[2] The school's stated mission is to make "high quality music accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, regardless of financial means.
[4] In 2012, the CMC purchased the property next door to the school's main building in the Mission District, in order to provide ADA-compliant accessibility and double the number of students.
[4][6] In December 2019, the CMC was added to the city's Legacy Business Registry, in recognition of the school's decades of service to the community.
[4] Private lessons and group classes in voice, instruments, composition, and music theory are offered, with tuition assistance available on a sliding scale.
[15] Notable guest performers and instructors at the school have included Emanuel Ax, Jascha Heifetz, Max Roach, and Marcus Shelby.