Updated January 09, 2026
Hello and welcome!
We have a wait list for Rafiki Coalition, located at 601 Cesar Chavez, between 3rd and Pier 80 in San Francisco.
Classes will start in late January or February 2026.
If you'd like to be on the wait list, please call:
(415) 353-7660
Please leave a message, and we will return your call as soon as possible, within two to three business days. Our callback hours are Monday through Friday, between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. Please note that we cannot receive or send text messages. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Important information:
- Open to adults 60 and over
- You will be randomly assigned to either the piano improvisation or music listening group. That is, you have a 50/50 chance (like flipping a coin) of being assigned to either the piano improvisation OR the music listening group. You will not be able to choose the group.
- No music experience necessary. Beginners encouraged
- Study involves 90-minute sessions weekly for 12 weeks
- Participation is voluntary and all information will be kept private
- You can receive up to $100 for taking part in the study
Why is this study being done?
The purpose of this study is to understand how music training affects thinking abilities and well-being
in older adults. This study is funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Where will the study take place? In 2026, the study will take place at these sites:
Rafiki Coalition
601 Cesar Chavez Street (between 3rd and Pier 80)
San Francisco, CA, 94124
MNC (no longer recruiting)
362 Capp St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Between 18th and 19th
For more information, please call
(415) 353-7660
Thank you for your interest in the UCSF Music Training Study!
Learn more about Julene Johnson, PhD:
UCSF Magazine, Can Music Benefit Our Brains? Summer 2025
Julene Johnson has a long history of working with the San Francisco community. 20 years ago, Julene Johnson teamed up with nonprofit partners to launch a study on the impact of choirs on older adults. She was interviewed on KALW about that project.
Listen to Neighborhood choirs as public health solutions
