Alli Dunn

Director of Music Therapy Programs
Music Therapist
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Alli attended Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy. She has been practicing as a board-certified music therapist since 2014. 

During her years at ChiME, Alli has served as music therapist, early childhood teaching artist, department chair, and now as the Director of Music Therapy Programs. Alli launched the music therapy program on-site at West Town, which provides individual music therapy sessions for clients of varied diagnoses and ages. She works with a 1:1 client-base of her own at ChiME and focuses on active music-making, child-led strategies, and neurodiversity-affirming practices as supports for individuals’ existing strengths. Alli formed and defined ChiME’s
​Therapeutic Model of Classroom Music, which brings music to over 800 children across Chicago weekly and uses a unique recipe of classroom music teaching and therapeutic skills to ensure each participant’s success. She continues to find fun and inspiration in the therapeutic classroom groups she leads weekly at ChiME partners, most especially with PreK-age learners. Alli also created the Buddy Band program, an inclusive beginner ensemble that brings children with and without disabilities together to make music and form friendships. Buddy Band currently operates at West Town and through ChiME partner organizations.​

Alli considers her strengths to include her ability to create meaningful rapport with students, use of diverse and fresh repertoire, and always including a healthy dash of silliness in her practice. Her principal instruments include guitar and voice, although ukulele, varied percussion, piano, and more all have a place in her professional toolkit.

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