About ChiME

We use the language of music to inspire self-expression, self-growth, and deeper human connections. Our goal is to provide long-term access to the many gifts music offers in hopes that one day all Chicagoans will value the language of music.

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Who We Serve

Through our programs and music therapy services, today we serve nearly 3,000 children every year at our location in West Town and ten partner organizations, six of which are Chicago Public Elementary schools. Approximately 20% of the children we serve have diverse learning abilities and over 50% of the children we serve are economically disadvantaged. 

We provide them with the gift of music through five programs:

• Early Childhood
• Classroom-based for K-8
• Ensembles
• Private Lessons
• Music Therapy

In order to ensure continued access to our programs, we must raise approximately $300,000 every year.

History

Founded, as the Suzuki-Orff School for Young Musicians in 1981, we launched our inaugural classes teaching 15 families of diverse cultural and economic backgrounds through our unique curriculum integrating the Suzuki and Orff methodologies. In 1986, we expanded on our goal to make music education available to children in Chicago by establishing partnerships with a number of Chicago Public Schools (CPS).  In 2014, we began doing business as the Chicago Center for Music Education (ChiME).