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Case Studies

Anokyewaa, Northeastern University '22

Anokyewaa told us when she was eight that she wanted to play the violin. We, her parents, were surprised by this because no one in our family played strings. Anokyewaa was insistent. Though we both played music (keys) when we were young, we had no idea of how to get our daughter on the track to becoming a violinist. Affectionately known as Mama Ofie, Lucinda was the right teacher for several reasons. She was patient, strict, and accepted no sloppiness from Anokyewaa. She was a black woman, and she believed that the black child could achieve excellence. The rigor level was much higher. Her beautiful and helpful daughter also tutored us. Fortunately, Anokyewaa was able to be college-ready after two years of study with HPSI’s fantastic team, particularly the miracle-working Mama Ofie. She was accepted at Northeastern University’s Music Department on scholarship. HPSI was a lifesaver for us! I am an evangelist for the school now. I believe in it that much."
​- Dr. Asantewaa Oppong Wadie,
Professor, DePaul University

Mingshi, former student of Lucinda Ali-Landing
My son, Mingshi, started taking violin lessons right before he turned 5. After taking lessons from his first teacher for about a year, he started learning with Ms. Lucinda until today. He just turned 14 last week. We have been more than happy to have Ms. Lucinda as Mingshi’s violin teacher. Ms. Lucinda has some magic tricks that can keep young kids interested in violin playing, keep them focused during the lesson, and encourage them to practice at home. She has a very systematic approach to teach violin techniques to kids and assign practices at home to help the kids master what they learned. Ms. Lucinda always encourages Mingshi to participate in local competitions and help them to prepare for these competitions, which, by itself, often becomes a big boost on Mingshi’s violin practice and progress. During the time, he got several awards in Confucius, SAM and Sejong competitions."

Monica, ​Arizona State University ' 18

Monica Niá expressed an interest in the violin at the age of 4 when the Apostolic Church of God launched its partnership with the Music Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. After a few years, while attending the Music Institute of Chicago’s Suzuki Summer Camp program, she had an encounter with students from Hyde Park Suzuki Institute. She was overwhelmingly impressed because, like her, at that time, these students were predominantly African-American, but that is not the only reason they stood out. They primarily stood out because they were the youngest of every class and outperformed and won every category and competition. Automatically, we were welcomed into this family, a community of love, support, and encouragement of one another without shame or competitiveness. Their only competitors were of themselves, of their last class, their past performance, or their previous competition. HPSI is very engaging, fun, and achievement-oriented. They are strict; students do not move to the next level or enter into competition until they are capable, need the experience, or have achieved the ability to compete healthy and with the probability of winning. As a direct result of Monica Niá’s professional instructions from HPSI, she has participated in various summer music programs, Oberlin Summer Strings Academy, Sphinx Performance Academy and the Jacob School of Music Summer String Academy at Indiana University, to name a few. Monica Niá is now preparing to compete within the Miss America Organization in the Miss Chicago/ Windy Scholarship Pageant with hopes of eventually competing in the Miss America while promoting her platform of the important arts education. 
Monica Niá was offered Music scholarships from various colleges and universities from across the country. She decided with these scholarships to explore college and other interests. She obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Business and Special Events Management from Arizona State University. She has now launched her professional career as an Account Manager for Uber Technology, Corporation in Chicago. She still performs regularly at various events from a wide range of genres from classical, gospel to
hip-hop violin."

Show-offs

Throwbacks 

2011 Halloween