This summer OPSA musicians are bringing their talents to the streets of Oak Park! We’re so proud of the confidence, musicianship, and talents of these students! Bravo to all on performing out in the community under the bright sunshine.
They performed at What’s Blooming on Harrison. The group played through many of our favorite Suzuki pieces that showcased the many levels and talents of these students.
Several musicians joined the OPSA booth at A Day in Our Village and got to play any pieces they wanted. Their bravery and talented performances drew quite a crowd!
Welcome to the Spring 2026 100-Day Practice Challenge!
We are thrilled to announce the eagerly-awaited, much-anticipated, super-thrilling 100 day practice challenge! Here is a guide for parents and guardians to get started with their students. Ask your private lesson teacher any questions you have.
What is it?
For 100 days, we are building one simple habit: Practice and listening every day. The goal is not perfection – it is consistency.
Why we’re doing this:
Habits beat hype. Small daily effort adds up to big progress.
Motivation follows action. Showing up daily builds confidence.
Listening builds a ‘big ear’. It accelerates Suzuki progress and musicianship.
Community helps. Doing it together keeps kids inspired.
What counts each day:
Practice (any amount) + Listening to Suzuki tracks (part of practice).
Something is always better than nothing. Even a 3-minute practice counts on busy days.
Recommended daily practice time:
Book 1: 20-30 minutes
Book 2: 30-45 minutes
Books 3+: About the length of your child’s lesson (or your teacher’s guidance)
Listening:
Listening can be background music (car, meals, homework). Aim for current working piece + next upcoming piece 3 times each day.
Low-energy options that still count:
Bow hand practice (shape + flexibility).
Follow the notes on the page during listening practice.
Swish rhythm / bow patterns on the arm during listening practice.
Say note names or finger numbers for reading work.
Tracking
Your personal 100-Day Practice Tracker was sent via email, or ask your private lesson teacher for a copy.
We will have a studio-wide tracker to see and celebrate everyone’s progress on this challenge. When attending your private lesson, you’ll be able to update your progress with your teacher and on our tracker.
Celebration!
We will have a group celebration at the end of the 100 day challenge. Stay tuned for more exciting details!
It seems like our 2025 20th Anniversary Benefit Concert was just yesterday. We are still smiling over how proud you all made us. You rehearsed for countless hours, you attended extra rehearsals, and you made sure that you knew every note – and had fun while playing!
Thank you to our incredibly generous community for the thousands of dollars you donated for the PCC Community Wellness Centers. The impact this has on our immediately neighbors and community is so inspiring and is part of why we still love to do the Benefit Concerts. Acts of service is love made visible and you’ve shown our community how much love you have to share.
Summer Strings Camp (Oak Park String Academy) June 2026
Keep the momentum going after school orchestra ends! Oak Park String Academy’s Summer Strings Camp is a fun, skill-building, small-group week designed for students who want to grow quickly and feel confident heading into next year.
We keep enrollment intentionally tiny — only about 8 students per camp — so every child gets real, individualized attention from OPSA professional facultyand inspiring high-level high school performers who serve as mentors, section leaders, and role models.
Week 1: June 8–12 (Rising 4th Graders)
Perfect for students who are thinking of starting strings in school as a 4th grader and want to have a head start on building a solid foundation.
Students will:
Develop music reading
Build solid rhythm and ensemble skills
Learn about technique and posture
Develop core habits that prepare them for middle school orchestra
Have a great time making music with new friends
Week 2: June 15–19 (Rising 5th–6th Graders)
For students ready to move at a slightly faster pace and deepen their skills.
Students will:
Strengthen music reading and ensemble confidence
Improve shifting skills
Begin/strengthen vibrato
Build technique, rhythm, and musical independence
Enjoy collaborative music-making in a positive, motivating environment
Schedule
Monday–Friday | 9:00am–12:00pm
Tuition
Early Bird (register by April 1): $395
Regular Tuition (after April 1): $425
Spots are limited and these small camps tend to fill quickly — share with a friend from school orchestra and come grow together this summer!
We may be in the frozen days of winter, but it’s never too early to think about summer! Every summer, there are dozens of Suzuki Summer Institutes around the world — with many right here in the Midwest! — that bring students together for magical weeks of music.
These institutes range from a couple days to a full week. Most of them offer more than just violin — the focus is Suzuki training across instruments.
Students and parents are invited to spend a week dedicated to community, music, and personal improvement. This intensive week of music develops healthy practice habits, sets students up to excel, and instills a personal motivation to succeed. For parents, this week invites you to support your student through deepening your understanding of what goes into their music. This week often leads to lifelong connections and friendships with people from all over the world.
Want to talk about the opportunities for your student? Discuss with your individual lesson teacher soon! Applications for many Summer Institutes are already open and we’re here to support you through that process.
This December, Oak Park String Academy is thrilled to celebrate 20 years of music-making with a very special event:
our 20th Anniversary Benefit Concert in support of PCC Wellness Center.
On Friday, December 19, 2025, our students, teachers, and alumni will take the stage at Calvary Memorial Church to share the joy of music while raising funds for a cause that deeply impacts families in our own community.
Why PCC Wellness Center?
At OPSA, we believe that music education is not only about developing skill—it’s about nurturing the whole child and contributing to the well-being of our community. PCC Wellness Center provides critical healthcare services and programs for families in the Oak Park and Austin neighborhoods. Their work in supporting parents and children aligns beautifully with our mission to build character, compassion, and resilience through music.
Performances from all 75 OPSA students, ranging in age from preschool through high school.
Special appearances by OPSA alumni, returning to celebrate our 20th anniversary.
A guest speaker from PCC Wellness Center, sharing about their work and how this benefit will help.
A joyful evening filled with ensemble music, community spirit, and the message that together, we can make a difference.
How You Can Support
Attend the Concert: Mark your calendar for December 19 at 5:30p and join us for an inspiring evening.
Donate: All proceeds from the concert will directly benefit PCC Wellness Center. Click here to donate now!
Spread the Word: Share this event with family, friends, and neighbors—music builds community, and the more, the merrier.
20 Years Strong
This concert is not just a fundraiser for PCC—it is a celebration of OPSA’s journey over the last two decades. Since 2005, we have had the privilege of working with hundreds of families across Oak Park, River Forest, and the greater Chicagoland area. Our Equitable Tuition Program ensures that every child, regardless of financial background, has the opportunity to learn and grow through music.
We can’t wait to come together with you—our families, friends, and neighbors—for this special evening of music and community impact.
🎻 Join us on December 19, 2025, at 5:30p at Calvary Memorial Church Together, let’s make music matter beyond the stage.
Dr. Shinichi Suzuki was a Japanese violinist and humanitarian. Witnessing the destruction of his homeland due to the Second World War, he formed a vision to help nudge the world toward peace through its children. Through music, Dr. Suzuki hoped to build noble hearts in children all around the world.
With this in mind, we produce an event each year that connects our students from Oak Park and the surrounding areas to the larger world they live in. In previous years, our students helped to raise money through their music for the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), the Heartland Alliance’s unaccompanied minor program, Hephzibah Children’s Association., and A House in Austin. Videos of past concerts can be viewed here.
OPSA students and faculty will create a moving concert to include violin students of all ages and levels. In previous years, we performed music from Syria, Lebanon, China, Romania, and more. This year, students will present several of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with a full string ensemble and even a holiday sing-along. Students will join to play music together and hopefully make the world just a little more peaceful and beautiful.
The Early Childhood Collaboration will be the recipient of the funds we raise. In past years, OPSA has raised almost $2,000 for our recipient organizations. We hope to do even better this year! You can make a donation right away!
Kindermusik with Pat at OPSA has classes for infants through age 7 years.
Kindermusik is a great way to start out with music education for your child. As an experienced Suzuki parent and Kindermusik instructor, Pat Larson will guide you and your child through the start of your musical journey.
The first level, Foundations, is for children up to 18 months.
This semester, parents are invited to come to two different infant classes when they register for one class (depending on space availability).
There’s still space in the Saturday class at 11 a.m. for children up to 3 ½ years!
Laurie Niles, founder of the amazing Violinist.com website.
Our esteemed colleague, Laurie Niles, over at Violinist.com has compiled a very helpful list of links to help you find the official Suzuki recordings made by some of the best artists in the world. As a method based on listening, it is IMPERATIVE that you play the Suzuki recordings as often as possible for you and your child. The most successful students are the ones who LISTEN the most!
Join our Summer Small Group Violin/Viola Lessons for Young Musicians!
Is your child currently learning the violin or viola in school and looking to continue improving their skills over the summer?
We have a fantastic opportunity for them! Join our summer small group classes. Classes start next week, June 20th.
Overview:
Dates: Tuesdays June 20th, June 27, July 11, July 18, July 25, and August 1 (no class July 4th)
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Oak Park String Academy 350 Harrison St. Oak Park, IL 60304
Instrument: Violin or Viola
Age group: 4th and 5th graders
Cost: $185 per student for the entire session
Students should bring their current size instrument. Please DO NOT size up until after the first class if needed.
This small group lesson program has been designed to provide young musicians with a supportive and interactive environment where they can develop their skills, enhance their musical understanding, and have fun playing their chosen instrument. The sessions will be led by our highly experienced and dedicated music instructors, who are well-versed in working with students at this stage of their musical journey.
Here are some key features and benefits of the program:
Small Group Setting: By participating in a small group, your child will have the opportunity to collaborate and learn from their peers while receiving personalized attention from the instructor.
Skill Development: Our lessons will focus on building a solid foundation in technique, note-reading, musical expression, and ensemble playing.
Engaging Activities: The lessons will incorporate various engaging activities, games, and exercises to make the learning experience enjoyable and enriching.
Performance Opportunities: On the last day of the session, we will organize a small recital for the students to showcase their progress and boost their confidence.
By enrolling your child in our summer classes, you’re providing them with the opportunity to continue their musical journey and build a strong foundation on the violin or viola.
To enroll your child in this program, please complete this registration form and submit the payment of $185 by June 18.
If you have any questions, or concerns, or require further information about the program, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to assist you and provide any clarification you may need.
We look forward to helping your child grow as a musician this summer!
Angela Thompson is a violinist and violin instructor with training in the Suzuki Method of music education. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from the National Conservatory of Peru in violin performance. She has played as a soloist with the Cusco Symphony Orchestra and has taken master classes from internationally known violinists, such as Ray Chen and Rachel Barton.
Angela has over a decade of teaching experience. In 2015, she co-founded the Capulitaki School of Music in Lima, Peru, which currently teaches Classical and Latin American traditional music to children of all ages. Her students have participated in musical festivals, concerts, and institutes and have toured various cities throughout Peru. She has completed Suzuki training courses Books 1- 8 and enrichment courses with Nancy Lokken, Marilyn O'Boyle, Ann Montzka, Nancy Jackson, Fernando Piñero, and Carol Dallinger. She has also received training in the Dalcroze and Kodaly methods. She has taught at festivals and institutes around Peru, and was the elected Violin Coordinator of the Suzuki Association of Peru from 2015-2017.
She loves traveling, her two cats, and learning different styles of music. She occasionally dabbles in amateur theatre and dance.
Welcome to the Spring 2026 100-Day Practice Challenge!
Summer Strings Camp (Oak Park String Academy) June 2026
These institutes range from a couple days to a full week. Most of them offer more than just violin — the focus is Suzuki training across instruments.
Laurie Niles, founder of the amazing 