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Music Education for Everyone ... Learn to Play Music at MIC!

Whether your goal is learning to play an instrument, finding others who share your love of music, or performing at Carnegie Hall, the Music Institute of Chicago will meet you where you are and help you achieve things you only imagined.

As one of the nation’s largest and finest community music schools, the Music Institute of Chicago (MIC) empowers music makers of every age and level by teaching music skills to help them listen, express, and create for a lifetime.

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The Music Institute of Chicago is Chicago's Music School

The Music Institute of Chicago is proud to provide the highest-quality music education to thousands of students each year. MIC offers a variety of music programs to help you learn music across a network of conveniently located Chicagoland campuses, from Musikgarten for toddlers and piano lessons for children to adult music lessons and everything in between.

Some students go on to win Grammy awards, some students perform in world-class orchestras, and all MIC adult students and youth students gain a lifelong appreciation for music and an outlet for artistic expression. No matter your skill level, we invite you to become part of a supportive Chicago music community that fosters confidence in students and families and inspires everyone to accomplish big things together, regardless of age or skill level.

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Experienced, Dedicated Music Teachers

The breadth and depth of our music faculty is unparalleled. Nearly 200 in number, our music teachers are experienced, dedicated educators and performers who hold degrees from the world’s finest music schools.

Explore the MIC Faculty

Brad Conroy

Guitar Department Chair, Guitar Faculty

Erica Anderson

Oboe Faculty; Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion Department Chair

Elaine Felder

PIano & Chamber Music Faculty; Piano Department Chair
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Student and Faculty Achievements

Faculty members advise and prepare interested music students for regional, national, and international competitions each year.  Please contact your private instructor for more information about local, regional, and national competitions.

Faculty Spotlight

Insights from MIC Piano Department Chair Elaine Felder

We spoke with Music Institute of Chicago’s Piano Department Chair Elaine Felder to explore her approach to unlocking student potential, the benefits of both early training and adult study, and why chamber music is one of the most powerful experiences a pianist can have.
Faculty Spotlight

Insights from Hana Marek, MIC Lake Forest Campus Director

There's a lot a musician can gain from stepping outside what they already know. We spoke with Lake Forest campus director Hana Marek about what it looks like to cultivate curiosity through music, why exploring across cultures matters, and how those habits can shape both better musicians and more thoughtful citizens.

What's Happening At MIC

June 2026

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Tuesday, June 23, 2026

No events today.

Academic Calendar

Summer 2026

Tuesday, June 9th

Summer Session Begins

Friday, June 12th

Fall Re-Registration begins

For current MIC students to re-register

Friday, June 19th

Juneteenth Observed

No private lessons, classes or ensembles

Saturday, July 4th

Independence Day (no private lessons, classes or ensembles)

Wednesday, July 15th

Priority Re-registration deadline for school year 2026-2027

Registration fees waived

Monday, July 27th

Last Day of summer Session group classes (Summer 2026)

Sunday, September 6th

Last day of Summer Session private instruction (Summer 2026)
Fall 2026

Tuesday, September 8th

Fall Semester/Private Instruction Begins (17 weeks)

Monday, September 21st

Fall group classes & ensembles begin

All Campuses and Locations

Sunday, October 11th

Music Theory Registration Deadline for 2026- 2027

Tuesday, November 24th

Thanksgiving Recess

Tuesday, November 24 - Sunday, November 29, 2026

Monday, December 21st

Winter Recess

Monday, December 21, 2026- Sunday, January 3, 2027

Monday, January 4th

Fall Private instruction, group classes and ensembles resume

Monday, January 18th

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observed

No private lessons, classes and ensembles

Monday, January 25th

Make-up day for Monday group classes and ensembles
Fall Semester make-up week, if applicable

Tuesday, January 26 through Sunday, January 31, 2027

Last day of Fall Semester