MeMa Music brings song-based learning to Chicago classrooms and adult programs

Music is serving as a starting point for lessons in history, interpretation and self-understanding at Chicago Collegiate Charter School. Through a partnership with Chicago nonprofit MeMa Music, students discuss songs and consider what their lyrics reveal about people and the world around them.

Founder Jeanne Warsaw created the organization 15 years ago after spending more than two decades in the music industry. Her approach draws on music from earlier eras to encourage students to take a more active interest in school. Songs provide material for conversation, with students encouraged to ask questions about the words and explore their meaning rather than simply listen.

Students interviewed by NBC Chicago described different reasons the class holds their attention. Jenyse, who enjoys history, said the songs offer historical lessons. Adejah highlighted the opportunity to connect with music and work out what songs mean, describing the class as consistently engaging. Their responses illustrate how the same material can invite both an interest in the past and personal interpretation.

For Chicago Collegiate, the partnership provides a way to include music in students' education without a full-time music teacher. Tracie Sanlin, the school's chief executive and academic officer, said the school cannot afford that position but considers music an important part of learning. Working with MeMa Music gives the school another route to offering that experience.

The organization's reach extends beyond this classroom. Warsaw works with schools and community organizations throughout Chicago, using music as a shared basis for discussion. That makes the program a local resource for organizations interested in connecting musical expression with learning and conversation.

MeMa Music also serves adults, including veterans. Those programs offer supportive settings for reflection, resilience and personal growth through music, extending the organization's approach beyond school-age learners. Residents and organizations interested in learning more can visit MeMa Music's website.