Online music lessons and group classes at CMC are community classrooms for reaching new heights of your musical development. CMC’s entire course catalog is available online unless otherwise noted.
This course is a continuation of the Introduction to Argentine Tango Dance class. Advanced Beginner/Intermediate students are admitted by audition only. Tango is about listening and moving as one in each other’s arms. Join award-winning teacher Sonja Riket, as she helps you connect with yourself, your partners, and the beautiful, rich Tango music from the Golden Era (1930–50’s). With the basic steps of the three styles and rhythms of the Argentine Tango, we will learn how to feel the music in our bodies and express it through our movements in an improvised dance. Cultural and historical elements will be woven into the teachings. Students are prepared for and encouraged to attend the CMC Mission Milongas (Argentine Tango social dance gatherings) held every second Saturday evening of the month in CMC’s Concert Hall. Each Milonga has a drop-in dance class and dancing to recorded and live music from local and international tango groups including the CMC Tango Music Ensemble. After a long and worldwide professional dance career, Sonja Riket has taught Tango for 19 years in the SF Bay Area. www.IntimateEmbraceTango.com
Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students)
Instruments: Your body and comfortable low heel shoes with leather or suede soles (no rubber soles or sneakers)
Musical Styles: Tango, Vals, Milonga
Prerequisites: Admission with instructor’s consent. Contact Sonja Riket for more details: (415) 661-1852
Class size: 2–20
Location, Day and Time: Mission District Branch, Mondays, 6:30pm-8:00pm*
Instructor: Sonja Riket, Argentine Tango Teacher and Somatic Movement Therapist®
Tuition: $532 Fall (14 weeks), $380 Winter (10 weeks), $380 Spring (10 weeks), $304 Summer (8 weeks)
1hr private lessons are also available with the instructor via Skype (students will need ample space on a wooden floor)
Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount.
For enrollment, please make an appointment with CMC’s registration team.
Learn cha-cha-chá, danzón, guaracha, bolero, son, salsa, and other Afro-Cuban dance music. Charanga ensembles are known for playing Cuban music with European instruments such as violin and flute, in addition to bass, piano, and Afro-Cuban percussion. In this advanced class, students will continue to learn about Cuban music history, learn new material, and collaborate on recordings. Guest artists will be invited for short lectures.
Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students)
Instruments: Voice, woodwinds, brass, violin, cello, bass, piano, and percussion (bongo, congas, guiro, claves, and timbales)
Musical Styles: Cuban salsa, charanga, and other Afro-Cuban music
Prerequisites: Proficiency on an instrument, reading skills, and interest in Latin music. Pianists should be able to play basic montunos and bassists should be able to play tumbao. Admission with instructor’s consent.
Class Size:6–15 students
Location, Day and Time: Mission District Branch, Wednesdays, 7:15-9:15pm
Instructor: Tregar Otton, guest artists from CMC faculty
Tuition: $469 Fall (14 weeks), $402 Winter (12 weeks), $335 Spring (10 weeks), $268 Summer (8 weeks)
Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount.
For enrollment, please make an appointment with CMC’s registration team.
This class is designed for musicians of all levels that would like to learn about the basics of Cuban music and Salsa music. We will discuss rhythms that are key to Afro-Cuban music including how clave and percussion parts relate to each instrument’s role and improvisation within the style. Students will learn rhythms key to Cuban danzón, cha-cha-chá, and son montuno as well as how to approach improvisation in Cuban music. Instrumentalists and vocalists are welcome. There will be practice loops given for practicing improvisation and recordings of pieces with sheet music to play along with.
Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students)
Instruments: Voice, woodwinds, brass, violin, cello, bass, piano, and percussion (bongo, congas, guiro, claves, and timbales)
Musical Styles: Cha-cha-chá, danzón, guaracha, bolero, son, salsa, and other Afro-Cuban music
Prerequisites: Proficiency on an instrument, reading skills, and interest in Latin music. Admission with instructor’s consent.
Class Size: 4–8 students
Location, Day and Time: Mission District Branch, Wednesdays, 5:30–7:00pm
Instructor: Tregar Otton
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.
Tango is about listening and moving as one in each other’s arms. Join award-winning Tango teacher Sonja Riket, as she helps you connect with yourself, your partners, and the beautiful Tango music from the Golden Era (1930–50s). This class, based on the somatic approach to Tango, is appropriate for absolute beginners, and those who already have some experience but want to review the basics. The class serves as an introduction to the Advanced Beginner/Intermediate Argentine Tango Dance class at CMC. After a long and worldwide professional dance career, Sonja Riket has taught Tango for 19 years in the SF Bay Area.
Ages: Adults, older teens.
Movement educators, therapists, health professionals. No dance experience or partner necessary.
Instruments: Your body and comfortable low-heeled shoes with leather or suede soles (no rubber soles or sneakers).
Musical Styles: Tango, Vals, Milonga
Prerequisites: Ability to walk and interest in Tango music and dance.
Class size: 4–20 students
Location, Day and Time: Mission District Branch. Mondays 5:30-6:30 pm on alternating weeks: Winter Quarter 2021 dates are January 4, January 25, February 8, March 1, March 15*
Instructor: Sonja Riket, Argentine Tango Teacher and Somatic Movement Therapist®
Tuition: $266 Fall (7 weeks), $190 Winter (5 weeks), $190 Spring (5 weeks), $152 Summer (4 weeks)
Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount.
*1hr private lessons are also available with the instructor via Skype (students will need ample space on a wooden floor)
For enrollment, please make an appointment with CMC’s registration team.
Develop a solid foundation on all of the major Latin percussion instruments through a variety of musical styles and rhythms, including son, salsa, cumbia, merengue, bachata, Brazilian, and timba. Learn technique on congas, bongos, timbales, bells, and other auxiliary percussion instruments. The class will explore soloing techniques and typical breaks, song forms, team work, and musicianship. Students will also work on singing while playing percussion. This class provides a good foundation for the Cuban Charanga Ensemble.
Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students)
Instruments: Congas, bongos, timbales, bells, and other auxiliary percussion instruments. Class is open to vocalists as well. Bring your instruments if you have them!
Musical Styles: Latin grooves typical of son, salsa, cumbia, merengue, bachata, Brazilian, Latin jazz and timba
Prerequisites: None
Class size: 4–6 students
Location, Day and Time: Mission District Branch, Mondays, 6:30 – 8:00pm
Instructor: Omar Ledezma Jr.
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.
For enrollment, please make an appointment with CMC’s registration team.
Explore the unique style and techniques of Argentine Tango. Students will use arrangements of classic tangos to learn musical, rhythmic and stylistic elements of tango performance practice and ensemble playing. Students will also learn a form of tango improvisation called “A La Parrilla.”
Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students)
Instruments: Strings, winds, fretted instruments, piano, and accordion
Musical Styles: Tango, Vals, Milonga
Prerequisites: 2 years of instrument study or competency on your instrument
Class size: 4–10
Location, Day and Time: Mission District Branch, Mondays, 8:15–9:45pm
Instructor: Scott O’Day
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.
For enrollment, please make an appointment with CMC’s registration team.
If you’d like to be matched with other students in a small Latin music ensemble or receive coaching for an existing group, please fill out a Chamber Music Inquiry Form.
