As students embark on their composition projects this spring, our teaching artists are sharing more about their own musical inspirations. Read through to learn about some of our teaching artists’ favorite compositions and composers. Serena Voltz: Joe Hisaishi, “The Legend of Ashitaka” Serena’s favorite composer is Joe Hisaishi, known for his remarkable contributions to the world of music, particularly through his captivating compositions for Studio Ghibli soundtracks. Among Hisaishi’s vast repertoire, “The Legend of Ashitaka” holds a special place in her heart. Serena (center) performs ..read more

Our Greater South Side site is our fastest growing program. And the demand for high-quality, accessible music instruction is only increasing. Meet Elena Grijalva, Greater South Side (GSS) Program Manager. As the head of the program, Elena not only ensures day-to-day operations run smoothly, but she works to grow and foster the GSS community. She wants students to be able to find their creativity and passion through music, just like she did. “I see my younger self in them. That continues to be my driving force in shaping this inspiring GSS community.”  Read on to learn more about Elena ..read more

This piece was originally published in People’s Music School’s 2022-2023 Year in Review. Read about the impact that high-quality music programming has on student retention and student success at TPMS.  The benefits of intensive music education are most pronounced in the context of a multi-year student journey. Our data shows that the longer students remain in our program, the deeper and more sustainable the impact, in particular given the learning disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in our student community. We use internal data and external research to inform program design an ..read more

Ariel Garcia has been a part of The People’s Music School team since 2019. For years, he has been an integral part of the TPMS community, supporting families and managing volunteer service across all four programming sites. Now, as the Program Manager of our Back of the Yards location, Ariel works closely with this “tightly-knit” community where “everyone has a good heart.” What inspires him is simple: he’s committed to giving back. “I strive to be the adult I needed when I was kid.”  Learn more about Ariel’s work at The People’s Music School and his dedication to serving his communit ..read more

At The People’s Music School, we know a thing or two about realizing big dreams. As we gear up for Big Night, Bigger Dreams on February 8, we asked our students what their biggest dreams are, and how TPMS helps them achieve them. Read some of our students’ responses below. "The People’s Music School helps me achieve my dreams by giving me a chance to learn new things, which will be beneficial to my future of learning." “I dreamed when I was younger to be in a band and play an instrument. It may sound basic, but I loved music as a child and continued to love it as I grew up. As of now ..read more

February is Black History Month! Learn about these visionary Black musicians and composers who have brought us the music we know and love. Florence Price Florence Price was the first Black woman to be recognized as a symphonic composer and the first to have her work played by a major orchestra. Price was a Chicago-based musician who fled her hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas in the Jim Crow south. A part of the Chicago Black Renaissance, Price’s impact on the city’s arts and culture in the 1930s and 1940s was monumental. She worked with renowned Black artists; Chicago pianist Margaret Bo ..read more

At The People’s Music School, mentorship is an integral part of advanced music studies. When students enter the Service, Leadership, Artistry, and Mentorship (SLAM) program, they agree to mentor younger students, leading by example and demonstrating the strong musicianship they have built over the years.  In October, students in the SLAM String Orchestra had the opportunity to mentor younger TPMS students ahead of the Chicago premiere of Nina Shekhar’s Mad Libs. SLAM Cello student Emily C. remembers being nervous about this day, but ultimately enjoyed her experience getting to mentor y ..read more

At The People’s Music School, creating access is the foundation of everything we do. It’s the first noun in our mission, and it’s essential to our daily programming. How can we ensure the music classroom is always accessible to all?  This month, two experts in music education visited The People’s Music School to provide professional development on differentiating the classroom for students with disabilities. Dr. Sara Jones and Dr. Jacqueline Kelly-McHale of DePaul University’s School of Music worked with teaching artists at The People’s Music School to discuss teaching tools for an inc ..read more

Meet Bennett, a talented percussionist at The People’s Music School whose hard work and creativity shine through his performances and compositions. His piece, Resonance, will be premiered at the Winter Spectacular at the Riviera Theatre this month by Sean Connors and Robert Dillon, members of the Grammy award-winning ensemble Third Coast Percussion. Read about Bennett’s musical journey and how his composition came to be. Discovering Percussion A young Bennett (far right) stands with other TPMS percussion students and Third Coast Percussion at a improv workshop at Hibbard Elementary in 20 ..read more

The People’s Music School’s Broadway in Chicago’s STOMP ticket giveaway:  How to enter: User must follow @peoplesmusicschool on Instagram and/or Facebook User must like the according post on Instagram and/or Facebook.  Contest opens Friday, December 8 at 9am CT and closes Sunday, December 10 at 5pm CT. One winner will be picked using a random pick generator. One winner will be picked among all who enter via Instagram and Facebook. Winner will be contacted on Monday via Instagram messages or Facebook messenger. Winner must have a valid email address to create Broadway in Chicago ac ..read more