The People's Music School

The People's Music School is the only completely tuition-free music school in Chicago, and the oldest in the United States. Founded in 1976 by Rita Simo, an accomplished pianist from the Dominican Republic who believes that all children should have access to music education, regardless of their family's socioeconomic status. Today, thirty-eight years later, we serve nearly 400 students in the Chicagoland metropolitan area. Through intensive instruction and performance our students learn more than music. They grow socially, emotionally and intellectually, and develop a foundation of responsibility, self-esteem and purpose. We believe music is transformative and empowers the lives of youth, families and communities. Our Uptown Academy program offers sequential music education to youth between the ages of 5 and 18. We serve an ethnically diverse student body. Youth are instructed in the instrument of their choice through private and/or semi-private classes. A unique component of our school’s program is the requirement that students take and progress through theory classes. This initiative is the backbone of our program, and provides a solid foundation for not only learning an individual instrument, but also to gain a broader understanding of the principals of music. Our Youth Orchestras program is an offsite social intervention program inspired by the El Sistema philosopy. This program utilizes an intense-immersion schedule of group orchestral instruction designed to uplift and unite communities. We have been humbled by the monumental impact this program has had upon the lives of underserved youth. Students are committed to an intense rehearsal schedule which includes full orchestra, sectional and one-on-one rehearsal, after school, four days a week and on Saturday mornings. Teaching techniques encourage peer-to-peer learning. The students develop leadership skills while cultivating a sense of responsibility.