Music school recommendations?

It’s been quiet in here for a minute. Wondering if this thread is even alive or if it's just me...
Looking for some solid music school recs in Chicago—specifically piano. My kid just wrapped up second grade. Where should I be looking in the city?
Honestly, I don't even know where to start. Too much noise, can't see the big picture. If anyone knows a good spot—piano program, somewhere downtown—I'd appreciate it...

Austin Diaz3 said:It’s been quiet in here for a minute. Wondering if this thread is even alive or if it's just me...
Looking for some solid music school recs in Chicago—specifically piano. My kid just wrapped up second grade. Where should I be looking in the city?
Honestly, I don't even know where to start. Too much noise, can't see the big picture. If anyone knows a good spot—piano program, somewhere downtown—I'd appreciate it...

I mean, what does a "good music school" actually look like to you?

Nicholas King said:I mean, what does a "good music school" actually look like to you?

To me, a good music school is one that actually assesses whether a kid has an aptitude for music—rather than just forcing lessons to squeeze money out of parents. If there’s no genuine interest or drive from the child, don't push it. Some kids simply aren't built for music; they belong in something else entirely. That needs to be accepted. You should try to find where their talent lies first, rather than just chasing tuition fees.

Kate Morgan14 said:To me, a good music school is one that actually assesses whether a kid has an aptitude for music—rather than just forcing lessons to squeeze money out of parents. If there’s no genuine interest or drive from the child, don't push it. Some kids simply aren't built for music; they belong in something else entirely. That needs to be accepted. You should try to find where their talent lies first, rather than just chasing tuition fees.

Even more confusingly—what does it even mean to be "a child for music"? 😕

At the entrance exam for any given in every single American music school, they are going to assess what people colloquially call "having an ear"—you know, sing a little song, mimic the rhythm of my clapping, or match a pitch I play on the piano. A kid who passes that entrance exam (or even those who don't, in cases where interest is high) certainly qualifies as being "for music" in that technical sense—but, honestly, that doesn't have anything to do with whether the music school itself is "good" or "bad."

rather than forcing things just to squeeze money out of parents

This is complete nonsense when we are talking about "public" schools. The amount of money these schools "squeeze from parents" is laughable compared to the countless other things parents willingly shell out massive amounts for—but that isn't really the point here: music schools fill their enrollment quotas quite easily, and the bulk of their revenue comes from entirely different sources, so they have absolutely no incentive to deceive parents.

without the child's own will or desire for music, kids should simply not pursue music but rather find something else, and that needs to be accepted after trying to explore what fits the child and what doesn't

I think you’ve completely lost the plot here: what you are describing is the parents' responsibility, and it has nothing to do with the music school, regardless of whether that school is good or bad.

Nicholas King said:I mean, what does a "good music school" actually look like to you?

Basically, one where my kid can actually finish what they started after finishing second grade...
Anyone got some leads?..

Austin Diaz3 said:Basically, one where my kid can actually finish what they started after finishing second grade...
Anyone got some leads?..

Success really comes down to the kid, right? Or are you just looking for a school that hands out diplomas regardless of how much they actually put in?
Maybe she means credits for high school?
No shade intended here... I don't know the first thing about music schools either, so I'm wondering what even makes one "good."
Speaking as a total outsider, isn't it like any other school? Success depends on the teacher, whether it's elementary or high school. You'll find great ones, okay ones, and then there are the mediocre ones.

Austin Diaz3 said:Basically, one where my kid can actually finish what they started after finishing second grade...
Anyone got some leads?..

How exactly am I supposed to ask "well, what does successfully continuing look like to you?" without coming across as some sort of provocateur?

"Success" could mean anything—playing beautifully, winning competitions, picking up trophies, whatever—but, I suppose, what about the actual cost of that success?

I don't want anyone thinking I'm trying to pull a fast one on you: you aren't going to find any "go see Professor Vilibald Hlowytzkog at the Juilliard School, they are incredibly successful" type of pitches in this text—so if that’s what you’re looking for, you might as well stop reading now. To be clear, I personally view those kinds of recommendations as misguided; the only way people usually measure a school's "success" is by how many students place in competitions—but, in my opinion, that shouldn't be the deciding factor for a parent. Besides, the reality is that the exact same teacher—depending entirely on a child's specific temperament—might be seen as Jesus, Elvis Presley, and Elvis Presley all rolled into one by one student, while to another, they might seem like Caligula, Hitler, and whoever else you can think of.

If your primary concern is simply that your child heads off to music school with a smile and returns home even happier—if you truly care about the joy of making music (which, if you ask me, is arguably the single most important reason to attend music school at all)—then you should just find out which instructor at your local music school has the right temperament for your specific child. That, I believe, would be the best choice you could make.

One more thing: middle school and high school music programs span several long years, during which a child goes through all sorts of turbulent developmental changes. No single school, and certainly no single teacher, can ever truly guarantee a "successful" completion of a musical education.

At my daughter’s school, some folks from a prestigious institution like Berklee College of Music dropped by to run these hearing tests on the kids, supposedly to figure out who had the ear for music and whether they should focus on singing or an instrument.
I mean, it is absolutely absurd that they decided to put the entire class through this testing process.😁
What a bunch of virtuosos we have here; I suppose they’re all planning to form a massive orchestra or a choir down the road.
It actually gave me a bit of a shock to see my own child’s name pop up on their list—apparently, she passed the threshold or whatever, and now she’s officially on their radar.
Honestly, I think it would be much more decent if they actually bothered to consult us parents first.
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against music schools themselves.
In fact, I can easily picture my little girl sitting at a piano, hammering away or singing her heart out.
But the reality is, her interests lie much more in other forms of art and sports.
I actually attended a music school myself during my studies, and I truly loved it.
But clearly, I ended up being nothing more than a somewhat unrecognized talent.😢
And who knows, maybe today I could have been the next Taylor Swift, just perhaps a slightly older version.😁

Charles Murphy6 said:At my daughter’s school, some folks from a prestigious institution like Berklee College of Music dropped by to run these hearing tests on the kids, supposedly to figure out who had the ear for music and whether they should focus on singing or an instrument.
I mean, it is absolutely absurd that they decided to put the entire class through this testing process.😁
What a bunch of virtuosos we have here; I suppose they’re all planning to form a massive orchestra or a choir down the road.
It actually gave me a bit of a shock to see my own child’s name pop up on their list—apparently, she passed the threshold or whatever, and now she’s officially on their radar.
Honestly, I think it would be much more decent if they actually bothered to consult us parents first.
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against music schools themselves.
In fact, I can easily picture my little girl sitting at a piano, hammering away or singing her heart out.
But the reality is, her interests lie much more in other forms of art and sports.
I actually attended a music school myself during my studies, and I truly loved it.
But clearly, I ended up being nothing more than a somewhat unrecognized talent.😢
And who knows, maybe today I could have been the next Taylor Swift, just perhaps a slightly older version.😁

Famous, right?
So the kid joins the choir. You've got a kid with actual talent whose potential could really take off.
But it only lasted about two months.
First off—she starts this program, being one of the youngest there, and nobody even acknowledges her. No praise, no advice, no smiles... not even any constructive criticism.
Second—they were prepping for a big performance, and since she was the "new girl," she wasn't even in the plans. She didn't get the lyrics or the gear. Then, just days before the show, suddenly she’s expected to perform? She's just standing there looking lost. 🙄
And the equipment... it was beat up, but you have to sign a paper saying you received it in perfect condition and promise to return it that way.
If the girls don't show up to the extra rehearsals on Saturday afternoons, they're out and don't get to perform. And then they cry about it. Even when they literally couldn't make it because of family stuff or other schoolwork.
When someone pointed out to the directors that their attitude wasn't exactly "educational," they just snapped back rudely, acting like because they have teaching degrees, they're above reproach. They basically said anyone complaining doesn't understand "professionalism." But they aren't professionals; they're terrorizing these kids... keeping them in this trance where the kids are proud to follow them, but they treat them like...🤷... like convicts who don't have the strength to fight back. It's true, the girls are popular and always traveling, but man, they are ruthless.

Rachel Jones8 said:Famous, right?
So the kid joins the choir. You've got a kid with actual talent whose potential could really take off.
But it only lasted about two months.
First off—she starts this program, being one of the youngest there, and nobody even acknowledges her. No praise, no advice, no smiles... not even any constructive criticism.
Second—they were prepping for a big performance, and since she was the "new girl," she wasn't even in the plans. She didn't get the lyrics or the gear. Then, just days before the show, suddenly she’s expected to perform? She's just standing there looking lost. 🙄
And the equipment... it was beat up, but you have to sign a paper saying you received it in perfect condition and promise to return it that way.
If the girls don't show up to the extra rehearsals on Saturday afternoons, they're out and don't get to perform. And then they cry about it. Even when they literally couldn't make it because of family stuff or other schoolwork.
When someone pointed out to the directors that their attitude wasn't exactly "educational," they just snapped back rudely, acting like because they have teaching degrees, they're above reproach. They basically said anyone complaining doesn't understand "professionalism." But they aren't professionals; they're terrorizing these kids... keeping them in this trance where the kids are proud to follow them, but they treat them like...🤷... like convicts who don't have the strength to fight back. It's true, the girls are popular and always traveling, but man, they are ruthless.

Are you seriously talking about a "real music school" when the child only joined the choir? 😕

Nicholas King said:Are you seriously talking about a "real music school" when the child only joined the choir? 😕

Nah, my bad.
When I said "well-known," I meant how people just show up at a school, scout talent, and pull them into the choir without even checking with the parents first.
It’s strictly about the choir here. Not the whole music school.

So, I’ve been playing the violin for about four years now... honestly, it's been a total rollercoaster, you know? There have been some really amazing highs and then some pretty rough patches too. I’m not gonna lie, there were a few times where I seriously thought about just throwing in the towel and quitting altogether, but somehow, I kept at it. The only real bummer is that my schedule is absolutely packed—I feel like I barely have any free time left to breathe! But hey, I truly believe all this grinding is going to pay off in the end, so I’m sticking with it no matter what.🙂

Rachel Jones8 said:Nah, my bad.
When I said "well-known," I meant how people just show up at a school, scout talent, and pull them into the choir without even checking with the parents first.
It’s strictly about the choir here. Not the whole music school.

Oh, please—you might as well claim they were one of those tacky little children's groups like "The Bells," "The Little Nails," "The Little Fingers," or "The Cookies," and then the whole circus would be complete.

The reality is that these stories have absolutely—and I mean absolutely—nothing to do with the actual music school. These types of choirs are just the perfect breeding ground for pathological parental ambition; it’s all about that desperate hope that their precious little golden child might one day become the next Madonna. Well, perhaps with slightly fewer cinematic aspirations, of course 😬.

Nicholas King said:Oh, please—you might as well claim they were one of those tacky little children's groups like "The Bells," "The Little Nails," "The Little Fingers," or "The Cookies," and then the whole circus would be complete.

The reality is that these stories have absolutely—and I mean absolutely—nothing to do with the actual music school. These types of choirs are just the perfect breeding ground for pathological parental ambition; it’s all about that desperate hope that their precious little golden child might one day become the next Madonna. Well, perhaps with slightly fewer cinematic aspirations, of course 😬.

Nah, this is actually getting pretty serious.

Honestly, those stories don't mean anything. They have zero connection to Berklee College of Music.

Alright, they don't have them. I already apologized... I actually agreed with some of what Charles Murphy6 was saying.

These choirs are basically just breeding grounds for toxic parental ambition. They really think their little golden child is going to become the next Madonna one day. Maybe with a few less Hollywood dreams, right? 😬.

Which "choirs" are we talking about here? Like, any and all of them?

I'm not gonna drop the name of the choir here—not because I don't think their work is decent or anything—but seriously, what's the point? My kid’s been going for two months now and they haven't even handed over song lyrics, let alone actually spoken to him directly. It wasn't like everyone was "new" at once, just a small handful of kids. In my book, that's just bad teaching, isn't it?
Maybe my first impression was off, but honestly? It felt like those girls were stuck in some kind of military boot camp. There was zero tolerance for missing anything, and they were even being pressured to skip class just for rehearsals. If they couldn't make it, they’d get threatened with being cut from the tour or whatever. Seems pretty toxic to me, you know? Or am I totally off base?
Of course, you'll find a few Madonnas in there too. Most people start out somewhere, right?

Rachel Jones8 said:Nah, this is actually getting pretty serious.

Honestly, those stories don't mean anything. They have zero connection to Berklee College of Music.

Alright, they don't have them. I already apologized... I actually agreed with some of what Charles Murphy6 was saying.

These choirs are basically just breeding grounds for toxic parental ambition. They really think their little golden child is going to become the next Madonna one day. Maybe with a few less Hollywood dreams, right? 😬.

Which "choirs" are we talking about here? Like, any and all of them?

I'm not gonna drop the name of the choir here—not because I don't think their work is decent or anything—but seriously, what's the point? My kid’s been going for two months now and they haven't even handed over song lyrics, let alone actually spoken to him directly. It wasn't like everyone was "new" at once, just a small handful of kids. In my book, that's just bad teaching, isn't it?
Maybe my first impression was off, but honestly? It felt like those girls were stuck in some kind of military boot camp. There was zero tolerance for missing anything, and they were even being pressured to skip class just for rehearsals. If they couldn't make it, they’d get threatened with being cut from the tour or whatever. Seems pretty toxic to me, you know? Or am I totally off base?
Of course, you'll find a few Madonnas in there too. Most people start out somewhere, right?

Pop-star children's choirs.

Of course, you get a few "Madonna" types coming out of those groups—many stars start somewhere, I suppose...

As long as there’s a critical mass of pathologically ambitious parents who view drilling their kids like soldiers as some sort of virtue, the only real solution is—well, to pull the child out of that toxic environment entirely.

Admittedly, there is another side to this coin: if a choir is heading to a national competition, it isn't entirely unreasonable to leave out kids who haven't put in the prep work—even if their reasons for skipping practice are perfectly valid.

In the end, everything—as it always does—comes down to finding that elusive middle ground 🙂.

Nicholas King said:Pop-star children's choirs.

Of course, you get a few "Madonna" types coming out of those groups—many stars start somewhere, I suppose...

As long as there’s a critical mass of pathologically ambitious parents who view drilling their kids like soldiers as some sort of virtue, the only real solution is—well, to pull the child out of that toxic environment entirely.

Admittedly, there is another side to this coin: if a choir is heading to a national competition, it isn't entirely unreasonable to leave out kids who haven't put in the prep work—even if their reasons for skipping practice are perfectly valid.

In the end, everything—as it always does—comes down to finding that elusive middle ground 🙂.

Yeah, obviously... you go with the regulars who actually put in the work first...
But what I saw felt more like psychological warfare, like they were blackmailing the kids. You know, because of one missed rehearsal or being late due to school, they tell a kid who usually shows up and tries hard, "Hey, someone else is taking your spot now." It felt malicious. They're creating this dependency where the girls feel obligated—and they clearly want to be there—but also under massive pressure.
It just felt like such an unhealthy environment... at least that was my impression based on a few chats with other parents and what I heard. Maybe it was a snap judgment? Who knows, sometimes you misread the room. But you've gotta be careful. You should lead your kid to somewhere they actually enjoy, and where you feel okay too.

Nicholas King said:How exactly am I supposed to ask "well, what does successfully continuing look like to you?" without coming across as some sort of provocateur?

"Success" could mean anything—playing beautifully, winning competitions, picking up trophies, whatever—but, I suppose, what about the actual cost of that success?

I don't want anyone thinking I'm trying to pull a fast one on you: you aren't going to find any "go see Professor Vilibald Hlowytzkog at the Juilliard School, they are incredibly successful" type of pitches in this text—so if that’s what you’re looking for, you might as well stop reading now. To be clear, I personally view those kinds of recommendations as misguided; the only way people usually measure a school's "success" is by how many students place in competitions—but, in my opinion, that shouldn't be the deciding factor for a parent. Besides, the reality is that the exact same teacher—depending entirely on a child's specific temperament—might be seen as Jesus, Elvis Presley, and Elvis Presley all rolled into one by one student, while to another, they might seem like Caligula, Hitler, and whoever else you can think of.

If your primary concern is simply that your child heads off to music school with a smile and returns home even happier—if you truly care about the joy of making music (which, if you ask me, is arguably the single most important reason to attend music school at all)—then you should just find out which instructor at your local music school has the right temperament for your specific child. That, I believe, would be the best choice you could make.

One more thing: middle school and high school music programs span several long years, during which a child goes through all sorts of turbulent developmental changes. No single school, and certainly no single teacher, can ever truly guarantee a "successful" completion of a musical education.

That's exactly what I'm looking for (the bold part). And I'm with you on that.
Now that I think about it, the school itself isn't the big deal. It matters more that the kid follows a decent program and works with someone who actually motivates them and clicks with them. I don't want this turning into some kind of drag.
Is a private tutor a good move? I'm considering it. Someone who's willing and professional. I don't have any crazy parental ego involved.

Austin Diaz3 said:That's exactly what I'm looking for (the bold part). And I'm with you on that.
Now that I think about it, the school itself isn't the big deal. It matters more that the kid follows a decent program and works with someone who actually motivates them and clicks with them. I don't want this turning into some kind of drag.
Is a private tutor a good move? I'm considering it. Someone who's willing and professional. I don't have any crazy parental ego involved.

If you ask me—and I suspect you might disagree—it’s probably not the best way to go.

To start with, music school provides things like ear training and choir—but honestly, that isn't even the main selling point here.

One of the biggest advantages of a local community music school is the social aspect—getting kids around peers who share similar interests. Contrary to those tired old clichés, these kids aren't just a bunch of socially awkward geeks; quite the opposite, really. On the other hand, a private tutor doesn't offer that "organic environment" in the same way a public school does.

And we shouldn't overlook the fact that a private instructor is a much more expensive option, too.

Nicholas King said:If you ask me—and I suspect you might disagree—it’s probably not the best way to go.

To start with, music school provides things like ear training and choir—but honestly, that isn't even the main selling point here.

One of the biggest advantages of a local community music school is the social aspect—getting kids around peers who share similar interests. Contrary to those tired old clichés, these kids aren't just a bunch of socially awkward geeks; quite the opposite, really. On the other hand, a private tutor doesn't offer that "organic environment" in the same way a public school does.

And we shouldn't overlook the fact that a private instructor is a much more expensive option, too.

Man, ear training and choir were actually the highlights for me. Honestly, my piano teachers weren't exactly great either, except for one, but my ear training teacher was a total drunk and the choir didn't even let me sing. I basically just sat there yawning because attendance was mandatory. It feels like these local music academies don't have any real standards. I managed to scrape by until fifth grade when I finally failed a level, and they just suggested I drop out since I wasn't musical and didn't even care for music. My grandparents signed me up because my grandpa got bored one day and bought an upright piano. He just plopped it right in the living room. 🤣

So, I don't know—don't rely on a music school to tell you if your kid has talent. You're better off listening to the kid. 🤷

Jessica Chavez4 said:Man, ear training and choir were actually the highlights for me. Honestly, my piano teachers weren't exactly great either, except for one, but my ear training teacher was a total drunk and the choir didn't even let me sing. I basically just sat there yawning because attendance was mandatory. It feels like these local music academies don't have any real standards. I managed to scrape by until fifth grade when I finally failed a level, and they just suggested I drop out since I wasn't musical and didn't even care for music. My grandparents signed me up because my grandpa got bored one day and bought an upright piano. He just plopped it right in the living room. 🤣

So, I don't know—don't rely on a music school to tell you if your kid has talent. You're better off listening to the kid. 🤷

Well, you had to show up because your parents were essentially forcing you—which, frankly, seems like a pretty ridiculous way for them to handle things. That doesn't really have anything to do with the actual point we're discussing here.

don't rely too heavily on whether the local music conservatory thinks your kid has talent or not; listen to what the child tells you instead. 🤷

A child can't exactly determine if they have "musical aptitude" or not—that’s what the instructors at the conservatory are trained to assess. What a child *can* tell you is whether or not they actually enjoy attending their lessons.