Fingerstyle Workshop Series with Michael J. Miles
Intermediate
Monday with Michael Miles
75 minutes · Once a week for 1 week
Core Level Guitar Classes
Most classes, private lessons, and workshops will continue to meet online in the session beginning April 26, 2021.
A limited selection of in-person offerings will be available at our Lincoln Square campus. Read more about our limited return to in-person instruction, and our health and safety protocols. »
A limited selection of in-person offerings will be available at our Lincoln Square campus. Read more about our limited 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
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday with Bill Brickey, Lisa Joy DeRosia, Chris Walz, Shelley Miller, Albert Martinez or Alicia Lees
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
For the complete beginner.
Guitar 1 Repertoire
Beginner
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday with Barbara Silverman, Chris Winters, Charles Kim, Dan Fulkerson, Catherine Norden, Jim DeWan or Louis Bardales
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!
Guitar 2
Beginner
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday with Barbara Silverman, Dan Fulkerson, Elaine Moore, Shelley Miller, Albert Martinez, Catherine Norden, John Abbey, Tom Ryan, Paula McKernan or Deanna Devore
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
Your playing will take on a new dimension.
Guitar Fingerboard Theory
Intermediate
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday with Chris Winters, Dan Fulkerson 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.
Guitar 2 Repertoire
Beginner
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday with Mary Peterson, Steve Doyle, Bill Brickey, Lisa Joy DeRosia, Charles Kim or Rebecca Toon
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.
Guitar 3
Intermediate
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday with Lisa Joy DeRosia, Dan Fulkerson, Catherine Norden, Steve Levitt, Matt Gallagher, Chris Corsale, Alicia Lees or Deanna Devore
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
Build dexterity with basic fingerpicking and flatpicking.
Guitar 3 Repertoire
Intermediate
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Sunday with Carlos Chacon, Elaine Moore, Albert Martinez, John Abbey, Tom Ryan or Deanna Devore
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
Armed with the knowledge of bar chords one can expand their repertoire to include many idioms.
Guitar 4
Intermediate
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday with Dan Fulkerson, Shelley Miller, John Abbey, Chris Corsale or Deanna Devore
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.
Guitar 4Ever
Intermediate
Any Day of the Week with Chris Winters, Shelley Miller, 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.
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.
Guitar and Vocal Studio
Intermediate
Wednesday or Thursday with Elaine Moore or Julia Storke
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
Grab that guitar and sing and play with others.
Beyond Guitar 3
Intermediate
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday with Mary Peterson, Elaine Moore, Steve Levitt 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.
Advancing Guitar: Licks and Tricks
Intermediate
Monday with John Mead
80 minutes · Once a week for 8 weeks
Learn approaches to the fingerboard designed to improve your playing
Musical Time Management: How to Use a Metronome
IntermediateNew!
Saturday with Chris Corsale
90 minutes · Once a week for 1 week
Simple Guitar Fills
Intermediate
Thursday with Barbara Silverman
60 minutes · Once a week for 4 weeks
Fill out your style with these tried and true fills.
What to Know About Chords
IntermediateNew!
Wednesday with John Mead
80 minutes · Once a week for 4 weeks
Extended Play: Guitar
Intermediate
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday with Mary Peterson, Chris Winters, Charles Kim, Dan Fulkerson, 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
Upcoming Sessions
- Classes start week of Apr 26
- Classes start week of Jun 21
