Community Music Program at Northeastern
About Us
The Community Music Program is directed by Dr. Susan Tang (NEIU Music Department Professor of Piano) and enrollment is managed by Northeastern's Office of Community and Professional Education (CAPE). The Community Music Program (CMP) at Northeastern Illinois University enjoys a unique affiliation with the Department of Music, a fully accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music. Through this affiliation the CMP is able to provide individual lessons to community students offering a range of instructors and lesson duration, appropriate to each student's level of ability. Students choose the instructor and lesson duration that is right for them. Instructors include Junior Faculty (NEIU undergraduate and graduate students), Senior Faculty (professionals) and Artist Faculty (NEIU full-time faculty artists or special guest artists). Lessons are offered in 30, 45 and 60 minute increments.
The purpose of our Community Music Program (CMP) at NEIU is to provide accessible and inclusive music education through individual lessons and collaborative performance opportunities for people of all backgrounds, ages and stages of advancement, enriching our community through creative expression.
CMP Junior Faculty are Music Department NEIU upper class students and graduate students in the music pedagogy program. They are mentored by their professors at NEIU.
CMP Senior Faculty have masters graduate degrees and above in music and are experienced teachers.
CMP Artist Faculty are teachers with doctoral degrees in music or comparable credentials and all also on the faculty of NEIU.
New students for 2026: Please fill out this online pre-registration form before registering so that we can match you with a teacher.
Continuing students should consult with their instructors about summer scheduling or call the CAPE office at (773) 442-5080.
(Search "music" or "private lessons.") Choose a "junior" ,"senior", "artist" teacher and the length of lesson you would like to have.
Please call us if you do not see an offering that meets your needs. Piano instructors will start students at age 5 and up; guitar students age 6 and up.
Session (weekly lessons): Monday, August 31, 2026 to Monday, December 7, 2026.
Fall Recital: Saturday, December 12, 2026 in the NEIU Recital Hall (3701 W Bryn Mawr Ave). Parking provided in Lots F and D for this event.
Tuition with CMP Junior Faculty
30 minutes: $26 per lesson
45 minutes: $38 per lesson
60 minutes: $50 per lesson
Tuition with CMP Senior Faculty
30 minutes: $38 per lesson
45 minutes: $55 per lesson
60 minutes: $68 per lesson
Tuition with CMP Artist Faculty
60 minutes: $85 per lesson
Registration and Tuition Payment
- Music lessons are offered weekly at mutually agreed upon times between instructor and student/parents.
- Completion of the online application form is required for new students.
- A CMP instructor will contact the parent or student (18 years or older) to arrange a mutually agreed upon lesson schedule.
- Full payment for the entire session is due by the first lesson date. No refunds after the first month of lessons.
Attendance and make-up lessons
- Students are expected to be present for all classes and lessons.
- Private instruction students are allowed one make-up lesson per session. (Fall, Spring, Summer etc.)
- Notification of inability to attend a lesson does not excuse payment for contracted lessons.
- All lessons cancelled by the teacher will be made up at a mutually agreed upon time.
- Group class absences may not be made up.
Photo, Audio, Video Release Policy
Students enrolled in the Community Music Program at Northeastern agree to release, defend, and hold harmless NEIU and its agents or employees, including any publishing and/or distributing media content whether on paper or via electronic media, from and against any claims, damages or liability arising from or related to the use of photographs, video and audio recording, including but not limited to any misuse, distortion, blurring, alteration, optical illusion or use in composite form, either intentionally or otherwise, that may occur or be produced in taking, processing, reduction or production of the finished product, its publication or distribution.
Students enrolled in the Community Music Program at Northeastern waive any right to royalties or other compensation arising from or related to the use media content (e.g. photographs, audio, video content). I understand that any such content, and all rights associated with them, will belong solely and exclusively to NEIU, which shall have the absolute right to copyright, duplicate, reproduce, alter, display, distribute, and/or publish them in any manner, for any purpose, and in any form including, but not limited to, print, electronic, video, and/or Internet.
Contact Us
The Community Music Program is directed by Dr. Susan Tang and enrollment is managed by Northeastern's Office of Community and Professional Education (CAPE). If you have any questions, please email us at cape@neiu.edu or call (773) 442-5080.