From CNN.com

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- The narrow hallway of the People's Music School was cluttered with musical instruments, but it didn't slow the children noisily making their way to lessons.

The scene, a blend of serious music study and youthful laughter, was a longtime dream of Rita Simo, who left an impoverished upbringing in the Dominican Republic for the Juilliard School, became a concert pianist -- and then a nun -- and eventually opened the school in 1976.

She believed high quality, classical music instruction should be available to everyone, regardless of economic status.

"If you have a dream and don't work at it, what good is the dream?" Simo said as she sat in a room crammed with a battered grand piano and drum set donated by supporters.

The school, in Chicago's gritty Uptown neighborhood, provides tuition-free music instruction to anyone. Each semester, hundreds of people like Maria Ugarta stand in line for hours to grab one of about 350 slots for themselves or their children.

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That is fabulous that she does that!

My childhood clarinet is on the wall in the music area of our family room because it played (no pun intended!) a huge part in my life growing up. I truely believe that the clarinet is one of the main reasons for my later success in life.

Making music changes lives.