IMPACT

We're transforming lives through music.

We provide opportunity and widespread access to the benefits of music through our completely tuition-free model.

Through intensive instruction and performance, our students achieve excellence in music that transfers to other areas of life. They grow musically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually and develop a foundation of responsibility, self-esteem, resilience, and purpose.

OUR IMPACT

students enrolled

students of color

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instruments taught

teaching artists

hours on average of weekly programming per student

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Our goal is to create the conditions that give every student that joins TPMS an opportunity to persist in a long-term journey of growth and progress in our program.

year-over-year student retention

high school graduation

college acceptance

Excellence achieved in music transforms lives.

Research shows that intensive music education leads to higher graduation rates, higher salaries, higher rates of voting and volunteering, lower rates of crime, and more.

2x

more likely to complete college

5x

less likely to drop out of school

20%

more likely to have gainful employment

45%

more likely to vote

Learn more about the impact of acts education in these studies by arts.gov, Americans for the Arts, and UChicago.

FROM OUR ALUMNI

"My career is completely shaped by my experience at People’s. And there’s no bigger thanks than to just do the work that I’m meant to be doing – helping students like myself get careers in this field, knowing that they can be successful in it despite all the adversity. I probably never would have gone to college, and never would have had a career in classical music. If it had not been for People’s, for that program, I wouldn’t have been able to do all I did. It completely changed my life."

"My time at TPMS taught me the importance of community and how important that community is to musicians, but also to everyone overall. A lot of my most memorable experiences with TPMS relate to my connections with others in the community and just enjoying their company and individuality. I always will try to actively find and build these communities because I know how important they are to my success and the success of others."

"The beauty of The People's Music School lies in its diversity; we are pieces of a mosaic brought together from all walks of life to create something magical, something bigger than ourselves. In whatever form it takes shape, the virtues of leading with love, of giving unto others as they have to you, are something that will never leave me."

"TPMS is where I built my confidence. I rejoined TPMS as Staff in 2021 after my completing my degree in Learning & Organizational Change. I am now the Human Resources Manager and it means so much to be involved with TPMS in this way. I’m grateful to work with passionate teammates and to support our committed Teaching Artists. I get to witness the other side of the organization and to be involved with its growth and continuous improvement so that TPMS can provide access to the transformative benefits of high quality music education to students in Chicago."

All the classes that I took while at TPMS gave me insight to the many ways music is taught, especially in a K-12 setting. I was able intake many teaching styles and I feel that the day I become an actual educator, I will apply all the teachings and formulate my own style that is both fun and extremely effective.

You can support tuition-free music education at The People’s Music School today!