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Categories: Performing Arts, Specialty Schools, Musical Instruments & Teachers [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Park, DePaulArmitage (Purple Express, Brown)
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I somehow spaced planning summer activities for my little one because of his school and soccer schedule. I was not able to sign him up for summer camp due to the fact that registration had ended and the timing conflicted with his school schedule. Truth be told, neither one of us are any good at activities before 11am. He takes after me; we like to dilly dally and slowly greet the day. It seems as if most camps and classes for preschoolers are scheduled for Christ O' Clock in the morning.
He has taken a real interest in art. I wanted to find a class that would be stimulating and exciting for him. He has outgrown Bubbles and Gymboree. I really didn't want to put him in a simple finger painting class.
The art classes offered at Old Town are phenomenal. The price is fairly reasonable for 8 weeks. He adores his art teacher, Miss Laura. I appreciate her teaching methods. She starts the class off by reading them a story. The projects are based on how they interpreted the story. She also incorporates music into the activities. I am ecstatic to say that the projects that he has produced are the things that I am proud to display, not mish mash. The art projects reflect their development as the weeks progress. He just finished Primary Colors and has just started Secondary Colors. He looks forward to his art class every week.
We took the first session with Xtie and her little one. It gave all of us a chance to hang out and spend time together. I absolutely love the shops and the park nearby. I highly recommend enrolling at Old Town. It is well worth the money.
Things to note...I'm perpetually late. After starting on the wrong foot, I know now that when a class starts..that's when we need to be there..not 5, not 10, or 15 minutes later. I'm awful at this. I also recommend allowing yourself 20 minutes before class begins for parking and using the restrooms before class starts.
Having never taken a class here, mainly because I have the musical talent of a dying lobster's screams, I can't give a full 5 stars, but I did enjoy the performance I saw with my pal, and I had high standards given our roadside performance witnessed at dinner just prior.
Bob Dylan birthday tribute concert was replete with good tunes, a little improv stand-up from the performers, and cackling ridiculousness from the peanut gallery (i.e. us).
Even the nosebleed seats are not bad, they're comfy, and you can knock back a Dead Guy while lovingly heckling your friendly performers.
Watch out for the man in the vest.
Old town has a special place in my heart.
Singing has always been my favorite thing ever, but rarely get a chance to sing, especially with others, so I was thrilled to find Old Town School of Folk Music.
I signed up for an 8 week group vocal class, and really liked it. Our teacher, Carol, was quirky, sweet, and had great tips to get the sound you want. There was a relaxed, non-competitive learning environment that really felt like a community. Every week, when I walked into the door (of the Lincoln Square location) I automatically felt great- maybe it's the sound combination of five jam sessions in the lobby, or maybe it's something in the air.
Since it's so affordable, I'm signing up for another class to get my meager guitar skills in gear... while I'm at it, ukulele too!
I love this place! Where else can adults get together and learn how to play instruments, write music, sing, dance, etc? The place itself is awesome, the atmosphere friendly and inviting, and the location amazing. (LOVE me some Lincoln Square). My teacher is okay... He was kind of really high when he came to class last and wasn't very... coherent. But mostly, I love love love it! :)
I am going to totally be honest here...I have commitment issues.
When it comes to putting a lot of time, effort, blood, sweat & tears--I tend to back out real fast. Well usually almost anything. See friends, I have this list of things I want to do before I am 40 years old. Naturally, learning how to play the guitar is on it. (A life list wouldn't be quite a life list if guitar playing wasn't on it!)
Anyways, I was really nervous about taking guitar lessons, simply because my youngest brother has been playing for years & tried to teach me a few things--well basically--I sucked. Big time. So I took a deep breath & signed up for classes at the Old Town School of Folk Music.
After talking to the people at the front desk--they had me convinced that I would be able to play a song after only one lesson! They even promised! So what is the harm in taking a chance.
Boy oh boy! Am I glad I did! I've been taking lessons since early August of 2008, and I am now fully addicted to playing my guitar. Thanks to my wonderful teacher Jason, my life is never going to be the same. I am actually onto Guitar 2! After graduating Guitar 1, Guitar 1 Rep--I feel like a professional. Every single person I've met has been great! All the teachers are super patient while you are learning new chords, strums, songs, lyrics & notes.
I cannot stress this enough--if you are looking to have fun & want to learn how to play any instrument take group lessons at Old Town! You won't regret it!
My friend (Ben H) was taking Ukulele classes at the Lincoln Square location and was raving about the level of awesomeness of his class, and how happy he was with the whole experience. So naturally, I signed up -- for beginner guitar lessons at the Old Town location, which is closer to my home, and I could not be happier. The staff is friendly and wonderful in every way, and the teaching method basically amounts to -- get this -- PLAYING GUITAR in a group setting. Turns out that you can learn a new instrument by playing it! Who would have thought?!? Even after the first lesson you come away with a song or two under your belt.
The "Different Strummer" music store inside is awesome as well. Knowledgeable, friendly employees help you with every question. If they don't have something at one store, they can transfer it from the bigger Lincoln Square location -- a great service.
Honestly, if I could give Old Town School of Folk Music 6 stars, I would. It's just that kind of place.
This school provides another reason why Chicago is a GREAT place to live. CPS teachers get a discount and if you signup early there's another $15 discount. That's $140 for one 1.5 hour lesson/week for 8 weeks! DEAL! You can rent a guitar for $55/8-week course and ask about how that rental goes towards purchasing the instrument. Great group of teachers who'r professional musicians working in the scene today. Drink whilst you da Capo! Meet at The Store after strumming with your new buddies! See, it's trickle-down economics...so, it's even Obama-approved!
I'm taking guitar lessons at the Armitage shop, but wait, look at your options folks:
Accordion Autoharp Banjo Bass Cello Dobro Dulcimer Fiddle Flute Guitar Harmonica Mandolin Oud Percussion 'Ukulele Voice Bluegrass Blues Celtic Dance Ensembles Jazz Performance Production Rock Songwriting Theater Theory
DO IT! Become a member. MAKE the time! The whole city will benefit from your patronage.....even in the way you'll (YULE!) relate to friends, your kids and professional collaboratORS. Improve your quality of life. Love harder. I've heard a person doubles production of sexi-pheromones when taking lessons at OT; uh huh - heard that. Get out of the house baby! Everyone should be involved in producing music in some capacity. Think: Butterfly Affect, Karma....even.
An EXcellent Xmas gift too. The glove fits! Get your spouse outta the house! Sign up your spawn for after-school!
Awww, this is where I learned to play guitar after I first moved to Chicago! I had a great time in Dan F's class. That guy is hilarious and talented and gave us cool songs to learn. After a long stressful day at the office, I could not help but smile and laugh as all the classes got together at the end of each night for a giant jam session.
I can't wait to sign up for a class here. The people are so great and they have such a wide range of classes available. Super friendly too.
It's been almost seven years since I have been part of any organized music ensemble, so I was fairly nervous to take on the guitar. But along with the company of a willing friend, Old Town School made me realize just how much I missed playing music! Tuesday's are now the best night of my week!
Old Town school gets you playing songs after just your first class, which keeps you wanting more. I learned as a first time student in Guitar 1 that young, old, musically inclined or not, it doesn't matter - everyone just has fun! Tuesday night sessions culminate with all the classes getting together for "second half", and I highly recommend sticking around. Even if you can only pick out a few chords, it's such a good time, and it's the best way to learn (or just listen - some of these instructors are truly amazing).
The staff are quirky and helpful, and if you choose, you can BYOB during class at the Armitage location, or buy a beer at the concession counter at the Lincoln Avenue spot. You may not get a lot of direction on actual technique at the beginning (like how to read music), but as you progress, so does the instruction.
No matter how stressful my day has been, I always leave Old Town feeling energized. As I approach the end of Guitar 1 Repertoire, my second 8-week session, I'm beginning to feel a little more "folk-rock goddess", and a little less "campfire sing along."
Although to be honest, I'd be fine with either one.
Note: I work for Old Town School so this a partially biased review
I adore Old Town School for many reasons. They bring in some great and sometimes obscure musicians for concerts. There is a ton of different types of classes here that you won't find anywhere else. At least not all offered under the same roof. Classes start as young as newborns and go up to just before you're about to croak.
Both locations have their perks however I prefer Armitage over the Lincoln location. It's more cozy and I feel like I meet many more people here. The dance studio is on the smaller size, but has tons of natural light, a decent sound system, and the floor doesn't aggravate my shin splits like the studios at Lincoln.
As an employee I can tell you we're well payed with benefits and are given a lot of creative freedom. It really is a great gig and a wonderful place.
I brought both of my children here years ago for Wiggleworms and Orff Schulwerk classes. The teachers were all wonderful, and my kids benefited greatly from interacting via music. Although my son spent a good deal of time trying to "escape" from the room, and my daughter seemed to want to dance more than clap along, both of them would sing the songs to me and themselves later. It made us all very happy!
Both of my children are very bright and enjoy music to this day. Early exposure to music, I believe, has been a key factor in their development. Thank you, Old Town School of Folk Music, for being such an important and positive part of them!
Great classes for kids. Teachers are great. Fun kids music in the store downstairs.
I took lessons and attended concents a la OTSFM at the original Armitage location for....damn, really long time. My parents used to catch concerts here when they dated in the 60s. I'll have to find a photo, they were so hip. In the late 80s I took guitar lessons from Muriel Anderson and it was transformative.
They have a lot to offer in the way of classes and live music for all ages. Group or individual lessons, many instruments, piano, vocal, etc.
It's cliche but I'll say it anyway. "An institution."
I took private flute lessons for a while. Very nice. Little weird at first listening to the sounds of the singer or piano player in the room next door, but the old building had enough charm to get me over myself. My instructor "Laura" was excellent. I'll do it again...maybe some more flute or maybe a little piano...
This is one of the places that makes Chicago the unique place that it is. This Chicago institution has been teaching kids and adults to sing and play guitar for 30+ years. In the old place on Armitage, the performance hall was called Broonzy hall, named after Big Bill Broonzy, the great blues singer who I had the priviledge of knowing as a child.
I was raised on folk music, and thank the good folks at this place for helping to keep it alive. On the radio, the program called "The Midnight Special", broadcast on Saturday nights on WFMT, does the same work. I also listen to WDCB, 90.9 out of the College of DuPage for their folk music programming. Too bad WBEZ doesn't play more!
Note: for some reason, the old address of the school is listed. Now they are up on Lincoln Ave. but you already knew that, right?
Good People, Good Music, Good Beer, and you actually learn how to play guitar. Old Town is the best place to learn musical instruments in the city period . The group classes are where it's at you just love going to class each week and feel motivated to practice and actually learn. I've tried to learn guitar before and could motivate myself until my wife bought me some lessons at Old Town. I learned and am still learning. If you ever wanted to learn an instrument, Just do it! Also, everyone brings beer to class so you get drunk and play. Also, heard they have great kids classes.
My only exposure to Old Town so far are the Wiggleworms classes that my toddler son so enjoys there. He absolutely adores this place. It's made me want to perhaps take some classes there myself!
The school, with its wide variety of courses offered, is an incredible resource for the community. This review pertains specifically to the bhangra dance classes taught by Shamila Khetarpal.
Shamila is a great dancer, no question (search YouTube for "bhangra shamila" to see videos of her classes and performances). Moreover, she's a wonderful teacher. She's bubbly, warm, and energetic, and she's a patient instructor who explains steps carefully and makes sure everyone "gets" it. She also throws in interesting bits of information and expertise about the history and background of the dance, and every week tells students about local events where they can dance bhangra or see bhangra performances. Most of all, she makes the classes both high-energy and low-pressure- who knew a class in Indian folk dancing could be so unintimidating to newbies?? For all you seasoned dancers, don't worry, it's still plenty challenging as well. I don'tt there are many cities with classes offered expert teachers of authentic bhangra dance (in contrast to somewhat more common Bollywood-flavored aerobics classes) so this is a real opportunity for Chicago dancers and wannabe dancers!
The classes are offered at two levels, one for beginners and one for students with bhangra experience. They are both crazy fun and a great workout! The music and movements are joyous and I've heard more than one student leave class saying they wish they had an Indian wedding to go to so they could dance there.
A couple of cautionary tidbits--the classes fill fast, especially the beginner level, so register early to get your slot! Also, the dance studio, which is pretty well equipped with sprung floors (to help prevent injury and joint stress) and mirrors, is NOT air-conditioned. Be prepared to sweat during the warmer months!
My new favorite place in Chicago. I take guitar there and it's a total blast...it's a Chicago "institution" without feeling sanitized and definitely not boring. Lots of character and tons of course and (often free) concert selections to choose from. The "second half" after every class where everyone jams in the auditorium is the best. You can learn an instrument faster by taking private lessons, but it's not as fun as taking it in a group at the old town school.
The absolute best! Most of the teachers are working musicians and they offer group classes which are much cheaper and I find better for learning than private tutoring.
Lots of different music classes are offered here. Some famous and semi-famous musicians have attended here. A couple of them now teach classes here. Their reputation for excellence has help them grow thru-out the years so much so that they now have another facility on Lincoln near Wilson.
I've been taking guitar lessons at this place for about a year now, going through their 1 through 4 curriculum (actually I broke off after 3 and took Fingerboard Theory at the Lincoln Square location). The staff is fantastic: enthusiastic about music, friendly and outgoing. If you're looking for a friendly environment to grow your music skills, this is the place to go. I continually look forward to my next upcoming class.
This place is awesome! If you've been wanting to take any type of music lessons from instruments to voice to dance, do it here! I took a dance class for two sessions and had the greatest time! They offer "scholarships" based on income so don't let price be a problem.
I like Old Town School of Folk Music's Lincoln Ave Campus (On Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Square) much better than this cramped location. However, the teachers are all great and the classes are very cheap for the high class instruction they provide....
Old Town is a great place to see some talented musicians or to learn how to play an instrument. They have classes for all ages and the teachers are really nice. This location is more accessible to me, but there is also another on Lincoln. I love their free concerts.
When I was four years old, I decided I wanted to take violin lessons and I sucked so bad that my mom made me quit. Of course, being the encouraging mother that she is, she suggested that I try a different instrument; I said guitar. Now, some 18 years later, thanks to Old Town School of Folk Music, I'm still playing guitar and going strong. The faculty here is terrific and the store, A Different Strummer, offers all the supplies you need. If you want to learn how play guitar, there is no better place.
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