WHAT WE DO
Summer Music Camps
Each summer CMS produces traditional music camps for children, teens, and adults. Kid and Teen Camps are staffed by teachers and teaching assistants (TAs) specializing in traditional folk music from the Celtic diaspora and beyond. All of our camps feature faculty who are not only professional musicians, but outstanding instructors.
Students learn and perform in small bands and as a full orchestra. Evening activities for teens include Irish and Contra dance classes, a movie night, and a lively traditional ceilidh at the end of the week. Both Kid Camp and Teen Camp end with a performance for friends and family. Redwood Music Camp is a music camp experience for grown-ups – a weekend of music workshops with all meals and lodging provided.
Concerts
Every January, we host the Santa Cruz Harp Festival, a concert featuring music from throughout the world on harps of all kinds. The concert includes performances by professional harp players, as well as the all-ages Community Music School Harp Orchestra. A harp “petting zoo” is available during intermission for the harp-curious.
Each October, we hold a concert at the El Vaquero Winery Tasting Room patio to raise funds for our youth music programs. Listen to some of the best players of traditional acoustic music in Santa Cruz County while supporting Community Music School!
Beginning Music Instruction
Community Music School is partnering with Community Bridges to offer free after-school beginning music instruction at their Live Oak Neighborhood Resource Center to kids in 3rd–5th grades. The children learn basic music theory, rhythm, singing, and movement instruction, and get to keep their instrument (melodica or ukulele) at the end of their first semester. We’re excited about this expansion of our programming to help balance the distribution of musical wealth, opportunities, and privileges in our larger community.
Teacher Database
We run a free information and referral service, putting the public in touch with music teachers and community music groups offering instruction on a myriad of instruments and styles. Prospective students can shop for teachers to find someone whose approach best matches their needs; in turn, the referral service helps qualified teachers stay in business by providing their listings online at no charge.
Music Match
Through this instrument adoption program we place donated instruments with people and organizations that need them. Music Match adoption is available for music students of all ages. We often partner with other local music-centered nonprofits to place instruments, such as El Sistema, Activities4All, and Senderos. We accept most small instruments (guitars, flutes, violins, etc.) that are in good shape. Unfortunately, we cannot accept pianos and other large instruments.
Instrument Petting Zoos
We offer supervised instrument petting zoos at family concerts and community events. Audience members can try out different instruments with the help of the performers and learn firsthand how the instruments make music.
Teen Band
Open to musicians ages 12-19, participants meet twice a month to learn and play Celtic, Swedish, and Americana music. Participants play in an ensemble, developing musicianship, flexibility, and musical creativity. They become better musicians, and have a lot of fun! The group performs occasionally at various events as a community service. Details are available here on this website.
Recordings
We have independently produced several professional recordings that raise money for CMS programs. Our albums feature music from ethnic and folk traditions, including Celtic music, Shape Note singing, and songs of the Shakers. All of our CDs are available for purchase on our Square site.
Monthly Newsletter
Information on our concerts, camps, and workshops is published in our monthly newsletter, as well as information about other musical events taking place in Santa Cruz County. To get on our email list, sign up here. We NEVER share our list of emails!