With support from the California Arts Council, Saturday Conservatory of Music (SCM) will be able to provide affordable, culturally diverse music education to low-income children ages 4 to 18 years old.
The organization’s core program is broken down into three main components: 1) group lessons (instrumental or vocal); 2) a theory class (from level 1 to 4); and 3) an ensemble class (orchestral or choral). The orchestras are listed as: 1) Beginning, 2) Intermediate, 3) Advanced, and 4) the most advanced orchestra known as Youth Symphony West (YSW). The choirs are: 1) Children’s Choir (5 to 12 years old), and 2) SCM Choir (12 years and up). The program also has two levels of string ensembles: 1) Intermediate and 2) Advanced. In addition, the students participate in recitals at week 9 of each quarter. An orchestral and choral concert is presented at week 10 of the quarter.
In 2015, SCM added the jazz improvisation lab and music jungle class. The jazz class is designed to attract students who expressed an interest in learning to play jazz, while music jungle is designed to entice children, ages 4 to 7, to become interested in music at an early age. In 2017, SCM added a Music Safari class for those students who are too young to be placed in Theory 1. In 2018, SCM restructured the 8:30 orchestra, dividing this class into 8:30 string orchestra and 8:30 wind orchestra, to better serve those students in the beginning level.
In 2019, SCM added a music composition class, to further expand on the rudiments of music theory, enabling the students to transform a creative style of musical expression into written form. A ukulele class was added that same year to expand upon the variety of traditional orchestral instruments the music program offers, widening its cultural breadth as well. The class also makes it more affordable for students with financial constraints to experience learning music, while at the same time increasing access to music education.

