Comprehensive Early Childhood Program
º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ for the comprehensive Early Childhood Program's 2024-2025 academic year are now closed. We look forward to seeing you when applications open in Spring 2025 for the 2025-2026 academic year.
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:
March 15: Application Opens
April 15: Application Deadline
April 28 & May 5: Interviews Conducted with Prospective Students & Families
*financial aid applications due by April 15
May: Select students are invited to take trial lessons with SFCM faculty as part of the admissions process
June: Admission Decisions Shared with Families
Faculty
Davis Law, violin
Corina º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½tos, violin
Sima Kouyoumdjian, piano
Luba Kravchenko, piano
Yi-Fang Wu, piano
Scott Cmiel, guitar
Scott Gossage, 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
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.
Weekly Group 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.
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.
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
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* | $4,450 (2023-2024) |
Registration fee | $50/annually |
Materials fee | $35 (2022-23) |
Library and student badge deposit | $50 (one-time only) |
*Select faculty members require a supplemental tuition fee. Please contact the Pre-College office for more information.
Financial aid is awarded based on the joint criteria of demonstrated financial need and merit.
Contact
Get In Touch
![keelin davis headshot](/sites/default/files/KD_headshot-2.png)
Keelin Davis
Associate Director, Pre-College and Early Childhood