San Francisco's Community Music Center (CMC), a fixture in the Mission District for over a century, has recently completed an expansion project aimed at allowing more students to strike a chord with music education. According to CBS News Bay Area, the expansion is set to increase CMC's student intake by 1,000 annually.
Music student Cruz Morrison, honing his skill of the saxophone at the center, told CBS News Bay Area, "Playing the sax allows me to really just connect with the music, express my musical abilities, and just kind of feel like I'm more part of the music." Helping bring a sense of unity through music, CMC boasts a rich history dating back to 1921 and has been noted for building confidence in its students as they find their rhythm.
Julie Steinberg, the executive director of the nonprofit, has expressed her excitement over the expanded facilities. "Our new branch, our expanded facility, really means, we are going to welcome about 1,000 more students every year," she said, highlighting the impact on the community.
The updates at CMC are both practical and aesthetic, with a focus on inclusivity. In a statement provided by the CMC website, the addition of new trees, plants, and flowers has visibly transformed the campus, creating a harmonious blend with the existing urban environment. The center's enhancements include a new piano lab with seven Yamaha Clavinovas, cutting-edge BOSE S1 audio systems in each studio, a recital hall with a Bechstein grand piano, and a cottage studio for ensembles with an ADA-accessible deck.
Amenities crafted with accessibility in mind, like ramp access to the front door and an elevator reaching the third floor, ensure that every aspiring musician can navigate the center's offerings. Security has also been beefed up with the installation of cameras and buzzers at all entrances. Four additional ADA-accessible restrooms cater to the practical needs of students and guests during peak times.
The campus now stands out with a vibrant blue exterior, yarrow yellow doors, and cream trim, adding energy to the Mission District neighborhood. "Being here is like a second home. The artists we have here. The staff. The board. They are so dedicated to seeing our community shine," Steinberg emphasized in her interview with CBS News Bay Area.
