Latest Blog Posts
- Summer 2024 Newsletter
Newsletter: Summer 2024 ☀️
Stay in the KnowDates to Remember
Right at School
Join Chicago School of Musical Arts in our partnership with Right at School to provide Musical Adventures this summer! Click here to sign up.
Locations:
Chicago, IL: South Loop Elementary School
Encinitas, CA: Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School
Upper Merion, PA: Caley Elementary School
Unicoi Arts Studio Chicago, IL
Join ChicagoSMA and Unicoi Art Studio for a summer filled with color, creativity, and musical fun! Now through August 23, 2024, our collaborative camp offers a unique blend of art exploration and musical adventures. Click here to sign up!
Fall Registration is Coming:
Pulaski registration is OPEN NOW!
We’ll be sending emails as we open up registration for other schools!
Feel free to contact info@chicagosma.com with any questions or concerns.Missed something? You can see all of our past newsletters on our website. 
HOOTENANNY
At the Fleetwood Jourdain Center in Evanston, IL, 10 bands composed of students from Willard Elementary School performed in a rock band showcase called the Hootenanny! ChicagoSMA teachers coached and performed alongside the young rockstars. The performance culminated in an autograph signing session, which was attended by family and friends. Thank you to our partners Willard Elementary, Right at School, District 65, and Evanston Parks & Recreation.
Congratulations to all the performers!
Class DemonstrationsAt Pulaski International School of Chicago our Hip Hip instructor led the class in an end of session performance that friends and family attended. 
Private Lesson Recital
On June 9 2024 our students participated in a private lesson recital at Wicker Park Lutheran Church in Chicago. Students did a beautiful job. Thank you to the parents and teachers!Private Lessons
Whether you are new to an instrument or just keeping up your skills, try out a private lesson! Get your free 15 minute virtual trial scheduled today (new students only). Email: info@chicagosma.comEnjoying this newsletter? Share it with a friend! 
Artist-Teacher Spotlight: Marija BubanjWith extensive teaching expertise and a dynamic approach, Marija offers an engaging lesson plan that prioritizes correct technique and musical comprehension, nurturing student development through thoughtfully crafted assignments and objectives, all the while ensuring a fun and enjoyable learning experience for her students! - Almost Summer 2024 Newsletter
Newsletter: Summer’s Almost Here! ☀️
Stay in the KnowDates to Remember:
Willard Rock Band Hootenanny – May 29th at 7pm
Private Lessons Recitals – June 9th at 3pm
Right at School Summer Camps – Enrolling now!
Step into Summer: Check out the Summer page on our website for up-to-date summer learning opportunities! ☀️
Feel free to contact info@chicagosma.com with any questions or concerns.Missed something? You can see all of our past newsletters on our website. 
ChicagoSMA is excited to collaborate with Chicago Public Schools for RE·VER·BER·ATE , offering Master Classes in large ensemble (band or orchestra), vocal/choir, and guitar ensembles.
RE·VER·BER·ATE is a FREE multidisciplinary CPS arts festival featuring 100+ schools, 250+ performances, and 35+ workshops for students led by professional artists! The festival takes place downtown Chicago from May 1st to May 4th, 2024! Register for workshops and pick performances to view here!Do You Know of a School That Needs After School Enrichment Programming or Music?
We want to help every neighborhood, school, community organization, student and family find access to enrichment programming and music. Help us! Please feel free to fill out this form to let us know about a community that could benefit from ChicagoSMA: https://chicagosma.com/whycsma/Registration Links All our schools have opened registration and begun classes, but it’s not too late to join! Click the button below to check availability for classes at your school and sign up. Private Lessons
Whether you are new to an instrument or just keeping up your skills, try out a private lesson! Get your free 15 minute virtual trial scheduled today (new students only). Email: info@chicagosma.comEnjoying this newsletter? Share it with a friend! 
Artist-Teacher Spotlight: Dan McLeanDan McLean is a professional musician and music instructor from Evanston. For the last 15 years, Dan has passionately shared his musical expertise with students of all ages, promoting a love for music that resonates beyond the classroom. He studied under the guidance of some of Chicago’s most accomplished guitarists, focusing on jazz improvisation and ensemble dynamics. - Spring Newsletter 2024
Spring 2024 Newsletter
Stay in the KnowSpring Sessions are open now! Head to our registration page to make sure your child is signed up our programs this session.
Are you dreaming of warmer weather? 🏝️ Us too! Check out the Summer page on our website for up-to-date summer learning opportunities! ☀️
Feel free to contact info@chicagosma.com with any questions or concerns.Missed something? You can see all of our past newsletters on our website. 
Learn more about our summer camp collaboration with Unicoi Art Studio and register for this fun, immersive experience today! Do You Know of a School That Needs After School Enrichment Programming or Music?
We want to help every neighborhood, school, community organization, student and family find access to enrichment programming and music. Help us! Please feel free to fill out this form to let us know about a community that could benefit from ChicagoSMA: https://chicagosma.com/whycsma/Registration Links All our schools have opened registration and begun classes, but it’s not too late to join! Click the button below to check availability for classes at your school and sign up. Private Lessons
Whether you are new to an instrument or just keeping up your skills, try out a private lesson! Get your free 15 minute virtual trial scheduled today (new students only). Email: info@chicagosma.comEnjoying this newsletter? Share it with a friend! 
Artist-Teacher Spotlight: Joey SkochJoey Skoch is a Chicago transplant from Cleveland, Ohio. He came to Chicago in 2014 by way of his studies at DePaul Univeristy where he majored in Jazz Piano. He was mentored by Dennis Carroll, a bass instructor at the school. They now have a band together called DC & the Love.
From an early age, Joey was entranced by music. He’d sit for hours listening to their tapes and CDs on the big–now ancient–stereo that lived in the basement. His mother had him taking piano lessons by second grade through Kindermusic. In high school, Joey attempted stardom with several original rock bands, but ultimately decided to go to music school upon graduation.
In his free time, Joey enjoys poetry, literature, movies and deep dish pizza. - Winter 2024 Newsletter
Winter 2024 Newsletter
Stay in the KnowSpring Sessions open soon! ChicagoSMA has the following after school registrations opening on February 5th for Alcott, Alcott Pre-K, Pulaski, LaSalle II, Nettelhorst, Waters, Skinner North, Hawthorne, Burr, and Ogden!
Are you dreaming of warmer weather? 🏝️ Us too! Stay tuned to learn about summer learning opportunities–they’ll be announced soon! ☀️
Feel free to contact info@chicagosma.com with any questions or concerns.Missed something? You can see all of our past newsletters on our website. 
Three Cheers for Pom Squad!Do You Know of a School That Needs After School Enrichments or Music?
We want to help every neighborhood, school, community organization, student and family find access to music and other enrichment opportunities. Help us! Please feel free to fill out this form to let us know about a community that could benefit from ChicagoSMA: https://chicagosma.com/whycsma/Registration Links All our schools have opened registration and begun classes, but it’s not too late to join! Click the button below to check availability for classes at your school and sign up. Private LessonsWhether you are new to an instrument or just keeping up your skills, try out a private lesson! Get your free 15 minute virtual trial scheduled today (new students only). Email: info@chicagosma.com Enjoying this newsletter? Share it with a friend! 
Artist-Teacher Spotlight: Lindsay FultonLindsay Fulton or ‘Miss Lindsay,’ was born in Omaha, Nebraska but has called Chicago home for over fifteen years. As a child, she was asked to perform violin duets and to serve on a select strings group. Today, she enjoys performing at private holiday events as well as watching her current piano students’ progress.She attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL) where she studied abroad in French Linguistics at Le Centre Linguistique Appliqué of Besancon, France. Most recently, she received a Music Certification from the Music Together program of Chicago, which focuses on singing and dancing for pre-k grades. She continues to supplement her skills through various University courses from The University of Edinburgh, Commonwealth Education of Canada, and Berklee College of Music.While her focus is on piano and voice, she also enjoys playing the accordion, steel tongue drum, ukulele and harmonica. When she’s not teaching or playing an instrument, you can find her enjoying the company of family and friends or entertaining herself with improv classes, speaking French, studying botanical and eastern medicines, watercolor painting, doing small interior design projects, or throwing the ball at The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore with her husband Mike and Australian Shepherd Lucy. - October / November 2023 Newsletter
Autumn 2023 Newsletter
Stay in the KnowMany of our programs are registering for Session 2. Stay up to date on your program through www.chicagosma.com. Feel free to contact info@chicagosma.com with any questions or concerns.
Many of you will get an email about your student’s class demo. And you might ask, “What is a demo?”
A number of our programs have a parent/guardian demonstration in the last 15 minutes of the last class of the session. Demos are a great way for parents/guardians to engage with their child and see what exceptional work has been done over the course of the session. From piano and voice to pom squad and theater, demos are a fun way to see how your child’s confidence and performance skills have grown.Missed something? You can see all of our past newsletters on our website. 
Music Education in the News
We really loved this New York Times article, which prominently features some great opinions about how musical education (and other enrichments) should be viewed and executed. We also believe in the usefulness in trying (and sometimes failing) and love being able to cultivate the joy and connection children can have while using music as an expressive language.
Nod your head if you love hip hop class!Do You Know of a School That Needs After School Enrichments or Music?
We want to help every neighborhood, school, community organization, student and family find access to music and other enrichment opportunities. Help us! Please feel free to fill out this form to let us know about a community that could benefit from ChicagoSMA: https://chicagosma.com/whycsma/Registration Links All our schools have opened registration and begun classes, but it’s not too late to join! Click the button below to check availability for classes at your school and sign up. Private Lessons
Whether you are new to an instrument or just keeping up your skills, try out a private lesson! Get your free 15 minute virtual trial scheduled today (new students only). Email: info@chicagosma.com
Enjoying this newsletter? Share it with a friend! 
Artist-Teacher Spotlight: Jade DasháJade Dashá is a Cleveland born, Florida raised and Chicago-based soprano and music teacher studying under Dr. Viktoria Vizin. Jade began in 2023 as a Smith Young Artist with Cedar Rapids Opera singing Miss Jones in the world-premier of Charlie and the Wolf, which toured local schools. She has also had the pleasure of working with Opera Steamboat (CO) and Chicago Fringe Opera this year, and was a Studio Artist with Central City Opera (CO) this summer.