CMC offers group music opportunities for kids of all ages, from babies and toddlers to teens. All classes are offered on a sliding scale, and our Children’s Chorus and Teen Jazz Orchestra are tuition-free. Private music lessons are also available on over 30 instruments.
Kids play drums and sing lively music from Afro-Caribbean traditions exploring rhythm and melody in a group. In this hands-on class, kids play hand drums, maracas, bells and other percussion instruments to learn a sense of rhythm. Kids also sing songs from diverse Afro-Caribbean cultures. Singing helps kids to learn melody, dynamics, and listening. The last class of the series is a family friendly musical activity where parents and caregivers learn Afro-Caribbean drums and songs too!
This course is a great companion to CMC’s Musical Discovery Camp and class Percussion for Kids. Open to all children 7-12 years old regardless of musical experience.
Ages: 7-12
Musical styles: Afro-Caribbean
Class size: Maximum 20 students
Location, Days and Times: Mission District Branch, Wednesdays, 4:00 – 5:30pm; June 27 – August 8.
No class July 4 or July 25.
Instructor: Hector Lugo
Tuition: $126.25 Summer (5 weeks)
Ask us about our referral discount!
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Children discover their voices and learn to sing with a group in the Children’s Chorus. Students are introduced to musical skills to become careful listeners, better singers, and build confidence in an environment that emphasizes cooperation, teamwork and fun. The patient and supportive approach to learning music encourages kids to express themselves and develop a lifelong love of singing.
No experience is required to sing in this free chorus.
Ages: Children ages 8-12
Instrument: Voices of all ranges
Musical Styles: Popular, jazz, multicultural folk, showtunes, originals
Prerequisites: A strong desire to sing and families committed to supporting their children’s experience
Class size: Maximum 25 students
Location, Days and Times: Mission District Branch, Mondays and Wednesdays, 4-5:30pm
Instructors: Beth Wilmurt, Director; John Kyrk, Accompanist.
Tuition: None. $47 annual registration fee.
Class does not meet during the summer
Please contact the registrars at (415) 647-6015 to enroll or speak to the instructor on your first day of class.
This family-friendly bilingual music class introduces babies and toddlers to Spanish and music through singing and musical play. Parents and caregivers join their children to sing the songs of Latin America with an emphasis on Mexican music. More than one adult can attend with a registered child. Class is held in Spanish and English.
Ages: Children 0-3 years
Instrument: Voice and percussion instruments provided by CMC
Musical Styles: Music of Latin America
Prerequisites: None.
Class size: 4-6 families
Locations, Days and Times:
Mission District Branch, Thursdays, 11:00–11:45am
Instructor: Susan Peña
Tuition: $101 Summer (4 weeks), $371 Fall (14 weeks), $318 Winter (12 weeks), $265 Spring (10 weeks)
Ask us about our referral discount!
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Give your child the gift of music from their earliest days. Caregivers and parents play music and sing along with their babies and toddlers. Children can explore signing, dancing, drums, and percussion instruments. We welcome more than one adult to attend.
Ages: Children 0-3 years
Instrument: Voice and percussion instruments provided by CMC
Musical Styles: Rhythmic rhymes and songs from many folk traditions
Prerequisites: None
Class size: 4-8 families
Location, Days and Times:
Mission District Branch, Tuesdays, 9:30–10:15am
This class is not currently meeting Summer Quarter
Richmond District Branch, Saturdays,10:30–11:15am
For enrollment, please contact call the Richmond Branch registrar at (415) 221-4515.
Instructor: Diane Aurelius
Tuition: $202 Summer (8 weeks), $371 Fall (14 weeks), $318 Winter (12 weeks), $265 Spring (10 weeks)
This class is not currently meeting Summer Quarter
Ask us about our referral discount!
Kids learn to play guitar in a fun and supportive group setting with some of their favorite songs. This hands-on class helps kids play music right away. Students learn rhythm, melody, creating a good tone, and listening so they can play music with others. Kids explore folk, rock, pop, and world music together in a social environment, building confidence along with music basics. Practicing at home will be necessary for the best experience.
It is highly recommended that children enroll during the Fall Quarter. Each quarter will have a different focus and will build on the prior quarter’s content. Fall Quarter will focus on melody and rhythm, Winter Quarter on chords and songs, and Spring Quarter on reading music.
Ages: Children ages 8-12
Musical Styles: Folk, rock, pop and world music
Class Size: Maximum 5 students
Locations, Days and Times:
Mission District Branch. Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30pm
Instructor: Erik Pearson
Tuition: $371 Fall (14 weeks), $318 Winter (12 weeks), $265 Spring (10 weeks)
Class does not meet during the Summer Quarter. Private guitar lessons are available.
This group class teaches kids musical skills through rhythm games, singing, creative movement, dancing, musical play, and the use of instruments. These music lessons give fun, positive, and successful musical experiences to children, inspiring a lifelong love of music.
Children will we introduced to the musical instrument families found in the symphony orchestra )percussion, brass, strings, woodwinds) and are invited to experiment with the way sounds are made on these instruments. Classes also include singing songs from around the world.
Music for Children teaches important musical skills for children not quite ready to start private music lessons.
Ages: Children ages 4-7
Instrument: Orff instruments, such as xylophones and hand drums (provided), voice
Prerequisites: None. Late registration with instructor’s consent.
Class size: 5-8 students
Locations, Days and Times:
Mission District Branch, Wednesdays
3:45-4:30pm for ages 4-5
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4:30-5:15pm for ages 4-5
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5:30-6:15pm for ages 6-7
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6:30-7:15pm for ages 6-7
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Richmond District Branch, Saturdays
9:30am–10:15am for ages 4–7
For enrollment at the Richmond Branch, please contact call the Richmond Branch registrar at (415) 221-4515.
Instructors:
Mission District Branch: Irene Chagall
Richmond District Branch: Diane Aurelius
*Summer Tuition Mission District Branch: $151.50 (6 weeks)
Tuition:$202 Summer Richmond Branch (8 weeks), $371 Fall (14 weeks), $318 Winter (12 weeks), $265 Spring (10 weeks)
Ask us about our referral discount!
This course is designed to introduce kids to Latin American rhythms, singing songs in Spanish, and the joy of making music in a group. Students will learn about dynamics, sound quality, staying in rhythm, following the conductor, and listening. No experience is necessary to participate!
Ages: Children ages 8-12
Musical Styles: Latin American rhythms
Class Size: Maximum 6 students
Location, Days and Times:
Mission District Branch
Mondays 5:15 – 6:15pm
Instructors: Omar Ledezma Jr. with guest artists
Tuition: $101 Summer (4 weeks), $371 Fall (14 weeks), $318 Winter (12 weeks), $265 Spring (10 weeks)
This class is not currently meeting Summer Quarter
Chamber music, which is playing in a small group setting, can greatly improve a student’s playing, and is a helpful supplement for any student in a school band or orchestra program. Small groups may be formed in classical, jazz or Latin music.
Four-Hand Piano Duos: Intermediate and advanced piano students may connect through the chamber music program to play classical duets. Four-hand piano is a fun way to apply what you’ve learned and pick up new skills that may also introduce you to chamber music with strings and winds. A bonus, unique to this program, is that both players develop the valuable techniques of accompaniment. Opportunities arise when two students introduce themselves or are matched by a teacher, or one player in a former duo is looking for a partner. This is how lasting friendships as well as great performing groups are created!
Ages: All ages
Instruments: All and voice
Musical Styles: All
Prerequisites:
Students should have at least two years of experience playing their instrument. Placement auditions for new students take place at the beginning of each quarter in order to create groups who play at similar levels. Beginning students should be familiar with key signature with up to three sharps and flats, and basic rhythms including eighth notes.
Class size: 2-5 students
Locations, Days and Times: Mission District Branch OR Richmond District Branch
Instructors:
Sin-Tung Chiu, Rachel Condry, Juliet McComas, Jennifer Peringer, Loretta Taylor, Betty Wong, Shirley Wong-Frentzel, others TBA
Tuition: $290 Summer (8 weeks), $532 Fall (14 weeks), $456 Winter (12 weeks), $380 Spring (10 weeks)
Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount.
Teen Jazz Orchestra is an ensemble dedicated to performing the music of Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Count Basie, various other composers, and original compositions. The orchestra is led by composer, bassist, and teacher Marcus Shelby. Each class will include a discussion about the history of the music, development of the blues, theory, listening sessions, video, learning about key characters, and imagining the possibilities of the music. There will be a performance at the end of each quarter.
Ages: Teens
Instruments: Instrumentation includes (but is not limited to) alto sax, tenor sax, clarinet, baritone sax, trombone, trumpet, piano, bass, drums, guitar, violin, and vocals
Musical Styles: Jazz, rhythm and blues, funk, Latin jazz
Prerequisites: Strong interest, proficiency on an instrument, basic music reading skills. Admission with instructor’s consent.
Class size: 15-20 students
Location, Day and Time: Mission District Branch, Tuesdays, 4:15-6:15pm
Instructor: Marcus Shelby
Tuition: No tuition or registration fee.
Class does not meet during the Summer Quarter.
Please contact the registrars at (415) 647-6015 to enroll or speak to the instructor on your first day of class.
