Youth Programs

At the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, young people are invited into a vibrant community where music becomes a pathway for creativity, confidence, cultural connection, and lifelong learning. Our youth programs are designed to nurture musicianship at every level — from first-time beginners to advanced ensemble players — through culturally sustaining, high-quality music education rooted in Oakland’s artistic traditions.

OPC offers year-round opportunities for youth ages 6–17 through afterschool ensembles, instrument instruction, summer intensives, mentorship programs, performance opportunities, and private lessons. Programs are led by accomplished teaching artists and professional musicians who center joy, discipline, collaboration, and artistic expression in every classroom.

No one is turned away for lack of funds. Scholarships and payment plans are available for all youth programs.

Current class Schedule + Enrollment

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.

Current Class Schedule + Enrollment

Explore our youth programs

Summer Music Academy

OPC’s Summer Music Academy is an immersive experience where students build musicianship, creativity, and confidence through ensemble playing, instrumental instruction, music theory, performance, and cultural arts enrichment. Students learn in a collaborative environment that encourages artistic exploration while developing strong musical foundations.

Afterschool Jazz

Afterschool Jazz offers comprehensive jazz education for two hours weekly. The curriculum provides essential training that cultivates literacy, proficiency, and excellence in jazz performance. There are two ensembles, Afterschool Jazz Big Band and Afterschool Jazz for Girls

Through the program's engaging lessons and interactive group activities, students gain confidence in their abilities and unleash their distinctive voices as jazz performers. In this unique program, students dive into the fundamentals of jazz theory, improvisation techniques, ensemble playing, and more.

Curriculum Overview
Introduces students to the jazz idiom, focusing on the basic elements of swing, ensemble performance practice, musicianship, sight-reading, ear training, and beginning Improvisation.

Requirements:

Age 11 - 14 yrs
Minimum one year of playing experience
Demonstrate ability to read music
Instruments are available as needed
No audition is required

Afterschool Jazz Big Band

The Afterschool Jazz Big Band gives students the opportunity to study and perform jazz in a full ensemble setting. Led by experienced jazz educators and performers, students strengthen improvisation, ensemble collaboration, listening skills, rhythm, and performance technique while engaging with the rich legacy of jazz music.

Afterschool Jazz for Girls

Afterschool Jazz for Girls creates a supportive and empowering environment for girls and gender-expansive youth to develop their musical voice through jazz studies, ensemble performance, and creative collaboration. Students gain confidence in improvisation, leadership, and musicianship while learning alongside peers in an affirming space.

Black Girls Play & MUSE

Black Girls Play is OPC’s groundbreaking holistic music education program centered on the experiences, creativity, and leadership of young Black girls and women. Combining serious instrumental and vocal study with mentorship and leadership development, the program nurtures artistic growth, self-determination, and community connection. Students receive group instruction, performance opportunities, and pathways toward future study and careers in music.

Instrument Classes Through Black Girls Play & MUSE

Students can explore a range of instrument offerings designed for beginning and developing musicians, including:

Piano
Guitar
Saxophone
Clarinet
Flute
Violin through Oakland Symphony MUSE Stringendo

Programs are designed to make music education accessible, joyful, and community-centered for youth with little or no previous experience.

Vocal Ensemble

OPC’s Vocal Ensemble introduces young singers to vocal technique, harmony, musicianship, and ensemble performance in a welcoming and collaborative setting. Students develop confidence, stage presence, listening skills, and vocal expression while learning music from diverse traditions and styles.

Private Lessons

For students seeking individualized instruction, OPC offers private lessons across a variety of instruments and skill levels. Private study allows students to deepen technique, strengthen musical foundations, prepare for auditions and performances, and pursue personal artistic goals with guidance from professional teaching artists.

Explore our Adult Programs & Community Classes

Current Class Schedule

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.

Concerts & Community Events

Music at OPC extends beyond the classroom. Our community concerts, clinics, jam sessions, seasonal showcases, and special events bring together students, artists, families, and audiences in celebration of Oakland’s rich musical culture. Through performances and gatherings rooted in collaboration and cultural exchange, OPC continues to build spaces where music strengthens community, creativity, and belonging.

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.

Enroll today