Band Chops
Preschoolers • Kids • Teens • Adults • Seniors
School of Rock Lessons
Band Chops Programs
The Ultimate Rock Band Experience
Everyone has dreamed of being a rockstar at one point in their life. While some people have the perception that rock and roll is a young person’s game, that is simply not true! After all, age is just a number and it is never too late to start realizing a dream you’ve had your whole life.
Whether you are 6 years old or 60 years old, Merriam Music’s Band Chops program will provide you with the school of rock experience you’ve been looking for.
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Real-World Performance Opportunities
The School of Rock Experience
Do you dream of being on stage and feeding off of the energy of a live crowd? Do you dream of being in a studio and cutting records with other musicians? If the answer to these questions is an emphatic “yes”, look no further. Merriam Music’s Band Chops program is the vehicle you need to make your dreams a reality.
Regardless of whether you are a rookie or an experienced player, Band Chops, which is Merriam Music’s school of rock, is your gateway into the exciting world of playing in a band. Implement the skills you’ve attained through your private guitar lessons, bass lessons, drum lessons, or vocal lessons in real-world performance situations. Play the greatest songs of the rock music catalogue by artists like AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, and many more.
Good Fit Guarantee
Love Your First Band Chops Class, or It’s Free
Your first lesson with a new tutor is protected by Merriam’s Good Fit Guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with your lesson, you don’t pay. No questions asked.
Expert Instructors
Being in a successful band requires a diverse skillset that stretches far beyond simply being a competent player. Knowing how to get an audience up off their feet with great stage presence or how to extract the full potential out of a song.
Convenient Scheduling
While scheduling for group programs like Band Chops is a bit trickier than private lessons due to the fact that there are numerous schedules that need to be coordinated, Merriam Music's multiple campuses, large facilities, and extensive teaching faculty.
HD Performance Videos
As a participant in the Band Chops program, you will have even more performance opportunities than other students each and every year. All of those performances will be captured in high-definition and compiled on a Video Log.
HD Performance Videos
As a participant in the Band Chops program, you will have even more performance opportunities than other students each and every year. All of those performances will be captured in high-definition and compiled on a Video Log.
Ensembles & Bands
Merriam Music is proud to present its students with one of the largest selections of ensemble and band programs in the world. While Band Chops is primarily geared towards students that want to play in a rock or pop style, there are many other ensemble classes that cater to all styles of music.
15+ Recitals
As a Band Chops student, you will have even more performance opportunities than other students. With well over 15 concerts and recitals each and every year, you will have ample opportunity to workshop the skills you acquire in your classes in real world performance situations.
No Long-term Contract
There are no long-term contracts preventing you from canceling or suspending your lessons at any time for any reason. We simply require 30 days written notice. No financial penalties. No questions. No hassles.
5-Star Google Rating
With more reviews and a higher satisfaction rating than any other school in the area, Merriam Music is proud to serve over 3000 students each and every week. Come see why Merriam has garnered a 97% customer satisfaction score.
The Ultimate Band Experience
Merriam Music's School of Rock
Students of all ages have the unique opportunity to join a real rock band and receive coaching from top music industry professionals. Whether you play guitar, drums, bass guitar, piano, or sing, you will join forces with other musicians that have musical ambitions that align with your own. You will learn every facet of what it takes to be a successful band.
In addition to honing your ability to “play in the pocket” with others, you will learn the art of performance, music production, and songwriting. Furthermore, you will develop lifelong teamwork skills that will become invaluable in a variety of aspects of your life. Collaborate creatively with others and, most importantly, have more fun playing music than you could have ever imagined!
Professional Music Teachers
Coached By Industry Professionals
Merriam Music is incredibly fortunate to have some of Canada’s most acclaimed studio musicians as coaches and collaborators such as Rich Brown, Mike Ferfolia, Calvin Beale, Mike Siracusa, Morgan Childs, and Ross MacIntyre to name a few. To have just one of these top-rated industry professionals would be special – to be able to offer our students such a rich array of talent is truly unprecedented.
Dedicated Support Team
Exceptional Customer Service
While Merriam Music is one of the largest private music academies in the world with over 3000 students, the level of personalized care from our customer service team is simply unparalleled. Our amazing customer care team works tirelessly around the clock to ensure that your needs are met every step of the way. That way, you can focus on what’s important: your music lessons.
When you join the Merriam School of Music, you are not only joining Canada’s fastest-growing private music school, you are also joining one of Canada’s largest and most exciting music communities!
Band Chops Programs
Band Chops • Adults • AllStars
Band Chops
Adults
Allstars
Band Chops
Band Chops Programs
Band Chops
Merriam School of Music’s Band Chops program is unlike any other ensemble program in the world. You will be grouped with other musicians that are the same age and skill level as you to have the unique opportunity to experience playing in a real rock band. While some schools may offer ensemble summer camps, our Band Chops program runs year-round. It is the perfect supplement to a student’s private lessons. You will be able to apply your talents to real-world performance settings, meet like-minded musicians, and have fun in the process.
Adults
Band Chops Programs
Band Chops For Adults
It is never too late to rock! The incredible experience of the Band Chops program is not merely reserved for younger students. As we age, life tends to become more complicated and filled with a greater number of responsibilities. For this reason, finding time to sift through online ads to connect with other motivated adult musicians to jam can be incredibly difficult if not impossible. Merriam Music simplifies the process for you by pairing you with other adult players that share the same musical goals.
Allstars
Band Chops Programs
Band Chops Allstars
The Band Chops Allstars stream is intense, immersive music education at its very best. For 60 to 90 minutes each week, students become an integral part of a functioning band and receive full-time, hands-on coaching from Canada’s leading studio musicians and industry professionals.
The very best coaches, facilities, and performance opportunities are reserved for students in our Band Chops Allstars stream. It is a truly unique and singular education experience that is the only one of its kind in Canada.
Best Band Programs in the GTA
If Playing in A Rock Has Been Your Dream, Start Making It a Reality
You have spent hundreds of hours practicing your instrument alone. It was exciting and rewarding in the beginning, but you find your motivation waning. Instead of brushing up on your scales and technique, you spend your practices daydreaming of being a famous guitarist on stage playing Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” to a sea of thousands of energized rock music fans. What if your practices were filled with the very thing you spend your time daydreaming about? Merriam Music’s Band Chops program makes that possible.
At school of rock style band practices, you will tap into your inner rockstar and have more fun playing music than you ever thought imaginable. From iconic rock classics like Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” to modern pop rock hits like Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U”, you will play the music and songs that you love each and every week. You will never have to force yourself to practice ever again. Instead, you’re going to be struggling to put down your instrument!
Begin turning your rock and roll fantasies into reality with Merriam Music today by enrolling in School of Rock lessons!
A Music Education Beyond the Notes
While the notes and rhythms we play are unquestionably important, there is much more to becoming a well-rounded musician, particularly for musicians that play in a band. Learning how to function within a team setting and communicating your thoughts clearly to others are absolutely paramount in ensemble situations. This is merely one of a plethora of reasons that Merriam Music’s music education approach is different.
We have invested well over 30 years into studying each and every aspect of music pedagogy and the science around optimizing the benefits one attains through the study of music. Merriam’s approach is one that is focused on a holistic presentation of music in order to transform our students into well-rounded musicians and people. This is particularly evident in the results we’ve achieved with students through our School of Rock program.
Under the mentorship of Merriam’s expert instructors, you will be exposed to all aspects of musical literacy. Building technique and studying repertoire in order to enhance your ability to technically execute and perform the music you want to play will always be an important pillar of the education process, but that is only one layer of your education at Merriam Music. You will be taught music theory in a practical way in order to help you harness its powers to improvise, compose, and produce music at an expert level. This is especially true for students that enroll in the Band Chops program.
Led by experienced musicians that have achieved incredible success in the music industry, our Band Chops program will prepare you for every possible situation you can expect to encounter as a professional musician. From learning the ropes of music production to understanding how to promote and market your music, you will be one step closer to your dream job in the music industry with each and every class.
If you’ve ever wondered why Merriam Music has built such a positive reputation internationally as being one of the leading private music academies in the world, there is only one way to find out and that is by joining the incredible community of talented musicians at Merriam Music.
The Science of Musical Excellence
Nurturing musicians to become prodigies and virtuosos might seem like an impossible thing to quantify and methodize, but it actually isn’t. Now, that’s not to say it’s a simple process either – it takes a tremendous amount of time, effort, and energy, which is why Merriam Music has dedicated over three years to studying the phenomenon of musical excellence and developing an educational process that is able to replicate with each and every student that walks onto one of our campuses.
We have all read and heard about the countless studies that outline how playing an instrument enhances one’s creativity, cognition, coordination, confidence, and communication, but how exactly is this optimized in a music curriculum? What aspects of musicianship should you focus on to gain a true mastery of music? The answer: all of them.
While other music schools will either prioritize one element of music education or introduce them sequentially over the span of many years, Merriam Music takes a holistic, immersive approach in which all students, regardless of their age or level of experience, are simultaneously exposed to all facets of musicianship. This combined with an inspiring faculty and facility as well as proper platforms and opportunities for students to apply their newfound skills is at the core of the Merriam method.
The culmination of this newly-acquired knowledge and skillset will grant you superpowers that will have lasting and meaningful benefits in all facets of your life. You will be able to express yourself effortlessly. You will be able to unlock all-new levels of creativity. You will feel confident and prepared in every situation you enter. You will be able to function effectively within a team and, most importantly, you will be able to enjoy life in an all-new way.
Whether you are looking to join Merriam Music’s Band Chops program for leisure or as a means to acquire the skills and knowledge that will help jumpstart your musical career, our tried and tested educational approach has a track record of success that is unparalleled by other music programs. As a member of the Merriam Music community, you will be given the skills, knowledge, and confidence to cut through the noise and stand out from the crowd.
The Merriam Curriculum
A Complete Music Education
Merriam Music’s proprietary music education method is unlike anything you have ever experienced. Our students simultaneously explore and experience every aspect of music right from the onset of their education journey. It doesn’t matter whether a student is 5 years old or 50 years old, our holistic pedagogical approach is effective in all age ranges and optimizes students’ progress in all regards. Experience the most cutting-edge and revolutionary approach to music education with the Merriam School of Music.
Band Chops Program
Band Chops
Merriam School of Music’s Band Chops program is unlike any other ensemble program in the world. You will be grouped with other musicians that are the same age and skill level as you to have the unique opportunity to experience playing in a real rock band. While some schools may offer ensemble summer camps, our Band Chops program runs year-round. It is the perfect supplement to a student’s private lessons. You will be able to apply your talents to real-world performance settings, meet like-minded musicians, and have fun in the process.
Band Chops Program
Band Chops for Adults
It is never too late to rock! The incredible experience of the Band Chops program is not merely reserved for younger students. As we age, life tends to become more complicated and filled with a greater number of responsibilities. For this reason, finding time to sift through online ads to connect with other motivated adult musicians to jam can be incredibly difficult if not impossible. Merriam Music simplifies the process for you by pairing you with other adult players that share the same musical goals.
Band Chops Program
Band Chops Allstars
The Band Chops Allstars stream is intense, immersive music education at its very best. For 60 to 90 minutes each week, students become an integral part of a functioning band and receive full-time, hands-on coaching from Canada’s leading studio musicians and industry professionals. The very best coaches, facilities, and performance opportunities are reserved for students in our Band Chops Allstars stream. It is a truly unique and singular education experience that is the only one of its kind in Canada.
"Our mission and purpose is to help foster and inspire creative, connected, and well-rounded lives with the power of music."
- Alan Merriam, President of Merriam Music
Common Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
HOW MUCH DO MUSIC LESSONS COST?
While music lessons range drastically in terms of cost based on a number of factors, including instrument, level of instruction, and geographic location, the average cost for private one-on-one lessons in North America is approximately $25-35 USD per 30 minute lesson. Merriam Music charges a premium lesson rate that generally ranges from $30-50 USD. However, this slightly higher rate provides students with incomparable access to the finest instruments, state-of-the-art facilities, and one of the most impressive teaching faculties on the planet.
No matter which instrument you study or which lesson format you choose, the Merriam School of music will provide you with the most unique and enriching music education imaginable.
Ultimately, the cost of lessons with Merriam Music is determined by the coaching level, lesson length, and program type. For more information and help in selecting the program that best suits your needs and goals, please contact 647-417-1125 today to be connected with one of our expert admissions advisors.
HOW MUCH DOES THE BAND CHOPS PROGRAM COST?
Given that there are three streams in the Band Chops program (Band Chops, Band Chops for Adults, and Band Chops Allstars), the cost to enroll does vary. While Band Chops and Band Chops for Adults are open to all prospective students, the Band Chops Allstars program is reserved for the very top players and, like some other courses and programs, are only available through audition or selection. With that said, the main Band Chops program is the perfect stepping-stone to become one of Merriam Music’s “Allstars”. In fact, the vast majority of students in Band Chops Allstars groups were selected from the Band Chops program.
For more information on pricing, availability, and program requirements, please call 647-417-1125 to speak with one of Merriam Music’s helpful admissions advisors.
WHAT AGE IS THE BAND CHOPS PROGRAM FOR?
Like our private lessons, the Band Chops program is for all age ranges! While most of the younger students that enter the program are 7 years or older, there is no formal age restrictions. In fact, even adult students have the option to join in on the fun with Band Chops for Adults. Whether you used to play in a band and are looking to get back into doing so or about to take the plunge into jamming with other musicians for the first time, you are welcome to enjoy one of the most fun and rewarding programs that the Merriam School of Music offers.
The best part is that you will be grouped with other likeminded musicians of the same age that have goals, musical tastes, and ability levels that align with your own. A key part to building a successful band is finding the right personnel and chemistry which is why we put a lot of effort and thought into forming our groups.
Regardless of your age or specific Band Chops stream, you will have access to a leading music instructor that has decades of experience working in the music industry alongside top artists and professionals. They will coach you to becoming a complete musician in one of the finest music facilities in the planet. From a professional recording studio to a fully-equipped stage with top-of-the-line gear and lighting, you will live and breathe music in a stimulating and inspiring way.
WHAT IS THE BAND CHOPS PROGRAM LIKE?
Simply put: it’s awesome! You will not find anything like it at any other music academy in the world. The Merriam Music School of Rock experience is unique and unmatched. Students are given the opportunity to use the best musical equipment in state-of-the-art teaching facilities that are not mere simulations of recording studios and concert venues, but the real thing! All of this is in conjunction to being taught by some of Canada’s most elite studio musicians and record producers within the framework of one of the most complete, immersive, and holistic music curriculums in existence.
You will learn to become an effective band member, write and arrange songs, and, eventually, bring them to life both in the studio and on stage. Band Chops participants have the greatest access to performance opportunities, master classes, and other exclusive events. It is a tremendous experience that will ignite your passion for music in an all-new way.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to become part of one of the top band programs in the world!
HOW DO I JOIN THE BAND CHOPS PROGRAM?
Although the Band Chops Allstars program is only available through selection or audition, the other streams are accessible to all. It is strongly recommended that private one-on-one lessons for your instrument are a co-requisite to Band Chops.
The intended purpose of Band Chops is to give students a fun, relevant, and inspiring platform to workshop the skills and knowledge they gain through their private lessons in real world musical situations. From band rehearsals to recording sessions to festival stages, you will experience the same things that a contemporary professional artist experiences.
To join the Band Chops program, talk to your private instructor, education counselor, or connect with one of our admissions advisors by calling 647-417-1125.
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