About
Merit School of Music offers music classes, private lessons, group classes, and ensembles, including options such as Beginning Piano, Beginning Cello, Beginning Brass, Intro to Violin, Intro to Guitar, and Children's Choir. The program also includes early childhood music classes, Baby & Toddler Classes, summer camps, and an audition-based Conservatory for advanced study. Additional offerings include Merit Music in Communities, Music for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children, Comunidad de Alegre, Artist Residencies, Conservatory Auditions, and participation in the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
For more than 45 years, Merit School of Music has engaged over 3,000 students annually through a programming continuum that includes Early Childhood classes, group classes and ensembles, private lessons, Merit Music in Communities, and the Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory. Merit School of Music is a non-profit, nationally accredited Chicago music school, accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Precollegiate Arts Schools, and absolute beginners are welcome. The school reports that 100% of Conservatory graduates go on to college, and over 80% of students receive some level of financial assistance, with financial aid, payment plans, and low-cost instrument rentals available. 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, and its students reflect the socioeconomic and ethnic diversity of Chicago, coming from 139 Chicago zip codes and three downtown branches in the West Loop, Near North, and South Shore. Merit Music in Communities is described as an in-school music education program that partners or is affiliated with Chicago-area partner sites.
Parent and student comments about Merit School of Music include: “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; “The best music school ever!” from Yuliia, a Merit parent; “Merit has changed my life. It’s changed the entire trajectory of where I’m going, who I believe I am. Merit has given me these opportunities, this vision, this hope for a better dream of myself,” from Oscar, a Merit alum; and “My favorite part about attending Merit is the diversity of skill and background. Everyone comes from different cultures, towns, economic statuses, and skill levels. This is what makes it so magical. People coming together for the sole reason that they love to make music creates an environment of passion, acceptance, and growth,” from Lucy, a Merit student.
Last updated April 18, 2026.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
For more than 45 years, Merit School of Music has engaged over 3,000 students annually through a programming continuum that includes Early Childhood classes, group classes and ensembles, private lessons, Merit Music in Communities, and the Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory. Merit School of Music is a non-profit, nationally accredited Chicago music school, accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Precollegiate Arts Schools, and absolute beginners are welcome. The school reports that 100% of Conservatory graduates go on to college, and over 80% of students receive some level of financial assistance, with financial aid, payment plans, and low-cost instrument rentals available. 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, and its students reflect the socioeconomic and ethnic diversity of Chicago, coming from 139 Chicago zip codes and three downtown branches in the West Loop, Near North, and South Shore. Merit Music in Communities is described as an in-school music education program that partners or is affiliated with Chicago-area partner sites.
Parent and student comments about Merit School of Music include: “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; “The best music school ever!” from Yuliia, a Merit parent; “Merit has changed my life. It’s changed the entire trajectory of where I’m going, who I believe I am. Merit has given me these opportunities, this vision, this hope for a better dream of myself,” from Oscar, a Merit alum; and “My favorite part about attending Merit is the diversity of skill and background. Everyone comes from different cultures, towns, economic statuses, and skill levels. This is what makes it so magical. People coming together for the sole reason that they love to make music creates an environment of passion, acceptance, and growth,” from Lucy, a Merit student.
Last updated April 18, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.