Fingerstyle Workshop Series with Michael J. Miles
Intermediate
Monday with Michael Miles
75 minutes · Once a week for 1 week
Location: Online
Core Level Guitar Classes
Classes, private lessons, and workshops in the session beginning the week of June 21, 2021 will meet either IN-PERSON or ONLINE. Check class listings for locations!
Read more about our return to in-person instruction, and our health and safety protocols. »
Read more about our return to in-person instruction, and our health and safety protocols. »
The backbone of the Old Town School experience since its inception in 1957, our Core Guitar classes provide solid musical background using traditional and popular styles in a friendly casual group environment.
Group Classes
Most classes have 4-14 folks, for 8-week sessions.
A Social Experience
The folk tradition is playing, singing and coming together to learn and meet new people in the process.
All Skill Levels Welcome
From pure beginners to shredders looking for new skills, there’s a place for every guitarist.
Perform In A Showcase
Most classes end the session with a showcase on stage for friends and family to attend.
Flexible Schedules
Classes run every day most times of the day to fit into your busy schedule.
Rentals Available
No guitar, no problem! Our music store has a great guitar for you to rent and practice with all session.
For the complete beginner.
Guitar 1
Your musical journey starts here. Learn chords, simple strums, and tuning in a fun, relaxed group setting. You’ll be introduced to the basic elements of rhythm and harmony that will have you making music in no time! Guitar 1 is for the absolute beginner.
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Improve skills. Add songs.
Guitar 1 Repertoire
Improve your skills by learning lots of great songs, different strums and a few "licks," while singing and playing at the same time! We suggest that students repeat the repertoire classes as needed. There are hundreds of tunes to learn at every skill level.
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New chords. New connections.
Guitar 2
Learn new chords and ways of playing and connecting them with bass runs, arpeggios, and using a capo. Discover different rhythms and pick out some melodies. Before taking Guitar 2, you should play basic open chords in the keys of A, D, E, and G, smoothly without losing the beat.
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Self-starters start here.
Guitar 2 Repertoire
If you are self taught or have completed Guitar 2, this is the level to repeat as often as you want to build up your songbag.
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Build dexterity with basic fingerpicking and flatpicking.
Guitar 3
Move on to the next plateau with barre chords and movable shapes. Build dexterity with basic fingerpicking and flatpicking. Develop techniques and memorization and adding dynamics to song arrangements. Begin to develop your own musical voice and expand comfort with your instrument.
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Barre chords open doors.
Guitar 3 Repertoire
Enhance your knowledge of the guitar neck while examining tunes from a variety of styles - popular and traditional. As always, students are welcome to repeat a repertoire class as often as they chose. Songs change from session to session.
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Need help figuring out where to get started?
Complete Beginner? Start With Guitar 1
Self-Taught? Learned From Videos? Start At Guitar 2
Barre Chords? Haven’t Played In A While? Take Our Placement Quiz
Extend the Core Guitar Experience
Choose from a variety of class options continuing in the model of the core program, before branching off to specialty or ensemble classes!
Technique & Specialty Classes
Expand your abilities with the guidance of our expert teaching artists in of our wide range of skill and specialty topic classes - exploring genres like Blues, Bluegrass, Rock, Jazz, Country, and more.
Ensemble Classes
If your skill set includes those in the Guitar 3 description, or beyond, you'll want to stretch your playing in an Ensemble Class - performing together in a multi-instrument band setting.
Guitar 1
Beginner
Any Day of the Week with Carlos Chacon, Chris Winters, Bill Brickey, Dan Fulkerson, Catherine Norden, Deanna Devore or Jim Wynton
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
For the complete beginner.
Location: Online or Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
Guitar 1 Repertoire
Beginner
Any Day of the Week with Carlos Chacon, Mary Peterson, Barbara Silverman, Alvin McGovern, Chris Winters, Bill Brickey, Lisa Joy DeRosia, Dan Fulkerson, Shelley Miller, Steve Levitt, Deanna Devore or Nikki O'Neill
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
Improve your skills by learning lots of great songs, different strums and a few licks, while singing and playing at the same time!
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus, Online or Lincoln Park - Armitage Ave
Guitar 2
Beginner
Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday with Charles Kim, Dan Fulkerson, Shelley Miller, Albert Martinez, Paula McKernan, Jim DeWan, Chris Corsale or Alicia Lees
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
Your playing will take on a new dimension.
Location: Lincoln Park - Armitage Ave, Online or Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
Guitar Fingerboard Theory
Intermediate
Monday, Wednesday or Sunday with Chris Winters, Dan Fulkerson, Randy Morris or Steve Levitt
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
This class is highly recommended for all guitar students. Make it a point to enroll at some point in your musical journey.
Location: Online or Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
Guitar 2 Repertoire
Beginner
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday with Lisa Joy DeRosia, Chris Walz, Dan Fulkerson, Randy Morris, Shelley Miller, Albert Martinez, Catherine Norden, Alicia Lees or Daniel McLean
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
This class is great entry point for the self taught. You will build repertoire and develop skills.
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus, Online or Lincoln Park - Armitage Ave
Guitar 3
Intermediate
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday with Charles Kim, Shelley Miller, Rebecca Toon, Jim DeWan, Steve Levitt, Louis Bardales, Chris Corsale or Deanna Devore
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
Build dexterity with basic fingerpicking and flatpicking.
Location: Online, Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus or Lincoln Park - Armitage Ave
Guitar 3 Repertoire
Intermediate
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday with Mary Peterson, Dan Fulkerson, Elaine Moore, John Mead, Albert Martinez, Catherine Norden, Rebecca Toon, John Abbey or Tom Ryan
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
Armed with the knowledge of bar chords one can expand their repertoire to include many idioms.
Location: Online, Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus or Lincoln Park - Armitage Ave
Guitar 4
Intermediate
Monday or Friday with John Abbey
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
Students of Guitar 4 are well on their way to being able to perform and to express themselves musically.
Location: Online or Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
Guitar 4Ever
Intermediate
Any Day of the Week with Chris Winters, Jacob Sweet, Catherine Norden, Tom Ryan, Jim DeWan, Steve Dawson, Tommi Zender or Chris Corsale
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
Students have been known to repeat this class endlessly! And of course, learning the guitar is a lifelong journey.
Location: Online, Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus or Lincoln Park - Armitage Ave
Guitar 4ever with Holstein
Advanced
Saturday with Ed Holstein
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
The one and only legendary folk icon, Ed Holstein holds court for acoustic guitarists.
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
Guitar and Vocal Studio
Intermediate
Wednesday or Thursday with Lisa Joy DeRosia, Elaine Moore or Julia Storke
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
Grab that guitar and sing and play with others.
Location: Online or Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
Beyond Guitar 3
Intermediate
Monday, Thursday or Sunday with Mary Peterson, Elaine Moore or Deanna Devore
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
A special level for students who want to continue on the path of musical growth offered during our morning classes or within the confines of our Armitage location.
Location: Online
From Chords to Riffs
Intermediate
Wednesday with John Mead
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
Learn approaches to the fingerboard designed to improve your playing
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
Return To Guitar
Open to All
Monday or Thursday with Bill Brickey or Jim DeWan
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
Rumor has it there's a guitar in the back of your closet. Let's get it out and make some music.
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus
Simple Guitar Fills
Intermediate
Tuesday or Thursday with Barbara Silverman
60 minutes · Once a week for 4 weeks
Fill out your style with these tried and true fills.
Location: Online
Extended Play: Guitar
Intermediate
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday with Mary Peterson, Barbara Silverman, Chris Winters, Elaine Moore, Catherine Norden, Paula McKernan, Jim DeWan or Louis Bardales
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
Make a long term commitment to improving your guitar playing skills
Location: Lincoln Square - Lincoln Ave Campus, Online or Lincoln Park - Armitage Ave
Upcoming Sessions
- Classes start week of Aug 30
- Classes start week of Oct 25
