to Chicago-area children of all ages and all levels of musical ability.  Our goals are to help young people achieve their full musical potential, to stimulate personal and educational growth through music, and to remove economic barriers to participation. We are devoted to giving children - especially those living in economically disadvantaged communities - the opportunity to grow through music.

We provide substantial financial support through program subsidies, need-based tuition relief, low-cost instrument rental, and music supplies, so that motivated students can participate in every program regardless of their economic circumstance. We provide a full range of onsite group classes and private lessons in our state-of-the-art music facility in downtown Chicago, the Joy Faith Knapp Music Center. These classes and lessons provide a continuum of instruction for children newborn to 18 years of age, and include include Early Childhood classes, Instrumental Music classes, and our renowned Alice S. Pfaelzer Tuition-free Conservatory for children of advanced musical ability.

We also offer music instruction throughout the Chicago area through our Bridges: Partners in Music program to dozens of locations, including public schools, private schools and community centers. Merit School of Music faculty provide instruction at these locations in general music, band, string, choral, percussion and early childhood music.