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Workshops

Join us for an upcoming workshop! Your date with the arts.

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!

Sat. December 09, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Clawhammer Gym: An Exercise Routine To Whip The Right Hand Into Shape with Jonas Friddle

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Banjo
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. December 09, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Contemporary Improvisation & Phrasework with Hannah Marcus

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$18 ($16 members)
Sat. December 09, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Rhythms of West Africa with Joshua Guy

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Drumming
$30 ($25 members)
Sun. December 10, 12:30 PM – 1:50 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Christmas Classics: Ukulele

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Ukulele
$25 ($23 members)
Sun. December 10, 1:00 PM – 2:20 PM (Central) · Online

Melodies, Bass Runs and Riffs for Guitarists

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$30 ($28 members)
Sun. December 10, 2:30 PM – 3:50 PM (Central) · Online

How to Practice

[more info]

Open to All
Program:
$30 ($28 members)
Sun. December 10, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (Central) · Online

Ukulele Workshop: Holiday Songs pt. 1

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Ukulele
$30 ($28 members)
Mon. December 11, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM (Central) · Online

Clawhammer Banjo Workshops with Michael J. Miles: Sleepers Awake by J.S. Bach

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Banjo
$25 ($23 members)
Sat. December 16, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Bookworms: Music and Storytime for December with Carey Farrell

[more info]

Open to All
Kids Group Class – Program: Wiggleworms
Sat. December 16, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Songwriting Workshop with Noah Zanella: Lyrical Form and Structure

This workshop is on form and structure (lyrically speaking, not musically). We will explore the relationship of individual lines to the song as a whole. We will discuss paratactic and hypotactic approaches to songwriting (with examples), and students will learn about the affordances of these different approaches. We will look at lyrics by Jason Isbel, Daniel Johnston, and others. This workshop will include a writing exercise. This workshop will include a writing exercise. Students will be given enough of the intellectual stuff to get us going and then spend the rest of the time creating, sharing, and getting feedback. [more info]

Open to All
Program: Songwriting
$40 ($35 members)
Sun. December 17, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

The Big Suzuki Jam: For Private Lesson Fiddle Students

[more info]

Open to All
Kids Group Class – Program: Fiddle & Cello
$20 ($15 members)
Sun. December 17, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

‘60s Style Go-Go - The Hits

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$20 ($18 members)
Sun. December 17, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Ukulele Workshop: Holiday Songs pt. 2

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Ukulele
$30 ($28 members)
Sun. December 17, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (Central) · Online

Ukulele Workshop: Holiday Songs pt. 2

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Ukulele
$30 ($28 members)
Wed. January 03, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Central) · Online

Ukulele Refresher Workshop

[more info]

Beginner
Program: Ukulele
$40 ($38 members)
Sat. January 06, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Central) · Online

An Introduction to Reading Music for Ukulele Workshop

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Ukulele
$40 ($38 members)
Sun. January 07, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Central) · Online

Introduction to Ukulele: Taster Workshop

[more info]

Beginner
Program: Ukulele
$40 ($38 members)
Sun. January 14, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Contemporary Improvisation & Phrasework with Hannah Marcus

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$18 ($16 members)
Sun. January 14, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Performance Ear Training Workshop Series with Donovan Mixon: Cycle 4 Intervals

[more info]

Open to All
Program:
$30 ($25 members)
Fri. January 19, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Neil Young Songbag

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$30 ($30 members)
Sat. January 20, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Songwriting Workshop with Noah Zanella: Love Songs

This workshop is on writing love songs. We will discuss what makes a love song stand out and feel alive among the massive heap of love songs that get written. We will look at lyrics by Leonard Cohen, Lady Lamb, and others. This workshop will include a writing exercise. Students will be given enough of the intellectual stuff to get us going and then spend the rest of the time creating, sharing, and getting feedback. [more info]

Open to All
Program: Songwriting
$40 ($35 members)
Sat. January 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
$35 ($30 members)
Sat. January 20, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Soul, Mind, & Body Dance Improv with Dylan Wray

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Dance
$25 ($22 members)
Sat. January 27, 1:00 PM – 2:20 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Scales With Colors

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$25 ($25 members)
Sat. January 27, 2:30 PM – 3:50 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Dan’s Rhythm Method

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$25 ($25 members)
Mon. January 29, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM (Central) · Online

Clawhammer Banjo Workshops with Michael J. Miles: House of the Rising Sun

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Banjo
$25 ($23 members)
Sat. February 03, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave
Sat. February 10, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Three Note Books: A System For Creative And Productive Lyric Writing Sessions with Jonas Friddle

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Songwriting
$50 ($45 members)
Sun. February 04, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Performance Ear Training Workshop Series with Donovan Mixon: Cycle 4 Intervals, continued

[more info]

Open to All
Program:
$30 ($25 members)
Mon. February 05, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM (Central) · Online

Clawhammer Banjo Workshops with Michael J. Miles: I Know You Rider

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Banjo
$25 ($23 members)
Mon. February 05, 8:00 PM – 9:15 PM (Central) · Online

Fingerstyle Guitar Workshop with Michael J. Miles Moondance by Van Morrison

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$25 ($23 members)
Fri. February 09, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Winter Beatles Songbag

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$30 ($30 members)
Sat. February 10, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Understanding the Major Pentatonic Scale

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$25 ($25 members)
Sat. February 10, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (Central) · Online

Fretboard Geography Workshop

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$30 ($30 members)
Sat. February 10, 2:30 PM – 4:20 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Understanding the Minor Pentatonic Scale

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$25 ($25 members)
Sun. February 11, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Contemporary Improvisation & Phrasework with Hannah Marcus

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$18 ($16 members)
Mon. February 19, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM (Central) · Online

Clawhammer Banjo Workshops with Michael J. Miles: Lakes of Ponchartrain

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Banjo
$25 ($23 members)
$25 ($23 members)
Sat. February 24, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Central) · 909 W Armitage Ave

Music for Milestones: A Music Experience for Neurodivergent Kiddos

[more info]

Open to All
Kids Group Class – Program: Wiggleworms
$30 ($25 members)
Sun. March 03, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Performance Ear Training Workshop Series with Donovan Mixon: Reading Rhythms

[more info]

Open to All
Program:
$30 ($25 members)
Sun. April 07, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Performance Ear Training Workshop Series with Donovan Mixon: Reading Rhythms, continued

[more info]

Open to All
Program:
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. April 20, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Central) · 909 W Armitage Ave

Music for Milestones: A Music Experience for Neurodivergent Kiddos

[more info]

Open to All
Kids Group Class – Program: Wiggleworms
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. April 27, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Abstracting Fiddle Melodies for Clawhammer Banjo with Cameron DeWhitt

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Banjo
$35 ($30 members)
Sat. April 27, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Adding Drone and Drive to Your Flatpicking with Morgan Harris

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$35 ($30 members)
Sat. April 27, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Old Time Fiddle And Bowing Techniques With George Jackson

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Fiddle & Cello
$35 ($30 members)
Sat. April 27, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Swedish Fiddle Workshop with Anna Ekborg

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Fiddle & Cello
$35 ($30 members)