Who We Are
Music Blocks is a non profit in Barrington, IL providing access to the building blocks of music literacy for underserved youth to strengthen the mind, lift the spirit and foster opportunities for creative expression.
We provide private Piano/Keyboard Lessons at no charge to students who express and demonstrate a clear desire and ability to study music but lack the financial means to pursue music lessons.
What We Do
In 2017 Music Blocks started a piano program at Sunny Hill Elementary School in Carpentersville, where, according to the Illinois Department of Education, 90% of the students were classified as low income. The vast majority of these families could not afford either private lessons or a piano in their home and may not even have enough space in their home to furnish a small piano or keyboard. To address this, Music Blocks is provides current Sunny Hill students in grades 2 to 5, semi-private lessons at Sunny Hill as an afterschool activity. They are supplying full length (88 weighted key) keyboards, with stands, stools and headphones and the music lesson books and materials so students can take lessons on site at Sunny Hill. To better ensure the students’ success with the program, Music Blocks is offering 30 minute private or semi-private lessons (depending on the grouping of students) to each student, three days per week, by fully qualified, experienced piano teachers.
In March 2020, with the lockdown and move to distance learning, Music Blocks transitioned several students to online lessons. These students happened to own a small keyboard or piano and were able to connect with the Music Blocks teachers and participate in lessons from their home. Over the course of the next few months, Music Blocks solicited donations of used pianos, digital pianos and smaller keyboards from the surrounding community so other Music Blocks students could take participate in online lessons during a very critical time. By the end of May 20 students were enrolled in online lessons and even participated in a Virtual piano recital.
In October 2021, Music Blocks resumed in-person lessons for currently enrolled students at Faith Lutheran Church in Carpentersville. Students are participating in weekly private 30 -45 minute lessons and even performed in an in-person Holiday recital on December 18th, 2021 in the beautiful sanctuary of Faith Lutheran Church.
Nonprofit Needs
