Second Half at 333 North Ave. (1958/1968) by Kiko KonagamitsuOld Town School of Folk Music
Founded in 1957
by Chicago's political progressives and folk music enthusiasts, Old Town School of Folk Music was built on the concepts of group learning and playing.
The founders and community had a shared dedication to creating a more egalitarian and inclusive society through both political action and the shared experience of music.
Group learning was not just an efficient way to reach students, but had innumerable benefits both musically and socially.
The Birth of Second Half
One of the earliest concepts embedded into the School's culture was the Second Half—a daily all-levels group jam spearheaded by founders Frank Hamilton and Win Stracke.
"Second Half" got its name from the idea that group instruction was the “first half” of the learning process, but jamming together afterward, practicing new skills in community, was equally important.
Ray Tate, Judy Hauff, Jo Mapes, John Carbo demonstrate a song at Second Half at 333 North Avenue (1963/1967) by Kiko KonagamitsuOld Town School of Folk Music
The Purpose of Second Half
Second Half was designed to unite all levels of ability demonstrating that every student has something to contribute to the shared musical community.
Musical Democracy
This philosophy reflected Hamilton and Stracke's vision of democratic participation. As Hamilton once put it:
"As an institution, we fostered an interactive environment, and what we attempted to do was to break down the teacher-student hierarchy and make it more of a participatory thing. Again, this goes back to the social aspect of teaching, which is I think a very Midwestern concept, the egalitarian again. In other words, the teacher is not the supreme authority[....] It was more equality-based." - Frank Hamilton, 2006
First Friday Open House (2013) by OTSFM MarketingOld Town School of Folk Music
Jamming Into the 21st Century
The tradition of Second Half remains at the core of the Old Town School community today.
All Playing Levels, Instruments, and Voices Are Welcome
For half an hour every day of the week—sometimes multiple times a day—teachers and students play and sing songs from the Old Town School Songbook, a collection of traditional folk songs cultivated over the lifespan of the school.
Alicia Lees, Max Berg, Shelly Miller (center circle) lead Second Half Jam by unknownOld Town School of Folk Music
Keeping Traditions Alive... With a Modern Spin
Beginner students practice their basic skills while more advanced players step up to take solos, counter lines, and harmonies, adding texture to the group sound.
Each week, a different teacher brings in two additional songs called the "Twin Spin," which can include music from any genre.
Through this simple yet profound practice...
Second Half continues to embody the School's founding vision of music as a democratic force. It stands as a living testament to the belief that when people come together to make music, barriers dissolve, community emerges, and learning abounds.
Albert Martinez and Skip Landt lead Americana Jam by unknownOld Town School of Folk Music
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