Business Details
20 Years
experience
Your Premier Music Education Destination in Chicago
Founded in 2006, American Music Institute (AMI) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing high-quality music education for students of all ages, skill levels, and musical interests. With campuses in Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, St. Charles, and Geneva, Illinois, AMI offers private lessons, group classes, and specialized programs like summer music camps and youth orchestras. Our faculty comprises award-winning musicians and educators who bring professional expertise to every lesson, fostering excellence in musical training.AMI extends its services through in-school and in-home programs across the Chicago suburbs, emphasizing accessibility and community engagement. The institute hosts free community concerts, open recitals, and music seminars to promote cultural enrichment. As a leader in pre-collegiate music education, AMI partners with prestigious institutions and artists to advance musical education for future generations.
Services
Private Lessons
Group Classes
Summer Music Camp
Youth Orchestra
Faculty Concerts
In-Home Lessons
Online Lessons
Suzuki Program
Chamber Music
Violin Competition
Details
- Year established: 2006
Highlights and features
- We offer award-winning faculty with professional performance experience.
- Our programs serve all skill levels across 4 convenient Illinois campuses.
- We provide flexible lesson formats including in-home and online options.
- We host free community concerts and educational seminars annually.
- Our alumni consistently achieve recognition in regional and national competitions.
What people say
World-class musicians
Great progress in months
Patient instructors
Excellent for all ages
Professional development
Services
Private Music Lessons
Personalized music instruction for all ages and skill levels. Our expert faculty offers tailored lessons in violin, piano, guitar, voice, and all orchestral instruments. Students develop technical proficiency and musical interpretation through customized curricula. Lessons available at four Illinois campuses or in-home settings.
Group Music Classes
Collaborative music education programs for students of similar skill levels. Courses include orchestra preparation, chamber ensemble training, and general music theory. Classes foster peer interaction while maintaining technical development. Available for both youth and adult learners across multiple instrument families.
Summer Music Camp
Six-week immersive music program combining private instruction with ensemble rehearsals and masterclasses. Designed for students aged 7-18 seeking accelerated skill development. Features performance opportunities and guest artist workshops. Culminates in final recitals showcasing student progress.
Chamber Music Auditions
Competitive program for young musicians aged 7-18 offering professional chamber music training. Participants receive coaching from experienced faculty and perform in multiple concerts annually. Auditions held quarterly to maintain ensemble quality and student engagement.
College Faculty Instruction
Private lessons taught by current university professors and conservatory instructors. Students gain access to collegiate-level pedagogy and performance standards. Faculty members maintain active performance careers while providing specialized college audition preparation and technique refinement.
People
Remus Badea
Founder & Executive Director
Violin virtuoso and educator with 25+ years of teaching experience. Former student of Dorothy Delay at Juilliard. Professor at Elmhurst College and concertmaster of Southwest Symphony. Holds Cincinnati Conservatory of Music degree.
Julia Evans
Violin Instructor
Experienced violin educator specializing in adult learners and youth development. Maintains active performance schedule while teaching students of all ages. Recognized for patient, methodical teaching approach and personalized lesson plans.
Ryan Koranda
Piano Instructor
Award-winning pianist with expertise in adult education. Develops customized curricula for mature learners. Focuses on stress reduction and positive practice techniques. Holds multiple performance degrees from top-tier conservatories.
Yang Liu
Artist-in-Residence
Internationally acclaimed violinist and chamber music specialist. Performs regularly with top orchestras while mentoring advanced students. Brings global performance perspective to private lessons and masterclasses at AMI.
Olivia Tsai
Artist-in-Residence
Distinguished pianist and collaborative artist with extensive recital experience. Provides specialized chamber music coaching and performance preparation. Maintains active recording career while teaching advanced piano students at AMI.
Questions
What music programs do you offer for beginners?
We provide private lessons, group classes, and Suzuki programs for all instruments. Our faculty specializes in teaching beginners of all ages with customized instruction plans.
Are your instructors professional musicians?
Yes, all AMI faculty are accomplished professionals with active performance careers and advanced degrees from top conservatories and universities.
Do you offer lessons at multiple locations?
We have four campuses in Illinois and provide in-home lessons across the Chicago suburbs with flexible scheduling options available.
What youth performance opportunities exist?
Students participate in chamber music ensembles, youth orchestras, and annual recitals. We also host the Chicago Violin Competition for young artists.
How do you support adult learners?
Our instructors specialize in adult education with personalized curricula focusing on technical development, performance goals, and enjoyable practice routines.
Are community events free to attend?
Yes, we offer free community concerts, open recitals, and music seminars throughout the year for local residents and music enthusiasts.
Videos
Reviews (6)
Maggie Blackburn
Jun 14, 2020
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AMI is awesome. They offer in-home options which is GREAT for super busy schedules (like mine) and the teachers are great at being able to break down difficult concepts to make them bite-sized. The teachers take pride in their work and it shows!
Jenny Lovejoy
Apr 24, 2020
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AMI is a hidden treasure! wish we could have found this place 1st, before the other school we were at. teachers and staff are awesome and it was a breeze to register
Tess Anderson
Apr 13, 2020
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AMI is awesome! Our kids have been taking lessons there for 4yrs and we love our teachers and the staff that we've gotten to know. Recitals and the summer camp have been a great experience for the kids.
Tess Levy
Mar 30, 2020
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Love everything about AMI! I've been taking lessons for about a year and it is such a great environment. They have the friendliest staff and the teachers are talented, professional, patient, and so much fun to work with. I'd recommend AMI to anyone!
S. T.
Jun 08, 2019
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I have absolutely NO idea how anyone could post a positive review. I had a horrible experience with AMI. Not with our teacher, but with the administrative staff. They were combative and down right offensive. I shared my story with several parents and they told me that they knew people who had experienced stories that were very similar to mine. They are not willing to take responsibility for their actions and their customer service leaves little to be desired. My best advice is don't get entangled in this mess of a business. It's beyond disappointing to say the least!
Alpha Zeta
Apr 05, 2019
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I have loved coming to American Music Institute for the past 3 years. Their teachers have been so great for my family and it is easy to schedule with the school.
