FAQ
What courses does Merriam High School offer?
We offer the following courses:
-Grade 9 Open Music (AMU1O)
-Grade 10 Open Music & Computers (AMM2O)
-Grade 11 University / College Preparation Music (AMU3M)
-Grade 11 Open Music & Computers (AMM3O)
-Grade 12 University / College Preparation Music (AMU4M)
The courses are offered based on enrollment interest.
Please contact the school to indicate your interest in a specific course.
Will these music courses count towards my high school diploma or university application?
Yes. Upon course completion, the credits will count towards the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Once a student has registered with Merriam High School, we will communicate to your school the course(s) in which you have been enrolled. Merriam High School will send a copy of your final report card to your school. This course will then be added to your Ontario Student Transcript (OST) to be placed in your Ontario Student Record (OSR).
How long does it take to complete a course?
Merriam High School runs two terms. One credit can be earned per term. The first begins in September and ends in late January. The second begins in February and finishes in June.
Do I have to be a student at Merriam School of Music to enroll in high school credit courses?
Yes, for the general music courses, you must be enrolled in a 30-minute or 60-minute weekly private lesson. This is required in order to achieve the 110 hours of course study as required by the Ministry of Education for all credit courses.
For Music & Computers, you do not need to be a registered Merriam Music student taking a private lesson.
How do my private lessons impact my credit courses?
The Grade 9 Music (AMU1O) course combines your current lesson with additional online and asynchronous assignments. Your weekly lesson time and practice minutes contribute to the completion of the course, but there will be some extra work outside of lessons required. There is also a 60 minute, online group class every week, which will help support completion of work outside of lesson time.
The Grade 11 or 12 Music (AMU3M or AMU4M) courses, because they are a higher level and a university/college preparation class, include a 2-hour online group class in addition to your weekly private lesson. There are assignments to complete and generally speaking, the time commitment is greater than the grade 9 course. Having said that, the additional time commitment would still be lower than if you were taking the course through your high school since practice and lesson time are included.
The Music & Computers courses (AMM2O and AMM3O) do not incorporate your private lessons.
How long are the classes and when do they take place?
For the grade 9 course, there is a 60 minute online class every week, in addition to the material delivered through your private lesson.
For the grade 10 course, there is a 90 minute online class every week from 3:45-5:15pm.
For the grade 11 course, there is a 120 minute online class every week, in addition to the material delivered through your private lesson.
Are there any additional costs?
Yes, there are additional fees, which depend on the grade level that you are taking, whether you are current student of the school and the number of years you have been with us. As always, there are no additional fees for any of the performance opportunities like recitals, performances, faculty concerts or Keymaster Sessions.
Please contact the school for more information regarding pricing.
What happens when I complete the course?
Once Merriam Music receives the final mark from the teacher, our administrative departments will send an official copy of the report card to you and your school.
What are the prerequisites to take courses with Merriam Music?
-Grade 9 Open Music course (AMU1O): There is no prerequisite.
-Grade 11 University Music course (AMU3M): Prerequisite is either Grade 9 (AMU1O) or Grade 10 (AMU2O) Music, with Merriam High School or with their home school.
-Grade 12 University Music course (AMU4M): Prequisite is Grade 11 Music (AMU3M), with Merriam High School or with their home school.
-Grades 10 and 11 Music & Computers (AMM2O and AMM3O): There are no prerequisites but the purchase of Ableton Live software is required, along with a computer with minimum specifications.
Is it okay if I took my prerequisites at my home school, or does it need to be taken through Merriam High School?
As long as you have taken your prerequisite with a registered high school and the prerequisite course code matches, that allows you to take either our grade 11 or 12 course.
Can I stay with my current Merriam teacher or do I need to switch to another teacher?
For the grade 9 course, you should be able to stay with your current teacher, but any Merriam School of Music teacher who wishes to teach the high school course will have to be approved and complete mandatory training.
For the grade 11 or 12 courses, you can definitely stay with your current teacher for your private lesson as the additional weekly online class will be taught by one of our approved teachers – they will ensure coverage of all requirements as set out by the Ministry of Education. The private teacher, in this case, will be a support person to assist completion of assignments or answering additional questions students may have.
I have been taking lessons at the school for several years now. Can I get a high school credit because of the time I’ve already spent learning my instrument?
Unfortunately, no. We cannot issue credits retroactively, and all of our courses still require completion of additional assignments and requirements outside of lesson times. There is also an additional group class that needs to be attended in order to achieve the credit.
I am not in high school yet but am very interested. Can I enroll even though I’m only in grade 8?
Students in grade 8 can apply for a Reach Ahead credit, which means they can achieve a high school credit in the year before they enter grade 9. This involves the completion of an application to Merriam High School, written endorsement/commitment from the parent and a letter of recommendation from the elementary school principal. Only students who have demonstrated they are capable of the additional workload and responsibility will be able to qualify for the Reach Ahead credit. Only students in grade 8 can be considered. Anyone who is in grade 7 or below can apply for the Reach Ahead credit once they are in grade 8.
If you wish to apply for the Reach Ahead credit, please submit the Reach Ahead Enrollment Form, found in the Parent Resources section.
I am a group piano or Band Chops student. Do I need to be enrolled in a separate private lesson in order to take the high school course?
If you are in grade 8 or older, you may be able to take a high school course and stay in your group, but this is dependent on the level of your group and based upon teacher discretion.
The Band Chops program is almost entirely focused on group/ensemble playing. Students in Band Chops would require individual instruction on your specific instrument, therefore a separate private lesson will be needed.
Does this mean I can have a spare in my schedule?
Please note that, due to school board regulations, all students in grades 9 through to 11 still need to register for a full course load at their home school, but will be eligible for a spare in grade 12 with their extra credit.
Keep in mind that even if a spare isn't possible, taking your music credit with us allows for more flexibility in your schedule so you can take that specialty course that is only offered in one time slot, rather than taking the arts course that might conflict.