Don is an awesome teacher. He has a deep knowledge of music and explains things super clearly…read more Lessons are tailored to my goals and style. Best music teacher I found!

My son has been having great piano lessons with Kevin! I love that he paces his lessons with each…read moreindividual child. Although my son enjoys the piano he also loves to talk and run around. Kevin has been great at keeping my son focused while not discouraging his playfulness, instead using that energy to keep piano fun. That was my biggest concern when starting piano lessons so young for him -- that he may lose interest early on if he gets discouraged -- but Kevin intuitively understands this and is great at keeping the balance between a productive lesson and a fun lesson. My son is 6 and has had no musical training prior to starting lessons but now after 4 months can read notes on the scale, and play some short songs while sight reading. We're doing lessons 1x a week, ~25mins per lesson. Highly recommend piano lessons with Kevin!

This is long due! My boys have been taking Piano with Kevin for over two years now. They had some…read morepiano lessons with a different teacher before, but when they started with Kevin, the immediate improvement was noticeable. He worked on techniques, posture and most important, reading music. Before that, all they played and knew was based on repetition and playing with the keys. I love Kevin's methods, his patience and precision are also great qualities when working with kids. I highly recommend him. He also does recitals, and it's great to see all the kids and the improvements made from one year to the other. His studio is in a great location and during this new time of C-19, he has continue to teach over FaceTime! My kids have not missed one class! Always punctual and enthusiastic. Very professional!

The best! Insofar as smashcraftery is concerned he is a Sultan. A rhythmic Olympian. A black…read morebelt of beats. A Tsar of syncopation. A doyen of drums. A brigadier of batterie. The top man on the totem pole when it comes to drum mastery.

I cannot recommend Steve's Drum Workshop enough. I have only been twice, and it keeps getting…read morebetter. I am in temporarily in a treatment center, and not only did it boost my spirits, but it has been instrumental (no pun intended) in my recovery. Honestly, people are elated and I wish I had this at the last rehab I went to ;-). This has definitely been the best part of my treatment plan, and trust me, I am at a very nice place!.

Brian is the man!…read more He's super patient, and works at your pace while still pushing you to improve. I'm a professional bass player (and music teacher as well) who wanted to pick up the drums more seriously, and Brian's been a huge help. He's got it all... great attitude, impeccable skill, patience, and is great at communicating simple and challenging material alike. Highly recommend!

I am a teacher and a bass player, and I've been lucky enough to work with Brian as a musician in…read moreseveral different band situations. Brian is really a great drummer. He is always professional, patient and focused. He is also quite versatile; we roll through everything from straight jazz, to fusion to blues, funk and rock and Brian never misses a beat. And he is as comfortable and expressive on a full kit as he is with a cojon and shakers. Brian has that professional, yet laid-back vibe that works perfectly in a student/teacher relationship.

I've been taking drum lessons now with Eyal for maybe 4 months. I'm 45, have a full-time job, but…read morealways wanted to learn the drums as a hobby. Eyal is an absolute pleasure to work with. Skill level, he's definitely at the top of his game. So solid! Saying he has advanced skills both technically and by feel is an understatement. This guy knows the history, techniques, reading music, you name it. He is truly a student of percussions and can play the shit out of the Foo Fighters. Lol. What I enjoy most about his lessons is that as I started progressing he is looking to expand on the types of music and helping me develop the sounds and techniques that I enjoy, rather than having some cookie cutter/same program fits all, mindset. He's super chill and very much interested in not only helping you become a good drummer but also cares about people and takes a legitamite interest in your life/wellbeing.

I have been taught by many and never have I been more let down by a teacher in my life. If that…read moreEyal Douche Bag even showed up to teach ( left me hanging thrice, unfortunately I prepaid) it wasn't worth the time or the money. Go somewhere else ... Anywhere else

I just can't say enough positive things about Ozzy and his Music Academy. I am so grateful that my…read morechildren landed in such a welcoming and supportive container for them to explore and get comfortable with music and many different instruments. Ozzy is a true visionary in his way of teaching and somehow leads the kids to see the inner rock star inside of them, fearless and powerful. It has been a joy to see my kids perform and with Ozzy's guidance my daughter now writes songs and has even performed at Alameda's Got Talent! Her confidence is soaring~what a gift! I would say to any parent in the Alameda or Bay Area, treat your child to the best music school in the Bay, your child will learn a lot more than music, they will learn inner confidence, breathing techniques and gratitude. Thank you Ozzy and staff!

Ozzy has created a very special welcoming place for kids to explore and develop their musical…read moreinterests. There are many instruments and teaching tools, as well as game time for some movement, variety, and reinforcement of concepts (Wii and Rock Band). There is also progress made over time on specific songs, and a performance to build confidence and celebrate their progress. Our 9-year-old says "It's amazing how Ozzy combines fun and learning. I spent three weeks with Ozzy and learned bass, piano (melodies and chords), banjo, drums, guitar, and vocals. For lunch we go to the park." At the end of just one week, our 6-year-old played an entire song on the drum set and performed vocals on another song in front of an audience. We will definitely try to work some of the after-school options into our schedule in the fall, thanks Ozzy!

Matthew is, hands down, the best music instructor I've ever had, on any topic…read more My musical background - both in theory and technique - is pretty scattered. After college, I decided I wanted to learn the cello, so I searched Craigslist to find a teacher. I recognized Matthew's name from Ifshin's and he had a good review from the Berkeley Parents Network, so I decided to schlep up to El Cerrito (from South Berkeley, without a car, with a large instrument) to attend a lesson. Matthew was able to quickly, accurately, fluidly gauge what topics I understood and which I needed help on, and immediately cobbled together a lesson in which I felt not a single minute was wasted. I came away from that lesson feeling like I'd learned more from him in an hour that I'd learned from other teachers in six months. I was hooked. Since I already had a basic background in music theory, Matthew jumped pretty quickly into teaching me straight from repertoire. Matthew himself is quite an excellent musician - very artistic and expressive - and gives similarly excellent instruction on musicianship. He has the unusual ability of being extremely precise about what he wants you, the student, to do to achieve a given effect. (And is very good at being precise from several different approaches until you have that 'a-ha!' moment.) He's been very patient with me on the days that my head just hasn't been in the game and very persistent in making sure I get something out of those lessons, anyhow. Because of his high degree of achievement in cello and his patience, innovation, and keen intellect, Matthew would probably be a wonderful teacher from everyone from complete novices to seasoned professionals. (He does, in fact, teach both these levels, but I can only speak from my own experience. :P ) I have moved towns twice since I started taking lessons with him and, six years later, he is still absolutely worth the transbay drive.

I am very lucky to have found Matthew as a cello teacher. I started to learn to play the cello as a…read morebeginner since almost a year and can strongly recommend him as a teacher. It has been an amazing experience for me to play the cello ever since I started my lessons with Matthew. He is amazing, extremely patient and explains musical concepts and the cello as an instrument to an adult with great precision. In addition, he has a great ability to communicate and can provide explanations to you that suits perfectly well to the way you can understand, which is essential for learning. He always has an analogy to an everyday movement when you learn a new technique that is a great help. Matthew is a remarkable person and has a great personality. He can combine his understanding of humans with his teaching extremely well. Although sometimes your own performance might not be the best (e.g. because you could not practice enough for the lesson) at each lesson you learn a lot and have a smile on your face after you leave the lesson. What I like the most about Matthew's teaching is that he has an exceptional sense of creativity and tries to unmask this ability in his students.

I have nothing but amazing things to say about Jared…read more Been having regular sessions with him for a few months now and have significantly improved as a singer and guitarist. It has me gain confidence as a musician immensely. Would highly recommend :)

Just had my first lesson, ever. I've owned a bass guitar for about a year and I've always, ALWAYS…read morewanted to learn how to play bass. More please, Jared! It was a great lesson! He gave me a lot of basics, both on the instrument, on theory and he broke down the language of notes, keys, octaves, etc. I walked away with a basic understanding. And, thanks for teaching to a beginner without making me feel like a beginner! Jared spoke to my level as a student and was never condescending, impatient or superior. Jared is a very good teacher. By definition that means he made me want more, made me feel encouraged and gave me homework that made me want to practice.