One City's Mission
The mission of One City is to provide access to music education for children and families from the underserved Chicago neighborhoods, sustain and pass on the rich musical heritage of Bronzeville, and provide expertly mentored, hands-on teaching experience to collegiate-level music education students at VanderCook College of Music.
About One City
When One City was founded in 2017, it offered a 4-year jazz curriculum for fifth through eighth graders from the surrounding communities of Bronzeville, Englewood, and Chinatown/Armour Square. In this jazz wing of the program, each child receives a brand new high-quality instrument when they join the program at the beginning of fifth grade. For four years, they progress as instrumentalists through a unique curriculum based on the musical legacy of our neighborhood of Bronzeville, which was once home to iconic musicians like Earl Hines, Muddy Waters, Lillian Hardin Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Lionel Hampton, and many more. Students choose from trumpet, trombone, saxophone, piano, electric bass, or drums. Each student plays in one of three jazz bands, the Earl Hines Band, the Dorothy Donegan Band, or the Louis Armstrong Band, as well as taking weekly lessons with a specialist on their instrument and participating in a class called "Jazz in Context." Those who stick with the program through the end of eighth grade (over 90%) get to keep the instrument to use in high school and beyond. The entire program, including the instrument, is free of cost to the family.
In 2021, in response to parents' interest in an instrumental music program available to younger children, One City add a Suzuki violin program known as One City Strings. This program is open to children as young as Pre-K who attend each week along with a parent or care giver. Like One City Jazz, this program is completely free of cost to the family, including the instrument. Students play on rental instruments so that the violin is appropriately sized for the student, and then upon graduation from eighth grade, students receive their own full-size violin to play in high school and beyond.
In 2024, a third wing of One City was created to accommodate the large number of students who were interested in playing drums/percussion. One City Drum Line/Percussion serves students in grades five through eight. Each child learns to play a variety of musical styles and percussion instruments, including marching drum line instruments, mallet/pitched percussion instruments, and hand drums.
All One City students perform at least twice per year and rehearse every Saturday throughout the school year. One City students also have access to summer lessons and music camps, all at no cost to the family, because we believe that every child deserves access to a great music education, regardless of income of family circumstances.
Our performances:
Events
Printable Weekly Practice Log
Just take a screen shot and then print at home.
Our Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
