Lessons
Private and group lessons offer students the opportunity to refine their skills, nurture their creativity, and demonstrate musical excellence. With 21 different instruments to choose from and 60+ inspiring, talented teaching artists, The People’s Music School provides students with the ability to explore their musical interests by working one-on-one with professionally trained faculty.
Lessons instruct and encourage focus, discipline, self-motivation, self-evaluation, and problem solving.
“THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC” PERFORMED BY VOICE STUDENT AVRIL C. AND TEACHER STEPHANIE LONDOÑO
“SIMPLE GIFTS” PERFORMED BY SLAM GUITAR ENSEMBLE
LEARNING AT EVERY LEVEL
Each instrumental curriculum is divided into four levels (Beginner, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, and Advanced) with sublevels (1-10) within each.
EVALUATED PERFORMANCES
All students will prepare for and participate in end of spring semester juries on their assigned instrument. Their performance at their jury will be used to determine their instrumental level.
BUILDING ON ACQUIRED SKILLS
Each instrument’s curriculum is cumulative (e.g. skill in levels 1-6 can be demonstrated by a student in level 7). Students will only move to the next higher level in the instrumental curriculum when all skills and abilities in the current level have been mastered.
REGISTER FOR THE PEOPLE'S MUSIC SCHOOL
Interested in taking lessons at The People’s Music School? Click here to fill out an interest form. Registration occurs each spring and summer.
The People’s Music School offers high quality, tuition-free music education to school aged children in Chicago who would otherwise not be able to afford it. Based on a student’s age, we offer classes in general music, instrumental studies, music theory, and a variety of ensembles.
ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION
The People’s Music School (TPMS), a 501(c) (3), is Chicago’s oldest and largest 100% tuition-free music school. We envision a society where all children have access to the unique social, emotional, and intellectual benefits achieved through musical excellence.
We believe music is transformative and empowers the lives of youth, families and communities.
Dr. Rita Simó, a Juilliard-trained classical pianist, was inspired by the free music education she received as a child in the Dominican Republic. Her dream became a reality in 1976, when she opened the doors of The People’s Music School in a vacant storefront in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago.
Today, TPMS has expanded to serve over 800 students from 55 ZIP codes across the Chicago metropolitan area.
IMPACT
high school graduation
college attendance rate
year-over-year student retention