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Where the most Inspired Musicians
become the most Inspiring Music Teachers

VanderCook College of Music

History

The Start of VanderCook

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 (the school) 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.

“There was no indication that Mr. Van’s house was a school except for the noise, and the neighbors didn’t like the school because of the noise. So one summer, … the neighbors put a laughing record and record player in a window next door, and this thing laughed all day. One day a friend came to see me, and when I came down from class to talk with him he said, ‘What kind of crazy place is this?’ Mrs. VanderCook had a parrot that was talking, somebody was playing a saxophone upstairs, the directing class was going, ‘One, pum, pum, zing,’ and this laughing record was going at the same time. My friend thought it completely crazy.”
— interview with John Beckerman, past president of VanderCook College of Music

Then in 1928 the school was incorporated as a non-profit teacher training institution under the Illinois State laws and its curriculum approved by the Board of Examiners of the Illinois State Department of Public Instruction. Graduates therefore obtained certificates to teach bands and orchestras in the public schools without examination. By now the school was known as VanderCook School of Music.

The first class to complete the approved four-year course of study for the Bachelor of Music Education degree graduated at the summer session of 1931. Members of that class, all prominent teachers, were John H. Beckerman, Clarence F. Gates, Clifford P. Lillya, Hubert E. Nutt, William D. Revelli and Otto Uttke.

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After Lewis Institute merged with Armour Institute to form the Illinois Institute of Technology at 33rd and Federal Streets, VanderCook School of Music was urged to move closer to the II.T. campus to continue the relationship it had fostered with the Lewis Institute. In 1953, a building site on Michigan Avenue, across the street from the IIT dormitory area was purchased. In 1954, a large residence at 3219 South Michigan Avenue was purchased and VanderCook moved to the new location. During this time the school changed its name to VanderCook College of Music.

In August, 1960, after several years of planning and fundraising, construction on a new building began. This building, located at 3209 South Michigan Avenue, housed an auditorium, practice rooms, lounges, heating plant, storage, classrooms, offices and library. H.E. Nutt, co-founder of VanderCook College of Music, lived in the building until close to his death in 1981.

The College moved onto the IIT campus in 1996, into a building designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. This move allowed VanderCook to retain its autonomy while fostering a reciprocal arrangement with a larger university whose amenities include student housing and other student facilities, classroom and performing spaces in various campus buildings, and a large research library.

Chronology of VanderCook College's Locations

1652 Warren Boulevard (1909-1927)

Alfred F. Weldon (1862-1914) was one of the most famous brass instrument teachers in the Midwest. His most famous student was H.A. VanderCook, who studied at the Weldon cornet school located at 1652 Warren Blvd. VanderCook Cornet School was established in 1907 when Weldon died. The year 1909 is given as the founding date of VanderCook College of Music as, in that year, Mr. VanderCook purchased the home, school and studios of his late teacher. VanderCook took over where Weldon left off, offering sound, practical, musical education for professional musicians and band directors. The college’s current philosophy of music education can trace its roots back to A.F. Weldon.

1655 W. Washington Blvd. (1927-1954)

By 1927, more space was needed and VanderCook School of Music (name adopted in 1928 when it began awarding BMEd degrees) 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 the school and the Lewis Institute (later the 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 1655 W Washington

3219 S. Michigan Ave. (1954-1969)

By 1927, more space was needed and VanderCook School of Music (name adopted in 1928 when it began awarding BMEd degrees) 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 the school and the Lewis Institute (later the 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 3219 S Michigan

3209 S. Michigan Ave. (1960-1996)

In August, 1960, after several years of planning and fundraising, construction on a new building began. This building housed an auditorium, practice rooms, lounges, heating plant, storage, classrooms, offices and library. H.E. Nutt, co-founder of VanderCook College of Music, lived in the building until close to his death in 1981.

VanderCook 3209 S Michigan

3140 S. Federal Street (1996-present)

VanderCook College of Music moved onto the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1996, into a building designed by Mies van der Rohe. This move allowed VanderCook to retain its autonomy while fostering a reciprocal arrangement with a larger university whose amenities include student housing and other student facilities, classroom and performing spaces in various campus buildings, and a large research library.

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3140 South Federal Street
Chicago, IL 60616-3731
(312) 225-6288

The mission of VanderCook College of Music is to enrich the lives of present and future generations by developing uniquely skilled music teachers who exhibit strong character, professionalism, and a commitment to excellence.

© 2024 VanderCook College of Music. All Rights Reserved.
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