Private Lesson

Explore a standard jazz repertoire in a dynamic, participatory setting. The advanced ensemble plays the music of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard, and others; with emphasis on communicating as an ensemble, improvising, phrasing, groove, and dynamics to make the music come alive. There will be a culminating performance at Community Music Center at the end of each quarter. Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students) Instruments: Brass, woodwinds, strings and rhythm section (piano, guitar, bass and drums) Musical Styles: Jazz standards, be-bop, blues, Latin jazz Prerequisites: Proficiency on an instrument, mastery of scales, and prior experience in improvisation. Admission with instructor’s consent. New students will be asked to audition. Instructor: Patrick Greene Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive a discount on class tuition. Please read CMC's registration policies before enrolling.Online signup for this class is unavailable. Submit a Prerequisite Form to get started!

In this class participants will learn about the history of the Afro-Peruvian Cajon (wooden box drum), and will learn to play Afro-Peruvian rhythms on the Cajon. The Afro-Peruvian Cajon has become a symbol of identity and cultural pride for Peruvians. Currently it is the most popular instrument in Peru, practically every family on the Peruvian coast has a Cajon at home that is part of their celebrations. Furthermore, we can recognize the versatility of this instrument that has allowed it to successfully position itself in world music, being one of the most used alternatives in the percussion sets of various artists Instruments: Cajon (percussion) Musical Styles: Afro-Peruvian Ages: Adults and older teens Prerequisites: none Teacher: Pierr Padilla Cajons will be provided during class sessions. If students have their own cajon, they are welcome to bring it! Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive a discount on class tuition. Please read CMC's registration policies before enrolling.Class sections that are open to new students will appear with a “Register Now” button. All other classes are for continuing students only.

Beginning Vocal Ensemble Join this fun and supportive environment to learn basic vocal and breathing technique, how to support your tone, beginning note reading skills, simple harmonies, and rounds. This beginning singing class is designed for singers with little to no experience. It is focused on group singing, but also incorporates individual singing. Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students) Instrument: Voices of all ranges Musical Styles: Folk, popular, jazz Instructor: Ellen RobinsonMask requirement: Masking is optional. For those who do choose to wear a mask, the Resonance 95 Singers Mask is recommended. It allows for fully opening your mouth and breathing deeply, both of which are necessary for proper singing.Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount. Please read CMC's registration policies before enrolling.

Intermediate/Advanced Vocal Ensemble For vocalists who love to harmonize in a wide variety of musical styles such as jazz, musical theater, and pop. Enjoy interacting with other singers in this lively chorus while continuing to develop your vocal technique, music reading skills, blending with other voices and your stage presence. Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students) Instrument: Voices of all ranges, especially baritone and tenor Musical Styles: Jazz, Broadway, a cappella, pop Prerequisites: Music reading skills, the ability to sing in tune, and hold your own while singing in three-part harmony. Previous choral experience is a plus. Prior approval of instructor is required. Instructor: Ellen Robinson Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive a 50% discount on this class tuition.Get to know Anything Goes! See photos/video from a recent performance here.Mask requirement: Masking is optional. For those who do choose to wear a mask, the Resonance 95 Singers Mask is recommended. It allows for fully opening your mouth and breathing deeply, both of which are necessary for proper singing.Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive 50% discount. Please read CMC's registration policies before enrolling.Online signup for this class is unavailable. Submit a Prerequisite Form to get started!

Private Lesson

Private Lesson

Private Lesson

Learn chords, simple strums, and tuning in a fun, relaxed group setting. You’ll be introduced to the basic elements of rhythm and harmony that will help you to play music right away! Guitar 1 is for the absolute beginner.Students will learn:Basic open position chords: A, D, E, G, C, Am, Em, A7, B7, D7, E7, G7Basic strums in 4/4 and 3/4 timeI-IV-V tunes in A, D, G, and EKnowledge of how to read a “lead sheet”The desire to keep playingAges: Adults and older teens (high school students) Instruments: Guitar Musical Styles: Diverse, based on participant interests Prerequisites: none Instructor: Sandy Brassard Size: 4-6 studentsThis class prepares you for Guitar Group Class - Learning Songs, Bluegrass Jam, Blues Workshop and other Group Guitar and Mixed Instrument ensemblesStudents enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive a discount on class tuition. Please read CMC's registration policies before enrolling.

CMC offers jazz ensembles for players of all levels. Explore jazz repertoire in a dynamic, participatory setting.The Beginning Jazz Ensemble focuses on building standard repertoire, improvisation concepts, and developing ensemble skills. Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students) Instruments: Brass, woodwinds, strings and rhythm section (piano, guitar, bass and drums) Musical Styles: Jazz standards, be-bop, blues, Latin jazz Prerequisites: Proficiency on an instrument, knowledge of scales, and some experience in improvisation. Instructors: Erick Peralta, Charlie Gurke, David Steinberg, Max Miller-LoranStudents enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive a discount on class tuition. Please read CMC's registration policies before enrolling.Online signup for this class is unavailable. Submit a Prerequisite Form to get started!

Learn beginning vocal technique and interpretive skills in a fun group setting. You’ll gain experience learning to sing in healthy ways by focusing on body alignment, breath management, and vowel formation. This class will support a student’s process in stylistically interpreting a piece of music through additional research and study. Topics and activities for classes include exploring the singing apparatus, vocalizing with exercises using scales and arpeggios, interpreting music and text, developing stage presence, and working with a collaborative pianist or backing track. Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students) Musical Styles: All styles are welcome Prerequisites: Students must be prepared to learn and memorize music and text Instructors: Michael Mohammed, Nicole Lumetta Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive a discount on class tuition. Please read CMC's registration policies before enrolling. This class prepares you for Vocal Harmony Workshop, Anything Goes Chorus, Great Songs of Soul and R&B, Gospel Vocal Ensemble and/or other mixed instrument ensembles that include vocals.

This Electric Blues workshop will introduce students to the wide variety of blues grooves that one might encounter at a blues jam. We'll listen and learn from the recordings performed by the original artists that define a particular groove e.g., a Magic Sam boogie, an Albert King blues rhumba/mambo, a Jimmy Reed shuffle, a B.B. King jump blues, a Muddy Waters 'mojo' groove, a Lowell Fulson 'tramp' groove, and much more. Ensemble playing and individual improvisation will be encouraged with a focus on group interaction and the supporting role each individual instrument plays in establishing the groove. Ages: adult, older teens (high school) Instruments: guitar (electric), bass (electric), piano, drums, brass/woodwinds Prerequisites: Intermediate playing proficiency on your instrument, ability to play 7th and 9th chords (barred for guitars), have some major scale and blues scale knowledge, read a simple chord chart Instructor: Larry Dunn Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive a discount on class tuition. Please read CMC's registration policies before enrolling.Online signup for this class is unavailable. Submit a Prerequisite Form to get started!

Learn traditional Afro Brazilian rhythms in a unique group setting. You will have a chance to study the techniques that makeup this musical language which has influenced other well known Brazilian musical styles such as samba and samba reggae. While some techniques are similar to that of the conga or djembe, the hand and stick techniques in this tradition will lead you into new sonic territories. This class will introduce you to many duplet and triplet based rhythms along with areas that are a mixture of the two and exist in between common rhythmic divisions. Students will gain insight into how this music fits into the song and dance context and how these elements combine to create a captivating atmosphere which is an essential cultural practice linking West Africa to the Americas. Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students) Musical Styles: All styles are welcome Prerequisites: Students must be prepared to learn and memorize several rhythmic patterns along with several hand and stick techniques Instructor: Robert Lopez Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive a discount on class tuition. Please read CMC's registration policies before enrolling.

An Ensemble Camp for Young Musicians Make great music and new friends at Community Music Center this summer! Camp CMC offers young musicians the chance to play in small and large groups and explore many musical styles such as Latin, jazz, classical, blues, folk, rock, American songbook, and klezmer. Students are grouped into ensembles by instrument and level and learn general musicianship skills with rhythm and pitch games, playing percussion instruments, singing and movement, culminating in a performance at the end of the week. Ages: 9–14 Instruments: All instruments, and voice Styles of music studied: Classical, Latin, jazz, other Prerequisites: Minimum two years of study on an instrument and concurrent enrollment in private lessons (not necessarily at CMC). Vocal students may fulfill the requirement by participating in chorus or glee club. Students will be asked to send a 2–3 minute video of a scale and favorite solo piece to the camp director as a placement audition. Camp size: A maximum of 25 students working in large and small ensembles Location, Day and Time: Mission District Branch; Monday–Friday, June 15–19, 2026, 9:00am–3:00pm Faculty: Katie Wreede, Director; David Steinberg, Coach additional faculty TBA Tuition: $520 early bird pricing before February 28, 2026; or $565 after February 28, 2026. Tuition includes a $150 non-refundable deposit. Tuition Assistance is available. Additional Information:How to enroll: Please fill out the Camp CMC Questionnaire to submit your information and follow the links to pay your deposit online. The Camp Director will contact you after you submit your application with information about how to prepare and send the 2–3 minute audition video. Payment: A $150 non-refundable deposit is due with your application to hold your spot and request an audition. In the event that your child is not accepted into camp, a full refund including the deposit will be made. For students who are accepted to camp, this deposit is non-refundable If you do not pay for the entire camp tuition at registration, the remainder of your fee will be due by May 9, 2026. Outstanding balances will be automatically charged on May 9, 2026 to the stored account added during registration. If you wish to pay using a different payment method, please make the payment before the pay-in-full date.  If you would like to change your payment method, please contact us. Registrations not paid in full by May 9, 2026 may be canceled and the spot opened to our waitlist.  Registrations after May 9, 2026 must be paid in full at the time of registration and are nonrefundable.To apply for tuition assistance, please submit a Tuition Assistance Application Form and accompanying documents.The application deadline is May 9, 2026 for all CMC camps, but we recommend applying early to ensure placement. Because camp is designed around the exact number of campers attending, we are unable to issue refunds after May 9, 2026. Prior to the May 9 deadline, please send refund requests to ssherman@sfcmc.org. “Performing at the end of camp was fun! I wasn’t nervous because I knew what to do.” —CMC camper

Private Lesson