School Partnerships

The Old Town School of Folk Music brings the joy and power of the arts to more than 2,500 school children each year through its School Partnerships Programs.

Students experience in-depth arts learning in music, dance, and more through sequential, skill-based residency programs. Old Town School maintains that a quality arts education is a birthright, and is committed to reducing geographic and socio-economic barriers through accessible education programs that welcome every child.

Artist-in-Residence Program

Through the Artist-in-Residence program, schools can access relevant, meaningful community music and dance from around the world, including Latin Percussion, Harmonica Orchestra, Afro-Caribbean Dance, Jug Band Ensemble, Capoeira, and much more. Old Town School's expert teaching artists focus on individual skill development, ensemble-building, and critical thinking, and empower children with the tools for creative self-expression. Students learn to identify and value their role as art-makers within the context of both new and familiar cultures.

Goals for the Artist-In-Residence program include:
Students will identify themselves as creative artists
Students will grow their artistic practice by exploring, playing and performing
Students will increase their knowledge in the arts

If you are interested in bringing an Artist-In-Residence to your school, please contact School Partnership Manager Kate Walsh at kwalsh@oldtownschool.org and download our School Partnerships Catalog of Offerings HERE.

Wiggleworms-in-Residence Program

The Wiggleworms-in-Residence program is a long-standing successful partnership between Old Town School of Folk Music and Carole Robertson Center for Learning in Chicago. Since 2000, Old Town School has collaborated with CRCL to remove barriers to early childhood music education and prepare infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and families for success in early life.

As the program introduces young children to the joy of making music themselves, it fosters confidence, creativity and cooperation. Through the celebration of music and the sharing of cultural traditions, Old Town School strives to build strong bonds between children, teachers and families.

If you are interested in bringing Wiggleworms-in-Residence to your school, please contact School Partnerships Manager Kate Walsh at kwalsh@oldtownschool.org.

Since 1976, the Carole Robertson Center for Learning has been dedicated to educating, enriching, and empowering children and families through comprehensive child and family development programs on the west side of Chicago.

Guitars for Growth

Old Town School's Guitars for Growth program serves incarcerated students at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center's Jefferson High School. Serving both arts education and rehabilitative purposes, this program aims to support student development in three areas: Fundamental Guitar Language and Play; Historical and Emotional Empowerment; and Evolving Awareness and Stewardship. Old Town School works with students to build connections to their musical heritage and traditions, and equip them with goal-setting, self-management and future orientation skills to carry their lives forward.

Old Town School is delighted to partner with the CPS Office of Arts Education and Ingenuity, Inc. in support and implementation of the CPS Arts Plan.