Merit School of Music

Merit Music in Communities (MMiC) is a community-based program, supporting Chicago schools and community centers whose students have little or no access to music instruction through school, or privately. Individual programs vary by size and type to meet the individual needs, preferences, and resources of partner sites. MMiC operates in approximately 22 sites, serving children K-12th grade with programs in band, strings, guitar, choir, Early Childhood, and General Music.

Merit's Instrumental & Vocal Music program supports children K-9th grade, offering group classes in piano, voice, guitar, strings, and band (brass, woodwinds, percussion). Band, string, and voice students also participate in large ensembles. The program offers financial aid (up to 75%) to qualifying families and prepares students with an interest to audition successfully for the Conservatory.

Private Lessons are available to all students and essential for Conservatory students. Discounted Private Lesson Passports, and need-based financial aid make lessons affordable for lower-income students. Lessons are offered in brass, winds, strings, percussion, piano, guitar, jazz, voice, composition/theory.

Early Childhood, Summer, other music instruction programming, and student support. Early Childhood Programs offer weekly day-time music exploration classes for newborns to age 7. Merit's Instrumental and Ensemble camps offer a wide variety of worthwhile and fun summer musical experiences for intermediate, high intermediate, and advanced students. Merit's program administration and Student Support Services provide support for students and program pedagogy.

In addition to Merit's programming continuum, the music school is also a lead partner for Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative, a multi-organization collaborative effort with a mission to identify and develop gifted and motivated orchestral students from underrepresented backgrounds for acceptance into top-tier conservatory, college or university classical music programs in preparation for careers as professional musicians.

Merit's Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory accepts approximately 300 students annually, by competitive audition. Each Saturday, students receive a full day of pre-collegiate classes including technique, music theory, chamber music, large ensembles, masterclasses, and more-all TUITION-FREE. 100 percent of Conservatory students graduate high school and many are accepted to the most prestigious university and conservatory programs, often achieving successful careers in music performance or education.