The Crowden School is a 3rd through 8th grade private school with chamber music at its heart
Since 1983, Crowden’s ensemble-based curriculum has instilled in our students the collaborative, creative, and critical-thinking skills to succeed in life.
At Crowden, you will find students who are actively engaged with learning, whether they are making music or discussing books, solving equations or playing soccer.
The communication skills and cooperation our students learn playing music together—and the fun they have while doing it—carry over to all aspects of their lives. Crowden School students are lively, curious, and confident learners.
Is Crowden only for children who want to become musicians?
No. The benefits of a Crowden education support a wide variety of future career choices. Crowden alumni excel in careers in fields ranging from business to academia, medicine to the arts.
Can my child still pursue interests outside of music?
Yes. Crowden students enjoy a rich variety of extracurricular activities outside of music, including sports, dance, theater, scouting, and others.
Are Crowden students prepared academically for high school?
Yes! Crowden prepares its students to succeed in a variety of school environments. Crowden graduates attend the Bay Area's best private and public high schools, and the majority of students are accepted into their first choice. Throughout the eighth-grade year, we help students get ready for high school through our High School Prep Course.
What if my child has never played an instrument?
That’s OK! We welcome beginners on string instruments in the third, fourth, and fifth grades. Candidates applying to sixth to eighth grades must have prior experience playing an instrument. All piano candidates are expected to demonstrate facility with sight-reading.
Reasons to Choose The Crowden School
Intellectually engaging curriculum
The study of chamber music alongside a rigorous academic curriculum offers our students a unique educational experience with transformative results.
Big opportunities in small class settings
Small class sizes allow our students to thrive as individuals and to gain confidence in their own voices.
Big opportunities in small class settings
Small class sizes allow our students to thrive as individuals and to gain confidence in their own voices.
Fostering perseverance and grit
Through consistent practice and applied effort, students learn they can master complex musical passages—and then apply that discipline to future challenges.
Learning to lead, and to follow
Playing music together in ensembles, students learn skills such as focused listening, practice, and perseverance, and an empathetic group dynamic.
Learning to lead, and to follow
Playing music together in ensembles, students learn skills such as focused listening, practice, and perseverance, and an empathetic group dynamic.
Social connections
The shared goal of musical performance fosters close connections for students, who form lasting friendships.
Well-rounded experiences
Over the course of the year, students participate in a wide variety of activities, including field trips, public service, social activism, lunch-time activities like chess and knitting clubs, or our cross country or MathCounts teams.
Well-rounded experiences
Over the course of the year, students participate in a wide variety of activities, including field trips, public service, social activism, lunch-time activities like chess and knitting clubs, or our cross country or MathCounts teams.
Excellent high school placement
Our alumni are well-rounded leaders, ready to meet the artistic and intellectual challenges of the high school years and beyond.
Results of a Crowden School Education
Curious learners
Critical thinkers
Confident communicators
Enduring friendships
Creative problem solvers
Excellent high school placement
The Crowden School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
Crowden is committed to creating a diverse environment, and we value our inclusive community of students, parents, and faculty and staff of all backgrounds. Together, we celebrate our many differences and unite in our shared love of music of all kinds and origins.