VanderCook College of Music

Specialties

LEARN IT LIVE…

Music education college with a 100 + year history in Chicago.

Bachelors and Masters in Music Education; Masters with Certification

Continuing Education for practicing music teachers

Community programs and lessons

History

Established in 1909.

VanderCook College of Music traces its roots back to 1909, when Hale A. VanderCook opened his VanderCook Cornet School. Since its inception as a professional school for preparing music teachers in the late 1920’s, VanderCook College’s history has closely paralleled the history of the school band movement in this country. It has consistently produced music teachers who have achieved recognition in the music education field.

Dr. William D. Revelli, former director of bands at the University of Michigan, was a member of the first graduating class in 1931. Forrest L. Buchtel remains a well-​known composer and arranger, and Haskell W. Harr authored the famous Harr Percussion Method.

The original class also included H.E. Nutt, a future president of the college. Nutt was the driving force in establishing VanderCook’s curriculum for the practical preparation of the music teacher through comprehensive training in all facets of music education.