The Manuel Saumell Elementary Music School (660 F Street, Vedado, Havana City) is located in the Vedado neighborhood of Havana. In 1971, the school adopted the name of this renowned Cuban pianist. Some recognize the building as the Little Musical Castle, a German Tudor-style building dating from 1925.

Originally a private conservatory directed by Professor María Jones de Castro, the four-story building features classrooms that maintain their acoustics, and many of its rooms feature high-quality woodwork.

Its director for more than thirty courses has been María Iglesias López. At Manuel Saumell (660 F Street, Vedado, Havana), the training of Cuba’s future musicians begins. This is the school’s primary responsibility, which includes students between the ages of seven and ten. Currently, only music classes are offered.

Initially, the institution offered piano, elementary, double bass, violin, flute, singing, cello, and classical dance classes. Among the teachers who founded what was then known as the International Conservatory were prestigious names such as Gonzalo Roig, Elisa Espinosa, and Modesto Fraga, among many others.

Throughout the history of the Manuel Saumell Elementary Music School (660 F Street, Vedado, Havana), a development of teaching has been observed, demonstrated in national and international pedagogical events, national and international competitions, in which teachers have demonstrated the technical and pedagogical work extended with their students.

Students from different municipalities in Havana participate in all courses. They go through a rigorous admissions process, during which they are reviewed by various instrument teachers. A qualified panel of judges administers the tests and evaluates individual performance.

Some students study various instruments for long-term courses, such as piano, violin, viola, and cello, over seven years of age. The remaining ten-year-olds choose short-term courses: flute, saxophone, trumpet, and clarinet, as well as guitar, double bass, and percussion. The theoretical subjects that all students receive as part of the curriculum, such as music theory, music appreciation, choir, theory, and ensemble practice, are also included.

From this prestigious Cuban music institution, students who are currently great figures in artistic teaching and Cuban culture have graduated, examples of them are: Haydeé Milanés, Aldo López-Gavilán and Ilmar López-Gavilán, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, X Alfonso, Niurka González Núñez, Emilio Vega, Harold López-Nussa and Leonardo Gell, among others.