Summer Music Camps
Keeping kids social, creative, and engaged in music all summer long!
Summer Music Camps for Kids & Teens
Summer 2025
Open Registration: March 15
Priority registration for current families: March 3
Turn up the music this summer with Merit School of Music’s Nancy W. Knowles Summer Camp Program, featuring a wide selection of music camps, classes, and ensembles!
With options for all ages, instruments, and experience levels, summer at Merit is a great way for kids and teens to stay social and creative while school is out.
Your child will have the chance to study with some of the best music educators in the region while having fun and making friends with young music lovers from across Chicago.
Save the Date! Merit’s Summer 2025 Line-up
- Group Classes & Private Lessons: Begin June 16
- Strings Workshop: June 16-18
- Brass Camps: June 23-27
- Piano Camps
- Session 1: June 23-27
- Session 2: July 7-11
- Woodwind Camps: July 7-11
- Camp Merit (Band, Choir, & Orchestra): July 14-25
- Music Discovery Camp (Ages 6-8): July 21-25
Summer 2024
Options for All Ages & Experience Levels
- 1-week & 2-week day camps
- Workshops
- Ensembles
- Group classes
- Private lessons
- Early Childhood classes
Instruments Offered
Our beginner-friendly camps and classes give aspiring students a creative outlet, and are a fun way to learn to read music and build strong practice habits.
Beginning Guitar Classes • Beginning Piano Classes • Beginning Suzuki-Alegre Violin or Cello Classes • Beginning Traditional Violin or Cello Classes • Camp Merit – Choir Track • Music Discovery Camp • Private Lessons
Ages 6-8
This day camp offers a fun and engaging summer experience for young children, fostering a love for music through exploration and hands-on learning. Campers delve into various instruments daily, from piano to percussion, sparking creativity and curiosity.
Wondering If Merit Is the Right Fit?
Here’s why music lovers of all ages and experience levels choose our day camps.
The Best Music Teachers in Chicago
Merit’s passionate and highly experienced music teachers are some of the best in the region. Parents and students alike say their teachers are what they enjoy and appreciate most about their Merit education.
Jumpstart a New Instrument
Summer is a particularly great time for beginners to pick up an instrument since they aren’t contending with school and homework. Beginners have the time to build strong practice habits and Merit’s fun, supportive environment boosts excitement for their newfound talent.
Prevent Learning Loss & Enhance Skills
For more experienced musicians, continuing music instruction over the summer prevents them from losing the gains they made with their instruments or voice during the school year. They can also build new skills and get creative with their music-making.
Have Fun & Make New Friends
For both new and experienced musicians, a relaxed summer can mean having more fun with music while making friends with young musicians from across Chicago.
Learn more about the benefits of making music over the summer. →
What We've Heard
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Take a Behind-the-Scenes Look at Our Music Camps
Summer FAQs
How do Camp Merit tracks & electives work? What electives are available?
Camp Merit is a very special music camp! This summer music camp brings together student musicians from multiple instrument divisions for 2 fun-filled weeks of making music and new friends.
First, each camper selects a Camp Merit track. Choose from:
- Band Track (Brass, Percussion, & Woodwinds)
- Choir Track
- Orchestra Track
Your child’s track will be their main focus of each day. Band and orchestra students who enjoy singing also have the option to add the Choir Track to their schedules.
All campers also get to take two electives during camp. Choose from:
- African Drumming
- Conducting
- Drumline
- Intro to Guitar
- Intro to Piano
- Intro to Songwriting
- Intro to Ukulele
- Musical Theater
Your child does not need any prior experience in their electives of choice—these are meant to help students explore music-making in new ways! When you register, we ask you to choose your top three elective choices and our staff will place students into two of those electives based on availability. Students take both of their electives for one hour each day of camp.
On the last day of camp, campers will get to participate in short performances for both their track and electives.
Do you offer instrument rentals over the summer?
We do! Merit maintains a fleet of over 1,800 instruments which are loaned to students enrolled in programming at little to no cost.
Need help picking out an instrument? Or deciding if music is right for your child?
Check out The Parent’s Guide to Music Classes & Lessons for Kids. It’s a fantastic resource for answering all your questions related to music-making and helping you make the right musical choices for your child.
You can also reach out to our team at studentservices@meritmusic.org. We’re here to help!
How do I register?
We’re so excited to make music with you this summer!
Read step-by-step instructions for registering.
Have questions or need help? We’re here for you! Contact us at studentservices@meritmusic.org.
Still have questions? Visit our FAQs page or contact us at studentservices@meritmusic.org.
Additional Resources
Keep the Music Going!
Summer may be over, but the music never stops at Merit School of Music.
Summer 2024 May Be Over, but the Music Never Stops!
Join Summer 2024
Browse our line-up of camps and classes and then save your spot.
