Tune In, Chicago

05/22/2026

Honored to be invited as a member of the Host Committees for the upcoming gala supporting Onward Neighborhood House — only one week to go!

This year is especially meaningful for Onward Neighborhood House as the organization continues expanding its impact across Chicago’s North Side and recently broke ground on the new CARES Community Center, which will open later this year.

Grateful for the opportunity to support an organization that continues to make such a meaningful difference for children and families in our community. Please consider joining and supporting this special celebration! Neighborhood House

02/20/2026

🎹 BIG NEWS: Piano lessons are officially coming to Onward Neighborhood House! 🎶

From my very first visit to Onward Neighborhood House, I was inspired by the children's enthusiasm for music, especially for piano learning. After a year of exploring piano learning methods as part of the "Tune In, Chicago!" program, and thanks to generous keyboard donations (Second Unitarian Church of Chicago The Unofficial Kathy and Judy Show Fan Club Sharing Notes Access Contemporary Music Carl Kennedy Galway Arms) we are finally ready to play!

A massive and heartfelt thank you to Playground Sessions 🙏 Their incredible support and generous donation are the engines behind our upcoming first piano class.

It is a great honor to partner with the #1 rated piano learning app, Playground Sessions, co-designed by music legend Quincy Jones. Playground Sessions is also partnered with industry giants like Steinway & Sons and CASIO. 🌟

I spent my winter break diving into the software and was captivated by the interactive lessons. I cannot wait to see the spark in our students' eyes as they track their progress in piano learning. I’m so confident our kids will thrive with this innovative way to learn.

We are excitedly preparing to kick off our beginner lessons! Stay tuned for more musical updates. 🎵✨

# Onward Neighborhood House Sessions Unitarian Church of Chicago Notes Contemporary Music

12/22/2025

Hello, everyone! It’s been a little while since my last update, and I'm excited to reconnect and share some wonderful developments with you.

Over the past few months, I’ve been busy designing our curriculum, enhancing our teaching platform, and seeking support for instrument lessons.

Today at Onward Neighborhood House, I was thrilled to see how much the kids love the instruments we donated (Second Unitarian Church of Chicago, Carl Kennedy, Sharing Notes, Access Contemporary Music, The Unofficial Kathy and Judy Show Fan Club, Galway Arms ) like the ukuleles and keyboards. Hearing them play holiday music on the piano was truly heartwarming!

I also had a productive discussion with our teachers about the lesson format, and we’re gearing up to implement guidance for all our lessons gradually. The first lesson is just around the corner!

Besides that, I’m actively working on more teaching initiatives, and I have even more exciting news coming soon. Stay tuned!

08/10/2025

More instruments have been delivered to Onward Neighborhood House! Onward Neighborhood House
Last Friday, we sent three ukuleles and one violin. It was truly heartwarming to see the kids' enthusiastic faces! We can't wait for them to start playing and experience the joy that music brings!

08/05/2025

Check out this fascinating TED-Ed video about the benefits of playing an instrument for your brain:

“Did you know that every time musicians pick up their instruments, there are fireworks going off all over their brains? "

Check out our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/tededView full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-playing-an-instrument-benefits-your-brain-anita-coll...

06/28/2025

"Sharing Notes" (Sharing Notes) is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization comprised of more than 115 musicians who bring live music for more than 10 healthcare facilities in the Chicago area. Sharing Notes has also provided valuable support for the "Tune In, Chicago!" project!

One of my most memorable experiences was performing holiday music at Ascension St. Joseph Hospital during the 2023 holiday season. It was profoundly moving to see patients touched by the music, singing along with me and sharing their inspiring stories of courage in the face of illness.

While I have played solo, in chamber groups, and with orchestras on stage for many years, the experience of performing in the hospital highlighted the healing power of music in a way that is truly unique. After those three days of holiday performances, I was inspired to join "Sharing Notes "and explore ways to help more people experience the transformative effects of music, which is also one of my motivations for " Tune In, Chicago!"

05/31/2025

Today, I would like to cite the findings of a study conducted by the UCL Institute of Education regarding the benefits of music education in communities:

Several sub-themes emerged under the premise that "music has wider benefits," particularly concerning social, emotional, and cognitive advantages.

The most frequently noted benefit of music was its capacity to help young people regulate their emotions.

Moreover, music was acknowledged as a powerful tool for breaking down social barriers. Engaging in musical activities creates a safe space for young people and nurtures a sense of self-worth and confidence.

Many respondents emphasized the enjoyment of collaborating in friendship groups and the enhanced confidence resulting from their musical experiences.

Finally, there was a widespread view that involvement with music provides cognitive benefits, potentially improving students’ academic performance in other subjects.

05/28/2025

In addition to the instruments, funds have been raised through a special donation link established by Second Unitarian Church in Chicago and “GoFundMe”. These funds have been, and will continue to be, utilized for the following purposes:

Establishing a music fund for “Onward House Music and Tune In Chicago program”
Tuning and repairing the current piano at Onward Neighborhood House
Purchasing keyboard accessories
Repairing instruments
Supporting Onward House music-related field trips

Thank you for your support!

Carl Kennedy
Second Unitarian Church of Chicago
Onward Neighborhood House
Sharing Notes
Access Contemporary Music
Galway Arms
The Unofficial Kathy and Judy Show Fan Club

05/26/2025

We are beyond excited to announce that we have collected an incredible $10,000 worth of musical instruments during our 2024-2025 donation drive!

Thanks to your generosity, some of these instruments have already found new homes with the Thomas Kelly College Preparatory High School band and Onward Neighborhood House. The remaining instruments will be gradually delivered to Onward Neighborhood House as we launch the "Tune In, Chicago" curriculum.

We are so grateful for your support! Stay tuned for more amazing updates!

Carl Kennedy
Onward Neighborhood House
Second Unitarian Church of Chicago
Access Contemporary Music
Sharing Notes
Galway Arms
The Unofficial Kathy and Judy Show Fan Club

05/09/2025

As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the educators who have supported "Tune In, Chicago."

A special thank you to:
- Ms. Sonia Perez from the University of Chicago Laboratory School for her encouragement when I first shared my thoughts and curriculum with her.
- Ms. Stephanie Garcia from Brighton Park Neighborhood Council Brighton Park Neighborhood Counciland Ms. Sofia Aguilar from Onward Neighborhood House Onward Neighborhood Housefor their efforts in helping to implement this program at their centers.
- Ms. Gail Gallagher from Access Contemporary Music Access Contemporary Music and Principal Sun from Northshore Chinese Center, thank you for providing valuable opportunities at music festivals and community gatherings so I could advocate for this project.
- Mr. Michael McCain from Thomas Kelly College Preparatory High School for continually collecting instruments for his school band and students.
- My friend Carl Kennedy, Second Unitarian Church of Chicago for his unwavering support for this project!
- And to the education team at Onward Neighborhood House, with whom I will be working closely this summer to officially implement "Tune In Chicago" as part of the Fall curriculum.

Thank you all for your incredible support!

(This picture shows a corner of my room where I have set up a green screen, a camcorder, and lighting to record music lessons for "Tune In, Chicago"