Reach Teach Play ® Music Education and Community Engagement Programs
Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play® (RTP) programs serve thousands in Chicago-area communities, opening doors where everyone can access and experience the positive impact of live music.
Several programs extend Ravinia’s reach into Chicago and Lake County public schools that otherwise have little to no music curriculum of their own, providing 20,000 students with live performances and integrative activities that spark a love of music and invite exploration of varied genres and styles, as well as programs that teach the foundations of music and encourage children to engage in music-making and express themselves creatively.
Ravinia gives students the opportunity to play musical instruments, develop their talents, and create pathways for continued success through a variety of programs, including a community family music school, El Sistema–inspired orchestral programs that foster social development, and a mentorship program for high school jazz musicians.
Central to RTP’s mission of access, Ravinia provides free summer concert passes to thousands of community members through partnerships with over 150 social service agencies, as well as public libraries and community music and performing arts schools.
Get to Know Reach Teach Play
Watch these videos for highlights from our myriad music education and community engagement programs.
Quick Details About Some of Our Reach Teach Play® Programs
- Music education programs for 20,000 public school students in Cook and Lake Counties
- Ravinia Lawndale Family Music School: In a partnership with Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood, Ravinia provides tuition-free classes for hundreds of children, adults, and families in the the under-served community, fostering opportunities for artistic enrichment and the appreciation and joy of music.
- Music Discovery Program: Ravinia’s teaching artists lead multi-week, interactive musical residencies in K–3rd grade classrooms in under-resourced Chicago Public Schools, encouraging children to discover the joy of music and engage with education by participating in music-making.
- Sistema Ravinia: Inspired by the immersive El Sistema music education model, which emphasizes community building in addition to musical excellence, daily orchestral training for 3rd–12th grade students fosters social development and creates pathways for continued success.
- Guest Artists in the Classroom: Ravinia brings renowned ensembles and soloists—musicians based in the Chicago area and straight from our concert stages alike—into schools to spark the love of music and introduce students to the experience of live classical music.
- Jazz Mentor Program: Talented student jazz musicians from Chicago Public High Schools—the Ravinia Jazz Scholars—are mentored by an ensemble of the city’s finest artists in the field, deepening their skills for performances, future professional studies, and music careers.
- One Score, One Chicago: An annually selected piece or composer of classical music that will be featured during the coming summer at Ravinia is promoted as a centerpiece of community discussion and shared enjoyment, integrated across many different Reach Teach Play program presentations.
- Opportunity Lawn Pass Program: Partnering with social service agencies and public libraries across Chicago and the suburbs, Ravinia provides thousands of performance tickets to people who otherwise would not be able to attend concerts.
- KidsLawn: Large-scale sculptural percussion instruments in a creative play-space provide a setting for children and parents at Ravinia concerts to explore music-making together, as well as experience special interactive events such as instrument petting zoos, sing-alongs, storytelling, and musical crafts.
Support and Donations
Learn how you can assist Ravinia’s music education programs and join the growing list of supporters helping to ensure that Chicago-area children have access to these impactful, transformative programs.
