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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!

Wed. June 07, 7:00 PM – 8:50 PM (Central) · Online

Songwriter’s Circle Online with Daniel Connolly

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Songwriting
$12 ($10 members)
Fri. June 09, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Out Music Jam

[more info]

Open to All
Program:
$10 ($10 members)
Sat. June 10, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

The Evolution of Three Finger Banjo Styles Workshop Series with Ryan Fisher

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Banjo
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. June 10, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Inside The Creative Mind: A Songwriting Workshop with Gary Louris of The Jayhawks

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Songwriting
$35 ($30 members)
Sat. June 10, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Performance Ear Training Workshop Series with Donovan Mixon Session III: Progressions & Chord Qualities

Session III: Progressions & Chord Qualities This session will concentrate on how to practice to recognize triad qualities i.e. Major, Minor, Diminished & Augmented. Diatonic progressions will be introduced with the study concept Harmonic Basslines that teach you how to practice to recognize chord sequences of simple songs. [more info]

Open to All
Program:
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. June 10, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Veils and Tales with Radia Ali

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$25 ($23 members)
Sat. June 10, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Rhythms of Mali, West Africa with Joshua Guy

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Drumming
$30 ($25 members)
Sun. June 11, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Contemporary Improvisation with Hannah Marcus

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$18 ($15 members)
Sun. June 11, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

‘60s Style Go-Go

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$20 ($18 members)
Sun. June 11, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Family Pride Art Workshop

[more info]

Open to All
Kids Group Class – Program: Art
$25 ($20 members)
Sun. June 11, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Ukulele Workshop: More Songs from Musicals and Movies

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Ukulele
$30 ($28 members)
Mon. June 12, 6:20 PM – 7:20 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Irish Step Dance Advanced Beginner Workshop - Hard Shoe Basics

[more info]

Beginner
Program: Dance
$28 ($25 members)
$25 ($23 members)
Wed. June 14, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Ukulele Tin Pan Alley Jam

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Ukulele
$30 ($28 members)
Thu. June 15, 6:20 PM – 7:20 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Irish Step Dance Beginner Workshop - Reel

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$28 ($25 members)
Sat. June 17, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

The Evolution of Three Finger Banjo Styles Workshop Series with Ryan Fisher

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Banjo
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. June 17, 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Family Dance Party! with Maria Blanco

[more info]

Open to All
Kids Group Class – Program: Dance
$15 ($12 members)
Sat. June 17, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Improvisation Exploration with Rebecca Crystal

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$25 ($20 members)
Sun. June 18, 3:00 PM – 4:46 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Contemporary Hip Hop Dance with Dylan Wray

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$25 ($22 members)
$25 ($23 members)
Mon. June 19, 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

The Three Elements of Ballet with Sandra Adrian

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$20 ($18 members)
$25 ($23 members)
Wed. June 21, 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Stephen Wade Banjo Workshop: Hobart Smith and the Old Town School

In October 1963, multi-instrumentalist Hobart Smith (1897-1965) came to the Old Town School to perform in concert. The following day, he gave a banjo workshop hosted by the School’s Fleming Brown. During this 75-minute session, we explore some of the music Hobart played, both off-stage and during his residency at the School. Attendees come away introduced to the downpicking technique that enabled Hobart turn a simple dance tune into a concert masterpiece. https://www.npr.org/2005/10/17/4959156/hobart-smith-stories-and-songs-from-a-banjo-great [more info]

Intermediate
Program: Banjo
$35 ($30 members)
Thu. June 22, 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Stephen Wade Banjo Workshop: Uncle Dave Macon and McGee Brothers

Singer, banjoist, songwriter, performer, and tradition bearer, Uncle Dave Macon (1870-1952) became the first star of the Grand Ole Opry. Truly the grandfather of country music, he played in a variety of methods across a staggering breadth of songs. In this 75-minute workshop we focus on Uncle Dave’s finger-style techniques as well as those of his celebrated accompanists, Sam and Kirk McGee. [more info]

Intermediate
Program: Banjo
$35 ($30 members)
Thu. June 22, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

“Such Partnering”

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$25 ($22 members)
Sat. June 24, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Hand Clapping and Rhythm Games for the Playground and Beyond

[more info]

Open to All
Kids Group Class – Program: Wiggleworms
$20 ($15 members)
Sat. June 24, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Beyond the Mic: Performance Basics

[more info]

Beginner
Program: Voice
$30 ($28 members)
Sat. June 24, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Early Three-Finger and Parlor Banjo Workshop with Clarke Buehling 

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Banjo
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. June 24, 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Stephen Wade Banjo Workshop: Banjoistic Songs and Songsters

At the end of March 1962, North Carolina mountain singer, fretless banjoist, and instrument maker Frank Proffitt (1913-1965) appeared at the School for both an evening concert and a daytime workshop. He played in a two-finger technique that made use of slides and syncopations to accompany his sonorous voice. This 75-minute workshop, which begins with Proffitt, recalls some of his banjo playing contemporaries: Buell Kazee, Bascom Lunsford, Dick Burnett, and Cousin Emmy. They, too, transmitted pieces seemingly made for the instrument, expressed in frailing, up-picking, two- and three-finger styles. [more info]

Intermediate
Program: Banjo
$35 ($30 members)
Sat. June 24, 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Stephen Wade Banjo Workshop: The Talking Banjo

For this final 75-minute session, we survey a range of traditional tunes and songs that reach from the life-sounds of trains, birds, and fox chases to spoken-word stories set to music. Variant banjo tunings frequently animate these descriptive pieces. For many grassroots musicians born in the early years of the 20th century, these numbers often figured among the first they learned, only later to become their signature showpieces. In Chicago, this performance-centered style of expression found an especially welcome home. [more info]

Intermediate
Program: Banjo
$35 ($30 members)
Sun. June 25, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Reggio “The Hoofer” McLaughlin presents Everything’s Copasetic Tap Dance Workshop

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$25 ($23 members)
Sun. June 25, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Ukulele Sing and Strum Workshop

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Ukulele
$30 ($28 members)
$25 ($23 members)
Tue. June 27, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (Central) · Online

Queer As Folk: Finding Your Voice

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Voice
$25 ($20 members)
Thu. June 29, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Queer Flowing with Such Creatures

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$25 ($20 members)
Sat. July 01, 3:00 PM – 4:45 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Motown Modern Dance with Dylan Wray

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$25 ($22 members)
Sun. July 09, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Performance Ear Training Workshop Series with Donovan Mixon Session IV: Sight Singing/Repertoire

Session IV: Sight singing/Repertoire A step by step method for developing the ability to sing simple melodies from the page will be introduced in session III. Like all of the sessions, the Movable Do system and Solfege syllables will be the primary tools for study. [more info]

Open to All
Program:
$30 ($25 members)
Tue. July 11, 8:00 PM – 9:20 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Washboard Workshop

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Drumming
$30 ($28 members)
Sat. July 15, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Healing Performance Anxiety Workshop with Teresa McGrath

[more info]

Open to All
Program:
$30 ($25 members)
Sat. July 15, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · Online

Crash Bass for Guitarists

[more info]

Beginner
Program: Guitar
$25 ($23 members)
Sat. July 15, 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. July 16, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

‘60s Style Go-Go

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$20 ($18 members)
Sun. July 16, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Ukulele Sing and Strum Workshop

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Ukulele
$30 ($28 members)
$25 ($23 members)
Fri. July 21, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Summertime Beatles Songbag

[more info]

Intermediate
Program: Guitar
$30 ($28 members)
Sat. July 22, 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)
$25 ($23 members)
Sun. July 30, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Ukulele Sing and Strum Workshop

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Ukulele
$30 ($28 members)
$25 ($23 members)
$25 ($23 members)
Fri. August 04, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Scottish Doric Song Workshop with Iona Fyfe

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Voice
$35 ($30 members)
Sat. August 05, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Burlesque Chair Dance

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Dance
$25 ($23 members)
Sun. August 06, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central) · 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Performance Ear Training Workshop Series with Donovan Mixon Session V: Bringing It All Together

Session V: Bringing It All Together Here Prof. Mixon will bring all the elements together into a whole in the form of dynamic group singing activities that demonstrate how one will be able to employ the Study Concepts to individual practice. It will be assumed that you have practiced and memorized all of the coursework of the previous four sessions. You will leave challenged and encouraged to move forward in your development of your musicianship. [more info]

Open to All
Program:
$30 ($25 members)
$25 ($23 members)
$25 ($23 members)
Sun. August 13, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Ukulele Sing and Strum Workshop

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Ukulele
$30 ($28 members)
Sat. September 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. September 24, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (Central) · 4545 N Lincoln Ave

Haitian Drum Workshop with We All Break

[more info]

Open to All
Program: Drumming
$30 ($25 members)