SFCM launches new Early Childhood Program
The program provides comprehensive music education for kids ages four to seven.
Music is one of the greatest gifts a parent can give their child: research shows that children as young as toddlers are impacted by their connection to music as well as their ability to learn an instrument and craft sounds for themselves. With this in mind, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) is launching a comprehensive Early Childhood Program.
An addition to SFCM’s robust Pre-College division, the Early Childhood Program provides developmentally appropriate training for children ages four to seven to establish a strong foundation in performance skills and music literacy. The core curriculum consists of weekly private lessons and group Dalcroze Eurhythmics instruction, as well as parent education sessions. Admission to the program is by application and interview, with submissions accepted through June 30.
Unique amongst similar initiatives, SFCM’s Early Childhood Program highlights parent education as a pivotal component of a child’s musical development.
“Parent involvement is key to a child’s success,” says Michael Roest, Associate Dean and Executive Director of Pre-College and Continuing Education. “Our program provides parents with resources and classes so they can support their child’s learning at home.”
Classes occur on Saturdays over 30 weeks each academic year, starting in September. They are taught by SFCM faculty members thrilled to work with young students who are exploring music for the first time.
“I love seeing students take great pride in being able to produce their first musical sounds and their wonder at everything from the inner workings of the instrument to the process of decoding music notation,” says voice and piano faculty member Luba Kravchenko ’05.
“Even the youngest beginners can play with deep musical feeling.” - Luba Kravchenko
Kravchenko continues, “A child’s earliest lessons should kindle a love of music while also encouraging excellence and artistry right from the start. By developing healthy technique, building strong practice habits, and above all by awakening musical imagination, a teacher can set a young person on the journey of lifelong music study.”
The Early Childhood Program creates a unique opportunity for young students to receive the highest caliber instruction in a rich musical environment—a chance to set them on the path to serious study and create a bridge for beginning musicians to grow toward the full pre-college experience.
Applications to the program are accepted through June 30. Learn more and apply