Our Sites
The People’s Music School offers its core after-school programs at four sites across the Chicago area: Uptown Academy, Albany Park, Greater South Side, and Back of The Yards.
UPTOWN ACADEMY
Founded in 1976
The People’s Music School first found its home in Uptown in 1976. Today, Uptown Academy is our largest site, with 373 students coming for after school music programming, plus dozens more for the advanced SLAM music program.
ALBANY PARK
Founded in 2008
Our Albany Park site was our first “satellite” site after growing our reach outside of Uptown. Hosted at Hibbard Elementary School, our Albany Park site boasts our largest student orchestra.
GREATER SOUTH SIDE
Founded in 2016
Our Greater South Side site is located at 5410 S State Street. Prior to this location, our GSS program was located at Wendell Phillips Academy HS, Hyde Park Academy, Bronzeville Classical School and the Gary Comer Youth Center.
BACK OF THE YARDS
Founded in 2016
Our Back of The Yards site is hosted at Lara Elementary School, with an in-school music program and an afterschool music program.
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