Keyfest for Kids is the centerpiece program of The Merriam School of Music.  It produces incredible results each year for students between the ages of 4-10, and serves to stream students into many of our other programs.

It’s been recognized internationally as a highly innovative and leading example of the kinds of results that are possible when you execute a group program properly.

One of the most critical ingredients to this program has always been our teachers.  Even though the students in this program are often the youngest and least experienced, we have always put our most committed, experienced, and vibrant teachers into the classrooms. It’s the opposite logic of what most schools would do – usually the most valuable teachers get the older experienced students.

Teachers in the Keyfest for Kids program have a lot to juggle: on top of being able to manage a classroom environment effectively, and keep the class moving at a correct pace, they are teaching 4 and 5 year olds the same material that 1st year University music students are learning: harmonic function, degrees of the scale, sight reading, rhythm, improvisation, composition, technology, and repertoire.  So when we find the right candidates who can pull it all together, it’s pretty magical.

Here’s a sample of some of our current group piano / Keyfest for Kids teachers.  We couldn’t be more proud of these teachers – the next generation of Canada’s top musicians could very well be under their tutelage right now!