New to Classical Music?
Congratulations on finding the Bay Area's go-to source for classical music! SFCV has information and features for everyone — from the amateur to the aficionado. We know the choices can be overwhelming. That's why we're here.
Here's a quick guide to finding what you need on SFCV:
Where do I start?
Think about what you'd like to do. SFCV has 5 sections devoted to different aspects of classical music enjoyment.
Where do I start?
Think about what you'd like to do. SFCV has 5 sections devoted to different aspects of classical music enjoyment.
- Find Events helps you do just that, with a comprehensive, searchable Calendar of Events from Sonoma to San Jose, as well as previews and critics picks from the SFCV staff.
- Learn provides reference tools for learning more about music in general.
- Listen connects you with ways to listen to music beyond the concert hall — at home, online, on your iPod.
- News and Reviews keeps you up-to-date on the latest happenings onstage and off around the Bay Area.
- Discuss encourages you to do just that — comment on topics from our staff, or ask your own questions. Our list of classical blogs also helps you to connect and comment on music beyond the Bay.
Find music for me
- If you're looking for live music, start with our Critics' Picks — each week our staff of experienced critics offer their recommendations. Look for their icon
in the Calendar of Events. - Our Previews also offer a little more detail about our favorite upcoming events. Or, enter your preferred dates or location into the Calendar and see what the search comes up with.
- Look for the Calendar icons that indicate a good pick for first-time concertgoers
or family-friendly 
offerings. Our Calendar listings even have links to maps and the Open Table restaurant reservation system, so that you can easily make a whole evening of it! - If you prefer to listen on your own schedule, check out our CD Reviews or SFCV's free download, which offers a full track selected from the best of the Bay Area's own artists or perhaps something special from further afield.
- Our Listening Resources offer links to the top sources for online music streaming or downloads from around the world.
What about my kids?
- Look for the family-friendly icon in our Calendar of Events to find live events around the Bay Area that are specially designed for young people. Or, select the "Family-friendly" or "Free Events"
filter in the Event Type drop-down menu. (Hint: Many outdoor concerts offer a great, unstructured forum for kids to experience music--with no losses if you have to bail out early!) - There are also many terrific introductory, interactive sites for kids out there, and you'll find links to the best of the Web in our Learn section.
- Your older kids may enjoy our lively Composer bios, which are chock full of fun facts and listening links.
I never think of going to hear classical music until it's too late!
Let SFCV be your concierge!
- Register for MyVoice today, and you can subscribe to SFCV's weekly newsletter, which connects you to the newest information available on the site.
- You can also schedule e-mail reminders about specific events, bookmark them, invite friends through the SFCV Concert Calendar, or subscribe to our RSS feeds, so that you don't have to remember to log on.
