Voice / Choir

Voice / Choir Lessons

Voice / Choir lessons are available in the form of one-on-one, private instruction to students ages 5 and up.
Students under the age of 18 may participate in group ensembles as part of Merit’s Instrumental and Vocal Music Program and the Alice S. Pfaelzer Tuition-free Conservatory.

Voice / Choir Course Offerings 

  • Children’s Choir
    • Students grades K – 4th with no experience
    • Large group instruction
    • Classes meet once per week on Wednesday evenings
  • Beginner Voice + Mixed Chorus
    • Students grades 5th – 10th with no experience
    • Small and large group instruction
    • Classes meet once per week on Wednesday evenings
  • Intermediate Voice + Mixed Chorus
    • Students grades 5th – 10th with at least 1 year of experience
    • Small and large group instruction
    • Classes meet once per week on Wednesday evenings
  • Mixed Chorus
    • Students grades 5th-10th with no experience
    • Large group instruction
    • Classes meet once per week on Wednesday evenings
  •  Conservatory
    • Students who have auditioned and been accepted into the Alice S. Pfaelzer Tuition-free Conservatory
    • Merit’s most advanced ensembles and musical courses designed to assist students in achieving a high level of success on their instrument
    • Classes meet once per week all-day Saturday.
  • Private lessons
    • Students ages 12 and up with varying levels of experience.
    • One-on-one private instruction
    • Classes meet once per week depending on instructor and student availability
  • Summer Conservatory Choir (Summer 2018 Session)
    • Age Range: 7th – 12th grade
    • Requirements: 2 years of experience plus teacher recommendation. New students must audition before registering for this camp.
    • Schedule: Tuesday & Friday evenings, June 26th & June 29th, July 3rd, 13th, 17th, 20th, 27th, & 31st, and August 3rd, 6:00pm – 8:30pm
    • Tuition: Free for Conservatory students, $250 for non-Conservatory students (inquire about financial aid)
  • Voice Camp (Summer 2018 Session)
    • Age Range: 4th – 9th grade
    • Requirements: No experience required.
    • Schedule: July 16th – July 20th, 10:00am – 2:30pm
    • Tuition: $330 (inquire about financial aid)
  • Children’s Choir (Summer 2018 Session)
    • Age Range: K – 4th grade
    • Requirements: No experience required.
    • Schedule: June 25th – August 13th, Monday’s & Wednesday’s, 5:30 -6:30pm
    • Tuition: $170 (inquire about financial aid)

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Students that have received a course code from their instructors can use that code here:

Upcoming Events

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS

Date: Friday, August 3rd, 2018
Time: 7:00 pm

Location: The Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts)
Cost: $8

More Information

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS

Date: Saturday, August 4th, 2018
Time: 1:30 pm

Location: The Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts)
Cost: $8

More Information

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS

Date: Saturday, August 4th, 2018
Time: 6:00 pm

Location: The Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts)
Cost: $8

More Information

Ages: 3-5 Music Masters I (Summer Session)

Ages: 3-5 years

Prepare to be amazed by what your young musician can do! In Music Masters I, students will learn the components of timbre, rhythm, pitch, beat, and style through your child's love of music, art, and storytelling. In this imaginative class, your child will explore beat and rhythm, experiment with percussion instruments, and play and sing along to music from cultures from around the world! Children and their parents/caregivers cooperate together in class, and teachers discuss ways to continue the learning outside the classroom as well. Students must be at least 3 years old by the 1st day of class to participate. Parent/Caregiver attendance required.

Classes meet once per week (7 weeks)

Details
$140
Ages:0-15 months Music Explorers (Summer Session)

Ages: Newborn-15 months

Stimulate your baby's young mind by exploring movement, rhythm, simple percussion instruments, and high and low sounds. In Music Explorers, babies are introduced to musical sounds, sensations, and instruments like shakers, tambourines, and drums that help develop motor skills and create strong neural pathways. Join our community of parents and caregivers in musical games and activities that introduce music for the first time, and learn along with your baby so that you can continue making music at home. Students from birth to 15 months are welcome to participate in this class. Parent/Caregiver attendance required.

Classes meet weekly (7 weeks)

Details
$140
Ages:0-7 years Ukulele and You (Summer Session)

Ages: Newborn - 7 years

Ukuleles are taking the world by storm - and it's time to see how this versatile instrument can make at-home music even more fun! In this new adult-child class, grown-ups learn to play ukulele while the whole classroom community is engaged with family activities that include songs, singing games and dances, musical books and instrument exploration. This class is designed for activities to continue at home to extend learning and family time through music. Siblings are welcome to attend a a discounted rate and your class tuition includes the cost of a high-quality concert sized ukulele that is yours to keep!

New Students:
Tuition:
$200 per session for 1 adult and 1 child (includes cost of 1 ukulele per family)
$150 for first additional child
FREE for second additional child

Please e-mail studentservices@meritmusic.org to apply your discounts
+$15 registration fee

Continuing Students:
Tuition:
$180 per session for 1 adult and 1 child (includes the cost of 1 ukulele per family)
$130 for first additional child
FREE for second additional child

Please e-mail studentservices@meritmusic.org to apply your discounts
+$15 registration fee

Classes meet once per week (7 weeks)

Details
$200
Ages:16-23 month Tuneful Toddlers (Summer Session)

Ages: 16 - 23 months

Put your toddler's energy to good use! In Tuneful Toddlers, your child will laugh, dance, and bounce to the beat of music from around the world. Children cooperate with each other as they sing and play percussion instruments together, and grown-ups learn new songs, games, and activities to continue music learning at home. By creating simple rhythms with their bodies and learning songs, nursery rhymes, and movement from our America heritage and world cultures, children develop coordination and motor skills, strengthen spatial reasoning, and increase language and literacy. Students must be at least 16 months old by the 1st day of class to participate. Parent/Caregiver attendance required.

Classes meet once per week (7 weeks)

Details
$140
Ages:2-3 years Movers & Groovers (Summer Session)

Ages: 2 - 3 years

Merit's Movers and Groovers classes focus on your child's developing social/emotional and gross motor skills through musical games, listening exercises, and group songs an activities. You'll see examples of their cognitive growth as students are able to independently repeat familiar songs in class and have opportunities to practice sharing with friends and classmates. Explore new instruments and sounds while both you and your student develop relationships with members of your classroom and Merit community. Students must be at least 2 years old by the first day of class in order to participate. Parent/Caregiver attendance required.

Classes meet once per week (7 weeks)

Details
$140
Band Camp (Summer)
Age Range: 6th - 10th grade
Requirements: 2 years of experience plus teacher recommendation. New students must audition before registering for this camp.
Schedule: July 23rd- August 3rd, 9:30am - 4:30pm
Tuition: $580 (inquire about financial aid)

Details
$580
Beginning Guitar (Summer Session)

Age Range: 4th - 8th grade
Requirements: No experience required.
Schedule: Varies depending on grade range. Classes meet twice per week for 55-minutes in the early evening. Group classes will begin the week of June 25th (7 weeks)
Tuition: $300 (inquire about financial aid)


Details
$300
Beginning Piano (Summer Session)

Age Range: 1st - 5th grade
Requirements: No experience required.
Schedule: Varies depending on grade range. Classes meet twice per week for 55-minutes in the early evening. Group classes will begin the week of June 25th (7 weeks)
Tuition: $300 (inquire about financial aid)


Details
$300
Children's Choir (Summer Session)

Age Range: K - 4th grade
Requirements: No experience required.
Schedule: June 25th - August 13th, Monday?s & Wednesday?s, 5:30 - 6:30pm
Tuition: $170 (inquire about financial aid)



Details
$170
Conservatory Piano Camp
Age Range: 5th - 12th grade
Requirements: 2 years of experience plus teacher recommendation. Priority registration opens 6/4/2018. New students must audition before registering for this camp. Registration for new students will open 6/25/2018.
Schedule: August 6th - August 10th, 10:00am - 2:30pm
Tuition: $330 (inquire about financial aid)

Details
$330
High Intermediate Guitar (Summer)

Grades 6th-10th

+Available to student via teacher recommendation or placement audition.

After roughly one year in the program, faculty will challenge students to further develop technique, musical skills, and knowledge.

Students will learn to:

  • play scales and arpeggios in major and minor keys
  • play major, minor and seventh chords
  • count complex rhythms
  • play guitar repertoire in a variety of styles from different genres of music
If you are a new student that has taken guitar classes or lessons before, please contact Student Services to schedule a placement audition.
Details
$300
Intermediate Guitar (Summer)

Grades 5th-10th

+Available to student via teacher recommendation or placement audition.

After roughly one year in the program, faculty will challenge students to further develop technique, musical skills, and knowledge.

Students will learn to:

  • play scales and arpeggios in major and minor keys
  • play major, minor and seventh chords
  • count complex rhythms
  • play guitar repertoire in a variety of styles from different genres of music
If you are a new student that has taken guitar classes or lessons before, please contact Student Services to schedule a placement audition.
Details
$300
Intermediate Piano Group Classes (Summer)

Age Range: 1st - 8th grade
Requirements: 1 year of experience plus teacher recommendation. New students must audition before registering for this class.
Schedule: Varies depending on grade range. Classes meet twice per week for 55-minutes in the early evening. Group classes will begin the week of June 25th (7 weeks)
Tuition: $300 (inquire about financial aid)


Details
$300
Intermediate Suzuki Alegre Strings (Summer)
Age Range: K - 10th grade
Requirements: 1 year of experience plus teacher recommendation. Student registering for Suzuki classes must also register for private lessons. New students must audition before registering for this class.
Schedule: Varies depending on grade range. Classes meet once per week for 45/55-minutes in the early evening. Group classes will begin the week of June 25th (7 weeks)
Tuition: $125 - $150 (inquire about financial aid)

Details
$150
Intermediate Traditional Strings (Summer Session)
Age Range: 1st - 9th grade
Requirements: 1 year of experience plus teacher recommendation. New students must audition before registering for this class.
Schedule: Varies depending on grade range. Classes meet twice per week for 55-minutes in the early evening. Group classes will begin the week of June 25th (7 weeks)
Tuition: $300 (inquire about financial aid)

Details
$300
Once Upon a Mattress
Merit's summer production of "Once Upon a Mattress!"
Details
 
Private Lessons
Private lessons are the key component to reaching one's full potential as a musician, especially when combined with Merit School of Music's instrumental Music or Alice S. Pfaelzer Tuition-free Conservatory programs. Merit School of Music's faculty provides students with one-on-one instruction that is necessary to advance their level of musicianship and allows students to explore their individual talents and interests, develop skills and overcome challenges. Students who take private lessons learn in-depth instrumental technique, practice methods, dedication, commitment and achievement. Feedback is a required part of the process.

Resources and opportunities included in private lesson tuition:
  • one on one instruction with tailored goal setting
  • Access to Merit's highly qualified and dedicated faculty
  • Financial aid for qualifiying families
  • Annual studio recital
  • Merit Young Musician's Competition (March)
  • Two written evaluations per year (February and June)
  • Access to Merit's library and audio/visual recordings
  • Free admission to most Merit concerts at the Joy Faith Knapp Music Center
Details
 
Solo String Workshop (Summer)
Age Range: 5th - 12th grade
Requirements: Violin, viola, cello students only by teacher recommendation. New students must audition before registering for this camp.
Schedule: August 6th - August 10th, 9:00am - 2:30pm
Tuition: $330 (inquire about financial aid)

Details
$330
String Camp (Summer)
Age Range: 4th -10th grade
Requirements: 2 years of experience plus teacher recommendation. New students must audition before registering for this camp.
Schedule: July 23rd - August 3rd, 9:30am - 4:30pm
Tuition: $580 (inquire about financial aid)

Details
$580
Summer Communidad (El Valor)
Grades: K - 12
Open to students currently enrolled in the 17-18 academic year at El Valor, Communidad. New or beginning students will be able to enroll in the Fall of 2018.
Details
 
Summer Conservatory Choir

Age Range: 7th - 12th grade
Requirements: 2 years of experience plus teacher recommendation. New students must audition before registering for this camp.
Schedule: Tuesday & Friday evenings, June 26th, July 3rd, 6th, 10th, 13th, 17th, 20th, 27th & 31st, and August 3rd, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Tuition: Free for Conservatory students, $250 for non-Conservatory students (inquire about financial aid)


Details
 
Summer Conservatory Wind Ensemble
Age Range: 6th - 12th grade
Requirements: 4 years of experience plus teacher recommendation. New students must audition before registering for this camp.
Schedule: Tuesday & Thursday evenings, June 26th - August 7th, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Tuition: Free for Conservatory students, $250 for non-Conservatory students (inquire about financial aid)

Details
 
Summer IVM Band

Age Range: 5th - 9th grade
Requirements: 1 year of experience plus teacher recommendation. New students must audition before registering for this class.
Schedule: June 26th - August 14th, Tuesday & Thursday's 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Tuition: $170 (inquire about financial aid)


Details
$170
Summer Symphony Orchestra
Age Range: 6th -12th grade
Requirements: 4 years of experience plus teacher recommendation. New students must audition before registering for this camp.
Schedule: Wednesday evenings, June 27th - August 8th, 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Tuition: Free for Conservatory students, $250 for non-Conservatory students (inquire about financial aid)

Details
 
Tuition-Free Conservatory
One of Merit's signature programs, the Alice S. Pfaelzer Tuition-free Conservatory represents the culmination of Merit's music education continuum with the most accomplished of the student musicians; entry is by audition only.

In return for students' hard work and dedication, Merit provides the Conservatory experience on a tuition free basis. Students' skills are showcased in concerts and performances throughout the year. instruction from Chicago's finest music educators is provided through a weekly curriculum that includes large ensembles, instrumental technique classes, music theory classes and a variety of elective classes, as well as live performances. World-class professional artists lead master classes.
Details