Early Childhood

Register now!

Spring & Summer Registration now open!☀️

MUSIC CLASSES FOR BABIES, TODDLERS, & KIDS

Merit School of Music’s learning environment is playful, developmentally stimulating, and musically rich.

Our Early Childhood specialists incorporate song, chant, movement exercises, and instrument play to develop a child’s imagination, musical awareness, and expressiveness. Your child will have a blast learning the essential musical building blocks and taking their first steps on a lifetime journey of musical appreciation.

BROWSE CLASSES & REGISTER

✨ Join a class at any time! Contact Ms. Frances to sign up for classes with open spots and get set up with prorated tuition for the classes you missed. Please note: there’s a $15 late registration fee.

FREE TRIAL CLASS

New to Merit? Try out an Early Childhood class for FREE.

→ Explore current Early Childhood classes and times to pick out your preferred free trial class.

Requests must be made at least 48 hours in advance. Weekend free trials must be scheduled by 12pm on Friday. Thanks for your cooperation!

NEW! SUMMER 2023 COURSE CATALOG

Browse our newly released Early Childhood catalog to find the right music class for your child!

Weekday & weekend options • Age specific & mixed ages classes • Bilingual Spanish class

Register early & save!🌟 Save $40* when you register by March 31 with code EARLY40.

→ View Summer 2023 Course Catalog.

*This discount is only available through March 31. Can be combined with financial aid, but cannot be combined with other discounts. Valid on Early Childhood, Summer Camps, and Instrumental & Vocal Music group classes only. Not valid on workshops or private lessons.

Why EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC CLASSES?

Improved Perceptual Skills

+ Language and literacy aptitudes
+ Spatial reasoning
+ Fine motor coordination
+ Planning, prediction, and understanding of syntax

Benefits in School

+ Music students show better memory, vocabulary, and reading levels over the course of a year
+ Musical children are more likely to pursue higher education

Stronger Sense of Self

+ Enhanced communication and interpersonal skills
+ Added motivation and ambition
+ Greater self-regulation, discipline, and focus

BONUS!

Your registration supports an AWESOME mission to provide Chicago youth with equal access to music education.

Early Childhood Music Classes

“Class has definitely helped my child’s gross motor skills. She was pretty quiet before and now she’s running and dancing all over the place. It’s something she looks forward to every week.”

-Merit Early Childhood Parent

FIND THE RIGHT MUSIC CLASS FOR YOUR CHILD

With age-appropriate options for kids ages 0-8, the right class is just a click away!

BROWSE CLASSES & REGISTER

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I switch classes/class times?

Nap times change, students advance/grow faster than we expect…YES. Simply reach out to Ms. Frances at [email protected] and she’ll work with you to switch you into a class that works.

If we miss a class, can we make it up?

Yes! Three make-up classes are allowed per semester with 24 hours notice to your child’s instructor and Ms. Frances at [email protected]. 10 make-up classes are allowed per year for families enrolled in Early Childhood annual memberships.

The current semester has already begun. Can I still join? How do I get my tuition prorated?

Yes, you can join at any point during a semester! Simply contact Ms. Frances at [email protected] to join one of our classes with open spots and get set up with prorated tuition for the classes you missed.

Do you offer a free trial?

We do! Merit is happy to offer one free trial class for new families. Fill out the form at the top of this page to get started. Someone from our team will be in touch with you to confirm the details of your trial class.

How do I sign up for an annual membership?

It’s easy!

  1. Click here.
  2. Select your preferred Early Childhood class (Music Masters 2 and Ukulele & You! are not eligible for this membership).
  3. You’ll then be asked to select two class day/time options that work best for you.
  4. Complete your registration.
  5. Merit’s team will be in touch with you to confirm which class your child has been placed into.

If the current semester has already begun, please email Ms. Frances at [email protected] after you register so she can set you up with prorated tuition.

Here’s the class calendar for reference:

  • Fall Semester: Sept. 26, 2022-Jan. 30, 2023
  • Spring Semester: Jan. 31-May 28, 2023
  • Summer Semester: Jun. 6-Sept. 10, 2023

How will payments work with the annual membership?

Upon registration, you’ll be asked to pay in full for the entire membership—at your discounted rate, of course!

Want to break up the cost? Select “Pay with a Payment Plan” to set up eight monthly installments of $100 (October – May) and pay the $175 non-refundable deposit to complete your registration.

Is there a cancellation fee for the annual membership?

The annual membership requires a two semester minimum. Families who leave the program before paying for two full semesters will be charged an early cancelation fee of $200 to cover the cost of the semester you’ll miss. If you do choose to cancel, please let us know at least one week before the end of the month to ensure you’re not charged for the following month.

Visit our FAQ page for answers to questions about the registration process, billing, and more! If you can’t find the answer to your question, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Ms. Frances at [email protected].

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Schedule a make-up class