As part of the SFJAZZ Digital Lab series, CMC is excited to offer a new tuition-free, 12-week hands-on music production course for youth, led by acclaimed producer and songwriter Pablo Quintero, beginning January 2026.
January–March 2026
This new program expands CMC’s mission to make high-quality music education accessible to students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities—regardless of financial means. Through this partnership with SFJAZZ, participating students will create original beats and songs, work on a sound-alike project, contribute to a shared sound library, and take part in two live recording sessions. The class is part of the SFJAZZ Digital Lab series, which brings small-group, boutique music production classes to communities throughout the Bay Area.
“SFJAZZ is overjoyed to partner with the SFCMC and share our digital music curriculum with eager young musicians,” said Rebeca Mauleón, Director of Education & Community Engagement, SFJAZZ. “Our goal is to foster a community-centered approach to the digital arts while providing youth with important skills in the music industry that they can take with them in their career journeys. We can’t wait to kick off our new series and look forward to many years of meaningful collaboration!”
“CMC is thrilled to partner with SFJAZZ to offer a new music production class,” adds Sylvia Sherman, Program Director, San Francisco Community Music Center. “This exciting addition brings a dynamic new dimension to the tuition-free music education enjoyed by young musicians studying jazz, Latin, and classical music at CMC.”
About Instructor Pablo Quintero
Pablo Quintero is an accomplished music producer, engineer, and educator whose career spans over a decade of rich, cross-cultural experiences. His passion for music began during his time in the school marching band, and in 2008, he pursued formal studies at Berklee College of Music Ecuador. By 2014, Pablo had earned dual Bachelor’s degrees in Contemporary Music and Music Production & Engineering.
Following his graduation, Pablo became the Director of the Music Production emphasis at Universidad de Las Américas in Quito, where he worked until 2018, shaping academic programs for aspiring producers and engineers. That same year, he relocated to Colombia to work at Audiopost, a recording studio where he served as a sound designer, engineer, and producer for publicity companies.
In 2020, Pablo moved to California, joining the record label New Vintage Artists as an engineer and producer. In 2021, he expanded his teaching career by working with children at New Village School and later took on a role at Wow Music Studios, where he taught guitar, drums, ukulele, and voice.
In 2022, Pablo’s career reached new heights when he worked as a session guitarist for multi-Latin Grammy winner Carlos Vives, while continuing to produce for Colombian and local artists.
Now, as part of the SFJAZZ community, Pablo is eager to bring his extensive background in music production, engineering, and education to the world of jazz. His vision includes expanding educational outreach through innovative programs that provide accessible music production and engineering education to underserved communities, inspiring a new generation of diverse musicians.
Launched in 2013 by SFJAZZ Director of Education & Community Engagement Rebeca Mauleón and SFJAZZ Digital Lab & Media Manager Jef Stott, the Digital Lab Series features a range of music production classes including Live Looping, Audio Production, Beat Making, and more! For more information on the Digital Lab Series, visit sfjazz.org/education/classes-and-workshops/.
By introducing this new music production course, CMC continues to deepen its role as a community hub for accessible arts education. The program expands the creative pathways available to our youth, offering tools and experiences that support both artistic growth and long-term career development. We look forward to seeing students bring their ideas to life in CMC’s classrooms.