Community Music Center Provides Affordable Lessons

photo: John Oppenheimer

Richmond District resident Dana Perrigan practices on the violin at the Community Music Center.
Perrigan was a columnist for the "Richmond Review" from 1988 to 1995.

By Judith Kahn

Age, ethnic background and income level must never be obstacles to participation in the life-enhancing qualities of a music education. This has been the Richmond Community Music Center's philosophy since its founding in the early 1920s. Since then, the non-profit organization has offered courses concerning all aspects of music, to people of all ages, at an affordable price.

Students have a wide range of programs to choose from. The center offers courses in intermediate and advanced chamber music, and there is a teen Latin Jazz Workshop emphasizing improvisational skills. There is a blues guitar workshop and a brass ensemble for trumpet, trombone, French horn and tuba. They offer Flamenco.

Two of the more exotic courses are Introduction to Eastern Music and The Collegium Musicum. The Eastern Music Class focuses on the melodic and rhythmic music of the Middle East and the Balkans. In Collegium Musicum, students are coached in the interpretation and performance techniques of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music for instruments and voice.

Many of the administrative staff are musicians. Director Stephen Shapiro plays jazz flute and piano, and Terry Fiala is a classical flutist and pianist.

Holding true to its philosophy, the center makes every effort to accommodate each individual's economic need. They host concerts at Stern Grove and the faculty offers Sunday performances, many of which are free. Tuition is based on family income and size. Children aged 8 to 13 can join a chorus for free. The requirements are that they have a strong desire to sing and the family's commitment to support them. Students, grades 8 through 12, also have the opportunity to play in a big band or small ensemble if proficient playing an instrument.

At the recommendation of instructors from San Francisco middle and high schools, 30 low-income students have the chance to enroll in the Comprehensive Musicianship Program with a full scholarship. The program's components include private lessons, musicianship ensemble classes and performances. Students who do not have an instrument may rent one at a nominal cost.

Students who cannot afford to pay full tuition can reduce their costs by volunteering their time. This arrangement works well for both students and staff. With a limited staff of 11, the assistance of committed volunteers makes the center run more smoothly.

"Their help is invaluable," Fiala said.

The music center, which is housed at the Richmond District Neighborhood Center on 30th Avenue, is celebrating its 80th anniversary.

The Lucinda Weeks School once stood where the neighborhood center is now located. When that school site was in decay and up for demolition, a group of private developers made plans to purchase the property from the school district to build condominiums. But residents of the Richmond District wanted to save the school site from demolition and rallied to establish a non-profit organization, which saved the center's Spanish stucco buildings.

The Community Music Center's primary location is on Capp Street in the Mission District. It serves as a site for study, as well as concerts.

Students who attend CMC come from all areas of San Francisco and the Bay Area. One of the most exciting phenomena that Fiala notices is that over the years retirees are coming to the center to study an instrument they once played.

One such person is Remo DelTredici, a retired auto mechanic, who at 60 years of age once began taking violin lessons. He is not only playing the violin but has now begun to build them.

"It takes a lot of patience, steady hands, good eyes and a lot of common sense," DelTredici said. "It's not an easy instrument to build. Everything has to be exact."

In the past two years, he has crafted more than 10 violins and plans to make more.

The center depends on financial donations to help provide for its primary mission.

Currently, 50 percent of its funding comes from student's tuition, 41 percent comes from endowments and contributions and 9 percent comes from other forms of income. The organization receives no money from the city or state, but it did receive a federal grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for the current academic year.

For further information about the Community Music Center, call (415) 221-4515 or contact the music center's website at www.sfmc.org.

	Community Music Center Provides Affordable Lessons photo: John Oppenheimer Richmond District resident Dana Perrigan practices on the violin at the Community Music Center. Perrigan was a columnist for the "Richmond Review" from 1988 to 1995. By Judith Kahn Age, ethnic background and income level must never be obstacles to participation in the life-enhancing qualities of a music education. This has been the Richmond Community Music Center's philosophy since its founding in the early 1920s. Since then, the non-profit organization has offered courses concerning all aspects of music, to people of all ages, at an affordable price. Students have a wide range of programs to choose from. The center offers courses in intermediate and advanced chamber music, and there is a teen Latin Jazz Workshop emphasizing improvisational skills. There is a blues guitar workshop and a brass ensemble for trumpet, trombone, French horn and tuba. They offer Flamenco. Two of the more exotic courses are Introduction to Eastern Music and The Collegium Musicum. The Eastern Music Class focuses on the melodic and rhythmic music of the Middle East and the Balkans. In Collegium Musicum, students are coached in the interpretation and performance techniques of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music for instruments and voice. Many of the administrative staff are musicians. Director Stephen Shapiro plays jazz flute and piano, and Terry Fiala is a classical flutist and pianist. Holding true to its philosophy, the center makes every effort to accommodate each individual's economic need. They host concerts at Stern Grove and the faculty offers Sunday performances, many of which are free. Tuition is based on family income and size. Children aged 8 to 13 can join a chorus for free. The requirements are that they have a strong desire to sing and the family's commitment to support them. Students, grades 8 through 12, also have the opportunity to play in a big band or small ensemble if proficient playing an instrument. At the recommendation of instructors from San Francisco middle and high schools, 30 low-income students have the chance to enroll in the Comprehensive Musicianship Program with a full scholarship. The program's components include private lessons, musicianship ensemble classes and performances. Students who do not have an instrument may rent one at a nominal cost. Students who cannot afford to pay full tuition can reduce their costs by volunteering their time. This arrangement works well for both students and staff. With a limited staff of 11, the assistance of committed volunteers makes the center run more smoothly. "Their help is invaluable," Fiala said. The music center, which is housed at the Richmond District Neighborhood Center on 30th Avenue, is celebrating its 80th anniversary. The Lucinda Weeks School once stood where the neighborhood center is now located. When that school site was in decay and up for demolition, a group of private developers made plans to purchase the property from the school district to build condominiums. But residents of the Richmond District wanted to save the school site from demolition and rallied to establish a non-profit organization, which saved the center's Spanish stucco buildings. The Community Music Center's primary location is on Capp Street in the Mission District. It serves as a site for study, as well as concerts. Students who attend CMC come from all areas of San Francisco and the Bay Area. One of the most exciting phenomena that Fiala notices is that over the years retirees are coming to the center to study an instrument they once played. One such person is Remo DelTredici, a retired auto mechanic, who at 60 years of age once began taking violin lessons. He is not only playing the violin but has now begun to build them. "It takes a lot of patience, steady hands, good eyes and a lot of common sense," DelTredici said. "It's not an easy instrument to build. Everything has to be exact." In the past two years, he has crafted more than 10 violins and plans to make more. The center depends on financial donations to help provide for its primary mission. Currently, 50 percent of its funding comes from student's tuition, 41 percent comes from endowments and contributions and 9 percent comes from other forms of income. The organization receives no money from the city or state, but it did receive a federal grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for the current academic year. For further information about the Community Music Center, call (415) 221-4515 or contact the music center's website at www.sfmc.org.
	CURRENT ISSUE - ARCHIVES - CONSUMER INFO. - POLITICAL ACTION - SFNNA - MERCHANT DIRECTORY - HISTORICAL PHOTOS - CALENDAR OF EVENTS - WHO WE ARE


	September 2004