time Music by learning tunes on fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and guitar. Tunes will be taught in a group setting using a mix of written music and tab, audio and video. Each week will mix a review of pervious material and learning new repertoire. This class is for students that have gained some proficiency playing old time music on their instruments and want to get the experience of joining other instruments in an ensemble setting.

The beautiful sounds of traditional American music are being revived and reinvented by contemporary bands like Uncle Earl, David Rawlings, Gillian Welch, The Be Good Tanyas, Abigail Washburn, Old Crow Medicine Show, the South Memphis String Band, and more. Come learn the songs of these artists in an ensemble setting. All acoustic instruments and vocalists welcome.

Get loud, get proud! Celebrate and discover the rich cultural heritage of music by LGBTQ+ artists in a supportive ensemble setting. Sharpen your playing and singing skills while playing music from a multi-genre selection of queer/trans artists past and present: Courtney Barnett, Bessie Smith, Tracy Chapman, Husker Du, Against Me!, Tegan and Sara, Queen, Chavela Vargas, Perfume Genius, and more. This class is open to students of all genders and orientations. All acoustic and electric instruments and vocalists are welcome. Class concludes with an end-of-session performance. Guitar pre-requisites: Proficiency with open chords and transitions, ability to keep a steady strumming rhythm at medium tempos. Knowledge of bar chords helpful but not required. Guitar 2 rep or similar experience suggested.

Look what happened while rock and blues were sleeping! Explore the music of some of todays most lyrical and eloquent pop artists in an ensemble setting with singer songwriter Bill Brickey. Pop music is a genre once unique to the American music scene. In this class guitarists, bassists, drummers, and singers "band" together to discover how blues, folk, and rock classics have been combined to create the thing we call pop music.

From its gritty, glammy 70s beginnings to hardcore, pop punk, Riot Grrl and queercore, punk has always carried a spirit of defiance and self-expression. Find your voice, get loud, play with a band and explore punk music past and present. Class culminates in an end-of-session performance. Open to all electric instruments and vocalists.

Explore one of the earliest and most vibrant styles of rock and roll the way it is meant be played, in an ensemble setting! A combination of R&B mixed with country influences, songs by Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, and the Everly Brothers as well as current artists like Brian Setzer, Big Sandy, and Dwight Yoakam will be covered. All instruments and singers welcome. Waxed sideburns and raunchy tattoos are optional.

Have you ever wanted to create original songs in a band setting? Learn about crafting music, lyrics and song arrangements in the Songwriting Ensemble! During the first weeks we will explore commonly used chord progressions and lyric writing techniques. Weekly writing assignments and rehearsals will lead to performing fully crafted songs in the culminating weeks. This course is open to all instrumentalists and vocalists, whether or not you have written your own music before.

Have you ever wanted to create original songs in a band setting? Learn about crafting music, lyrics and song arrangements in the Songwriting Ensemble! During the first weeks we will explore commonly used chord progressions and lyric writing techniques. Weekly writing assignments and rehearsals will lead to performing fully crafted songs in the culminating weeks. This course is open to all instrumentalists and vocalists, whether or not you have written your own music before.

Step into the groove with us as we sing and play 20th AND 21st Century soul tunes from the 60s and 70s all the way to 2021 -- from classic Motown, Memphis, Philly, and Chicago soul to songs by contemporary artists such as Yola, Black Pumas, Allison Russell and The War and Treaty.

The repertoire of American string band music is excellent preparation for making music in any setting. This class focuses on string band music with straightforward arrangements for clawhammer banjo, pre- and re-grassed mandolin, and American fiddle. Students will get the workout of a weekly band rehearsal by collaborating to develop "performance ready" material. Prerequisites include the ability to play through whole songs and tunes at medium tempos, and a desire to assemble a full set of music for performance in duos, trios, and quartets. This class is paced for those who have completed the introductory courses for their instruments.

A long-running group of intermediate-advanced acoustic guitar players. (formerly “Guitar 4ever”) The Crooked Jukebox Ensemble (CJE) is an exciting and dynamic group for intermediate to advanced guitarists who have completed the core guitar program and have spent some time in Guitar Forever or other ensembles. Led by teaching artist Tommi Zender, this class meets Tuesday nights in the 909 Armitage Hall. Through an eclectic mix of songs and styles, we focus on expanding overall musicianship and developing a deeper understanding of various musical genres. Singing is encouraged, and above all, fun is mandatory! Many students return to the CJE year after year, honing their skills and growing with the group. Each session culminates in a final performance where students can showcase what they've learned.