CW came recommended by a friend who is a formally educated musician. We are in our second year of…read moreprivate piano lessons for my now 7yo son and the experience has been very good. This is a place that takes music instruction seriously -- in addition to the lessons there is a weekly music theory lesson and a regular schedule of recitals and musicianship tests. Not being a music person myself, I was a bit concerned at the outset that this might be overkill, but in reality it has served our kiddo quite well and the progress both in his playing and his theoretical understanding is apparent and exciting to watch. I've also used them beginner adult lessons myself (now that I have a piano, why not?). On that side of things they have proven both helpful and highly flexible with respect to the fact that my availability for practice is not what I wish it could be. I've recommended CW to a number of fellow parents looking for lessons and wouldn't hesitate to do so again.

Looking for a piano school for your kid? Now that you are grown up - decided to take up piano?…read more This is a great place. Full disclosure - Both my daughters took piano here. It is a fairly large studio - I just looked it up and they now have about a dozen piano teachers - plus some guitar and a cello teacher. There are maybe 10 or so rooms and when there are several lessons going on - it is great to sit in the lobby and listen to all the beautiful music wafting out. Chances to perform at recitals and competitions are available. They also have master classes with really great pianists - from universities and these are for dedicated students at all levels. A great school. There are enough teachers that you will certainly find one to suit you. They have a theory lab for beginner students. The large parking lot makes for easy parking.

some of the nicest people i know :) shy is a gift to the universe…read more they all know so much abt music n there really helpful can't say enough great things

Neat small guitar shop with a nice dog that roams the place…read more The stock is mostly classic and vintage guitars and amps. No Vs in sight though.

I dig Strait because it has a clean vibe and staff shoots straight. The only trouble I have, my own…read moreG.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome). Very serious...I really try to keep my distance. Austin led me to the perfect Martin. I had to check around town, compare. This morning I went back to Strait...Be careful what you wish for. But, if it is an instrument check out Strait Music.

I was disappointed that Strait Music moved to Westlake, since their old location was so much closer…read moreto me, but my guitar needed repair and these guys have helped me before. New location is very nice! The technician repaired my guitar while I ran to nearby Trader Joe's. I hated the drive back home, but I'm really pleased with their service and prices. I'll be back.

I feel so fortunate to have Nathan as a guitar teacher! He is an excellent listener and puts me on…read morethe right path towards accomplishing all my goals. I can now even play my favorite piece, Asturias! I don't recommend anyone else in San Francisco over Golden Guitar Lessons. The teacher comes to you, the lessons are fun and you get to learn from the best. Thanks, Nathan!

With Lone Star Music, my kids have finally discovered that they love music! The personalized…read moreclasses with excellent teachers made the difference. My 3 kids are learning numerous instruments with 4 teachers - and it's a 100% success rate, incredibly. The kids are challenged to take the next step for them each lesson, but get to choose their songs, which is a nice combo. And as a parent, scheduling and communication has been very smooth with Nathan, the lead. I'm grateful for this convenient location right off Bee Caves and near a few supermarkets for errands while the kids are in class too!

As we head into 2022, I can't recommend ALC enough. Over the last year, my kids have really…read morestruggled staying on level and learning remotely during the pandemic. When grades and self esteem were at an all time low, we joined the ALC community and are so thankful that we did. They have individualized our kids' curriculum/instruction in multiple subjects and have provided individual tutoring for them both. They are always professional, communicate clearly, and take the time to listen to my worries and concerns. They are currently back on level and thriving.

We have had an excellent experience at Austin Learning Center. We have used them for my 5th grader…read moreand 7th grader. ALC is well organized, welcoming, and the sessions have helped my kids in reading and math. It is the best tutoring experience we have had in Austin. For my daughter, we set up weekly sessions in math since that is the subject she strugles the most with. For my son, we have done drop-in sessions for math and Spanish on an as-needed basis. We have used them about 10 times and will continue to as it has helped both my kids tremendously.

Ann Connally is a Godsend to our family. I will spare you all the details of our 3 year learning…read moredifferences saga ,but in short, Ann was the third professional to evaluate our daughter in a 3 year period. I will also add she is the only professional who actually gave us accurate and helpful information.Ann has the amazing ability to pinpoint the exact learning "breakdown" in your child. Once she identifies the areas that need work,she will design an individualized therapy program for your child's specific needs. There is a reason it's called Austin Learning Solutions, she offers brilliant solutions!!! As parents isn't that what we all want??My child's confidence has soared,and she has truly been transformed under Ann's guidance. Book your evaluation today!!

My son worked with Ann during his senior year in high school. It's never too late! He was…read morecontinually challenged and inspired by her to be a better student and person. I felt like she was more of a life coach than a tutor. His grades improved during this last year when many of his friends were commenting on how hard the senior year was. He really embraced the time he spent with her and truly felt that she cared about him... as more than just a student. He has improved tremendously during this past year and we will miss the weekly sessions now that he is off to college. We will be checking in during his school breaks. I would recommend this to any parent whose child has or doesn't have a learning disability.

I only have good things to say about the folks in the shop! Its such a relief to go to a place that…read morehires such friendly and down to earth people. The shop is always super clean, and I love that they're carrying Istanbul Mehmet cymbals now. It would be awesome to have some Istanbul Agop cymbals here, but I hear Istanbul Agop has some pretty strict reseller guidelines which make it near impossible for smaller shops to carry them. I always look forward to stopping by, as a matter of fact it has been a while. Maybe I'll stop in this week! ;)

This is hands-down the place to go if you need anything drum-related. These gentlemen spent more…read morethan an hour repairing or replacing my ten-year old's drum set. They patiently and with kindness spent time with my son explaining what they needed to do, and why. They did not try to upsell me. The price is right, and the service spectacular. This is a true Austin treasure. We will be back.

A fun museum for most kid ages. It has changed a little over the last 8years for the better. I used…read moreto come with my nanny charge and now I come with my 3 kids. We were there atleast 3 hours. We went at 1pm and it was NOT packed.

TLDR: STEM-focused kids' play center with a hefty admission fee ($19.95 for anyone 1 and up,…read moreincluding parents). Best for older kids who can utilize the majority of the exhibits. Easy parking in the garage directly behind building. They validate parking -- don't forget to ask. While I love the STEM focus of the Thinkery, I have to be honest -- I just did not find it worth the admission price. COST/VALUE: It's expensive to get in here. $19.95 for anyone 1 and up. Let's compare that to many other indoor play centers where parents/guardians are either free or merely a couple bucks. Additionally, let's say your child just turned 1 -- they're not getting that much out of this -- there are only a small number of play areas they can enjoy (pretty much the gated baby area upstairs and the enclosed baby area within the STEM area). Everything else is really geared toward older kids. So to pay $60.00 for that visit (assuming both parents are joining) is just silly. Ultimately, it's probably best for older kids who are able to interact with all the exhibits. Both my kids (almost 4 and almost 2) definitely skipped a few of the more complex exhibits (microscope, wiring, etc.). ACTIVITIES/EXHIBITS: There is a decent variety of activities here -- outdoor playground, light room, water room, and a main STEM room (which includes a painting area). The water room is pretty neat and they offer Crocs and smocks. My youngest refused the Crocs (he hates Crocs for some reason) and I was relieved. There was a really strong musty smell coming from the shoe shelves. I hope they sufficiently sanitize the wet shoes. Upstairs, there is a play area for younger kids -- a gated (shoeless) area for babies and toddlers and a play area for older toddlers and younger kids (grocery store, kitchen, chicken coop). This area was chaotic and overrun with kids (some of them older). I brought my almost 2-year-old into the baby area and we both found it underwhelming. There just wasn't a lot to do and there is way more they could have done with the space. I actually preferred the second smaller baby area (in the middle of the downstairs STEM room) since it was much more packed with interactive elements). Ultimately, for the cost (we paid $80 for a family of 4), it just didn't seem like enough activities to justify the price tag, especially since my kids are younger and weren't interested in and/or able to appreciate every exhibit. For reference, for $80, we could visit Mt. Playmore twice (it's $30 for our whole family to get in plus any arcades). Obviously it's not educational like this but toddlers don't really care, they just want to interact with objects and have fun. GIFT SHOP: Small but cute gift shop. Well-curated with a nice variety (games, science kits, puppets, etc.). PARKING: We parked in the garage directly behind building. They will validate. They won't tell you that so make sure you ask. The garage attendant was amazing -- he came out and explained everything in the friendliest way. I wouldn't have known about the parking validation if it wasn't for him.