Western Springs School of Talent Education - Western Springs, Illinois

Vanessa P.

Our oldest child started playing the cello at WSSTE at age 3, over 11 years ago. Between our four kids, our family has cumulatively invested over 20 years there. We currently have a cellist and two violists.

WSSTE has truly given our children the best musical foundation. The Suzuki method is truly magical! Similar to how children learn to speak long before they learn to read and write, our kids learned to play their instruments by ear long before they learned to read music. And WSSTE educators are purists when it comes to the method.

Several years into playing the cello, our son picked up a guitar, and with this strong musical foundation, his fingers knew what to do and he quickly blossomed into a multi-instrument musician. With the perfectionism expected in technique, the sound and performance quality of these young musicians is truly amazing. The school will tell us that most of the students are not actually going to become professional musicians, but they will, however, be some of the most successful adults because of the brain development and life skills they have developed throughout this program. And we believe it!

At the hub of this fine-oiled machine is an amazing team of teachers. A few to highlight:

~Our son's 10+ year teacher Alex's visible pride in our son when he comes off the recital stage after a dynamic musical performance.
~Our 7-year teacher Miss Sherri's firm yet gentle way in which she inspires our two girls to work hard but makes playing the violin fun!

While we appreciate the knowledge and wisdom of the teachers who have built the school into what it is, we also are loving the fresh perspective of some of the newest teachers (and former WSSTE students.)

~Emily, who brings such a dynamic, youthful energy to their group classes.
~Patrick, who teaches mostly the big kids but who always makes time in his school administration downtime to interact and entertain our littles while they wait for their turn for their lesson, again creating a fun, youthful energy to the whole experience.

We are so grateful to WSSTE for the gift of music they have given to our children, and look forward to all the ways this gift will keep on giving throughout their lives!

Laura C.

We highly recommend the Western Springs School of Talent Education! Our children attend and their violin skills have grown so much. Besides a weekly lesson, they participate in weekly group and orchestra classes, which is really unique and enriches their experience. This year our kids participated in one of the school's performance groups called Allegro and had the opportunity to play concerts throughout the Chicagoland area and Universal Studios Florida. We love our wonderful teacher Nancy Jackson. She's an experienced and gifted educator who is kind and patient yet rigorous. She is also well known for training other teachers in the Suzuki community. We feel lucky to have this prestigious Suzuki school so close to our home!

Jessy C.

Our two children have been taking lessons at WSSTE for 3 years now and we absolutely love it. We have recommended the school to many of our friends.
Our teacher, Mrs. Emily, is an outstanding teacher who truly cares about her students and will go the extra mile if needed. She is passionate, patient, encouraging and at the same challenges our kids. They have not once complained going to their lessons and made such great progress in a short period of time.
The school is a great community and it's great to have similar aged kids play music and perform and attend various concerts throughout the year together. They offer individual lessons, group classes, workshops, and concerts. Overall, we are very happy with the school and would recommend to anyone in a heartbeat! Thank you WSSTE.

Rachel T.

If you’re looking for fun, thoughtful, and well rounded violin instruction, you’ll find it at Western Springs School of Talent Education and Naperville Suzuki School (WSSTE).

WSSTE has taught my children so much more than violin. There are so many life lessons taught alongside how to properly hold a violin, to take care of an instrument, and to play a beautiful sound. They learned focus, discipline, and how to enjoy learning.

My girls started playing at very young ages, and Miss Emily kept their lessons fun and age appropriate, while also holding them to a high standard. She also showed me how to keep practices enjoyable when frustrations popped up. Her engaging teaching style is so motivating.

On top of her excellent teaching, the school as a whole offers so much to supplement your child’s musical journey. My children always felt energized and excited to learn more after attending recitals, violin camps, public performances, and weekly group lessons. There are so many ways to be inspired at WSSTE!

Gabriela G.

As a child, I learned violin under Edward Kreitman. When I became a mom, I wanted my children to have the same passion for music. I lived in San Francisco when I signed my kids up for their first violin lesson—sadly it was not the experience I had hoped for. I shared my concerns with the instructor (Mr. M) and reminisced about my time with Kreitman. Mr. M knew of Kreitman's teachings and sang his praises. He told me that the Western Springs School of Talent Education (Kreitman founded) is considered the premier school for young violinists. I knew I would immediately sign my children up if we ever moved back home. A year later, we moved back to the western suburbs of Chicago, and shortly after, my children became students at WSSTE.

We've been a WSSTE family for several years, and my children are thriving musically. Although it reminds me of my childhood, the school has significantly progressed with talented staff and highly acclaimed ensembles. The Suzuki method (the basis of the teachings) is not for those who want to learn music passively—it does require parental involvement and a dedicated commitment. That being said, the school goes above and beyond to nurture and individualize lessons that play on a child's strength and motivation.

After seeing my childrens' progress these past few years, I can confidently say that Edward Kreitman's legacy lives on in the hands of talented and passionate teachers like Emily and Patrick Connolly. Ms. Emily (my children's instructor) is honing my childrens' technical skills and instilling a deep love and appreciation for music. Her teaching style is nurturing and patient, yet she always challenges my children to push their boundaries and reach their full potential. She understands that every student is different and tailors her lessons to their unique needs and learning styles, ensuring they are progressing at a comfortable pace. I highly recommend WSSTE to any family looking to embrace music in their homes. It's a skill that a child will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Susan K.

We have been a part of WSSTE for the last twelve years, and my son has gone from a preschooler tapping out rhythms on a wooden frog to a high school junior who can play complex pieces with great confidence and profound joy. I can’t thank the school and its teachers enough for encouraging my son in the lovely, deeply human art of music!

Tammy M.

Enormous homes built beautifully and a downtown with many amenities. A feel good community.

Alexandria C.