This Is Total Guitar Weather
By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 20, 2006 8:09PM
Now that the weather is turning cool, it’s time to start catching up on your reading and taking a few self-improvement classes. For some of us, that means finally learning to play a musical instrument.
We’ve had a ukulele gathering dust in the corner for a while, so we’re finally going to head to Old Town School of Folk Music and hit up some of their classes. But this season, we’re also planning on checking out their workshops too. After we take their Circuit Bending workshop, we can finally start that squank-rock band that’s been our lifelong dream. Either that or we’ll take a DJ and Turntablist workshop since everyone’s a DJ nowadays. Look at their other workshops here or view their list of classes here.
Two new places that will help you find your beat just opened here in the city. Rockwörks just opened a location in lakeview at Alphonsus Academy (1439 W. Wellington) after running the Northwest Music School since 2002. Classes run for eight weeks and are an hour and a half long. Each eight-week course runs $180. The difference between Rockwörks and a program like Old Town is that Rockwörks students are grouped together by age and ability and rehearse as an actual band for those eight weeks. Frankly, we just love that the name Rockwörks is spelled with an umlaut. Of all pronunciation marks, there is none more rock.
And don't forget the kids! A branch of the Paul Green School of Rock Music (as seen in the Rock School documentary) just opened here. Green often came off as an abusive douchebag in the film, but he was obviously passionate about music. There are 15 branches open now and 17 opening soon. Chicago's branch is located at 3043 N. Ashland Ave. and takes students ages 7 to 18. If you're interested in learning more, they're holding an open house this Saturday. Call 773-857-3804 for more information.