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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!

Fri. April 24, 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Free Friday Family Jam! with Maryanne Johnson

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Open to All
Kids Group Class – Program: Guitar
Fri. April 24, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Old Town School Songbook Jam with Mary Peterson · Chris Walz · Michael Miles

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Open to All
Program: Ensemble
Sat. April 25, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Central) · Online

Bassline Basics for Ukulele Players Workshop: Part 3 with Vanda Kay

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Intermediate
Program: Ukulele
$40 ($35 members)
Sat. April 25, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Craft Lounge

[more info]

Open to All
Program:
Sat. April 25, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Finger Cymbals, Zills or Sagat (Percussion instrument) with Asali Naimah

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. April 25, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Afro Latin Hip Hop Dance with Dylan Wray

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$35 ($30 members)
Sat. April 25, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Queer Song Circle with Nathan Kistler · Josh Ruebeck

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Songwriting
Sat. April 25, 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
$25 ($20 members)
Sun. April 26, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Spotlight: Using Rhyme & Meter to Make Your Lyrics Shine with Josh Ruebeck

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Songwriting
$30 ($25 members)
Fri. May 01, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM (Central) · 909 W Armitage Ave

May Day Labor Movement Celebration

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Open to All
Program:
$15 ($10 members)
Sat. May 02, 1:00 PM – 2:20 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Introduction to Open Tunings for Guitar with Charles Kim

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Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$30 ($25 members)
Sun. May 03, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Country Western Line Dance Workshop with Katie DeSalvo

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$25 ($20 members)
Fri. May 08, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Springtime Beatles Songbag with Tommi Zender with Tommi Zender

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Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$30 ($28 members)
Sat. May 09, 9:20 AM – 10:50 AM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Queer As Folk: Finding Your Voice with Nathan Kistler

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Voice
Sat. May 09, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Seated Community Sound Meditation Workshop with Jay Taylor

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Open to All
Program:
$10 ($10 members)
Sat. May 09, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Community Singing Workshop with Megan Eberhardt

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Open to All
Program: Voice
$36 ($31 members)
Sat. May 09, 1:00 PM – 2:20 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Learn How to Jam for Guitars with Charles Kim

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Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. May 09, 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Intro to Giordano Technique with Ethan Kirschbaum

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Open to All
Program: Dance
$30 ($28 members)
Sun. May 10, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (Central) · Online

Paul Simon Guitar Style with Steve Dawson

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Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. May 16, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Craft Lounge

[more info]

Open to All
Program:
Sat. May 16, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Intro to Klezmer Workshop with Chaia

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Open to All
Program: Ensemble
$40 ($35 members)
Sat. May 16, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Singing the Yiddish Folksong with Chaia

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Voice
$40 ($35 members)
Sun. May 17, 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Djembe Dance from Senegal, Mali and Guinea in West Africa with Idy Ciss

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$35 ($30 members)
Sun. May 17, 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)
Sun. May 17, 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Art of Being through Dance Improvisation with Ayako Kato

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$35 ($28 members)
Sun. May 17, 3:30 PM – 4:50 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Ukulele Sing and Strum: Tin Pan Alley Greatest Hits with Vanda Kay

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Ukulele
$35 ($30 members)
Sun. May 17, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (Central) · Online

Nick Drake Guitar Style with Steve Dawson

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. May 23, 9:15 AM – 10:30 AM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Laying Sound Meditation Workshop with Jay Taylor

[more info]

Open to All
Program:
$35 ($30 members)
$25 ($20 members)
Sat. May 23, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Hakikino! Hula Workout!

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$30 ($28 members)
Sat. May 23, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

The Groove Workshop

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Program: Dance
$25 ($22 members)
Sat. May 23, 1:00 PM – 2:20 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

The Listening Party with Victor Garcia

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Open to All
Program: Ensemble
$25 ($20 members)
Sun. May 24, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

West Coast Swing Toolkit Basics with Katie DeSalvo

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$25 ($20 members)
Thu. May 28, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (Central) · 909 W Armitage Ave

Bridging the Break: Chest Mix with Nathan Kistler with Nathan Kistler

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Intermediate
Program: Voice
$25 ($20 members)
Sat. May 30, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Advanced Djembe Workshop with Michael Taylor

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Advanced
Program: Drumming
$35 ($30 members)
Sat. May 30, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Central) · 4544 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. May 30, 1:00 PM – 2:20 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Argh! Barre Chords! with Charles Kim

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. May 30, 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Bollywood and South Asian Dance Workshop with Anjali Julka

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$30 ($28 members)
Sat. May 30, 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. June 06, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

`Ukulele Power Strums 2-Part Series: Power Strums 101: `Uke Calisthenics!

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Ukulele
$40 ($35 members)
Sat. June 06, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Pacific Island Songs 2-Part Series: The Hawaiian Cowboy, Weeha!

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Ukulele
$40 ($35 members)
Sat. June 06, 1:00 PM – 2:20 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Simple Fills for Rhythm Guitar with Charles Kim

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$30 ($25 members)
Sun. June 07, 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Kutiro Dance from Senegal with Idy Ciss

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$35 ($30 members)
Sun. June 07, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Own The Stage with Typhanie Monique

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Voice
$40 ($35 members)
Sat. June 13, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

`Ukulele Power Strums 2-Part Series: Power Strums 201 `Uke Calisthenics!

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Ukulele
$40 ($35 members)
Sat. June 13, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Pacific Island Songs 2-Part Series: It’s Mele Kalikimaka Time!

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Ukulele
$40 ($35 members)
$45 ($40 members)
Sun. June 14, 3:30 PM – 4:50 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Ukulele Sing and Strum: Songs from Movies and Musicals with Vanda Kay

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Ukulele
$35 ($30 members)
Sat. June 20, 9:20 AM – 10:50 AM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Vowels and the Voice with Nathan Kistler

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Voice
$25 ($20 members)
Sat. June 20, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Community Singing Workshop with Megan Eberhardt

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Voice
$36 ($31 members)
Sat. June 20, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Queer Song Circle with Nathan Kistler · Josh Ruebeck

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Songwriting
Sun. June 21, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Make Music Chicago Harmonica Workshop with Skip Landt

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Harmonica
Sun. June 21, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Make Music Chicago Kazoo Workshop with Skip Landt

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Harmonica
Sat. June 27, 9:15 AM – 10:30 AM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Laying Sound Meditation Workshop with Jay Taylor

[more info]

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

Craft Lounge

[more info]

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

Sea Shanty Workshop with Tom Kastle

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Voice
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. June 27, 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Drag Queen Back Up Dancing: Feather Boa Bootcamp with Ethan Kirschbaum

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$30 ($26 members)
Sat. September 19, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Harmony Through The Back Door: A Workshop with Sons of the Never Wrong

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Voice
$35 ($30 members)