Oakland, CA ~ since 2011

Where Oakland kids find their sound.

A community music school for ages 5 to 18. Private and group lessons in piano, guitar, voice, drums, strings, and brass — taught by 22 working musicians from across the Bay. Sliding-scale tuition for any family that needs it.

est. 2011 ♪
S
600 students & counting
600
Active students each semester
22
Teaching artists on staff
33%
Enrolled on sliding-scale
14
Years rooted in Oakland

Six paths in.
One community.

Pick the instrument your kid is curious about — or let our placement team listen first and recommend a fit. Every program runs in 14-week semesters, fall and spring.

The teaching artists.

Working musicians who tour, record, and gig — and who have been mentored, themselves, on showing up for a young player every single week.

Maya
Piano ~ jazz, classical
Plays Bill Evans' "Peace Piece" on repeat.
Devonte
Drums ~ kit, Afro-Cuban
Favorite groove: Idris Muhammad's "Could Heaven Ever Be Like This."
Sasha
Voice ~ musical theater
Always warming up to "Out Tonight" from RENT.
Felix
Guitar ~ classical, indie
Loves Villa-Lobos' Prelude No. 1.
Iris
Violin ~ Suzuki, fiddle
Bach Partita No. 2, every morning.
Toby
Trumpet ~ jazz, big band
Plays Lee Morgan's "Sidewinder" with every group.
Linh
Cello ~ classical
Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor, always.
Marco
Bass ~ upright, electric
Loves Charles Mingus' "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat."
Renee
Voice ~ R&B, pop
Will sing Stevie Wonder's "As" on command.
Aki
Trombone ~ ska, salsa
Hooked on Fred Wesley's "House Party."

1 in 3 students attend on sliding-scale tuition.

Your Business was founded on a simple idea: a kid's family income should not decide whether they get to play music. Our scholarship fund is rebuilt each year through donor partnerships, recital ticket sales, and our annual "Big Listen" benefit.

  1. Apply with the enrollment form.Mark "scholarship interest" and add household size. No income docs collected upfront.
  2. Brief 15-minute call.We talk through what tuition tier feels right for your family — between 20% and 100% of standard.
  3. Same teachers, same studios.Sliding-scale students take the exact same lessons, recitals, and ensembles as everyone else. Period.

What parents say.

Real notes from real Oakland families. We don't run a paid testimonial program — these came from end-of-semester surveys.

"

My daughter walked in scared of the piano and walked out, six months later, leading the studio recital. The teachers know how to meet a kid exactly where they are.

~ Adaeze O.parent of Imani, age 9
"

We came on the sliding scale and never once felt like a "scholarship family." My twins took drums and voice. Both kept going for four years and counting.

~ Marco & Yuki R.parents of Lev & Nova, ages 12 & 12
"

The recitals alone are worth it. They run them like real shows in real venues. My son has been gigging at school events ever since.

~ Tasha B.parent of Reggie, age 14

Upcoming recitals.

Free for families. Open to the public when seats remain. Each show runs about 75 minutes with an intermission and a snack table.

May 04
Spring Studio Showcase
The Sound Room ~ Jack London Square
Ages 5-10
May 18
Strings & Brass Joint
First Congregational Oakland
Ages 11-14
Jun 01
Pre-college Senior Set
Yoshi's Oakland (early show)
Ages 15-18
Jun 22
The Big Listen Benefit
Fox Theater ~ all-ages
Whole school