Old Town School of Folk Music

Welcome to the Old Town School! It's the first week of classes, and whether you're a first-timer, a long-timer, or somewhere in between, we're so happy to have you here this session. The Old Town School has three different locations: two buildings in Lincoln Square and one in Lincoln Park. Each site holds classes and concerts throughout the year for students, community members, and music lovers all over the world! The Lincoln Square campus is even home to the @oldtownschoolmusicstore and an in-house Resource Center filled with decades of institutional information and music history. Here's a quick peek into the different locations and a few of the events that take place in these stunning spaces. If you haven't registered for a class yet, there's still time! Visit the link in our bio to browse all of our offerings 🎶

New to the school, or looking for ways to get even more involved? Join in on a vital Old Town School tradition and community music-making practice called "Second Half"! These fun, relaxed, and FREE daily jams date all the way back to the founding of the school, and are designed to bring all instruments and skill levels together. The perfect place to practice the skills you're learning in class with fellow students, faculty, and community members. Check out the full schedule of in-person and online jams through the link in our bio 💕

New to Old Town School or just looking for a way to jam with other local musicians? Join us in one of our vital traditions and community music-making practice, “Second Half”! These fun, relaxed, and FREE daily jams date back to 1957 when the school was founded and are designed to bring all instruments and ability levels together. They’re the perfect way to practice new skills (that maybe you’ve been learning in an Old Town School class 😉) with fellow students, faculty, and community members. Check out our full schedule of FREE jams through the link in our bio 💕

The summer is just getting started, and there’s no better way to kick off the season than right here in our concert halls! From live music to weekend forums to artists in conversation, we have it ALL coming up here at Old Town School ✨ Check out our full lineup of events through the link in our bio and get your tickets before they’re gone🎟️

STARTING TODAY🎧💿🎶 The Old Town School Record Sale at @musicdirectchicago is happening all weekend long! Stop by to browse all our musical treasures — thousands of donated LPs, rare 78s, essential books, CDs, and DVDs, alongside premium records and equipment sourced directly from Music Direct’s warehouse. We’ll be here from 10-5 today (Saturday) and tomorrow (Sunday). We can’t wait to see ya! 📍1811 W. Bryn Mawr Ave Every purchase made will directly contribute to supporting the Old Town School Resource Center library 📚

✨Get to know Music Moves Chicago: Classes✨ Rooted in Old Town School’s commitment to community building, @musicmoveschi is a place-based, youth-focused, intergenerational initiative grounded on Chicago’s South and West Sides. Their work brings people together through music, movement, and shared creative practice by placing these elements at the center of community wellness. One of Music Move’s cornerstone offerings are FREE dance and music classes for all ages and ability levels. From Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba to monthly banjo meet ups, each offering is deeply rooted in cultural tradition and designed to make high-quality arts experiences accessible and welcoming. A brand new 10-week Music Moves class session has just begun, and there are still plenty of opportunities for you to drop in! Plus, keep an eye out for more info on their additional programming including youth camps, free concerts, symposiums, and so much more!! Follow @musicmoveschi to stay in the loop 🎉 (featuring classes with John Chapman, Lauren Brooks, Edson Cabrera, Zenzile Fatou, Maila Sylla, Uche Omoniyi, Quincy Raggs, Shanta Nurullah & Zahra Baker, and the Black Banjo Reclamation Project)

Exciting news! Wiggleworms is back at @gallagherwaychi starting NEXT WEEK (May 12) 💕☀️🫧 Join a variety of acclaimed @oldtownschool kids teaching artists on Tuesdays at 10am through September for some FREE family fun! They’ll guide kids and caregivers through our most popular Wiggleworms songs and activities (bubbles and pop jets included 😉) right outside of Wrigley Field on Clark Street. Check our bio for the full schedule. Can’t wait to see you there!

ICYMI: The @oldtownschoolmusicstore has a new and improved kids section! 🎶✨💕👯 Equipped with tons of interactive elements (and a fresh coat of paint), this popular part of the store is the perfect place for kiddos to begin building a love of music. We’ve got you covered on anything you may need to inspire the young musicians in your life including simple percussion instruments, guitars for little hands, storybooks, finger puppets, blocks, and more! Stop by our Lincoln Square location to visit the Music Store in person or browse our selection of kids music equipment online. We hope to see you soon!

Come celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month all throughout May right here at Old Town School ⭐ Join some of our very own teachers and incredible visiting artist for a great rundown of events including dynamic dance workshops and a family-friendly jam. Visit the link in bio to learn more about our #AANHPIHeritageMonth programming and register today!

🗣️ATTENTION ALL MUSIC ENTHUSIASTS, COLLECTORS, AND AUDIOPHILES🗣️ Old Town School and @musicdirectchicago are teaming up for a third year in a row to bring you a record sale for the ages! Mark your calendars and join us at Music Direct’s warehouse (1811 W. Bryn Mawr) on Saturday, 5/9 and Sunday, 5/10, from 10 AM to 5 PM for an extraordinary two-day event 🎧📀🎶 Explore a diverse array of musical treasures including thousands of donated LPs, rare 78s, essential books, CDs, and DVDs, alongside premium records and equipment sourced directly from Music Direct’s warehouse. Plus, proceeds from the Record Sale support the Old Town School Resource Center to further develop the library collection! Visit the link in our bio for more details, and we can’t wait to see you there next weekend! #RecordSale #OldTownSchoolofFolkMusic #MusicDirect #ChicagoEvents #RecordCollection

YOU! should sign up for an Old Town School class⚡️A new session started yesterday, and we don’t want you missing out on all of the action. There’s still time to register before it’s too late! Browse all of our music and dance class offerings through the link in our bio. (featuring Hip Hop Dance with Amirah Sackett)

A brand new session of Old Town School classes starts TOMORROW (April 27) 🥳🕺🪕 Our offerings cover a wide range of levels from very beginner to advanced and include everything from guitar to tap dance, banjo, tango, mandolin, ballet, fiddle, line dance, piano, and SO much more 🎵 Pick up a new skill and explore the world of music and movement all while meeting great people. Find a class that's perfect for you by browsing the catalogue on our website!