Whether you are an advanced beginner or an accomplished amateur musician, CMC’s chamber music program offers an opportunity to develop your musicianship and technique as well as the chance to play with others. Groups are composed of two to five students of compatible levels. Advanced beginners and intermediate students will focus on developing basic ensemble skills, intonation, tone quality, and rhythmic accuracy. Advanced students will study important aspects of ensemble playing, including interpretation and performance techniques. Each quarter, performers will give a group recital as their last class session.
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. This is a great opportunity to create lasting friendships as well as great performing groups!
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: $532 Fall (14 weeks), $456 Winter (12 weeks), $380 Spring (10 weeks)
$304 for Summer Quarter (8 weeks)
Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount.
Chamber Music Inquiry Form
For more information, please contact:
Rachel Condry, Mission District Branch Chamber Music Coordinator: rcondry@sfcmc.org
Janet Houser, Richmond District Branch Registrar: jhouser@sfcmc.org
This ensemble focuses on the music of England, France, Germany, and Italy from the 14th through 18th centuries. Students will learn ornamentation and rhythmic performance practices, idiomatic techniques, and interpretations of the repertoire. The ensemble plays in a Winter Celebration Concert each December.
Ages: Adults, teens (13 and up)
Instruments: Strings, winds, keyboards, voice
Musical Styles: Medieval, Renaissance, early and late Baroque
Prerequisites: For intermediate to advanced students by audition. Students new to this style of music are encouraged to take private lessons with the instructor prior to joining the ensemble.
Class size: 2–5 students
Location, Day and Time: Mission District Branch (off-site), TBA
Instructor: Shirley Wong-Frentzel
Tuition: $532 Fall (14 weeks), $456 Winter (12 weeks), $380 Spring (10 weeks). Class does not meet Summer Quarter.
This class will not meet Winter 2020.
Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount.
This group cello class focuses on the fundamentals of cello technique, as well as beginning ensemble skills using pieces arranged for cello ensemble including classical, folk, and pop hits. Technical topics include long tones, string crossings, scales and arpeggios, position practice, and shifting. This is ideal for those looking for an encouraging space to push their technique to the next level or to focus on technique for the first time, while also enjoying a foray into beginning chamber music. Repertoire to be selected and arranged according to the skill level of the individual students. The class will work towards a small performance each quarter.
Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students)
Instruments: Cello
Musical Styles: Classical, folk, others
Prerequisites: Fluency in first position or beyond, basic music reading skills.
Class size: 3–12 students
Location, Day and Time: Mission District Branch; Fall Winter, and Spring: Sundays 10:00–11:30 am. *Summer: Saturdays 10:00–11:30 am
Instructor: Stephanie Li
Tuition:$532 Fall (14 weeks), $380 Winter (10 weeks), $380 Spring (10 weeks), $304 Summer (8 weeks)
Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount.
This is an introductory course to playing the viola da gamba, a fretted, bowed instrument from the Renaissance and Baroque. Students will learn the fundamentals of holding the instrument and bow, basic exercises, scales, and arpeggios, and pieces from historical sources. We will look at some of the historical sources on technique for the instrument from Simpson, Ganassi, and Loulié. This class is appropriate for absolute beginners, and those who already have some experience but want a review of the basics.
Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students)
Instruments: Violas da Gamba of any size (treble, tenor, bass) — rental instruments are available from the Viola da Gamba Society of America, and the Pacifica Chapter of the society. Contact the instructor for instructions regarding instruments: eandersen@sfcmc.org
Prerequisites: Regular access to an instrument (e-mail instructor)
Class size: 2–12 students
Location, Day and Time: Mission District Branch
Saturdays, 9:00–10:00am
Instructor: Erik Andersen
Tuition: $532 Fall (14 weeks), $456 Winter (12 weeks), $380 Spring (10 weeks), $304 Summer (8 weeks)
Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount.
Online Registration
This is a beginning orchestra class for string students to develop ensemble playing, good intonation, rhythmic skills and bowing techniques. This class is a great introduction to ensemble playing and is particularly helpful for students with little or no ensemble experience.
Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students)
Instruments: Violin, viola, cello, bass
Musical Styles: Classical
Prerequisites: Minimum one year private instruction; knowledge of some scales, basic rhythms and simple bowing techniques. No previous ensemble experience required. Admission with instructor’s consent.
Class size: 8 students
Location, Day and Time: Richmond District Branch
Saturdays, 11:00am–12:30pm
Instructor: Loretta Taylor
Tuition: $532 Fall (14 weeks), $456 Winter (12 weeks), $380 Spring (10 weeks). *$228 Summer 2019 (6 weeks)
Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount.
For enrollment, please make an appointment with CMC’s registration team.
This intermediate string ensemble class further develops string players, preparing them to play in a full orchestra setting or in intermediate to advanced chamber ensembles. This class is also suited for those students who played music in their youth and are returning to their instruments as adults.
Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students)
Instruments: Violin, viola, cello, bass
Musical Styles: Classical string orchestral music
Prerequisites: Minimum two–three years of private instruction, knowledge of two-octave scales, more advanced rhythms (i.e. syncopation), shifting, and position skills. Previous ensemble skills recommended. Placement audition required. Admission with instructor’s consent.
Class size: 15–25 students
Location, Day and Time: St. John’s Presbyterian Church at Arguello and Lake Streets, Tuesdays, 7:00–9:00pm
Register at the Richmond District Branch.
Instructor: Loretta Taylor
Tuition: $532 Fall (14 weeks), $456 Winter (12 weeks), $380 Spring (10 weeks) *$304 Summer 2019 (8 weeks)
Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount.
For enrollment, please make an appointment with CMC’s registration team.
The Woodwind Ensemble provides the opportunity for advanced beginners and intermediate level woodwind players to participate in and learn more about ensemble playing. Experience and become part of the cooperative balance, blend of tone, and rhythm essential to collective music-making.
Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students)
Instruments: Single and double reeds, flutes
Musical Styles: Canons, Baroque pieces, ragtime, Shaker, Native American, and world music
Prerequisites: For advanced beginners and intermediate players
Class size: 3–10 students
Location, Day and Time: Richmond District Branch
Thursdays, 7:00–8:30pm
Instructor: Bill Fiege
Tuition: $532 Fall (14 weeks), $456 Winter (12 weeks), $380 Spring (10 weeks), $304 Summer (8 weeks),
Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount.
For enrollment, please make an appointment with CMC’s registration team.
