• FALL 2026 - 18 WEEKS

  • Meet weekly (a full hour of instruction and jam time) at our either our Glen Ellyn campus or our Wheaton Campus

  • Time TBD - tentatively Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays 6-7p, 7-8p, and 8-9p

  • 1 Recital Performance - will perform in a Bellas Artes recital as a group

  • Bands will be scheduled according to instructor and student availability 

  • Advanced students may be paired together for a Bluegrass band

  • If you want to join mid-semester, we might still be able to place you. If we can, we will pro-rate your bill accordingly.

• PRICING - $25 per hour of group instruction

  • Fall/Spring (18 sessions) - $90/month ($25/hr) - 1 session/semester

  • $25 registration fee - waived if you are already enrolled in private lessons here at BA.

  • Bring a friend (not already enrolled at BA), 10% off for both you and your friend! 

  • Register for 2 bands and receive 20% off the second one.

• WHO CAN JOIN

  • Who: Students ages 11 and above.

  • What Instruments: guitar, mandolin, banjo/tenor banjo, fiddle, viola, cello, bass, flute, penny whistle, concertina, and more!

No prior experience with folk music needed; however students need to have at least 1 year of experience with their instrument and should be enrolled in private lessons with their instrument (open to non-BA students); or must have demonstrable proficiency.

• Ideally, guitar/mandolin/banjo students should at least be comfortable playing rhythm (strum chords with a basic rhythmic pattern) in the keys of G, C, and D.

• Placement auditions will be scheduled on an as needed basis with BA Faculty and may include a prepared piece (does not have to be folk music) you have been working on, as well as a folk tune suggested by BA faculty.  An audition may also include some basic sight-reading, rhythm playing, and some improvisation.

• Folk music was born in living rooms, churches, barn dances, and communal events. Most folk music has grown from an oral (by ear) tradition. For this reason, standard notation has often been seen as optional. Beginner and intermediate groups will not require sheet music. However, we want our students to be prepared to interpret and perform music no matter how it is presented. As folk music continues to pull in influences from genres like classical, jazz, and more, understanding standard notation is becoming more valuable. For this reason, we will require at least a basic level of reading ability for any advanced ensembles. 

• Students will be placed in groups according to their age/experience in order to make sure all students have the best experience.

• Bands will be range from to 3-8 students

• This ensemble should be supplementary to private lessons for all students 18 and under, and ideally for adult students as well. However, for adult students who are proficient with their instrument, this may not be required.tion text goes here

Objectives:

• Develop a repertoire/setlist of tunes in a variety of styles

• Become comfortable with the rhythmic approaches of the relevant styles as well as common ornamentation and, when relevant, improvisational approaches.

• Develop a strong ear for playing with others – listening to others and making music together instead of fixating on just your part.

• Learn the basics of theory – especially chords, scales, and relevant modes.

• Improve at sight-reading music - reading rhythms, melodies, and interpreting chord symbols quickly.

• Develop the ability to learn music by ear.

• Become comfortable with the format of a jam session. This includes knowledge of basic tunes, knowing how to start and end a tune, soloing protocol (when relevant), etc.

• Become familiar broadly with the history of traditional music from its roots in Irish, English, and African cultures, to its development in the American south, and how it grew into what we have today.

• Develop your own personal voice on your instrument.

• Be warmed up and ready to play by the designated start time of class – instruments set up and in tune.

• Spend time practicing your music on your own throughout the week – minimum of 5 days a week of practice.

• Spend time listening to a variety of music during the week. Periodically, listening recommendations/assignments will be given by the instructor.

• Bring all music we are working on, pencil, and paper to every rehearsal.

• All students should bring a three ring binder. Music will be provided by the teacher and it will be the responsibility of the student to keep the music organized and accessible.