Harmonica, harmonica workshops, basic blues, hot dogs, and more! skiplandt@sbcglobal.net    OTHER MUSIC This is the page where we encourage you to get involved in more music -- exploring a new instrument by yourself, taking classes, hanging out at the Old Town School, the Chicago Barndance Company activities, or in other parts of the "folk underground." An old radio act used to end their programs by saying: "Keep singin' - it's good for you!" That's equally true of playing an instrument, dancing, or even just actively listening and enjoying. The Old Town School of Folk Music Whatever you do, keep coming around the Old Town School. (Or stop over, for a class, a concert, or just a bite to eat at the neat little cafe). Why come over? Because it's a community of people who love music, and what's a better kind of community? I started hanging around the Old Town School of Folk Music in 1978. At that time, the School had one location, at 909 West Armitage. Back then, the school was a down-at-the- heels, hole-in-the-knees operation. As you entered, to your right was an old, overstuffed couch piled high with Readers. That was OK, though, and possibly even intentional; sitting on it would envelop the sitter and bystanders in a cloud of Armitage Avenue dust. You arranged for your class or lesson with a very pleasant, mild-mannered Asian-Indian woman behind an ancient desk. She operated from a cash box in the top drawer, and seemed unfazed by operating on the cutting edge of the school's administrative chaos. A bit past her desk was an old pot-belly stove, a faux-folky decorative accessory also used to collect dust. But the major feature that I can't shake, and can still almost smell,is the porcelain trough in the men's room that served as a urinal. I began teaching harmonica at the school in 1984. In addition to taking classes at the school, I'd had workshops or lessons with Billy Branch, Madcat Ruth, Howard Levy, Phil Wiggins, and others. In those days, I was the school's only harp teacher. We had three levels of harp, all taught on Monday nights, and occasional workshops. A few years back I switched to Wednesdays, and started bringing in a volunteer guitar player. I've had some great ones. These include Deb Lader, who now performs with the Sons of the Never Known. They recently performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. That's my story. It's all fun. And it will be fun for you too -- as long as you recognize that OTSFM is not a school, but a community. And you're part of it -- or can be. The Chicago Barndance Company One of Chicago's great folk resources is the Chicago Barndance Company. This wonderful coordinating body provides a regular schedule of old-time dances in Chicago and environs. Now if "dance" makes you think of your own long aversion to dancing, or your lack of a partner, relax. In fact, relax even more if "barndance" brings to mind identically dressed couples doing fancy steps as a performance. Chicago Barndances are in the old square dance tradition. You don't need to know anything about dancing. Dances are taught and walked through in advance. No partner? No difference -- these dances are recreational, with many or even most people coming by themselves, just for the pleasure of the dance. That includes people in their 20's and 30's to people in their 50's and beyond. Most important, there is exciting,live music, provided by barndance bands from the Chicago area or visiting from other parts of the country. Interested? There's a regular two month schedule of the dances, usually posted on the boards at the Old Town School. You can contact the Chicago Barndance Company at PMB 195, 2859 Central St., Evanston, Il. 60201-1234 to get the calendar sent to you. Better, check their website at www.ChicagoBarnDance.com As of this writing, there are Sunday night dances at the Warrenville Community Building, Monday night dances at the Parkview Lutheran Church in Chicago, and Saturday night dances some weeks at the Esperanza School in Chicago or at Ida Noyes Hall of the University of Chicago, in Hyde Park. Here's an instrument you may not know about! Harmonica is great fun. But what if you like to sing and find the harmonica too limited? Or what if you want a fuller sound? That happens with some people. The autoharp is a great and even easier instrument. That's Fran's major instrument, and a snap to play. I'm now teaching autoharp too, doing private lessons at the Old Town School of Folk Music. What makes it so easy? Well, instead of cramping your fingers to find a chord, you push a button. And instead of looking for just the right string, you brush a pick across a bunch of them. It's a fine instrument for many kinds of music. And because you get full chords every time, the music that comes out is beautiful. Back a few years ago there was a group of people who took autoharp classes at the OTSFM -- but mainly got together to sing and play a couple times a month. It would be fun to have such a group again. Interested? Give us a call. Skip (or Fran) 773 604-4115