- Music Classes & Lessons
- Group Classes & Ensembles
- Private Lessons
- Early Childhood
- Summer Camps
- View by Instrument/Age
- Why Choose Merit
Individual lessons and group classes for students at any level.
- Community Programs
Bringing accessible, high-quality music education to Chicagoland communities.
- Selective Programs
The highest level of achievement for Merit students in tuition-free, audition-based programs.
- About
- Impact
- Support
Merit's supporters remove barriers to music education, ensuring access for Chicago's youth.
- Resources
Contact Us
Get in Touch!
Merit School of Music is located in the heart of Chicago, on the southeast corner of South Peoria Street and West Monroe Street.
Visit
Merit School of Music
Joy Faith Knapp Music Center
38 S Peoria St Chicago, IL 60607
Reach Out
Summer Building Hours
Monday – Friday: 8:30am–9:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am–3:00pm
Sunday: 8:30am–2:00pm
Contact Form
Fill out the below form and someone from our team will be in touch!
Visitors
For the safety of our school community, building doors are kept locked at all times. Please buzz in using the doorbell to the left of the front doors on Peoria St.
All visitors, guests, and parents will be required to check in at the front desk if they are attending class and/or moving about the building, with the exceptions of the Community Room, Early Childhood classroom, or meeting with Student Services. Adult guests will need to present a valid ID.
Accessibility
The front entrance of our building (on Peoria St.) is handicap accessible. Every classroom and performance space is wheelchair and walker accessible and we have an elevator that guests can use to access the second floor. Our parking lot includes two handicap parking space for visitors, one of which is ramp accessible.
There are gender-neutral single-family bathrooms located on the first floor. All bathrooms contain handicap accessible stalls, as well as changing tables for your convenience.
We offer a convenient location in the building to park strollers during classes, and parents/caregivers with strollers may use our power-assisted doors at the front entrance for easy entering/exiting.
How to Get Here
Merit is easily accessible by car, public transportation, and rideshare.
Public Transit
- Blue Line “L” Train to the UIC-Halsted Stop
- Green Line or Pink Line “L” Trains to the Morgan Stop
- Madison “20” Bus to the corner of Peoria St and Madison St
- Halsted “8” Bus to the corner of Madison St and Halsted St
- Metra train to Ogilvie Transportation Center
Driving
A few common routes to Merit include I-290, I-90, or Halsted St.
Pick-up & Drop-off
Please pick up and drop off students at the front of our building on Peoria St or on Monroe St along the south side of our building. As a courtesy to our neighbors, please pull to the side to prevent blocking traffic.
Parking
Merit’s parking lot is reserved for faculty and staff only. There are two 30-minute visitor parking spots available to guests who check in at the front desk. Guests either need a valid parking permit or can call the front desk for access via the button on the parking arm.
Due to the limited parking in Merit’s lot parking will strictly be enforced and vehicles will be towed.
Parking options for parents, students, and other visitors include metered street parking as well as nearby paid public parking lots. SpotHero is a great option for finding a convenient parking spot.
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