Today we’d like to introduce you to Sylvia Myintoo, Christie Sola, and Fiona Hammer.
Approximately a year and a half ago, Christie approached Sylvia, both professional violinists, and asked her if she would like to start an in-school group music lesson program at different educational sites in the Chicagoland area. The two women have been colleagues and friends for nearly 20 years, both teaching violin at Near North Montessori School. Together, Sylvia and Christie built the Montessori program to more than 60 violin students. Their students, at Near North Montessori, successfully take private and group music lessons as part of their school day. As luck would have it, Fiona, a mother of two of Christie’s students, was passionate about the School’s music program and was concurrently volunteering her time to help the School create more arts-focused events. A few days before Christie and Sylvia were going to incorporate, they invited Ms. Hammer to join them as a third partner.
This trio of strong women went on to launch Chicago School of Musical Arts (Chicago SMA) in February, 2018.
Just a few months later, Chicago SMA offered its first classes, Intro to Violin, Intro to Guitar and Hip-Hop, at Christie’s son’s school, Alcott Elementary School, a Chicago Public School in Lincoln Park.
This fall, Chicago SMA will be expanding to at least 11 schools.
The company is unique in that the programming is fully customizable and can cater to each school-community’s needs.
What makes Chicago SMA stand out the most is the emphasis on outstanding teachers who are also local artists. As teachers themselves, Christie and Sylvia feel that the teachers should be highlighted as outstanding assets to the community and treated as such.
Chicago SMA prioritizes convenience for its families. In the past, parents typically have had to find an instrument to rent or buy, but Chicago SMA offers Instrument rentals, purchases and direct delivery to students all from Chicagosma.com. With each class, all students are offered a music bag and material supply bundles that they can use for the duration of the class.
Another essential aspect of Chicago SMA is affordable, high quality group lessons. The traditional model for music lessons is either a large group band environment or private one-on-one lessons. In contrast, Chicago SMA’s group classes can run from 4-12 students for instrumental lessons, which brings the cost down for families and adds the fun, community aspect of working in a group environment
With the perspective of mothers, teachers, and performers these three women are confident that Chicago SMA can change the musical landscape for students across the Chicagoland area and, with future expansion, across The United States.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The challenge is that Chicago SMA is in uncharted territory. There are few, if any, companies that are following this new model. Breaking the traditional mold takes time and vision.
Ms. Sola, Ms. Myintoo, and Ms. Hammer are creating everything from the ground up, and every day something new arises and decisions have to be made quickly, which can be stressful!
Chicago SMA is made of three voices that must become one unified vision and that takes hours and hours of discussion and debate. The more time this trio takes to get together the clearer Chicago SMA’s path becomes.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Chicago School of Musical Arts story. Tell us more about the business.
Our Mission Statement
The central mission of the Chicago School of Musical Arts is to provide innovative, high quality and accessible music and arts programming to students of all ages in the Chicagoland area.
Our Mantra: Musicality for the Modern Family
Convenience: Classes are offered in your schools, youth centers, places of worship and other safe family-oriented learning centers.
Community: We service communities based on their direct cultural, religious and economic needs in order to strengthen the families we serve. Music and arts have the power to unify communities and bring people together.
Customizable: We work with your organization to create the programming that best serves your needs.
Local Artist-Teachers: Our teachers are renowned performers and passionate educators that live and work in your neighborhood. They are committed to consistent student growth and excellence.
Right now, Chicago SMA specializes in group classes but plans to expand into private lessons, ensembles, traditional band and rock band in the future.
Chicago SMA is most proud of their teaching staff and that they are actively bringing the highest quality music education directly to Chicagoland schools.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Chicago SMA’s luck is found in the fact that these three women bring their perspectives and experience to work every day.
These women are performers/teachers and parents. They have insight into what works from all angles.
As performers, they have access to many colleagues and artists that teach as well.
As teachers, they understand what makes a successful teacher-student relationship.
And as parents, they know that busy families want quality instruction and are not always available to drive from point A to point B. Hence, the in-school model works well, as do group lessons for affordability.
Contact Info:
- Website: Chicagosma.com
- Phone: 3127800823
- Email: info@chicagosma.com
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