Intonation Music

What Intonation Music does

Intonation Music Workshop is an Illinois-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 by Mike Simons that delivers free ensemble-based music education to youth in grades 3–12 on Chicago's South Side. Its core program is a Modern Band format in which students form working bands across drums, bass, guitar, piano, and voice, supplemented by songwriting, digital music production via the Soundtrap platform, and professional studio recording at its in-house facility. Program delivery spans in-school and after-school residencies at eight or more Chicago Public Schools and charter campuses, Saturday programs and summer camps at Kennicott Park, an advanced All-Star Band pathway, a youth leadership council (IMYC), and an annual community festival (Mixtape Live!).

The organization operates without participant fees; all programs are offered at no cost to students. Revenue is sourced from individual donations, foundation grants (Andrew Family, Bluhm Family Charitable Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, D'Addario Foundation, Fogelson Family, Lloyd A. Fry, Kovler Family, Polk Bros, and others), corporate sponsorships (Half Acre Beer Company, Cubs Charities, Goldman Sachs Gives, Mesirow Financial, SHURE, The Wiener's Circle), and government funding from Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Park District, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, Chicago Department of Family & Support Services, and Illinois Arts Council Agency. Go-to-market is community-led, anchored in deep school and park-district partnerships and supported by earned media across major Chicago outlets and a Constant Contact newsletter.

Following a forced July 2023 displacement from its Studio 47 space at Taylor Park, Intonation relocated in March 2026 to a permanent headquarters at 3633 S. State Street in Bronzeville, coinciding with its 20th anniversary. The organization reports 9,390+ students served across two decades, a staff of approximately 15 instructors led by Executive Director Tonya Howell and Deputy Director Sarah Magnuson, and a 19-member Board of Directors.

Name

Intonation Music

Legal name

The Intonation Music Workshop

Website

https://intonationmusic.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Intonation Music Workshop is a Chicago nonprofit that delivers free ensemble-based music education to South Side youth in grades 3–12 through school partnerships, Saturday programs, summer camps, and recording-studio-based songwriting, reaching over 9,300 students since 2006.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Music Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Educational Services (611), Sound Recording Studios (51224)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE), Music Camps (Band, Choir, Instrument Intensive) (EDAMALAJ), Music Production & Composition (Songwriting, Recording, DJing) (EDAMAAAF), Songwriting, Composition & Arranging (EDAMANAG)

Keywords

• Youth music education
• Ensemble band programs
• After-school music instruction
• Nonprofit arts education
• Modern band curriculum

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: As a nonprofit organization, Intonation Music relies primarily on individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events including galas (e.g., Intonation in Lights 20th Anniversary Gala, Exquisite Corpse Ball).
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from foundations including Andrew Family Foundation, Bluhm Family Charitable Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, D'Addario Foundation, Fogelson Family Foundation, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Kovler Family Foundation, Polk Bros Foundation, and others. Corporate sponsors include Half Acre Beer Company, Cubs Charities, Goldman Sachs Gives, Mesirow Financial, SHURE, and The Wiener's Circle.
3. Government Support: Funding from Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, Chicago Department of Family & Support Services, Illinois Arts Council Agency.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Intonation Music is a nonprofit that delivers free ensemble-based music education programs for youth in grades 3-12 on Chicago's South Side. Its core offerings combine live instrument instruction (drums, bass, guitar, piano, voice) with digital music production, delivered through school-year programs, Saturday Modern Band and Teen Band sessions, an advanced All-Star ensemble, summer camps, and community showcases including the Mixtape Live! festival and Mixtape! Original Youth Music Compilation albums.

Product overview

Intonation Music is a nonprofit youth music education organization operating on Chicago's South Side. Its offerings consist of multiple inter-related programs: Saturday Modern Band (Grades 3-7) and Saturday Teen Band (Grades 6-12) for direct enrollment; year-long In-School and After-School Programs at partner CPS and charter schools; the All-Star Band for advanced students with master classes and expanded performance opportunities; Summer Camp intensives; the Intonation Music Youth Council (IMYC) for leadership development; and Mixtape Live!, an annual community festival. Together, these programs form a pathway from beginner exploration to advanced performance, all centered on ensemble-based music making and social-emotional learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Saturday Modern Band Student-driven enrichment program for students in Grades 3-7 teaching instruments (drums, bass, guitar, piano, voice), band formation, song learning, and live performance preparation. Held Saturdays at Kennicott Park and offered free of charge with no prior experience required.
• In-School and After-School Programs Year-long music programs meeting weekly during and after the instructional day at partner schools, guiding students through the life of a rock band. Delivered in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, charter schools, After School Matters, and the CPS All-City Music Program.
• All-Star Band Advanced program for young artists offering more time, coaching, performance opportunities, and advancement activities including master classes with industry professionals. Represents the top tier of Intonation's beginner-to-advanced student pathway.
• Summer Camp Week- or two-week-long intensive music camps hosted at Kennicott Park, culminating in a live showcase performance. Session 2 runs July 7-18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. daily, for grades 6-8 rising; offered free of charge.
• Intonation Music Youth Council (IMYC) Youth leadership and workshop program providing opportunities for student involvement in showcase planning and community development. Engages older students as leaders within the organization's programming.
• Mixtape Live! Annual community music festival featuring musical performances, food trucks, and family activities held at Kennicott Park. Showcases student work and serves as a community-engagement anchor event.
• Mixtape! Original Youth Music Compilation Multi-disc compilation album featuring original songs by Intonation student bands, split into 'VOICES' (in-person recordings) and 'VIBES' (pandemic-era digital recordings using Soundtrap). Documents and showcases the creative output of student ensembles, with 40+ original songs recorded between 2019 and 2023.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students showed 0.8 point gain in audience awareness when performing, 0.6 point gain in emotional recognition through music, 0.7 point gain in musicianship and originality
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• My CHI. My FuturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Intonation named a Core Organization in partnership with My CHI. My Future (MCMF), working to ensure every young person in Chicago connects to rich, engaging, safe, and youth-centered out-of-school experiences. Intonation participates in MCMF events focused on teens and creativity.
• Chicago Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPS partnership provides in-school and after-school music programs at multiple schools across the South Side. Programs meet weekly during and after the instructional day.
• After School MatterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfter School Matters provides teens with opportunities to develop talents through after-school and summer programs. Intonation programming is currently at Dyett High School and UC Woodlawn Charter.
• EmbarcsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Embarc provides intensive workshops such as Sweet Home Chicago band tutorial where participants learn band components, rehearse in small groups, and perform together.
• Kennicott Park/Chicago Park DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts-Partner in Residence at Kennicott Park with dedicated Community Classroom space. Saturday Band programs and summer camps hosted at this location.
• John J. Pershing STEAM Magnet Elementary SchoolsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerModern Band residency funded by Spring 2025 Creative Schools Fund grant administered by Ingenuity. Partnership strengthens students' sense of identity and creative confidence.
• Designs for DignitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigns for Dignity provided pro bono design work for Intonation's new space at 3633 S. State Street. Received Spirit Awards recognition for this partnership.
• Organic OnenesssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supports Intonation's community and staff. Partnership focused on community development.
• New Community OutreachsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganized training in peace circles through a racial healing initiative with the state of Illinois.
• Hyde Park Arts CentersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntonation shares resources and values with the Arts Center. Participates in South Side Cultural Leaders Salon hosted by HPAC.
• Illinois Facilities Fund (IFF)secondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAssisted Intonation in assessing feasibility of moving into their own dedicated space after vacating Taylor Park in 2023.
• Carol Fox & AssociatessecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerChicago-based PR and Social Media consulting firm engaged as Intonation moves into new space and enters 20th year of operation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Merit School of Music: Chicago-based nonprofit community music school serving thousands of young people across the city with ensemble, instrumental, and music-production programs; direct geographic peer to Intonation.
• El Sistema USA: National network of intensive youth ensemble-music programs for underserved children, modeled on Venezuela's El Sistema; highly comparable ensemble-and-group-instruction pedagogy and target demographic.
• Notes for Notes: Nonprofit that builds and operates recording studios inside youth-serving organizations to give kids free access to music production; closely mirrors Intonation's Studio 47 facility and Soundtrap-based production programming.
• Old Town School of Folk Music: Long-running Chicago nonprofit folk and roots music school offering group classes, ensemble instruction, and youth programming; comparable Chicago-headquartered music-education mission and group-class delivery model.
• Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation: National nonprofit focused on access to music education and instruments for underserved K-12 students; comparable mission, instrument-grant model, and K-12 school partnerships.
• Music Will: National nonprofit providing free, modern-band-style music education to underserved students in public schools; the most direct national parallel to Intonation's ensemble-based model and student-song-choice pedagogy.
• Harmony Program: Nonprofit providing free, intensive instrument and ensemble instruction to underserved children; analogous free-access, group-instruction, community-anchored operating model.

Broad incumbents

• VH1 Save The Music Foundation: National foundation supporting K-12 music education through instrument grants and school partnerships; broader funder-style operating model rather than a direct daily-instruction provider like Intonation.
• Berklee City Music: Berklee-affiliated national network providing free music education to underserved youth across multiple U.S. sites; comparable youth-music-education mission but operates as a federation of multiple sites rather than a single local program.

Regional players

• Ravinia Festival Education Programs: Chicago-area music education arm of Ravinia Festival offering ensemble-based Reach*Teach*Play programs to suburban and Chicago students; serves the same metropolitan area with overlapping school-partnership and ensemble-pedagogy model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Intonation Music