Free Music Education Classes

We offer free beginners and intermediate cuatro, guitar, Tiple and Latin Percussion (Conga and Bongo).

Classes start October 3rd, 2024 and run through June 5th of 2025!

And Starting Feburary 2025 Puerto Rican folkloric ballet! 

    Class Pre-Registration Form
Where: 
​All classes will be taught live in-person at the Humboldt Park Fieldhouse.

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Classes are wheel chair accessible.
Class Descriptions
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​Beginners Cuatro Class:
Thursday 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Learn to play Puerto Rico's national instrument! Students with little or no prior experience will learn essential hand positions and playing techniques in an Orchestra setting, culminating in a performance opportunity in June. Our beginner’s music repertoire includes Caribbean and world music selections. Instruments are not provided but we can help you acquire a cuatro that is right for you and your budget. Classes are free of charge.
Ages: 9 years old and up.

Beginners Tiple Class: 
Thursday 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Learn to play Puerto Rico's first stringed instrument! This "small cuatro" is perfect for young students. Everything learned will translate directly into the exciting world of the cuatro. Essential hand positions and playing techniques will help the student learn repertoire in an orchestra setting and build towards a performance opportunity in June.  You will need your own instrument.  Classes are free of charge.
Ages: 6 years old and up

Beginners and Intermediate Latin Percussion (Bongo and Conga):
Thursday 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Learn to play the Bongo and the Conga with the best!  You will learn hand techniques, sound effects, the clave, and various rhythm patterns. You will also have an opportunity to perform in June with one of our cuatro orchestras!  Classes are free of charge.
Ages:  9 years old and up

Beginners and Intermediate Spanish Guitar:
Thursday 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Learn to play the Spanish Guitar, the most popular instrument in the world!  You will learn basic hand techniques, how to follow a chord chart, basic Caribbean and World Folkloric repertoire, and how to perform in an orchestra setting.  You will also have a performance opportunity with the beginners/intermediate level orchestra in June. A lot of fun!  You will need your own instrument, a nylon stringed classical guitar. Classes are free of charge.
Ages: 9 years old and up.

Intermediate Cuatro Class: 
Thursday 7:00 pm – 7:45 pm
Learn more advanced repertoire, and build towards a performance opportunity in June.  You will need your own instrument.  Classes are free of charge.

Intermediate Tiple Class: 
Thursday 7:00 pm – 7:45 pm
Coaching sessions by our talented instructors enable students to learn more advanced repertoire, and build towards a performance opportunity in June.  You will need your own instrument.  Classes are free of charge.

Intermediate Ensemble:
Thursday 7:00 pm – 7:45 pm (meets 1x per month)
Learn more fun and challenging folkloric repertoire! This class prepares students for the spring recital and entrance to the Chicago Cuatro Preparatory Orchestra Level. Designed for musicians (Guitar, Cuatro, and Percussion) with basic prior experience, students need be evaluated by the instructor. You will need your own instrument. Classes are free of charge.
Ages: 9 years old and up

Puerto Rican Folkloric Ballet Class 
Classes start February 6th 2025 
Thursday 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm 
Learn basic steps, choreographies, technique, and history of the Folkloric Dances of Puerto Rico with the best! 
Ages: 12 years old and up 

The Chicago Cuatro Orchestra Virtual + in-person Online Experience 

What You Can Expect.
All classes will be taught in a hybrid format - i.e. a combination of live in-person and virtually online per the current Chicago Park District and government health guidelines.   Zoom invites will be sent out by instructors for those who have registered for classes.  Look for a Zoom Invite!

Our classes are completely free! Our student's ages range anywhere from 7 years old to 75 years old. So age is not a factor. If you want to learn how to play the Cuatro, we're here for you. Ethnicity is no factor either. Our Orchestra and our classes are very diverse. The only thing we ask is for the student to provide their own instrument, music stand and materials.   

          The music teachers on staff are very knowledgeable and are also professional Cuatristas with years of experience. Not only will you learn to play the Cuatro, you will learn how to read music as well.

More on Education: La Décima Puertorriqueña

Que es la Decima? historia, estructura, diferentes tipos, y videos demostrando. Bien educativo! Todo Boricua debe saber esta informacion.

La base de la melodía y el ritmo de la música de la montaña puertorriqueña es el seis. Pero la base de la forma poética de su canción es la décima. The foundation for the melody and rhythm of Puerto Rican mountain music is the seis. But the foundation of the it's song lyrics is the poetry of the décima.