Group Classes & Ensembles

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: Charlie Gurke 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!

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!

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!

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 three 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. For those who are new to music we have an Intro to Chamber Music class to learn the various ways chamber musicians communicate, listening tuning and ensemble skills necessary for a successful chamber experience. Groups are formed for students of varying degrees of experience and can include piano, strings, and winds musicians This is a great opportunity to create lasting friendships as well as great performing groups! Pre-formed groups are highly encouraged! Ensembles who would like to perform will have the opportunity to sign up for a regular CMC recital. Ages: Adults, Older Teens (high school students) 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: 3–5 students Instructors: Josepha Fath, Diane Grubbe, Leo Baluk, Karlson Can, Michaela Overall, Monika Gruber Gibbons, Katrina Wreede, Shirley Wong-Frentzel, Ben Snellings, Lilia Zheltova Location, Day, and Time: Mission District Branch OR Richmond District Branch. Hour-long rehearsals/coachings are scheduled based on mutual availability.Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive a discount on class tuition. Please read Community Music Center's registration policies before enrolling.For more information, please contact: Katrina Wreede, Chamber Music Coordinator: kwreede@sfcmc.org Online signup for this class is unavailable. Please fill out the Chamber Music Inquiry Form to get started.

Jazz Today, a contemporary Jazz ensemble, invites students to explore the music of today’s hottest jazz artists from around the globe. We will draw from the repertoire of some of the most talented and creative musicians on the scene such as Robert Glasper, Esperanza Spalding, and Kamasi Washington who are honoring the tradition of this artform while also pushing the boundaries into new and unexpected territory. In addition to improvising within the framework of these compositions, we will also work extensively on creating unique and dynamic arrangements meant to solidify and expand each musician's role within the ensemble. Vocalists are also welcome and highly encouraged to join regardless of improvisation experience. Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students) Instruments: Brass, woodwinds, strings and rhythm section (piano, guitar, bass and drums) Musical Styles: Jazz, R&B, and Hip Hop Prerequisites: must be able to read standard music notation and chord charts and have a basic understanding of jazz improvisation concepts Instructor: David Steinberg 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!

This is a workshop-style class in which students learn classic Soul/R&B songs as both soloists and background singers. Repertoire will include music from the 1959–1990s. Students will learn proper vocal technique, stage presence, performance, and interpretation of these universal songs with authentic freedom and spirit. Clif will also help students find the appropriate keys for their songs and utilize their own individual abilities and personality as style enhancers. Students are welcome to bring their favorite Soul/R&B songs to sing using accompaniment recordings. Students will perform in a recital at the end of each quarter. Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students) Musical Styles: Classic Soul and R&B Prerequisites: The ability to read music or play an instrument is not necessary (Your voice is an instrument!), but students should have the ability to sing a melody and hear harmony. Instructor: Clif PayneExamples of musical styles and artists covered:1959 Motown Sound – Pop-flavored Soul (Supremes, Martha & The Vandellas, Temptations, Four Tops, DeBarge)1959 Stax – Southern Soul Music/Blues (Staple Singers, Carla Thomas, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett)Late 1960s-1970s – Philadelphia “Philly” Soul – Lavish orchestral arrangements (Three Degrees, Jones Girls, Pointer Sisters, Donna Summer, O’Jays, The Spinners)1980s The Minneapolis Sound w/Prince & His Related BandsMichael Jackson, Lionel Richie1990s LAface - Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and othersStudents enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive a discount on class tuition. Please read CMC's registration policies before enrolling.

Explore a standard jazz repertoire in a dynamic, participatory setting. The intermediate 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: Charlie GurkeStudents 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!

This class will serve as an introduction to core elements of jazz music. We’ll learn about the essential roles of each member in a jazz ensemble, such as walking bass lines, drum grooves, the role of comping, and interpretation of a melody. We’ll examine integral building blocks of jazz harmony, how to approach learning your first tunes, understanding a lead sheet, as well as how to go about preparing for improvisation.The goal of this class is to provide you with skills that will enhance your understanding of the language, assist in making music with others, and enable you to be free to improvise.This class prepares you for CMC Jazz Ensembles. Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students) Instruments: All instruments Prerequisites: Proficiency on an instrument, knowledge of major scales Instructor: Erick PeraltaStudents enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive a discount on class tuition. Please read CMC's registration policies before enrolling.

These fun group classes will jumpstart your child’s musical journey, introducing beginners to the joys of music-making, musical concepts, and fundamentals of piano playing. Through social, play-centered group lessons, both parents and students will learn to develop their musical abilities, build at-home practice routines, and prepare for their next phase of study, from private lessons to playing with others. Students are highly encouraged to enroll in these classes for consecutive quarters and complete the program to prepare for private lessons or study on another instrument. Level 1: Students will learn proper piano posture and hand position, note names and values in both hands, and simple songs—including "Ode to Joy!" This class prepares students for Level 2. Level 2: Students will learn to read notes and rests on the musical staff, as well as steps and skips in both hands. Level 2 Prerequisites: Students entering Level 2 should be able to complete the Level 1 learning benchmarks above; please complete the prerequisite form to describe the student’s experience. This class prepares students for Level 3Level 3: Students will learn to play bass notes, open chords, and five-finger scales. Level 3 Prerequisites: Students entering in Level 3 should be able to complete Level 2 learning benchmarks above; please fill out the prerequisite form to describe the student’s experience. This class prepares students for private lessons.Ages: Children ages 5–10 Instructors: Zahra Rothschild, Irene Giovannetti, Janis Stuurman Requirements: A piano method book will be a required purchase. All classes use Piano Adventures Primer Level Lesson Book and Piano Adventures Primer Level Theory Book. Students should bring books to their first class. Students ages 5–6 years will require a parent or caregiver to attend each student as a study buddy. Please check the class details to see if this is required for your class. See more piano classes and explore sequential learning opportunities in the CMC Sparks Program here.Please read Community Music Center's registration policies before enrolling.Online registration is not available for all CMC Sparks classes. The available classes are labeled "Register Now."

Learn how to execute arrangements and improvise in a small jazz ensemble setting. Students will share improvisation concepts, improve solos, explore group dynamics, and sound quality. Players will be strongly encouraged to write original tunes, and there will be various performance opportunities throughout the year. Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students) Instruments: Woodwinds, brass, and rhythm section (piano, guitar, bass and drums) Musical Styles: Jazz standards, blues, Latin jazz, originals Prerequisites: For intermediate to advanced students Instructor: Max Miller-Loran Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive a discount on class tuition.Online enrollment for this class is unavailable. Submit a Prerequisite Form to get started! Additional Information:

In this ensemble, students will learn and apply instrument-appropriate roles, to perform and improvise within a Latin jazz context, drawing from traditions from the Caribbean and Latin America. Students will gain experience in interpreting traditional and contemporary Latin jazz repertoire that draws from son, guaracha, cha-cha-cha, mambo, bembe from Cuba, bomba, plena, jibaro from Puerto Rico, samba, partido alto, choro from Brazil, and more. The class will examine stylistic considerations during performance, aspects of improvisation, and essential skills to perform well with others in any ensemble setting.Level I - Thursdays 6:30-8:00 PMLevel II - Thursdays 8:15-9:45 PM Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students) Instruments: Woodwinds, brass, strings, and rhythm section (piano, guitar, bass and drums) Instructor: Erick Peralta Prerequisites: Instructor consent; proficiency on an instrument; knowledge of major scales/diatonic chords; previous experience with jazz/ improvisation. Students must submit an audio or video recording of a playing sample of the following pieces (charts provided):Level I - "Mambo Inn" (BPM 190-210) or "Picadillo" (BPM 182-198). Include melody, and 1 chorus of improvisation.Level II - "Angelica" (BPM 176-184) or "Dinga, Dongo, Dunga" (BPM 194-222). Include melody, and 1 chorus of improvisation. Download music hereStudents enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive a discount on classes. Please read CMC's registration policies before enrolling.Online signup for this class is unavailable. Submit a Prerequisite Form to get started!

The following tuition-free choirs are designed specifically for older adults (ages 60 and above) and/or persons 18 years of age or older with a disability.Tuition for these choirs is fully covered by a scholarship grant, making them free to students. This program is funded by the City of San Francisco’s Department of Disability and Aging Services.Click here for more information about the Neighborhood Choir Program for Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities. Online signup for this program is unavailable. Contact the Neighborhood Choir Program Coordinator, Tim Costigan, for information: (415) 647-6015 x 181 or email tcostigan@sfcmc.org

New Voices Bay Area TIGQ Chorus is a mixed-voice choral ensemble for singers who self-identify as transgender, intersex, or gender-queer (TIGQ). Our goal is to build a creative, empowered, joyful space for our TIGQ community, to encourage voices that have been silenced or shamed to grow and be heard, and to change how the world thinks about gender identity and music. Made up of singers from beginners to professionals, the chorus learns and performs great music of many styles and traditions, builds strong connections, and lifts up our community’s strength and struggle through choral singing. NVBA debuted in 2018 at SF Trans Day of Remembrance, and has since sung at the Fresh Meat Festival, the National AIDS Memorial, Grace Cathedral and the Billboard Music Awards. Featured on NPR and in the SF Chronicle, the chorus continues to welcome new TIGQ singers, without audition. Join us! The Chorus Director is Spanish/English bilingual. Ages: 16 and up Instruments: Voices of all ranges Musical Styles: A wide range of choral repertoire, per the interests and abilities of the participants, the vision of the director, and available opportunities for performance. Prerequisites: No prior singing experience is needed. Instructor: Reuben Zellman and Jessalynn Levine Tuition for this chorus is fully covered by a scholarship grant, making it free to students. Online signup for this class is unavailable. Submit a Contact Form to get started!

Saturday Play! Youth Music Program:CMC offers comprehensive music education opportunities for young people on Saturdays. In this year-long program, students take both theory and ensemble classes. Group classes explore theory, musicianship, and composition. Ensemble classes may play classical, jazz, Latin and other music forms in orchestra, chamber groups, combos and bands. Students taking these classes will study alongside students from CMC’s esteemed Young Musicians Program.Youth Music Program (Middle School) Ages: 11 - 14 (Grades 6 - 8) Instruments: All Musical Styles: Classical, popular, music theory, composition, musicianship Prerequisites: Minimum of two years playing an instrument; a placement audition is needed prior to registration. Classes do not meet during summer. Class size: Small chamber ensembles to chamber orchestra, 4–15 students per ensembleInstructors: Leo Baluk, Christian Bonvin, Scott Foster, Michael Long, David Steinberg, Ben Snellings, Katrina Wreede (Coordinator), Angie ZhengLocations, Days and Times: CMC’s Mission District Branch, Saturdays, 12:00–2:00pm Students will be placed in one of the three sections of the middle school programs: • Middle School Wind Ensemble and Theory Class • Middle School Orchestra and Theory Class • Middle School Chamber Music and Theory ClassTuition: $1168 annual tuition divided into quarterly installmentsHow to apply: Fill out a YMP Middle School Program Inquiry Form. For more information, contact YMP Coordinator, Katie Wreede at kwreede@sfcmc.orgThis program was made possible, in part, through the support of Associated Chamber Music Players (ACMP), an international service organization supporting chamber music for pleasure. Join ACMP – Membership is free!

Songs from the 50s, 60s & 70s Step into the golden era of soul, R&B, and gospel-inspired melodies in Singing With Soul, a dynamic vocal course designed for intermediate to advanced singers who are passionate about the timeless music of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. From the smooth harmonies of The Platters to the iconic Motown sounds of The Temptations, and the vocal brilliance of Stevie Wonder, this class pays tribute to legendary artists who shaped the sound of generations. You’ll learn to interpret and deliver these soulful classics with depth, power, and emotional authenticity—capturing the spirit behind each lyric and phrase. This course is more than just learning the notes—it’s about connecting to the soul of the song. Through group sessions and individual coaching, you’ll explore vocal techniques such as dynamic control, phrasing, breath support, and expressive storytelling. We'll also introduce elements of gospel stylings, encouraging singers to tap into the rich spiritual and emotional roots that influence much of this music. Whether you're working on a haunting ballad like “Only You” or a grooving anthem like “My Girl” or “Superstition,” you'll be guided in bringing out your own unique vocal tone and style. Our environment is warm, inclusive, and supportive—perfect for singers looking to grow artistically while celebrating some of the most soulful music ever recorded. Come sing with us, find your voice, and discover how to let your soul shine through every note. Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students) Instruments: Voice Musical Styles: Soul, Gospel, R&B Instructor: Ken Little, director and accompanist Prerequisites: While this course is designed with experienced singers in mind, confident beginners are welcome to join and are encouraged to demonstrate basic vocal ability to the instructor during the first week. Students enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive a discount on class tuition. Please read CMC's registration policies before enrolling.

The “Quartets & Quintets” ensemble will study and perform the music of the great jazz quartets and quintets, recorded from the 1950s to the present. Repertoire and arrangements will be derived from groups such as Miles Davis Quintet, Thelonious Monk Quartet, John Coltrane Quartet, Clifford Brown and Max Roach, Keith Jerrett, Dave Holland Quintet, Joshua Redman, and more. In this ensemble, students will gain experience in performing traditional music of this era in a small group context, as well as work on their development as instrumentalists. We will focus on stylistic approach, group interaction, rhythmically working together, interpretation, as well as individual and group improvisation. Each quarter will have a particular theme, focusing on the repertoire of one quartet/or quintet. This upcoming Winter Quarter, the ensemble will work on the music of Thelonious Monk Quintet. Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students) Instruments: Brass, woodwinds, and rhythm section (piano, guitar, bass and drums) Prerequisites: Knowledge of major and minor scales, triads, and seventh chords; and previous experience with jazz ensemble playing/improvisation. Instructor: Erick Peralta 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!

Tunes by composers like George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, and others have long been a staple of the jazz repertoire. Each quarter we’ll explore works by a different composer, and learn how to interpret these timeless melodies and use their pieces as springboards for improvisation. Ages: Adults, older teens (high school students) Instruments: Brass, woodwinds, strings and rhythm section (piano, guitar, bass and drums) Prerequisites: Knowledge of major and minor scales, triads, and seventh chords; and previous experience with jazz improvisation. Instructor: Charlie GurkeStudents enrolled in private lessons at CMC receive discount. Please read CMC's registration policies before enrolling. Online signup for this class is unavailable. Submit a Prerequisite Form to get started!