Music lesson at ABC Academy of Music, Toronto

Learning music builds skills that transfer across everything else. The right teacher makes the difference between quitting in month two and playing for life.

Music Programs for Schools and Daycares in Toronto

ABC Academy of Music has partnered with Toronto schools and daycares since 2003. We bring structured music programming to children in institutional settings — curriculum-aligned workshops, early childhood music classes through Music Together, and ongoing enrichment blocks that integrate with existing school schedules.

Barnaby Kerekes, who founded and runs ABC Academy, coordinates institutional partnerships directly. If you’re a program director, ECE coordinator, or school administrator evaluating a music partner, the information below covers what we offer and what the practical logistics look like.

What We Offer for Institutional Partners

Music Together for Daycare and Early Years Programs

Music Together is an early childhood music curriculum licensed by a US-based research organization. ABC Academy is an official licensee — one of a small number authorized to run the program in Toronto. It’s designed for children from birth to age five and runs in 45-minute sessions with a trained teacher running the class.

For daycare and nursery school settings, we work with staff to bring Music Together into your facility or host classes at our studios at 2180 Bayview Ave, 611 St. Clair Ave W, or 363 Howden Blvd. Class structure, session cadence, and group size are all things we discuss during the scoping conversation.

School Enrichment Workshops

We design half-day and full-day music workshops for elementary school groups. These can focus on instrument exploration, rhythm and percussion, or introduction to notation — depending on the grade and the curriculum goals of the teacher or coordinator. Workshops can run at your school or at our studio at 2180 Bayview Ave.

Ongoing Weekly Programming

Some partner schools bring us in on a weekly cycle for the school year. This works well when there’s a committed time block in the schedule, a room with minimal acoustic interference, and a school contact who manages the logistics on-site. We’ve run these blocks at schools near Bayview and Lawrence, and at sites across the city.

Who Delivers the Programs

Every ABC Academy teacher who works with children has passed a Toronto Police Vulnerable Sector Check. All teachers hold university music degrees or equivalent credentials. Our Music Together teachers — including Emma Berube, who holds a Bachelor of Music from Western University — are formally certified through the Music Together licensing organization.

Partners often ask: what if the regular teacher can’t make it? We’re a school with many qualified teachers, not a single contractor, so cover is easy to arrange. We won’t promise a specific substitute. We do promise that anyone who covers your program meets the same screening and credentials.

Pricing for Institutional Partners

We quote this work per session or per term, based on the format, group size, and site. We don’t post a public rate, because the scope varies too much for a standard figure to mean anything. If you’re comparing providers, we’re glad to be judged side by side. Contact us and we’ll send a short questionnaire and a quote within three business days.

Partner Program Pages

Common Questions from Program Coordinators

Are your teachers screened for work with children?

Yes. Every teacher at ABC Academy who works with children has completed a Toronto Police Vulnerable Sector Check. This is a non-negotiable requirement, not a case-by-case decision.

Can you come to our location, or do students come to you?

Both. For Music Together, we can host your group at one of our three Music Together studios. For workshops and weekly enrichment, we typically come to your site if you can provide a suitable space. We discuss this during scoping.

How do you handle curriculum alignment?

We’re not a licensed curriculum provider for the Ontario Ministry of Education. So our programs add to your year rather than count for credit. We do work with teachers and coordinators to match content to what students are studying, and we can shift the focus — rhythm, notation, instrument families, listening — to fit your year-plan.

To start a conversation about partnership, send us a message with a brief description of your program type, location, and what you’re hoping music programming would add. We’ll respond within one business day.