Encore Music Academy, Crystal Lake

Children barely old enough to speak and ambitious adults looking to learn a new skill are just a small sampling of the eclectic student body at Encore Music Academy, where a range of programs accommodate pupils of all stripes. Music lessons get students acquainted with instruments that include piano, violin, guitar, brass, and voice are available in small group settings, or one-on-one with an instructor. Kids with a knack for belting one out can join the encore youth choir, where they'll learn to hone their skills and be given the opportunity to travel with the group, sing around the world, and eventually be really good at karaoke as adults.