Adult Programs & Community Classes

The Oakland Public Conservatory of Music’s adult programs create space for lifelong learning, artistic exploration, cultural preservation, and community connection through music. Rooted in OPC’s mission of equity, access, and culturally sustaining education, our Community Music Education program serves adults ages 18 and up through group classes, private instruction, ensembles, workshops, lectures, concerts, and special events.

Whether you are picking up an instrument for the first time, returning to music after many years, or deepening your artistic practice, OPC offers a welcoming environment where musicians of all levels can grow in community.

Community Music Education

OPC’s adult music classes are designed to support creativity, musicianship, and connection through culturally resonant instruction led by accomplished teaching artists and professional musicians. Programs emphasize collaboration, rigor, and joy while honoring the musical traditions that shape Oakland and the broader Bay Area.

Classes and ensembles may include:

• Beginning & Beyond Beginning Piano

• Banjo

• Jazz & Blues Ensemble

• Afro-Latin Ensemble

• Vocal Improvisation & Scatting

• Zimbabwean Marimbas

• Group and Private Instrument Instruction

OPC also offers payment plans and tiered tuition options to help make music education accessible for adults from diverse backgrounds and income levels.

Black Banjo & Fiddle Fellowship

The Black Banjo & Fiddle Fellowship (BBFF) is a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to reclaiming and preserving the Black roots of old-time banjo and fiddle traditions. Through mentorship, performance, teaching apprenticeships, and historical study, the fellowship engages Black musicians in exploring the cultural legacy and ongoing evolution of old-time music.

BBFF works to repair historical erasure by centering the African American origins of banjo and fiddle music while cultivating the next generation of artists, educators, and cultural tradition bearers. Fellows study directly with master musicians and scholars while developing the tools to teach and sustain these traditions within Black communities

Workshops, Master Classes & Lectures

Throughout the year, OPC welcomes internationally recognized artists, historians, composers, and educators to lead workshops, master classes, lectures, and artist residencies that enrich the broader community. Past guests have included renowned artists such as Rhiannon Giddens, Dom Flemons, Airto Moreira, and John Santos.

These programs provide opportunities for students and community members to engage directly with living musical traditions, cultural history, and artistic innovation.

A Place for Lifelong Learning

Since 2005, OPC has provided affordable, high-caliber music education grounded in cultural preservation, artistic excellence, and community care. Adult students join a vibrant intergenerational learning environment where music becomes a pathway for personal growth, connection, and collective creativity.