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| It's Friday night at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Lincoln Square. People stream in the front doors for a performance that's a tribute to the Rolling Stones. Throughout the school, musicians cluster in small groups as they get ready to go onstage. The air is filled with the sounds of guitars tuning, vocalists warming up, harmonica notes here and there, nervous laughter and the electricity of pre-performance jitters. Inside the packed auditorium, a new band or soloist takes the stage every fifteen minutes or so to do a Rolling Stones cover and another song. Each set offers a different take on the Stones, such as a laid-back jazz version of "Ruby Tuesday," a Ragtime-inspired piano solo of "Brown Sugar" and a faithful rendition of "Mother's Little Helpers" from the Momma's Boys, a rock and roll band starring elementary-school-aged kids. The audience sips beer, claps, cheers and laughs at the musicians' jokes. It's a typical night at the Old Town School, where there's always some form of music or performance happening. Events like this Rolling Stones tribute are just one way that the Old Town School brings music to the people and people to the music. |
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| Talk to anyone in the halls of the Old Town School, and they'll tell you a story about how the school changed their life. Laura Doherty, now the Children's Program Manager, first got involved with the school as a student. "I remember the feeling I had when I first walked through the doors and into the song circle," recalls Laura. "You know the feeling you have when you know you're in the right place?" She had walked into a First Friday, one of the school's long-time traditions where students and teachers gather on the first Friday of each month to try out their newly learned skills in front of an audience of neighbors and peers. |
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| When Laura worked at the school as a volunteer, her supervisor Kerry Sheehan (who is the Program Director) approached her and suggested that she'd make a good teacher. She started as a Wiggleworms instructor, working with kids under three and their parents to help build their social and motor skills, along with an appreciation for music. "I really defined what I wanted to do with my life by working here," says Laura. She now teaches a Women's Acoustic class too, which provides an encouraging environment for women to play guitar, and features songs from women artists such as the Indigo Girls. "People love to take classes where they can play songs from their favorite group," says Laura. But classes like Women's Acoustic do more than just teach students to play guitar. "You're learning, but you're singing and playing together as a group," says Laura. "It's also about having fun." With opportunities to participate in open mic nights and regular events like First Fridays, performance also becomes a big element of each class, giving students a chance to gain confidence and share what they've learned with an audience. |
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 The Old Town School of Folk Music was founded on the philosophy that people could benefit from learning to play music in groups. It opened in 1957, at a time when folk music was gaining popularity in America, as an idea developed by founders Dawn Greening, Frank Hamilton and Win Starcke. By 1968, the Old Town School had expanded and moved into its long-standing location at 909 West Armitage. Famous musicians such as John Prine and Roger McGuinn of The Byrds and more recently, Alice Peacock have studied at the Old Town School, while renowned performers such as Pete Seeger and Joni Mitchell have come to play there. The 1990s brought a huge influx of students that inspired the school to look for ways to meet the demand for classes.
When he heard that the Old Town School was looking for a new location, Alderman Gene Schulter suggested the old Hild Library on Lincoln, a beautiful art deco building that had sat vacant since 1986. Residents in the area were looking for a way to preserve the former library as a cultural institution, and Alderman Schulter felt that the school would be a perfect fit for the neighborhood. As the Old Town School renovated the historic library, the Executive Director at the time, Jim Hirsch, made every effort to preserve its architectural integrity. During the renovation, the library's rooms made a perfect transition into the many classrooms and studios that the school needed. The biggest change took place as the school transformed the stacks into a two-tiered auditorium, which is now known to have some of the best acoustics in the city. Two magnificent WPA murals, which were preserved from the library, fit right in with the school's atmosphere. In September of 1998, the school officially opened on Lincoln Avenue to a special dedication concert. With 6,500 students and 230 faculty members as of January 2003, the Old Town School of Folk Music is the largest community arts schools in the country. |
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 It's especially appropriate that the Old Town School moved into a former library since it's also an institution that focuses on education and outreach. And Lincoln Square, home to diverse cultures throughout its history, presented a perfect venue to bring together musical traditions from all over the world. The current Executive Director, David Roche, combines his experience as an ethnomusicology PhD, educator, former Artistic Director of the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival and as an accomplished musician and music journalist to head the Old Town School. No stranger to Chicago, David first lived here in the 1960s, when he came to study music. "I had my first sitar lesson in 1966 at the University of Chicago," David recalls, smiling. While living in the city, David spent most of his free time, "imbibing the South Side through all of its blues clubs." He was thrilled to have the opportunity to work at the Old Town School, where he is able to unite his skills, experience and love of music.
"Part of the school's mission is to expand our focus to include all kinds of popular culture," says David. One of the ways they achieve this is through extensive outreach programs that go beyond the neighborhood to venues such as schools and community centers around Chicago. A current program in Lawndale involving both parents and kids integrates physical and musical education. The school's longest running outreach program is the Global Roots residency, which sends artists representing different musical genres to third grade classrooms throughout the city. As the third grade students begin to study history for the first time, the musicians introduce examples of how roots of cultures around the world have set down to grow into American culture. Each year's program is a little different, but the students are always invited to come to a performance at the Old Town School for the project's conclusion. "All the teachers are working musicians," says David, "who become role models to their classes. The kids really relate to them." |
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 Throughout the years, the Old Town School has impacted many lives. It continues to grow, accomplishing more in the Lincoln Square community and beyond. Gail Tyler, the school's Business Director, first discovered the Old Town School when she moved to Chicago to work for Citibank in the early 1990s. "If you don't want to be lonely in Chicago," Gail laughs, "go do something you like and you'll meet people you like." Singing was what she did, so she started by joining the Old Town Chorus. That led her to more classes, which helped her learn the fiddle, guitar and bass. She also participated in the school's ensembles. "Getting together and playing with other people was just the most incredible experience," she recalls. Like other Old Town School employees, she, too, lent her bass playing skills to a Rolling Stones cover song that Friday night.
When she left Citibank to join a marketing consulting firm, Gail got an idea that she wanted to do marketing work for the Old Town School. Her idea became reality in 1996, when the school hired her as its Marketing Director. While working in this position, she also lent a hand and functioned as its acting Executive Director before the school found David Roche to fill the position. Gail was one of the key people who orchestrated the move to the Lincoln Avenue location. Before the school made its decision, Gail performed as much research as she could to find out if students would follow the school to a new location. In the end, they moved on faith that a new building three times the size of the Armitage location would eventually be filled with students. |
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 One of the reasons why the move has worked so well is the partnership role the Old Town School has assumed in the Lincoln Square community. People like David, Gail and many others behind the scenes are responsible for this interaction. The school has built relationships with other businesses and community groups in the area that are beneficial to everyone. When you walk into The Grafton, the Irish pub a few doors from the school, you'll find plenty of students there and you may even catch one of the weekly student performances it hosts. The summer Folk and Roots Festival hosted by the school brings visitors from all over the Midwest to Welles Park to see some of the top names in folk music perform in an intimate setting. To thank the neighborhood for its warm welcome, the Old Town School has contributed new fixtures for the community's benefit. In cooperation with Alderman Schulter, the Chicago Park District, the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois, the Old Town School donated funds to help build a gazebo in Welles Park. The school works with the Park District, local chambers of commerce and neighbors to create programs in the park for area children and residents during the warmer months. The gazebo itself was specially designed to accommodate all types of events. "Even large bands can get up there, differently abled musicians can get up there. It's set up for everyone," says Gail.
The Old Town School has been extremely successful in its mission to get people involved with music, whether they are musicians or simply music lovers. "We host lots of events that allow people to just drop in and see what we're all about," says Gail. La Peña is a weekly music series held every Wednesday night that brings in performers to celebrate the music and dance of all Latin cultures. Programs like La Peña reach out to bring different cultures into the Lincoln Square community for a night of affordable fun—admission is free or a $5.00 donation. In honor of Black History Month, the Voices of the New Black Millennium series will begin on February 12th at the South Shore Cultural Center (7059 S. South Shore Drive). This program brings together African American artists from poets to musicians and vocalists for a seven week long series of performances. And of course First Fridays offer the chance to see the school's students and teachers perform in an atmosphere that's like a giant jam session. "The time to come is the last week of the session," says Gail. "That's when we hold a big graduation ceremony." Grab a cold beer and a snack, and plan to settle in for a spirited night of music. |
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 If you've ever considered taking up a new instrument, or if you're a musician or vocalist looking to polish your skills, then you'll want to get to know the Old Town School. They offer classes for a broad range of instruments and musical genres, for all ages and skill levels. You can learn how to play anything from the tin whistle, to the harmonica, congo drum or even the didgeridoo, an ancient aboriginal Australian instrument. Join a vocal ensemble, or learn a special vocal technique such as Gospel or yodeling. If you prefer one on one teaching, private lessons of varying lengths are available. Shorter workshops are available if you're not ready to commit to a longer class just yet. Old Town School classes broaden to cover other performing arts such as dance (ballet to belly dancing), acting and improv.
Children as young as three months to three years can begin to experiment with music and language through the Wiggleworms classes, which are now available in Spanish, French and German. No other school in the area offers music courses to children under three. A wide range of other children's classes are available, including visual art classes, at the Lincoln Square and Armitage locations, as well as in Evanston, Highland Park and Hinsdale. The next session of classes is eight weeks long and runs from March 3rd until April 27th. Call 773.728.6000 or visit the school's website to register. |
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| Despite all the school's accomplishments, it's a not-for-profit institution that depends on grants and donations for its success. The school has financial goals that it must continue to reach each year to support its many programs, of which the outreach programs are the most under-funded. You can support the school and enjoy all it has to offer by attending its many performances or by patronizing its on-site music shop, Different Strummer. You can also become a member by making a donation that entitles you to ticket discounts and advanced ticket purchases. Those who are able to donate $125 or more are honored on a display of bronze guitar picks engraved with their names. |
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| So as you see people walking up and down Lincoln Avenue with oddly-shaped instrument cases of all sizes, you'll know where they are headed. Stop in someday to see and hear for yourself how the Old Town School continues to make Lincoln Square a culturally rich neighborhood. |
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Old Town School of Folk Music-Lincoln Square
4544 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
773.728.6000
www.oldtownschool.com |
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| Read more profiles in the Member of the Month Archives |
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