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!

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Jams

The Social

Sun. February 17, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Traveling in Others’ Shoes: Performing “Someone Else’s” Music

Join early Carolina Chocolate Drop Sule Greg Wilson in this rich discussion. $5 suggested donation. You know: there’s “sharing”; and there’s the “borrowing” of music and techniques we hear so much about. There’s also “homage” and “imitation” and “appropriation”. There’s “learning”; there’s “loving”; and there is “stealing”; yes? In this partially-guided discussion, we’ll examine our own and historical relationship to music repertoire, review some legal and moral precedents, and talk about the yearnings of our souls. [more info]

Open to All

Program: Ensemble

FREE!

Sun. February 17, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Roots of Tap: The Golden Age

Celebrate Black History Month and explore the origin of tap dance, its roots in Africa and its multicultural blend in the New World. Tap Dance is known today as America's true folk dance. Focus on ways that Broadway musicals and Hollywood movies changed the course of Tap Dancing to a mainstream, respected art form and popularized it all over the world. Part of the 4-week special “Roots of Tap” series of participatory dance history workshops! [more info]

$20 ($19 members)

Sun. February 17, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Soft Shoe: A Soulful Percussive Dance

Join early Carolina Chocolate Drop Sule Greg Wilson for this special offering! Motown choreography, created by Cholly Atkins, a master of Class Act Tap, inspired the world to dance Soul. In this workshop, participants will experience the approach to physicality that underpins the Post-African percussive dance tradition, via Tap Dance’s funky folk form of steppin’: Soft Shoe. We’re gonna have a funky good time (and even learn what that means!). [more info]

Open to All

$25 ($12 members)

Sun. February 17, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Writing Your First Song

Have you always wanted to write songs? Stop worrying, and jump in no matter what your instrumental or singing background is! Everyone has a song ready to come out! Learn about the essential skills and components of songwriting, and what creative strengths you already have. With just a few chords, melody notes, and words, we'll write song components together. We'll also show you how to expand your ideas, and complete it into a song! Learn the shortcuts and secrets that all songwriters use to inspire themselves. Finally, we'll talk about how to create a personal strategy for developing your own songwriting skills. [more info]

Beginner

Program: Songwriting

$25 ($24 members)

Thu. February 21, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

No Bois Man, No Fraid (Film and Panel Discussion)

Open to All

FREE!

Sat. February 23, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Gospel Vocal Workshop with Jonita Lattimore

Participants will *Discover the origins of Gospel Music through a historic perspective. *Learn healthy vocal technique for gospel singing. *Combine these aspects and learn several gospel songs in a choral setting. A distant relative of gospel’s founding father Thomas Dorsey, Jonita Lattimore performed the classic “Precious Lord” at the first Chicago Gospel Fest. She is an active teaching artist and performer and brings a positive uplifting energy to her workshops [more info]

Open to All

$25 ($24 members)

Sun. February 24, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Roots of Tap: Styles of Today and Tomorrow

$20 ($19 members)

Sat. March 02, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

First Base Bottleneck Blues: Intro to Slide Guitar

In this workshop, you will learn all you need to know to begin and advance your slide guitar playing and emotional expression. The workshop will introduce the songs and licks of blues slide guitar masters Robert Johnson and Mississippi Fred McDowell. Other topics covered will include types of slides, guitar setup, playing clean notes, rhythmic patterns, vibrato and right and left hand damping techniques. Bring your guitar, a slide and an audio or video recorder. This class is for beginner through intermediate slide players. [more info]

Beginner

Program: Guitar

$25 ($24 members)

Sun. March 03, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Principles of Virtuosity with Fareed Haque

Known for his ability to play jazz, funk, world music and classical music with virtuoso chops, Fareed has distilled technique down to a few essential principles that can apply to all styles of guitar playing. Participants will work on left hand legato, right hand picking, classical techniques and the underlying principles that can make speed and chops available to everyone. [more info]

Intermediate

Program: Guitar

$30 ($28 members)

Sat. March 09, 1:00 PM – 2:50 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Dance Basics for Couples

Swing and sway to the blues, rockabilly, and the sounds of the big bands. Learn to be comfortable with fundamental moves on the dance floor. [more info]

Open to All

$45 ($43 members)

Sat. March 09, 3:00 PM – 4:50 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Country Dancing!

Learn some fun country dances with Louie Stallone, starting with the basic two-step, which you can dance in pairs or by yourself! [more info]

Open to All

$25 ($24 members)

Tue. March 12, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM · Lakeview

Drop-In Lullabies Class at A Little Photo Studio

Open to All

Kids Group Class – Program: Wiggleworms

$15 ($15 members)

Fri. March 15, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

THE SOCIAL - Bob Dylan Songbag: Love Songs of the 80’s and Beyond

Join us for a Bob Dylan Songbag Series. Every month, Jimmy Tomasello will cover different parts of Bob’s vast repertoire. Lyrics and chord charts provided. This month we’ll cover his love songs of the 80’s, 90’s, and early 2000’s. [more info]

Open to All

Program: Guitar

$20 ($18 members)

Sat. March 16, 1:00 PM – 2:50 PM · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Dan’s Rhythm Method

Intermediate

Program: Guitar

$25 ($24 members)

Sat. March 16, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Old Time Clawhammer Banjo

Come learn a new tune! We will focus on concepts you can apply to tunes you already know and your playing in a broader way. [more info]

Intermediate

$25 ($24 members)

Sat. March 16, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Old Time Fiddle

This workshop will explore the definition of old time fiddle as we learn and listen to tunes from different regional styles from Appalachia to the Mid West to Texas. [more info]

Intermediate

Program: Fiddle & Cello

$25 ($24 members)

Sat. March 16, 3:00 PM – 4:50 PM · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Scales With Colors

Intermediate

Program: Guitar

$25 ($24 members)

Sun. March 17, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Great Gals of Traditional Music

Open to All

Program: Ensemble

$25 ($24 members)

Sat. March 23, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

The Music & Life of Turlough O'Carolan Series

Intermediate

Program: Ensemble

$25 ($24 members)

Sat. March 30, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

The Music & Life of Turlough O'Carolan Series

Intermediate

Program: Ensemble

$25 ($24 members)

Sat. March 30, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Intro to Mississippi John Hurt Fingerpicking

Intermediate

Program: Guitar

$25 ($24 members)

Sun. March 31, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Early Rock Influences of The Beatles

Open to All

Program: Guitar

$15 ($14 members)

Sun. March 31, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Writing From Within a Woman’s Being

Open to All

Program: Songwriting

$25 ($24 members)

Fri. April 05, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Afro-Brazilian Samba

Join Dill Costa in this new workshop exploring the culture of Afro Brazilian Samba. Learn to use footwork, body placement and rhythmic steps to create dramatic, and stylish choreography! [more info]

Intermediate

$25 ($24 members)

Sat. April 06, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

The Music & Life of Turlough O'Carolan Series

Intermediate

Program: Ensemble

$25 ($24 members)

Sat. April 06, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Afro-Contemporary Dance

Afro-Contemporary Dance™️ class, taught by Vershawn Sanders-Ward, Founder and Artistic Director of Red Clay Dance Company. This class is an Afro-Diaspora movement practice that fuses Africanist movement vocabulary, Chicago House and modern dance forms. The classes focuses on building core strength, endurance, suppleness in the spine and emancipation of the pelvis. If you love Afro-House music you will enjoy this class! [more info]

Open to All

$25 ($24 members)

Tue. April 09, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM · Lakeview

Drop-In Lullabies Class at A Little Photo Studio

Open to All

Kids Group Class – Program: Wiggleworms

$15 ($15 members)

Fri. April 12, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

THE SOCIAL - Bob Dylan Songbag: Dylan and the Deity

Join us for a Bob Dylan Songbag Series. Every month, Jimmy Tomasello will cover different parts of Bob’s vast repertoire. Lyrics and chord charts provided. This month, as we approach Passover and Easter we’ll consider Bob’s religious songs including his born again period. You gotta serve somebody. [more info]

Open to All

Program: Guitar

$20 ($18 members)

Sat. April 13, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

The Embodied Musician - Intro to the Alexander Technique

Do you want to get out of your head and into your body? The Alexander Technique has helped people connect to their body and breath, to relieve stress, and to reduce unnecessary tension for over a century. [more info]

Open to All

$30 ($28 members)

Sat. April 13, 1:00 PM – 2:50 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Dance Basics for Couples

Swing and sway to the blues, rockabilly, and the sounds of the big bands. Learn to be comfortable with fundamental moves on the dance floor. [more info]

Open to All

$45 ($43 members)

Sat. April 13, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

The Music & Life of Turlough O'Carolan Series

Intermediate

Program: Ensemble

$25 ($24 members)

Sat. April 13, 3:00 PM – 4:50 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Swing Dance: Brush-Up Workshop

Brush up on your Swing in this low-commitment, one-day workshop! [more info]

Intermediate

$25 ($24 members)

Sun. April 14, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Tap Jam

Bring your family and friends to the new Tap Jam workshop! The Tap Jam will start with a half hour of tapping with music and then end with a half hour tapping without music. The Jam is open to all, ages 3 and above. [more info]

Open to All

$20 ($19 members)

Fri. April 19, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Broadway Dance for Kids

Come have fun kicking up your heels to music from popular Broadway shows! Learn steps and routines that are similar to those seen onstage in musical theatre. Experience dancing with props such as hats and canes! Parents are invited to a mini showcase at the end of the workshop! [more info]

Intermediate

Kids Group Class – Program: Dance

$25 ($24 members)

Sat. April 27, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Indian Bollywood, Classical, Bhangra and more!

Delve into movement techniques and expressive aspects of Indian folk, Bollywood and Classical dance forms (such as Bharatnatyam and Kathak). [more info]

Open to All

$25 ($24 members)

Sun. April 28, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Intro to Irish Step (soft shoe)

Join Old Town School Teaching Artist, Nora Kerr for this special workshop. Experience the fun and precision of Irish step dancing in this introductory workshop. You’ll be introduced to traditional soft shoe dances including reels and jigs. [more info]

Open to All

$20 ($19 members)

Sun. April 28, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Finger Picking Blues and Rag Guitar in Open Tunings

Intermediate

Program: Guitar

$35 ($33 members)

Sat. May 11, 1:00 PM – 2:50 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Dance Basics for Couples

Swing and sway to the blues, rockabilly, and the sounds of the big bands. Learn to be comfortable with fundamental moves on the dance floor. [more info]

Open to All

$45 ($43 members)

Sat. May 11, 3:00 PM – 4:50 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Cajun and Zydeco Dance

Let the good times roll! Learn to partner dance like the Cajuns have since 1721 in southwest Louisiana! [more info]

Open to All

$25 ($24 members)

Fri. May 17, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

THE SOCIAL - Bob Dylan Songbag: Bob’s Birthday Celebration!

Join us for a Bob Dylan Songbag Series. Every month, Jimmy Tomasello will cover different parts of Bob’s vast repertoire. Lyrics and chord charts provided. This month we’ll celebrate Bob’s birthday (78 and counting!) by singing songs of empowerment! [more info]

Open to All

Program: Guitar

$20 ($18 members)

Sat. June 08, 1:00 PM – 2:50 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Dance Basics for Couples

Swing and sway to the blues, rockabilly, and the sounds of the big bands. Learn to be comfortable with fundamental moves on the dance floor. [more info]

Open to All

$45 ($43 members)

Sat. June 08, 1:00 PM – 2:50 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Dance Basics for Couples

Swing and sway to the blues, rockabilly, and the sounds of the big bands. Learn to be comfortable with fundamental moves on the dance floor. [more info]

Open to All

$45 ($43 members)

Fri. June 14, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

THE SOCIAL - Bob Dylan Songbag: Traveling Wilburys: What happened to Volume 2?

Join us for a Bob Dylan Songbag Series. Every month, Jimmy Tomasello will cover different parts of Bob’s vast repertoire. Lyrics and chord charts provided. This month we’ll go over the Traveling Wilburys. What happened to Volume 2? [more info]

Open to All

Program: Guitar

$20 ($18 members)