The People’s Music School

The People’s Music School delivers access to the benefits of high-quality, tuition-free music education to students who could otherwise not afford it. Through intensive instruction and performance (up to 12 hours per week per student), students achieve excellence in music that transfers to other areas in life. They grow musically, socially, emotionally and intellectually, and develop a foundation of responsibility, self-esteem, resilience and purpose. Today, The People’s Music School provides more than 100,000 total annual hours of intensive music education to 600 students between the ages of 5 and 18 from 45 zip codes across Chicago. Founded in 1976, The People’s Music School has educated an estimated 10,000 students in the past 40 years.