Early Childhood
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Early Childhood

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SMART START logo
SmartSheet benefits

Smart Start

SFCM is excited to partner with The Royal Conservatory to offer Smart Start! Smart Start is an Early Childhood Music Education curriculum designed to awaken a curiosity for music in young children. This group curriculum was developed by The Royal Conservatory, in collaboration with neuroscientists, and accomplished music educators. Smart Start was developed with science-backed research to deliver the rich, developmental benefits, to all children, in their earliest possible stages of learning. With each child’s developmental stage in mind, the Smart Start curriculum consists of weekly classes, delivered by specially trained music teachers. Lessons are filled with fun and engaging activities that guide the child through foundational music principles fostering cognitive development. Smart Start empowers every child and their family to experience the wonder of learning music, while benefiting from the advantages of early cognitive education. Classes are 45 minutes in length and are held at SFCM on Saturdays or Sundays.

Registration for Fall 2025 Smart Start @ SFCM classes is now closed. Registration will open for Spring 2026 Smart Start @ SFCM classes this December for Ages 0-3. 

Cost per Semester

Tuition$750/semester
Registration fee$50
Materials fee*$30

*This fee includes classroom materials and access to Smart Start digital resources

Class Details

Classes will be held in-person at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Classes are 45 min in length and are held on Saturdays or Sundays throughout the semester. Smart Start for Ages 0-3 will run on Sundays for 15 weeks. Smart Start for Ages 4-6 will run on Saturdays for 30 weeks. Click "Register Now" for additional class details and to enroll your child!

Age Detail

Smart Start is organized by birth year to allow us to plan appropriately for the learning needs and experience level of the children. Students are registered for classes by their age as of September 1 (fall semester) or January 1 (spring semester).

Class Descriptions

Begin your child’s musical development through movement, song and play while further developing cognitive skills in engaging ways.

Start your child’s love of music at SFCM through Smart Start classes for 0-12 Months! The positive atmosphere of this class helps foster lifelong connections with music, builds strong parent-child emotional bonds, and develops the foundation for basic cognitive skills including attention, memory, perception, and cognitive flexibility. Through Smart Start’s neuroscience-based curriculum, you and your child will learn about the fundamentals of music by moving your bodies, singing, and playing. In every class session, you will learn multicultural songs and games with particular attention paid to beat, rhythm, and listening skills. You’ll also receive access to the parent portal which includes downloadable activities to try at home, curated articles and content on childhood development, and updates on your child’s growth throughout the course.

A care provider accompanies their child for all classes for this course. Classes are held Sunday mornings from 10:00-10:45 am at SFCM.

Expand your child's musical skills through movement, and further develop cognitive skills in fun and engaging ways.

The positive atmosphere of this class helps foster lifelong connections with music, builds strong parent-child emotional bonds, and develops the foundation for basic cognitive skills including attention, memory, perception, and cognitive flexibility. Through Smart Start’s neuroscience-based curriculum, you and your child will learn about the fundamentals of music by moving your bodies, singing, and playing. In every class session, you will learn multicultural songs and games with particular attention paid to beat, rhythm, and listening skills. You’ll also receive access to the parent portal which includes downloadable activities to try at home, curated articles and content on childhood development, and updates on your child’s growth throughout the course.

A care provider accompanies their child for all classes for this course. Classes held on Sundays from 11:00-11:45 AM.

Develop your child's musical abilities through more independent activities and expand cognitive skills through creativity and self-awareness.

Set your child on the right path by engaging them in multicultural music, movement-based play, and neuroscience-based learning. This class focuses on cognitive skills relevant to music, such as sustaining attention, remembering songs, and recognizing perceptual cues as well as developing gross motor function in toddlers by encouraging them to move their bodies in time to
sounds and music. Children will also practice listening and singing, playing simple instruments like maracas and drums, and taking turns, leading to musical competence, confidence, a sense of belonging, and increased social skills. You and your child will participate actively in the class, while you support the development of your child's musical creativity and build further skills for
musical interaction together. You’ll also receive access to the parent portal which includes downloadable activities to try at home, curated articles and content on childhood development, and updates on your child’s growth throughout the course.

A care provider accompanies their child for all classes for this course. Classes held on Sundays from 1:00-1:45 PM.

Singing, dancing, playing games - children adore this active, play-based learning
environment.

This neuroscience-based class supports the growth of your child’s cognitive skills through activities such as recognizing musical patterns, focusing on the most important aspects of music, and understanding connections across artistic representations. Your child will learn foundational musical skills such as tempo, meter, pitch, and volume, and play a wider variety of percussion instruments. They’ll also play with picture-based pre-notation and collaborate in musical activities with other children designed to foster basic musical knowledge and encourage individual and group creativity. You’ll also receive access to the parent portal which includes downloadable activities to try at home, curated articles and content on childhood development, and updates on your child’s growth throughout the course.

A care provider accompanies their child for the first few classes before the child attends by themselves for the remainder of the semester. Classes held on Sundays from 2:00-2:45 PM.

Develop your child's musical abilities through more independent activities and expand cognitive skills through creativity and self-awareness. 

This neuroscience-based class supports the growth of your child’s cognitive skills through activities such as recognizing musical patterns, focusing on the most important aspects of music, and understanding connections across artistic representations. Your child will learn foundational musical skills such as tempo, meter, pitch, and volume, and play a wider variety of percussion instruments. They’ll also play with picture-based pre-notation and collaborate in musical activities with other children designed to foster basic musical knowledge and encourage individual and group creativity. You’ll also receive access to the parent portal which includes downloadable activities to try at home, curated articles and content on childhood development, and updates on your child’s growth throughout the course.

Students attend these classes on their own - parents will do drop off and pick up at the classroom door. Classes held on Saturday mornings at SFCM through the 2025-2026 academic year (September 6 - May 2).

Expand your child's musical skills through movement and further develop cognitive skills in fun and engaging ways. 

This neuroscience-based class supports the growth of your child’s cognitive skills through activities such as recognizing musical patterns, focusing on the most important aspects of music, and understanding connections across artistic representations. Your child will learn foundational musical skills such as tempo, meter, pitch, and volume, and play a wider variety of percussion instruments. They’ll also play with picture-based pre-notation and collaborate in musical activities with other children designed to foster basic musical knowledge and encourage individual and group creativity. You’ll also receive access to the parent portal which includes downloadable activities to try at home, curated articles and content on childhood development, and updates on your child’s growth throughout the course.

Students attend these classes on their own - parents will do drop off and pick up at the classroom door. Classes held on Saturday mornings at SFCM through the 2025-2026 academic year (September 6 - May 2).

Expand your child's musical skills through movement and further develop cognitive skills in fun and engaging ways. 

This neuroscience-based class supports the growth of your child’s cognitive skills through activities such as recognizing musical patterns, focusing on the most important aspects of music, and understanding connections across artistic representations. Your child will learn foundational musical skills such as tempo, meter, pitch, and volume, and play a wider variety of percussion instruments. They’ll also play with picture-based pre-notation and collaborate in musical activities with other children designed to foster basic musical knowledge and encourage individual and group creativity. You’ll also receive access to the parent portal which includes downloadable activities to try at home, curated articles and content on childhood development, and updates on your child’s growth throughout the course.

Students attend these classes on their own - parents will do drop off and pick up at the classroom door. Classes held on Saturday mornings at SFCM through the 2025-2026 academic year (September 6 - May 2).

Comprehensive Early Childhood Program

Applications for the comprehensive Early Childhood Program's 2025-2026 academic year are now closed. If you are interested in learning more about Early Childhood, please click 'Request Information' above to be added to our mailing list. 
 

Eligibility

Open to students between the ages of 4-7 years of age as of September 1. No prior musical experience necessary, however the child must demonstrate a curiosity for and interest in learning a musical instrument.

Enrollment in the Early Childhood Program does not guarantee placement in the Young Persons Program or Comprehensive Program. Students interested in the Young Persons Program or Comprehensive Program must successfully complete an admission audition.

Admission

Admission to the Early Childhood Program is by application and interview only as there are limited openings available each year. Due to the number of applicants, families will be selected to interview based on their application. 

Timeline:
April 1: Application Opens
April 5: Open House Event

May 15: Application Deadline
Financial Aid Applications due Thursday, May 15
May 24, May 31: Family Interviews Conducted with Prospective Students & Families

June: Select students are invited to take trial lessons with SFCM faculty as part of the admissions process
July: Admission Decisions Shared with Families

Faculty

Davis Law, violin
Corina Santos, violin
Sima Kouyoumdjian, piano
Luba Kravchenko, piano
Yi-Fang Wu, piano
Scott Cmiel, guitar
Scott Gossage, guitar
Angelica Artelt, guitar
Kayla Wilfong, musicianship

Curriculum

The Early Childhood Program provides developmentally appropriate training for children to establish a strong foundation in performance skills and music literacy. The core curriculum consists of weekly private lessons and group class instruction, as well as parent education sessions. Classes occur on Saturday mornings over 30 weeks each academic year.

The curriculum has been carefully curated to ensure that students are supported and guided in their first steps as musicians.

CORE CURRICULUM

a guitar teacher teaching a private lesson

Weekly Private Lesson

Students will receive weekly lessons with Early Childhood faculty covering all aspects of the instrument: musical technique, expression, repertoire, etc. These lessons will be 30-45 minutes depending on what is best for the student as decided by the faculty.

Early Childhood eurythmics class

Weekly Smart Start Class

Group instruction is a vital part of the Early Childhood Program curriculum. Students learn in a social atmosphere that prioritizes listening, working with others, playing together and working on the basic building blocks of ensemble at an early age.

a young violinist performing

Performance Opportunities

Students will have the opportunity to perform for their family members and the Pre-College community throughout the academic year. These performances will vary from more formal presentations to smaller, more casual events.

a parent walking their child into school

Parent Sessions

Parental involvement is vital to a child’s success in learning an instrument. Parents will need to develop tools that they can use to support their child’s learning at home, and to best equip parents with these tools, SFCM provides parent sessions both before and during their child’s study. These sessions will teach the philosophy and methodology behind our Early Childhood Program and provide specific training and tools to use while supporting their child’s musical studies.

INSTRUMENTS

  • Guitar
  • Piano
  • Violin

COST & FINANCIAL AID

Annual base tuition for the Early Childhood Program is $4,450. A non-refundable registration fee of $50 is charged annually for all enrolled students. Families may choose to pay tuition through a payment plan.

Base tuition*$5,445 (2024-2025)
Registration fee$50
Materials fee$60 
Library and student badge deposit$50 

*Select faculty members require a supplemental tuition fee. Please contact the Pre-College office for more information.

Financial aid is available and awarded based on the joint criteria of demonstrated financial need and merit. 

 

Contact

Get In Touch

keelin davis headshot

Keelin Davis

Associate Director, Pre-College and Early Childhood
kdavis@sfcm.edu
415-503-6262

 

 

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