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Workshops

Workshops are special, one-time experiences of music and dance with master teachers at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Low in time commitment but high in artistry, workshops are timely, engaging, and dynamic sessions targeted to serve participants with varied interests and goals.

The typical duration of a one-day workshop is an hour and a half to two hours, but we also offer intensives and multi-day or multi-week options. Workshops costs are dependent on length, specialty, and teaching artist, and some are funded by grants to make them low-cost to you. Each week we host something or someone new, so check back often!

Sun. August 31, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Wiggleworms Family Hang! with Will Fancher

[more info]

Open to All
Kids Group Class – Program: Wiggleworms
Class is full.
Sat. September 06, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

The Groove Workshop

[more info]

Program: Dance
$25 ($22 members)
Sat. September 06, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Disco Ball Dance Party! with Marchello Lee

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$20 ($18 members)
Sun. September 07, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Cairo Beats, Egyptian Belly Dance with live Drumming by Ra’yon with Erika Ochoa

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$25 ($20 members)
Sun. September 07, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Hand Games and Song Games for the Classroom with Meg Rieger

[more info]

Open to All
Kids Group Class – Program: Wiggleworms
$25 ($5 members)
Sat. September 13, 9:15 AM – 10:30 AM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Laying Sound Meditation Workshop with Jay Taylor

[more info]

Open to All
Program:
$30 ($30 members)
Sat. September 13, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Introduction to the West African Djembe Drum with Michael Taylor

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Drumming
$35 ($30 members)
Sat. September 13, 2:45 PM – 4:15 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Advanced Djembe Workshop with Michael Taylor

[more info]

Advanced
Program: Drumming
$35 ($30 members)
Sun. September 14, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

La Bamba, Mexican Folklore Dance Workshop

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$25 ($22 members)
Sun. September 14, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

‘60s Style Go-Go with Krista Ortgiesen

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$20 ($18 members)
Fri. September 19, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Harmony Singing Workshop: Songs of Protest with Jackie Jasperson

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Voice
$35 ($30 members)
Fri. September 19, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Laurel Canyon Songbag with Tommi Zender

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. September 20, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Unlock Your Muse: Songwriting x Dolly Partonwith Dana Marie

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Songwriting
$45 ($40 members)
Sat. September 20, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Dance Pop Icons with Emily Zouras

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$25 ($22 members)
Sat. September 20, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (Central) · Online

Fretboard Geography Workshop with Tommi Zender

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. September 20, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Clogging Workshop with Barbara Silverman

[more info]

Program: Dance
$25 ($20 members)
Sat. September 20, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Karaoke: Up Your Game with Jackie Jasperson with Jackie Jasperson

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Voice
$35 ($30 members)
Sun. September 21, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Hip-Hop Funk Dance Workshop with Poppin Chuck

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$30 ($28 members)
Sun. September 21, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

What’s Going On? – 50 Years Ago and Today with Albert Martinez

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Guitar
$30 ($25 members)
Thu. September 25, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

West African Djembe Workshop with Grand Master Bolokada Conde with Michael Taylor

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Drumming
$40 ($35 members)
Sat. September 27, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Collaborative Songwriting: A Workshop with Kacie Swierk with Kacie Swierk

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Songwriting
$40 ($35 members)
Sat. September 27, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Community Singing Workshop with Megan Eberhardt

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Voice
$35 ($30 members)
Sat. September 27, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Craft Lounge

[more info]

Open to All
Program:
Sat. September 27, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Fingerstyle Guitar Workshop: Elton John—Madman Across The Water & Daniel with Michael Miles

Here we take Elton John's piano-driven magic, and turn it into fingerstyle guitar splendor. Students receive detailed instructions and the score for how to play these songs as instrumentals, with no vocals. You can then bring Elton John to life in your own home as well as apply the concepts in these songs to other arrangements. For intermediate students with some fingerstyle experience, who can read and use tablature. [more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. September 27, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

John Prine Clawhammer Banjo Workshop with Michael Miles

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Banjo
$30 ($25 members)
Thu. October 02, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

West African Djembe Workshop with Grand Master Bolokada Conde with Michael Taylor

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Drumming
$40 ($35 members)
Sat. October 04, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

From A Song To A Masterwork In One Session with Corky Siegel

[more info]

Open to All
Program:
$100 ($95 members)
Sat. October 04, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Boy Band Songbag: Pop Icons, Then & Now with Carey Farrell

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Guitar
$30 ($25 members)
Sun. October 05, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Burlesque Chair Dance with AngHell

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$30 ($28 members)
Wed. October 08, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Central) · Online

Transformative Songcraft Workshop with C.B. Smith Part 1

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Songwriting
$45 ($40 members)
Fri. October 10, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Wicked Sing-Along with Jackie Jasperson

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Voice
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. October 11, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Intro to Burlesque with Sunny Haelstorm

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$30 ($28 members)
Sat. October 11, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Harmony Heaven Workshop with Barbara Silverman

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Voice
$30 ($25 members)
Mon. October 13, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Day Off Camp: Exploring the Arts

[more info]

Open to All
Kids Group Class – Program: Camp
$100 ($80 members)
Wed. October 15, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Central) · Online

Transformative Songcraft Workshop with C.B. Smith Part 2

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Songwriting
$45 ($40 members)
Fri. October 17, 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Wiggleworms Family Night with Amanda Payne

[more info]

Open to All
Kids Group Class – Program: Wiggleworms
Class is full.
Fri. October 17, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Autumn Beatles Songbag with Tommi Zender with Tommi Zender

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. October 18, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Cultivating Creative Practice for Songwriters with Anna Vogelzang

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Songwriting
$65 ($60 members)
Fri. October 24, 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Free Friday Family Jam! with Max Berg

[more info]

Open to All
Kids Group Class – Program: Guitar
Sat. October 25, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Unlock Your Muse: Songwriting x Spells with Dana Marie

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Songwriting
$45 ($40 members)
Sat. October 25, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Fingerstyle Guitar Workshop: Beatles Fingerstyle—She Loves You & I Want To Hold Your Hand with Michael Miles

These are classic hits from the Ed Sullivan show when the Beatles first arrived in America. Michael has arranged them as solo instrumental fingerstyle guitar tunes where you bring the Fab Four to life in your own home. You'll get phrase by phrase instructions and a detailed score with tablature for how these songs work. For intermediate students with some fingerstyle experience, who can read and use tablature. [more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. October 25, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Celtic Clawhammer Banjo Workshop with Michael Miles

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Banjo
$30 ($25 members)
Sun. November 02, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

An Introduction To DADGAD Guitar Workshop with Sarah McQuaid

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$40 ($35 members)
Sun. November 02, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

DADGAD Song Accompaniment Workshop with Sarah McQuaid

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$40 ($35 members)
Sat. November 22, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Fingerstyle Guitar Workshop: Burt Bacharach—What the World Needs Now & I Say A Little Prayer with Michael Miles

Burt Bacharach is the master of short, precise and incredibly compelling tunes where the song title tells the story of the whole song. Bacharach's musical hands were everywhere... jazz, rock, pop, soul, blues. These brilliant songs come to life with fingerstyle guitar and students receive detailed instructions and the score for how for how to play instrumental versions of these tunes. For intermediate students with some fingerstyle experience, who can read and use tablature. [more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. November 22, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

J.S. Bach Clawhammer Banjo Workshop with Michael Miles

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Banjo
$30 ($25 members)