About
Merit School of Music offers music classes, private lessons, and group classes that include options such as Baby & Toddler Classes, Early Childhood music classes, Children’s Choir, Beginning Piano, Beginning Cello, Beginning Brass, Intro to Violin, and Intro to Guitar. The program also offers summer camps, an audition-based Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory, and specialized programs such as Merit Music in Communities, Music for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children, Comunidad de Alegre, Artist Residencies, Conservatory Auditions, and the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
For more than 45 years, Merit School of Music has offered kids and teens high-quality music instruction from experienced, passionate teachers. Merit’s music teachers are described as some of the best in Chicago. The school is a nationally accredited, non-profit music school, accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Precollegiate Arts Schools, and serves Chicago-area youth and school-age children across Chicago through a continuum of programs that includes Early Childhood classes, group classes and ensembles, private lessons, in-school programs, and its conservatory.
Merit School of Music states that its mission is to transform the lives of Chicago-area youth through removing barriers to high-quality music education. Over 80% of students receive some level of financial assistance, and the school offers financial aid, payment plans, low-cost instrument rentals, need-based tuition relief, and free in-school programming. Merit engages over 3,000 students annually at its three downtown branches and in area schools and community centers, with music lovers coming from 139 Chicago zip codes, and Merit students reflecting the socioeconomic and ethnic diversity of Chicago. Merit Music in Communities is described as an in-school music education program, and 100% of Conservatory graduates go on to college.
Parent and student comments describe the environment and impact of the program, including: “Merit has provided my child with a fantastic environment in which to learn and grow as a musician, and a lovely community in which to meet young people from all over the city,” from Na’ama, a Merit parent; “Merit has changed my life. It’s changed the entire trajectory of where I’m going, who I believe I am,” from Oscar, a Merit alum; “The best music school ever!” from Yuliia, a Merit parent; and a student, Lucy, who notes the diversity of skill and background and describes people coming together because they love to make music.
Last updated July 30, 2026.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
For more than 45 years, Merit School of Music has offered kids and teens high-quality music instruction from experienced, passionate teachers. Merit’s music teachers are described as some of the best in Chicago. The school is a nationally accredited, non-profit music school, accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Precollegiate Arts Schools, and serves Chicago-area youth and school-age children across Chicago through a continuum of programs that includes Early Childhood classes, group classes and ensembles, private lessons, in-school programs, and its conservatory.
Merit School of Music states that its mission is to transform the lives of Chicago-area youth through removing barriers to high-quality music education. Over 80% of students receive some level of financial assistance, and the school offers financial aid, payment plans, low-cost instrument rentals, need-based tuition relief, and free in-school programming. Merit engages over 3,000 students annually at its three downtown branches and in area schools and community centers, with music lovers coming from 139 Chicago zip codes, and Merit students reflecting the socioeconomic and ethnic diversity of Chicago. Merit Music in Communities is described as an in-school music education program, and 100% of Conservatory graduates go on to college.
Parent and student comments describe the environment and impact of the program, including: “Merit has provided my child with a fantastic environment in which to learn and grow as a musician, and a lovely community in which to meet young people from all over the city,” from Na’ama, a Merit parent; “Merit has changed my life. It’s changed the entire trajectory of where I’m going, who I believe I am,” from Oscar, a Merit alum; “The best music school ever!” from Yuliia, a Merit parent; and a student, Lucy, who notes the diversity of skill and background and describes people coming together because they love to make music.
Last updated July 30, 2026.
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