Vandercook College of Music

VanderCook College of Music is a private, liberal arts college in Chicago, Illinois, and is the only college in the country solely specializing in the training of music educators. Students may pursue a Bachelor of Music in Education (B.M.Ed.), Master of Music in Education (M.M.Ed.), and Master of Music in Education and Certification. The college is located in a Mies van der Rohe building on the campus of Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). VanderCook is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the National Association of Schools of Music, and the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

History

VanderCook Cornet School (later VanderCook College of Music) was founded in 1909 by Hale A. VanderCook to train professional musicians, directors and teachers.

The year 1909 is given as the founding date of VanderCook College because, in that year, Mr. VanderCook purchased the home, school and studios of his teacher, Alfred F. Weldon. The school was located at 1652 Warren Boulevard. Weldon (1862-1914) was one of the most famous brass instrument teachers in the Mid-West. The College’s current philosophy of music education can trace its roots back to A.F. Weldon.

Hale A. VanderCook continued Weldon’s teaching philosophy, with an expanded program of teaching. Mr. VanderCook was nationally known as a conductor, soloist, composer and teacher, and students came to him from all over the country for advanced training, coaching and preparations for professional careers.

Shortly after World War I, interest in school bands and orchestras and the need for trained teachers and directors for such organizations, created the demand for a special course of study to prepare for this work. For several years this work was given by individual lessons, but in 1926 classes in various subjects were organized.

By 1927, more space was needed and VanderCook purchased a large brownstone residence at 1655 Washington Blvd. (and Paulina), later adding adjacent buildings at 1653 and 1657 Washington Blvd. Students took required academic and education courses at nearby Lewis Institute. The root of the relationship between VanderCook College of Music and the Lewis Institute (later Illinois Institute of Technology) was the close friendship between Hale A. VanderCook and George L. Tenney, better known as “Doc” Tenney. “Doc” taught vocal music at the Lewis Institute and directed choirs in some of the largest churches in the Chicago area.

VanderCook College of Music is a private, liberal arts college in Chicago, Illinois, and is the only college in the country solely specializing in the training of music educators. Students may pursue a Bachelor of Music in Education (B.M.Ed.), Master of Music in Education (M.M.Ed.), and Master of Music in Education and Certification. The college is located in a Mies van der Rohe building on the campus of Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). VanderCook is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the National Association of Schools of Music, and the Illinois Board of Higher Education.