12 Best Chicago Music Schools

Bucktown Music has earned the loyalty and respect of families throughout the Chicago area has become the number-one choice for adults and children that want to become more accomplished, expressive, and confident performers. The family-owned school offers a full menu of courses, lessons, and options, including a play-based Kindermusik program to get little ones inspired, as well as group and private lessons for adults and kids such as beginner adult guitar lessons in the park. From traditional instruments like piano and violin to more unusual options like banjo and ukulele, Bucktown Music has something for everyone, always at competitive rates. The company even offers in-school programs using nationally recognized teaching materials.

Phil Circle Music and Guilt By Association Records is a music coaching business and indie label that has more than 25 years of experience in teaching beginner, intermediate, and advanced music students. It specializes in guitar, voice, songwriting, and music entrepreneurship. Phil Circle Music offers house call lessons, audition prep, music performance coaching, and artist business coaching. Its label subset is free of charge to artists and is funded by patrons.

Piano Art Academy offers a range of services to students young and old designed to fit any needs, goals, and abilities. The academy's private, one-on-one lessons give students the attention and customized learning plans they need to explore their natural talents, face new challenges, and grow into more confident, accomplished, and creative performers, whether they just love music for fun or plan to go on to professional career. First-time students can call to schedule a free introductory piano, guitar, or voice lesson and work with a team of friendly and knowledgeable, multilingual, university-trained instructors with years of experience in styles such as jazz, classical, and pop.

Suzuki Music School of Lincoln Park has been enriching young minds since 1978 using the time-tested Suzuki method to promote growth, encourage discipline, and provide the motivation children need to succeed and progress. Young students enjoy a blend of group classes, private lessons, and local concerts as part of a comprehensive program, and parents are encouraged to participate in the learning process to help make musical achievement a whole-family process. The school's Chamber Music program gives more advanced students the skills they need to play with others and become active and well-rounded members of professional ensembles, and the Kindermusik program gives children as young as 18 months a fantastic start on a lifetime of creative expression.

The Metzger School of Music takes a personalized approach to professional, high-quality music instruction for all ages. The company's founder and instructor is a classically trained professional singer and accomplished performer who has been sharing the love of music with students throughout the Chicago area for more than 20 years. The company offers voice lesson for ages eight and up, each tailored to the student's unique abilities, challenges, and musical goals, as well as piano lessons for preschoolers, children, and adults, using age-appropriate exercises and techniques to encourage and promote accomplishment and growth. The teaching studio has a comfortable sitting room for parents and friends, free wi-fi and cable, and complimentary coffee and tea for adults.

Tunes & Taps Music School is an ideal place for young students to get the encouragement, support, and skills they need to become accomplished performers. Whether students plan to build a professional career or just love to explore, grow, and express themselves in new, creative ways, the school's instructors tailor lessons to enhance each child's natural abilities, encourage self-discipline, and open a whole new world of possibilities and achievement. Lesson options include piano, drums, guitar, saxophone, flute, and bass guitar, all taught by talented instructors with years of professional performance and education experience. Parents and prospective students can call or send a message on the website to get more information about lessons and pricing.

Upbeat Music School is the number-one choice for students throughout the Chinatown and South Loop areas. The school offers comfortable private lesson rooms, a range of instruments and learning materials, and a staff of caring, friendly, and enthusiastic instructors with a passion for sharing and encouraging musical exploration and achievement. Students can select private lessons or attend small group classes and enjoy competitive monthly fees to learn the ins and outs of instruments such as violin, bass, guitar, and piano. The company also offers a special rock band class where students learn to work as a team and face the challenges of live performance, as well as Skype lessons that let students practice on their own schedule.

Yevgeniya Lepskaya's School of Music is a renowned Park Ridge academy that provides professional instruction based on the classical Russian and Western European styles. The school's piano lessons are rooted in a centuries-old tradition that produced world-renowned composers and performers such as Beethoven, Ferenz Liszt, and Vasily Safonoff, giving young students the discipline, theory, and comprehensive skills they need to become accomplished musicians. The school also offers lessons for violin, ukulele, guitar, and viola, offered in 30, 45, or 60-minute sessions designed to accommodate each student's skills, abilities, and schedule. Prospective students can download registration forms on the school website or call for more information.