The Front Line: Our Teachers
Merriam Music has been blessed and fortunate to have attracted some very talented and passionate educators throughout our history. This amazing collection of musicians is one of the principle strengths behind Merriam’s success, and an enormous emphasis is placed on attracting and training the right type of individual.
Each year, Merriam Music receives literally hundreds of applications from graduates of some of the most esteemed music institutions in the world: Juilliard, Eastman, University of Toronto, Queens, Wilfrid Laurier, Western University, Humber, York, and more. Fewer than 1 in 5 will receive an interview, and less than 1 in 20 will be invited to join Merriam’s elite team.
The effect that a good teacher can have on the learning experience is profound, and matched only in importance by the other three pillars of success: the family, the facilities, and the curriculum. And so, we’re very proud to boast one of the highest staff retention rates in our industry, with the average teacher staying 4.7 years (the industry average is just over 1 year). Additionally, our teachers take part in the greatest number of hours of training each year, at 80. Furthermore, these educators are dedicated to the craft of teaching, and the pursuit of musical instruction is a career path; although musicians who teach ‘on the side’ can be excellent teachers, they don’t provide the kind of long-term vision and dedication necessary to fully realize a student’s potential.
Every one of our certified teachers has received either post-secondary training in music & education, or an extensive body of professional industry experience. Our focus on teachers who are pursuing music education as a career, not just as part-time job, means that our students benefit from long-term thinking, true dedication to the craft of teaching, and the excellent schooling by some of Canada’s finest universities.
Every year, hundreds of teachers apply to be a part of the Merriam experience, and fewer than 5% get accepted. Why so few? Well, training alone doesn’t make a great teacher, nor does excellent performance ability. To be a Merriam teacher, you must possess a unique blend of musicality, compassion, organization, long-term focus, and performance ability. Our teachers act as role models, facilitators, coaches, and most importantly, partners in you or your child’s success.
North America’s universities and colleges certainly do a fantastic job of preparing future educators for their positions. However, Merriam’s formula is unique and complex. In order for the teacher to play their critical part in the overall success of our teaching formula, they must go through a rigorous training regime before they ever set foot inside our classrooms. In fact, most new teachers are hired in May and June, and won’t see the inside of a classroom until early September. During this time, they’ll attend various workshops, seminars, training courses, evaluations, and more – all to ensure that the Keyfest formula is delivered at our high standards.
Our teachers stay with us longer than any other private music teaching facility in Canada. They consistently tell us, year after year, why that is:
- we offer full-time salaried employment, so that teachers can build a life and a career with us
- our mission is authentic: unleashing the power of music for all who want it
- our facilities allow for creative and professional growth for them as both musicians and educators
- our curriculum (Keyfest) works, and generates unparalleled success with students of all ages and levels
