There are hundreds of piano instructors in Chicago, so finding the best piano lessons in Chicago can be a daunting task.
But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!
We’ve spent dozens of hours curating a list of the 18 highest-reviewed piano instructors in the city, and we’ve also listed all the details you’ll need to know to choose a school.
Whether you’re looking for a prestigious school, online piano lessons, or a place where your toddler can be introduced with music…
Or you’re looking for something more intimate where the piano can be learned from a local artist in your home or their studio…
Our guide will answer all your questions and point you in the right direction!
Average Hourly Rate for Piano Lessons in Chicago*
Type of Piano Lesson | Cost Per Hour |
|---|---|
Piano lesson (all types) | $70 per hour |
Private piano lesson | $67.50 per hour |
In-home piano lesson | $74 per hour |
Online piano lesson | $64 per hour |
Adult lesson (60-minute) | $67 per hour |
Child lesson (60-minute) | $68 per hour |
Adult lesson (30-minute) | $35.2 per hour |
Child lesson (30-minute) | $35.50 per hour |
Note: These figures are to give you an overview of what you can expect to spend. The cost varies instructor to instructor and in some cases teacher to teacher within a school.
Tip: Most schools have discounts available as well as hidden charges. We have detailed everything here so you can make an informed decision for yourself and your child.
Best Piano Lessons in Chicago (Top 18)
Here is a quick review of all the details. Please note that the Hourly Rate is for the most common programs for each instructor. Each school have many program for different skill level, duration, and age. Please refer to the individual instructor for more details below.
Top 18 Piano Schools/Instructors in Chicago (Table)
School / Instructor | Years of Experience | Hourly Rate* | Online Classes | Private Classes | In-home Classes | Types of Clients | Types of Instruction Offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Piano Power | Cell | $84 | No (Covid-19 = Yes) | Yes | Yes | Kids, Adults | All |
TAD SUZUKI PIANO STUDIO | 15 | $67 | No (Covid-19 = Yes) | Yes | No | Kids, Adults | Artistic, Classical, Jazz, Cocktail Music, Bossa Nova, Ragtime, Show-tune, others |
Mark Valenti Piano Studio | 27 | Contact for more info | No | Yes | N/A | Kids, Adults | classical repertoire to jazz and pop |
Lipeng Chen Music | 18 | Contact for more info | No | Yes | No | Kids, Adults | All |
UpBeat Music and Arts | 7 | $38/half hour | No | Yes | No | Kids, Adults | All |
Bucktown Music, Inc. | 11 | $31/hour hour | No (Covid-19 = Yes) | Yes | No | Kids, Adults | All |
Red Cloud Studio | Cell | Contact them for more details | No (Covid-19 = Yes) | No | No | Kids, Adults | All |
City Strings & Piano | Cell | $77 | No | Yes | Yes | Kids, Adults | All |
Topher Allan Music | 7 | $45 | No (Covid-19 = Yes) | Yes | No | Kids, Adults | All |
Merry Music Makers | Cell | $34/half hour | No | Yes | No | Kids | All |
Ela Kriss' Music | Cell | $60 | No | Yes | Yes | Kids, Adults | traditional classical training combined with popular modern methods |
Drums & Piano Lessons by Sol Garnier | 18 | $50 | No (Covid-19 = Yes) | Yes | No | Kids, Adults | Classical, Rock, Jazz, and Contemporary |
Old Town School of Folk Music | 63 | $68 | No (Covid-19 = Yes) | Yes | No | Kids, Adults | All |
Upbeat Music | 25 | Contact for more details | No (Covid-19 = Yes) | Yes | No | Kids, Adults | All |
ACM School of Music | 13 | $72 | Yes | Yes | No | Kids, Adults | All |
Merit School of Music | 40 | $77 | No (Covid-19 = Yes) | No | Yes | Kids, Teens | All |
Chicago School of Music | 22 | $80 | No | Yes | No | Kids, Adults | All |
Sparkling Art Piano | Cell | $76 | No | Yes | No | Kids | All |
Top 18 Piano Schools/Instructors in Chicago (Detailed Descriptions)
Piano Power
Piano Power offers private and group lessons to kids and adults in North Shore suburbs and Chicago neighborhoods. The teachers at Piano Power are fun, engaging, creative, and committed to music education. They allow students to play anything from Top 40 to classical, a focus on original composition, and an emphasis on fostering a lifelong love of music.
In addition to all kinds, such as jazz, classical, and traditional piano lessons, they offer performance programs such as Basement Band, Student Showcase, All-Student Recital, and Studio Power. These programs help students with their confidence and give a sense of accomplishment.
Tad Suzuki Piano Studio
Tad is a professional pianist performer and a passionate teacher. For the last 15 years, he has performed in some of the most prestigious clubs in Chicago. Tad started his learning journey in Japan and then studied with Melody Lord (who performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) for over 25 years). Tad received his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance with Honors from the Chicago College of Performing Arts.
Tad has been giving lessons in classical piano music as well as improvisations for cocktail lounge-style piano music. His Lessons include My lessons include:
Mark Valenti Piano Studio
Mark is a top-tier experienced teacher with a huge 27-year experience. During his career, he worked as a Professor of Music at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Xavier University in Chicago, and the Loire Valley Music Institute in France. Currently, Mark gives piano lessons to kids and adults of all ages from his studio in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago.
Mark’s previous students say that he is patient, understanding, and his teaching methods are not traditional. His method respects personal touch for music and students feel greater freedom for their individual expression.
Lipeng Chen Music
Lipeng focuses on individual students, provides private piano lessons and helps them with their individual goals. Each student is different with their own set of strengths and skills; Lipeng targets those skills and makes lessons that are tailored to each particular student’s needs. The result of that is Lipeng's students have went on to achieve many great things under her guidance. Her students have been awarded scholarships to study in London, New York, Chicago, Indianapolis, and Milwaukee.
Lipeng is also a professional performer and she has performed in many orchestras across the country, including Illinois, New York City, Washington state, North Carolina, and Indiana.
UpBeat Music and Arts
UpBeat Music and Arts is a different school than others as it is a not-for-profit organization. Scott Barbeau, a musician, and philanthropist founded UpBeat Music and Arts in 2013 so that the financial obstacle to learning music and arts could be removed. To achieve that, UpBeat Music and Arts provide financial support in the form of scholarships to deserving students.
UpBeat is more than just a music school. The teachers at UpBeat give life lessons such as accountability, discipline, respect, kindness, and humility through fun and interactive lessons. The programs they provide include Youth and Adult Private Lessons, Virtual Summer Camps, Group Piano Lessons, and Youth and Adult Rock Banks.
Bucktown Music, Inc.
Bucktown Music was started by Jessica and Luis Solares in 2009. Since then it has become this amazing institute that introduces music to young kids with their Kindermusik program which is for children 0-5 years old. Their group classes are a fun way to introduce students (ages 6+) to a new instrument while learning to play in an ensemble. Piano partner is another fun program that is designed for kids aged 5 and 6.
This program eases children into the music world under the supervision of an adult such as parents. Parents get to participate in the lessons and support the child’s learning curve.
They also have a program for adults. Whether you are just starting off and want to jam and learn a few songs to play at your next get-together, or if you are looking to take your playing to the next level with the note reading, technique and ensemble, they are ready to jumpstart your musical journey!
Red Cloud Studio
Red Cloud Studio, located in the heart of Logan Square just south of Logan Boulevard at 2506 N. California Ave, is run by Molly Lehr. She has studied Vocal Performance and Arranging at Berklee College of Music and has a Somatic Voicework™ Level III certificate.
Red Cloud Studio is different than other schools as they don’t provide private lessons. Instead, they have developed the Red Cloud Piano Lab which allows students to experience the great parts of the group (making music with friends, social accountability, and games) combined with the benefits only this format can bring: learning how to practice, drilling tough spots/solving problems, getting enough time on the keyboard, and building confidence.
City Strings & Piano
If you are looking for in-home piano lessons or piano lessons near you, then City Strings & Piano is a great option. They are a service that connects great teachers with students. The teachers at City Strings & Piano will work with you to develop the lessons according to your needs, level and learning style. The teachers are committed to crafting a unique learning plan for each of their students.
With City Strings and Piano, you get to learn in the comfort of your home and you still get the full music academy experience. They host semi-annual recitals and provide optional group classes, instrument rental, and sales. Their mission is to take care of everything so that you can focus on your child's musical success.
Topher Allan Music
Topher Allan Music teaches piano to children as young as 3 to seniors. Their approach to teaching music involves a collective effort from the teacher, parent, and student. The professional and passionate teachers create a structured curriculum for each individual that follows the standards of excellence in music.
They also have music groups where the student can expect to be working on musical theory, performing solo repertoire, playing music together as duets and groups, and participating in open discussions about music history, specific technical aspects of playing piano, and musical influences.
Merry Music Makers
Merry Music Makers specializes in piano lessons for kids in Chicago. They have two kinds of lessons, one for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers with their caregivers, and the other one is for big kids ages 3/4+ who are ready for class without a grown-up. There are many programs within these 2 categories such as Music Together®, Music Together Babies Only, Music Together con Español, Puedo Cantar!, Sing French with Madame Julie, Holiday Sing-along, Meet the Keys, Meet the Violin, Meet the Guitar, Meet the Ukulele, Summer Jam camp, and Private lessons.
These programs range from toddlers just watching other kids play instruments to private lessons where teachers engage each student to inspire a love of learning music with enthusiasm and lead them through to more advanced levels.
Ela Kriss' Music
Ela is a veteran teacher who specializes in traditional classical training combined with popular modern methods such as Suzuki for the very young ones, in addition to individually created programs assessed in accordance with each child’s personality and learning capacity.
She is very accommodating to her older students too. No matter if you’re looking for a new hobby, want to start a band, or simply wish to learn how to read music, play and manipulate chords, she can talk through your ideas and come up with a learning plan that suits your schedule and needs.
Drums & Piano Lessons by Sol Garnier
Sol Garnier has 18 years of teaching experience. He gives piano lessons to children as young as 7 to 77-years old seniors. Sol Believes that teaching should be more about lighting a fire than filling up a vase. He motivates you by making the journey of learning piano an exciting adventure and he has been applying this philosophy for more than 18 years with great results.
Sol focus on Classical, Rock, Jazz, and Contemporary style of music. Under his guidance, you’ll develop the skills that will be anchored in a solid foundation of technique and music theory. If you don’t read music, he plays the lessons myself so you can record them with a smartphone and practice at home. He makes use of my extensive CD collection, plays along with you while you try out new exercises, makeup games, demonstrates tricks to practice, jokes to help you relax, and uses his extensive teaching library.
Old Town School of Folk Music
Old Town School of Folk Music is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1957. They provide a wide range of music, dance, theater, and visual arts courses to people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Whatever one's interest, the Old Town School provides broad access to more than 700 accredited class offerings, private lessons, and workshops that span an array of artistic genres.
They have classes available for newborns through 4 years, kids, teens, and adults. The classes include Accordion, Banjo, Bass Guitar, Dance, Dulcimer, Ensemble Classes, Fiddle, Violin & Cello, Guitar Program, Harmonica, Mandolin, Percussion, Piano, Songwriting, Theater, Theory, Ukulele, Voice, and Woodwinds & Reeds.
They have state-of-the-art piano labs where students sit at their own keyboard and work with the teacher and one another on a group lesson. You'll also have the opportunity to work on your own with the personal support of your instructor. Different types of courses are also available for different levels such as Piano 1: Introduction to Piano (Beginner), Piano 2(Beginner), Piano 3 (Beginner), Piano 4Ever (intermediate), Piano for Singers (All), Piano Lab: Songs and Jams (intermediate), Sightreading for Piano (intermediate), and Technique and Artistry for Piano (intermediate).
Upbeat Music
Upbeat Music School is located at 3000 S. Wentworth. The passionate teachers at Upbeat Music give piano lessons to kids and adults. They teach a variety of styles from classical to popular music. Whether you want to learn Bach or Alicia Keys, the teachers at Upbeat Music are happy to help you become the pianist you want to be. They also show you the fundamentals of sight-reading, technique and theory, but they will also incorporate your favorite songs into your lessons. You do not have to have a piano at home to take lessons.
At the school, they have 5 private lesson rooms, 1 classroom, and a waiting/reception area. They also have 6 pianos, drum set, guitar/bass amps, and various teaching aids, for lessons and classes, plus books, instruments, and accessories for sale.
ACM School of Music
ACM was started in 2004 by Seth Boustead, a composer and active advocate for new classical music and in 2007 Boustead started the ACM School of Music in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood. It has since grown to serve 300 students in piano, violin, cello, flute, composition, theory, guitar, and voice. All students learn creativity alongside rote learning, meaning that they will, of course, learn to read notes but they also learn to create their own music and notate it for others to play.
Chicago’s ACM School of Music offers piano lessons for children beginning at age 4. Lessons for very young children focus equally on playing at the piano and on rhythm and music games. The ACM School of Music is the perfect place for adults to start piano lessons or brush up on old skills. They offer piano lessons in a variety of musical styles including classical, jazz, and popular.
Piano lessons take place on the north side of Chicago in any of our four locations: Avondale/Logan Square, Ravenswood, Rogers Park, or the South Loop.
Merit School of Music
Merit School of Music provides access to high-quality music education to over 3,000 students annually at their downtown location and in area schools and community centers. This is made possible by their 125 passionate and experienced teachers. They also provide financial support through need-based tuition relief, low-cost instrument rental, and music supplies so that motivated students can participate in the programs regardless of economic circumstance. You can apply for financial aid here.
Merit School of Music has group programs as well as private programs. Working one-on-one with the skilled and supportive faculty, private lesson students explore their individual talents and interests, develop skills, and overcome challenges. Lessons are scheduled at a time that is convenient to both the student and teacher for either 30, 45 or 60 minutes once per week.
They also teach music to very young kids in a learning environment that is playful, developmentally stimulating, and musically rich. They incorporate song, chant, movement exercises, and instrument play to develop a child’s imagination, musical awareness, and expressiveness.
Chicago School of Music
Chicago School of Music was established in 1998. In 2012, they re-located to River North and the Near North Side at 900 N Franklin in Chicago to accommodate their growth. They cater to the students and families from River North, Lincoln Park, Old Town, Gold Coast, the Loop, Hyde Park, Wicker Park, Bucktown, and the South Side.
The teachers at Chicago are experienced and passionate about spreading their love for music; teachers think, teach, and inspire students outside-the-box of normal teaching a creative capacity the learning styles of different students. All lessons are held in an artistically designed and spacious faculty environment.
Different programs Chicago School of Music provides include Private Lessons, Early Childhood Classes, Advanced Training, Programs for Children, Programs for Teens, and Programs for Adults. These programs cater to the needs of all age groups and skill levels. Programs are offered by 4, 8, and 16 lessons in increments of 30-minutes, 45-minutes, and 60-minutes duration.
Sparkling Art Piano
Sparkling Art Piano provides music lessons to toddlers, babies, and preschoolers. They promote creativity, social, emotional, and intellectual development in children through music and art. Experienced and specialized teachers at Sparkling Art Piano fuel child’s development through lessons that are engaging, process-oriented, and tailored to each child’s development stage.
Starting from the earliest stages of piano study, Sparking Art Piano is committed to teaching students how to expose their musical talents. They inspire students to explore their passion for music no matter their age. The focus on feelings and creativity enables the individuality of the students to shine through their music.
