About ChiME

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). 

Celebrating Diversity

We began 2020 focused on creating greater inclusion in our communities by uniting children with diverse abilities, cultural backgrounds, and economic circumstances through our programs.  The pandemic delayed our progress, but as we move forward during one of the most challenging times in our country's history, we will do so with an even greater passion and desire to celebrate diversity and put an end to racism and hatred.  

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 nineteen partner organizations, thirteen of which are Chicago Public Elementary schools. Approximately 50% of the children we serve have diverse learning abilities and over 80% of the children we serve are economically disadvantaged. 
We serve the Chicagoland through our: 

• Therapeutic services
• Early Childhood and Classroom Music programs
• Instrumental program​