Special Music School at Kaufman Center

About the special music school

Intended for children with high musical potential, the Special Music School provides a rich musical and academic education for grades K-8 through an integrated curriculum. We also host the Kaufman Center's Young Artist Program, an intensive, after-school pre-collegiate program for grades 9-12.

Modeled on the innovative music schools of the former Soviet Union, the Special Music School successfully ensures that music is a primary component of each child's education.

Students from all five boroughs of New York City are eligible to apply for admission, which is by audition. While there is no charge for schooling (the New York City Department of Education covers the academic portion while the Kaufman Center provides students with full musical scholarships), parents offer additional support in the form of service and voluntary contributions.

The Special Music School is committed to a multi-cultural approach to education. We serve a student body that reflects the diverse racial, ethnic and socio-economic composition of our community.

Here you can find out more about the school's history and our program, values, esteemed faculty and student events.

For school hours and contact information, please visit our contact page.

Affiliations

The Special Music School has developed partnerships with the Center for Educational Innovation, New Visions for Public Schools, Studio in a School, Columbia Teachers' College and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.