Online Learning

Lessons & Classes for Youth

Community Music Center offers classes for many interests and skill levels – from beginners to advanced musicians.

Youth

Lessons & Classes for Adults

Whether you are a beginner or a more advanced musician, you’ll find opportunities to explore music of all kinds at Community Music Center.

Adults

Online lessons are going incredibly well. We love the video lessons (no commute time!) and are learning at a solid pace. - Kelly Jane Rosenblatt
Mother of Cello Student

Watch CMC Sessions!

CHOOSE FROM 18 ONLINE WORKSHOPS FROM COMMUNITY MUSIC CENTER’S FACULTY.
Enjoy engaging discussions, inspiring demonstrations, and musical tips in a creative format!

CMC Sessions 2021 offers a rich selection of music topics exploring genres, such as jazz, Chinese-American, Latin, old-time, gypsy jazz, and genre-crossing styles.

CMC Sessions 2022: Traditions Moving Forward features CMC faculty exploring their methods, approaches, and creative practices in adapting musical traditions to inspire and guide the musicians of tomorrow.

Online Learning Tips

To get the most out of your online music lessons and classes, follow these tips:

Take your online lesson or class in a distraction-free zone.
Prepare for your lesson by having everything you need on hand (instrument, metronome, music, etc.).
Get your technology set-up before the lesson or class. Turn on your computer or device. Connect to wifi or ethernet.
For younger students (under 12), we suggest having a caregiver in the room to help the child with taking the lesson.
For early childhood videos, we strongly encourage caregivers to do the exercises with the child to reinforce and model the lessons just as you would in class.

Equipment for Online Learning

An internet connection: broadband wired or wireless.
A device with speakers and a microphone: built-in or USB plug-in or wireless Bluetooth. A personal computer, cell phone, iPad, etc. are all workable solutions.
A webcam or HD webcam: built-in or USB plug-in. Smart phones and more recent personal computers come installed with webcam.

Technical Support

We are all in this together! Please let us know if you are having technical difficulties at skoehler@sfcmc.org.

Online platforms have instructional videos to get you started:

CMC has put together step-by-step instructions for setting up Zoom for lessons and classes:

Connecting with Your Teacher Online Each Week

Your teacher will send you a communication with your lesson access instructions at least 24 hours in advance of your first lesson. Keep your link handy; if you find that you don’t have it, please contact your teacher before your lesson time. If you are unable to reach your teacher during your lesson, please contact the registrars at 415-647-6015 (Mission District Branch) and 415-221-4515 (Richmond District Branch). If no one picks up, please leave a voicemail.

If you have questions or need additional help, students should contact your registrar before your lesson.

Registrars can be reached at registrars@sfcmc.org.

Credits will be issued if both teacher and student are communicating without success during the lesson time. However, credits will not be issued if problems are reported after the lesson time. If you and your teacher are able to be in touch but cannot connect for a lesson due to technical issues, the teacher may choose to provide a makeup lesson, or a credit will be issued.

Registration Policies for Online Lessons

Thank you for your interest in online learning at CMC!

Our registration policies for online learning are the same as for in-person learning. The one difference is that studying online doesn’t require proof of vaccination.

Read our Registration Policies here.